Dear Readers,
There are people from 43 countries who open my web log. I am very happy with that. May be you have any questions about korfball. You can write to ben.crum@knkv.nl.
I will try to anwer you.
Ben Crum
3/10/09
3/9/09
Suzanne Struik The best female Tiger in the world!
Photo: Peter Besemer
Photo: Cor Mantel (Stuntmantel)
3/3/09
The Tiger in the Line- Up
Photo: Cor Mantel (Stuntmantel)
Photos: Elke de Gram
The Tiger
Before every match the coach has to compose a line up.
The core role in the line up of the attack is the role of the TIGER.
The capabilities of a TIGER are:
* The Tiger is a killer. In every match he/she scores. The top Tigers in the Dutch competition score about 4 - 6 goals in every match. (when free passes and penalties are included they score 7 – 8 goals in a match) Their average scoring percentage is 20 - 30 % (without the free pass and penalties). The Tiger does about 20 -30 shot attempts in a match. The goals by the Tigers made by free pass and penalties are 30% of his/her total scores.
Before every match the coach has to compose a line up.
The core role in the line up of the attack is the role of the TIGER.
The capabilities of a TIGER are:
* The Tiger is a killer. In every match he/she scores. The top Tigers in the Dutch competition score about 4 - 6 goals in every match. (when free passes and penalties are included they score 7 – 8 goals in a match) Their average scoring percentage is 20 - 30 % (without the free pass and penalties). The Tiger does about 20 -30 shot attempts in a match. The goals by the Tigers made by free pass and penalties are 30% of his/her total scores.
* Mostly the Tigers are male players. In the Dutch competition there is also one excellent female Tiger who scores between 20% - 30 %. In 14 matches she scored 74 goals (also 20 goals by penalties and free passes included). It is a pity that there are so few female Tigers who can make structural decisive difference in matches.
* The distance shot of the Tiger is excellent. She/He scores are over 30% from a totally free position. Under high pressure of a good Guard the scoring can go down. But the excellent quality of the distance shot gives way for other scoring options like running in and all kinds of V-shots. The Tiger can play and vary between the distance shot, running-in and V-shots.
* The distance shot of the Tiger is excellent. She/He scores are over 30% from a totally free position. Under high pressure of a good Guard the scoring can go down. But the excellent quality of the distance shot gives way for other scoring options like running in and all kinds of V-shots. The Tiger can play and vary between the distance shot, running-in and V-shots.
* The shot of the Tiger will be released high. This makes it difficult for the Guard to block the shot. In the Dutch competition top Tigers are mostly tall players ( 1.90 – 2.00 meters).
* The Tiger can 'finish' at every time or moment during the match. A Tiger can handle the pressure of having the obligation to score. This means that he/she can open the match and score at crucial moments when there is a maximum of pressure. Then the real Tiger can take the responsibility and go for the chance created by scoring. The Tiger has a good balance between what is demanded (by coach, other players or the public) and his/her confidence in what he/she will perform. The top Tiger can perform under high pressure. This player naturally has a positive perception of his/her capabilities.
* A Tiger is totally focused to on scoring. During a match he/she makes use of more than 20 scoring attempts.
* A Tiger can duel with every Guard and can make very effectively profit of the weak sides of the Guard. Duels between Tiger and Guard should produce free positions which can be used for scoring attempts. Such a fight between Tiger and Guard is characterized by high tempo and a lot of changes of tempi and directions. The Tiger is fast and always ready to change directions in a high tempo. When the Tiger comes into free position, he/she is able to collect himself/ herself and to come in the right balance for a successful shot.
* A Tiger likes the Wolf as assist. The Wolf is the best supporter for the Tiger, because this player knows the position, the moment and the direction the Tiger needs assistance in. The Tiger is fed by the Wolf. The Wolf should understand the actions of the Tiger. The Wolf can value these actions and give the effective and efficient cooperation and communication. Mostly the Tiger is not focussed on chances of the Panther, Wolf and Bear. The Tiger will not naturally play a double pass so that the Panther can finish the attack.
* The top Tiger, in free position about 3-6 meters from the post will not hesitate to go for the chance, even when there is no Bear for rebounding the shot. The Tiger sends out confidence in his/her capabilities.
2/24/09
LINE - UP
Line up There are several factors which the coach has to face when he makes a line up for the next korfball match. With the help of the SWOT analysis the coach can get these factors clear.
SWOT means: Strengths; Weakness; Options; Threats.
The Internal Analysis: strengths and weaknessThe korfball coach should describe the offense capabilities (strengths and weakness) and the defence capabilities (strengths and weakness) of each player. Each player can be described in terms of Coordination; Cooperation; Communication and Control. In Dutch soccer, coaches use the terms: Technique, Insight, Personality and Speed (TIPS)
The External Analysis
The korfball coach should also describe the strengths and the weakness of the opponent.
The Options
The coach should investigate the offense options and defense options of his team.
Offense options: continuity of different patterns; rotation of roles (tiger; panther; wolf; bear)
Defense options: making use of defense systems and fit in different defense roles (guard; center; guerrilla)
The Threats
The coach should be aware where the opponent can get chances. He should anticipate where his team can be intimidated.
SWOT means: Strengths; Weakness; Options; Threats.
The Internal Analysis: strengths and weaknessThe korfball coach should describe the offense capabilities (strengths and weakness) and the defence capabilities (strengths and weakness) of each player. Each player can be described in terms of Coordination; Cooperation; Communication and Control. In Dutch soccer, coaches use the terms: Technique, Insight, Personality and Speed (TIPS)
The External Analysis
The korfball coach should also describe the strengths and the weakness of the opponent.
The Options
The coach should investigate the offense options and defense options of his team.
Offense options: continuity of different patterns; rotation of roles (tiger; panther; wolf; bear)
Defense options: making use of defense systems and fit in different defense roles (guard; center; guerrilla)
The Threats
The coach should be aware where the opponent can get chances. He should anticipate where his team can be intimidated.
2/22/09
2/11/09
Back Defence: Cooperation and communication
Photo's: Cor Mantel (Stuntmantel)
System: Back defence as an option of team defence
The option of back defence was a logical development after the introduction of front defence.
Back defence developed when defenders were confronted with many shots in the same attack. The attack could go on / continue because after every shot the attack won the ball (attackers rebound). The chance to score is higher if an attack can repeat shooting during one attack.
In front defence the Center and the Guard of the Wolf, defend the ball line to the zone of the post. They try to prevent or to hinder the pass inside that zone.
The consequence is that the Center is blocked out by the Bear. So when there is a shot, it is very difficult for the Center to come into a rebound position.
The same is counting for the Guard of the Wolf. The Guard is busy to prevent an inside pass. This Guard is on the help side of the Guard who is defending the Tiger. The consequence is that the Guard of the Wolf is not in the best position for intercepting when the ball falls down after the shot.
There was another development that made back defence opportune.
Defenders were so focused to come in front defence that the Bear and the Wolf by tricks could conquer very good shooting positions around the post. The result of front defence in every situation and till every price was that the Bear and the Wolf could make easily goals.
After this happen very often, the defence should look for a better strategy to intercept the ball after a shot and furthermore the defence should not give always help to the Guards of Tiger and Panther.
In principle the strategy of Back Defence aims
- To rebound the first shot: effect can be winning the ball by the defence;
- To hinder the organisation of the attack: effects can be losing time and tempo and being confused in building up the attack.
To rebound the first shot
When players started to play back defence the distance shot (6 – 8 meters) was in general a chance of about 10 percent. This fact gave possibility to the defence to start the 1-1 defence in the zone of the post. Every defence player around the post was in a back defence position and blocked out their personal offensive opponent.
The offensive players were challenged by the “Guards” to make long distance shots. Very often the attackers ran into this trap and after that the ball was immediately intercepted after the first shot.
To hinder the organisation of the attack
In Korfball scoring is difficult. The very best Tigers score by distance shot about 15 to 30 percent. (I.e. The Dutch Tigers and Panthers in the last match Belgium – Netherlands, 01/02/2009, scored: 1/7; 3/17; 4/10; 7/21)
To consider these facts then it is useful that the attack will be organized before a Tiger makes a shot from distance.
To be organized means at least that there is a strong Bear in the blocking position around the post.
The Bear is ready to rebound the shot that fails.
By playing Back Defence the blocking rebound position for the Bear is not open and free. The Center blocks out the Bear.
To get that position the attack has to play a trick: the ball has to come in an assist position nearby the post then the Bear can go by a special roll circuit to the rebound position.
Now a day this “obstacle” means for the attack loss of time (shot clock!) but also the obstacle / barrier can mean breaking tempo of the attack. Attacks get used to this barrier in their development of the attack. Normally the attack solves the organisation problem and then the real attack can start. But there are still attacks who will be confused by this kind of back defence when they start to build up the attack they can not do their routines.
Now a day the development of the power of the attack, the average scoring of four top players in one section is very effective. That makes back defence not that useful as 10 years ago. There are players who scores so easy from distances of 6 meters from the post that they should not need a Bear in the rebound. (The best Tigers score 50% from less than 6 meters of the post and this is not an exception. Also the best Bears and Wolves score more than 50 %, the chances around the post (1-4 meters).
The consequence of the development of the scoring skill of the attackers is that back defence means a strict 1-1 defence against all the attacker’s roles.
Sometime it is useful to vary between front defence and back defence even during one attack. The defence can confuse the organisation of the attack and break down the tempo of the attack. In relation with the shot clock this strategy can helpful to confuse the attack. They get nervous when the shot clock runs down to ).
This variation needs a very good communication between the defenders. Mostly this communication gets support by players from the other section. Attackers in the other section inform the defenders where the danger by the opponent attackers is coming.
Back defence can use as a strategy to force the attack to an unwanted rotation. The Panther or the Tiger are forced to go for the rebound position. So the Wolf and the Bear have to conquer for free positions from where they have to make a scoring attempt. This give the defence a good chance for an interception by a steal or a defence rebound.
The option of back defence was a logical development after the introduction of front defence.
Back defence developed when defenders were confronted with many shots in the same attack. The attack could go on / continue because after every shot the attack won the ball (attackers rebound). The chance to score is higher if an attack can repeat shooting during one attack.
In front defence the Center and the Guard of the Wolf, defend the ball line to the zone of the post. They try to prevent or to hinder the pass inside that zone.
The consequence is that the Center is blocked out by the Bear. So when there is a shot, it is very difficult for the Center to come into a rebound position.
The same is counting for the Guard of the Wolf. The Guard is busy to prevent an inside pass. This Guard is on the help side of the Guard who is defending the Tiger. The consequence is that the Guard of the Wolf is not in the best position for intercepting when the ball falls down after the shot.
There was another development that made back defence opportune.
Defenders were so focused to come in front defence that the Bear and the Wolf by tricks could conquer very good shooting positions around the post. The result of front defence in every situation and till every price was that the Bear and the Wolf could make easily goals.
After this happen very often, the defence should look for a better strategy to intercept the ball after a shot and furthermore the defence should not give always help to the Guards of Tiger and Panther.
In principle the strategy of Back Defence aims
- To rebound the first shot: effect can be winning the ball by the defence;
- To hinder the organisation of the attack: effects can be losing time and tempo and being confused in building up the attack.
To rebound the first shot
When players started to play back defence the distance shot (6 – 8 meters) was in general a chance of about 10 percent. This fact gave possibility to the defence to start the 1-1 defence in the zone of the post. Every defence player around the post was in a back defence position and blocked out their personal offensive opponent.
The offensive players were challenged by the “Guards” to make long distance shots. Very often the attackers ran into this trap and after that the ball was immediately intercepted after the first shot.
To hinder the organisation of the attack
In Korfball scoring is difficult. The very best Tigers score by distance shot about 15 to 30 percent. (I.e. The Dutch Tigers and Panthers in the last match Belgium – Netherlands, 01/02/2009, scored: 1/7; 3/17; 4/10; 7/21)
To consider these facts then it is useful that the attack will be organized before a Tiger makes a shot from distance.
To be organized means at least that there is a strong Bear in the blocking position around the post.
The Bear is ready to rebound the shot that fails.
By playing Back Defence the blocking rebound position for the Bear is not open and free. The Center blocks out the Bear.
To get that position the attack has to play a trick: the ball has to come in an assist position nearby the post then the Bear can go by a special roll circuit to the rebound position.
Now a day this “obstacle” means for the attack loss of time (shot clock!) but also the obstacle / barrier can mean breaking tempo of the attack. Attacks get used to this barrier in their development of the attack. Normally the attack solves the organisation problem and then the real attack can start. But there are still attacks who will be confused by this kind of back defence when they start to build up the attack they can not do their routines.
Now a day the development of the power of the attack, the average scoring of four top players in one section is very effective. That makes back defence not that useful as 10 years ago. There are players who scores so easy from distances of 6 meters from the post that they should not need a Bear in the rebound. (The best Tigers score 50% from less than 6 meters of the post and this is not an exception. Also the best Bears and Wolves score more than 50 %, the chances around the post (1-4 meters).
The consequence of the development of the scoring skill of the attackers is that back defence means a strict 1-1 defence against all the attacker’s roles.
Sometime it is useful to vary between front defence and back defence even during one attack. The defence can confuse the organisation of the attack and break down the tempo of the attack. In relation with the shot clock this strategy can helpful to confuse the attack. They get nervous when the shot clock runs down to ).
This variation needs a very good communication between the defenders. Mostly this communication gets support by players from the other section. Attackers in the other section inform the defenders where the danger by the opponent attackers is coming.
Back defence can use as a strategy to force the attack to an unwanted rotation. The Panther or the Tiger are forced to go for the rebound position. So the Wolf and the Bear have to conquer for free positions from where they have to make a scoring attempt. This give the defence a good chance for an interception by a steal or a defence rebound.
2/5/09
Front defence: Cooperating for one goal
In korfball, cooperating is a pleonasm. Every player knows that he cannot play solo in korfball. Even so, in (top) korfball, cooperation is a very complex organization.
In the defence section, the players cooperate with one common goal: to prevent the opponent from scoring. Even the novice immediately learns the basic rule of cooperation: "give, go, give and shoot".
Cooperating in defence means more than just 1 to 1 defence.
First of all, every cooperation within the defence can only succeed when there is a game plan. This game plan consists of the choice for a particular form of organization against the attack of the opponent.
The game plan is defined by the strategy of the coach: how he thinks his team can prevent the opponent from scoring and subsequently, how the defence of the opponent can be beaten to score.
Strategy
The first problem that a coach should solve is the balance of the line up. In (top) korfball there should be a balance between the two sections in the line up.
(After every two goals in a match, players have to change their roles: attackers become defenders and defender become attacker, which means that during a top korfball match sections of teams have to change their functions more than twenty times.)
In the game plan it is important to make a strategy what sections starts as defence and who is playing against whom.
The organization in defence is an interactive answer on an organization of an attack. To make the choices for an organization the coach should study the way of playing and the options in the attack of the opponent.
The organization of defence of a team is also based on the idea that you can win enough time so that the own attack can go for goals and beat the defence of the opponent.
Structures
The organization of defence is a strategy based on the possible strategies played out by the attack of the opponent.
The composition of the korfball attack is mostly based on a hierarchic structure (top down structure) of different roles. In the composition of the attack the coach can use different roles: Tiger (main attacker); Panther (the second attacker); Bear (the rebounder) and the Wolf (the transporter and assister). While the names of the different roles all refer to killers of the animal world, they vary because they operate in specific (different) areas.
- Tiger and Panther operating in the area where they can make long shots.
- Panther and Wolf operating in the areas where they can make the so called short shots;
- The area of the Bear is around the post.
Because all players can kill in their specific area (can score) they can execute their specific roles much better.
In (top) korfball the organization of the four attackers and their roles can rotate. Yet, it is important to realize that the quality of the Tiger (the main attacker) is mostly leading in the composition of the attack.
The quality of the Tiger and Panther will be determined by:
a. the quantity and quality of the Tigers shots (In a match the Tiger will make about 20 - 30 shots from long distance and short distance. His scoring percentage is about 20 to 25 %. The Panther operates as a kind of back up in tempo, next to the Tiger)
b. The quality of the duel with the Guard. The quality of the duel has to do with the way he can conquer a free position and the time that the attacker needs in free position to collect himself for to make a balanced shot.
Normally the Bear and the Wolf make less than 10 shots during a match, while their scoring percentage is very high (sometimes 50%).
The coach scouts the structure of the opponents attack.
The structure in defence is mostly:
Tiger will be defended by a Guard*;
Panther will be defended by a Guard or Guerrilla*;
Wolf will be defended by a Guard or Guerrilla*;
Bear will be defended by a Center*.
* See for the special qualities of Guard, Center and Guerrilla the articles in this blog.
System: Front defence as an option of team defence
The system of defence consists of
- the cooperation of roles in defence;
- the relation between 1-1 defence and zone defence;
- the rotation of roles of the players;
- the coaching by the players themselves during play.
In 1972 during a clinic for coaches, when I was still a young coach I demonstrated front defence. Before that time korfball was played only by 1-1 defence against an attack.
The attack was organized as a kind of pattern that can be described as 2-2.
Two main attackers were the male players and the female players were the assisters.
Female players scored hardly. They played around the posts and assisted the male players who made the shots: distance and running in shots.
The male players made a lot of long shots in that time. But generally the long distance shot was not that successful. The total score of matches was mostly only 16 goals (like 10 - 6). Players loved to make running in shots.
The technique of the running in was an example of how skillful the male players were.
In the run they demonstrated a ball handling that was considered difficult. But in fact the running in shot was already more successful in matches.
The theme of the clinic in 1972 was "front defence", which was a new way of defence at the time.
The main idea was that defenders should not give the option for "give, go, give and shoot".
Which meant that the female defenders around the post were to keep the position in front of her opponent, at the ball side. Which would result in a blocked ball-line to the post.
If it is impossible to break-through with the ball, attackers can only make long shots. If attackers can only conquer free positions for distance shots, the other defenders are more free to follow everywhere in the space.
Today, the principle of front defence is still largely the same. But of course there are developments also in front defence.
Front defence: Cooperating by "Pressure on ball lines” or by deliberately "Open ball lines".
We established that in top korfball, the Tiger should opt for more goals than the Panther, the Wolf and the Bear. The Tiger needs support by the Wolf or Panther.
The Wolf's best position for assisting is straight in front of the post and in the funnel of the Tiger. (Main attacker’s axe)
When the Tiger can pass the ball in the funnel, just in front of the post (the best assist position), the Tiger can duel for free positions in a space of 360 degrees. When there is front defence it is very hard to get the ball in this "best" position. (Pressure on the ball line into the funnel)
When there is front defence, the Tiger is forced to look for side passing (open ball lines) and the Panther and the Wolf can assist the Tiger only by side passing. (The double pass: short and long passing and go for distance shot). The areas of the free positions for the Tiger are restricted by forcing, that assist passes can only come from aside. Forcing that only assist passes can come from aside, which will give better possibilities to the Guard of the Tiger. The Guard has to defend 270 degrees of the attacker’s space of the Tiger.
The defenders can try to force that the pass has to go to the side of the section by opening the space to one of the attackers who is not expected to finish the attack by distance shots, mostly a Wolf. The Guerrilla who has to play against the Wolf gives open ball line near by the sidelines, after that the Guerrilla has given pressure on the ball in the line between Tiger and Wolf.
The Wolf is forced by the Gurerrilla to play nearby the sidelines . There the Wolf gets a free position and the Guerrilla allows the pass from the Tiger to her. In the same time the Guerrilla (see the role of the Guerrilla) squeezes into or nearby the funnel of the Tiger. So it becomes more difficult for the Tiger to find the best assist and fighting for a very good chance in the funnel nearby the post.
By giving a lot of freedom only in zones nearby the lines to the Wolf, the Panther who is playing normally next to the Tiger has to go to an area “lower” in the section. By doing that, the Guard of the Panther can give some free space to the Panther and this Guard can move to the “helpside”, that is moving more to the funnel of the Tiger or to the rebound area of the Bear. The Panther is then in an unguarded position but he can use that free position when he can receive a long pass. During that time the Guard of the Panther can come back in his first position: guarding 1-1 the Panther.
Now the Bear cannot only focus to block the Centre he should also be aware that the Guard of the Panther who is nearby, can steal a shot.
Today, the front defence gives more options than only defending the post zone by Centre and Gurrilla.
There are options for giving pressure by 1-1 defence but also pressure on ball lines and deliberately open ball lines. These options has to do with the power of the attack, especially the dominance power of the Tiger and the way the other roles cooperate and the qualities of “killing” (statistics of scoring percentage can help to make a game plan) by Wolf, Panther and Bear.
In a match the coach or also the defenders themselves, have to make adjustments depending on the attacker's strenghts and weaknesses.
In the defence section, the players cooperate with one common goal: to prevent the opponent from scoring. Even the novice immediately learns the basic rule of cooperation: "give, go, give and shoot".
Cooperating in defence means more than just 1 to 1 defence.
First of all, every cooperation within the defence can only succeed when there is a game plan. This game plan consists of the choice for a particular form of organization against the attack of the opponent.
The game plan is defined by the strategy of the coach: how he thinks his team can prevent the opponent from scoring and subsequently, how the defence of the opponent can be beaten to score.
Strategy
The first problem that a coach should solve is the balance of the line up. In (top) korfball there should be a balance between the two sections in the line up.
(After every two goals in a match, players have to change their roles: attackers become defenders and defender become attacker, which means that during a top korfball match sections of teams have to change their functions more than twenty times.)
In the game plan it is important to make a strategy what sections starts as defence and who is playing against whom.
The organization in defence is an interactive answer on an organization of an attack. To make the choices for an organization the coach should study the way of playing and the options in the attack of the opponent.
The organization of defence of a team is also based on the idea that you can win enough time so that the own attack can go for goals and beat the defence of the opponent.
Structures
The organization of defence is a strategy based on the possible strategies played out by the attack of the opponent.
The composition of the korfball attack is mostly based on a hierarchic structure (top down structure) of different roles. In the composition of the attack the coach can use different roles: Tiger (main attacker); Panther (the second attacker); Bear (the rebounder) and the Wolf (the transporter and assister). While the names of the different roles all refer to killers of the animal world, they vary because they operate in specific (different) areas.
- Tiger and Panther operating in the area where they can make long shots.
- Panther and Wolf operating in the areas where they can make the so called short shots;
- The area of the Bear is around the post.
Because all players can kill in their specific area (can score) they can execute their specific roles much better.
In (top) korfball the organization of the four attackers and their roles can rotate. Yet, it is important to realize that the quality of the Tiger (the main attacker) is mostly leading in the composition of the attack.
The quality of the Tiger and Panther will be determined by:
a. the quantity and quality of the Tigers shots (In a match the Tiger will make about 20 - 30 shots from long distance and short distance. His scoring percentage is about 20 to 25 %. The Panther operates as a kind of back up in tempo, next to the Tiger)
b. The quality of the duel with the Guard. The quality of the duel has to do with the way he can conquer a free position and the time that the attacker needs in free position to collect himself for to make a balanced shot.
Normally the Bear and the Wolf make less than 10 shots during a match, while their scoring percentage is very high (sometimes 50%).
The coach scouts the structure of the opponents attack.
The structure in defence is mostly:
Tiger will be defended by a Guard*;
Panther will be defended by a Guard or Guerrilla*;
Wolf will be defended by a Guard or Guerrilla*;
Bear will be defended by a Center*.
* See for the special qualities of Guard, Center and Guerrilla the articles in this blog.
System: Front defence as an option of team defence
The system of defence consists of
- the cooperation of roles in defence;
- the relation between 1-1 defence and zone defence;
- the rotation of roles of the players;
- the coaching by the players themselves during play.
In 1972 during a clinic for coaches, when I was still a young coach I demonstrated front defence. Before that time korfball was played only by 1-1 defence against an attack.
The attack was organized as a kind of pattern that can be described as 2-2.
Two main attackers were the male players and the female players were the assisters.
Female players scored hardly. They played around the posts and assisted the male players who made the shots: distance and running in shots.
The male players made a lot of long shots in that time. But generally the long distance shot was not that successful. The total score of matches was mostly only 16 goals (like 10 - 6). Players loved to make running in shots.
The technique of the running in was an example of how skillful the male players were.
In the run they demonstrated a ball handling that was considered difficult. But in fact the running in shot was already more successful in matches.
The theme of the clinic in 1972 was "front defence", which was a new way of defence at the time.
The main idea was that defenders should not give the option for "give, go, give and shoot".
Which meant that the female defenders around the post were to keep the position in front of her opponent, at the ball side. Which would result in a blocked ball-line to the post.
If it is impossible to break-through with the ball, attackers can only make long shots. If attackers can only conquer free positions for distance shots, the other defenders are more free to follow everywhere in the space.
Today, the principle of front defence is still largely the same. But of course there are developments also in front defence.
Front defence: Cooperating by "Pressure on ball lines” or by deliberately "Open ball lines".
We established that in top korfball, the Tiger should opt for more goals than the Panther, the Wolf and the Bear. The Tiger needs support by the Wolf or Panther.
The Wolf's best position for assisting is straight in front of the post and in the funnel of the Tiger. (Main attacker’s axe)
When the Tiger can pass the ball in the funnel, just in front of the post (the best assist position), the Tiger can duel for free positions in a space of 360 degrees. When there is front defence it is very hard to get the ball in this "best" position. (Pressure on the ball line into the funnel)
When there is front defence, the Tiger is forced to look for side passing (open ball lines) and the Panther and the Wolf can assist the Tiger only by side passing. (The double pass: short and long passing and go for distance shot). The areas of the free positions for the Tiger are restricted by forcing, that assist passes can only come from aside. Forcing that only assist passes can come from aside, which will give better possibilities to the Guard of the Tiger. The Guard has to defend 270 degrees of the attacker’s space of the Tiger.
The defenders can try to force that the pass has to go to the side of the section by opening the space to one of the attackers who is not expected to finish the attack by distance shots, mostly a Wolf. The Guerrilla who has to play against the Wolf gives open ball line near by the sidelines, after that the Guerrilla has given pressure on the ball in the line between Tiger and Wolf.
The Wolf is forced by the Gurerrilla to play nearby the sidelines . There the Wolf gets a free position and the Guerrilla allows the pass from the Tiger to her. In the same time the Guerrilla (see the role of the Guerrilla) squeezes into or nearby the funnel of the Tiger. So it becomes more difficult for the Tiger to find the best assist and fighting for a very good chance in the funnel nearby the post.
By giving a lot of freedom only in zones nearby the lines to the Wolf, the Panther who is playing normally next to the Tiger has to go to an area “lower” in the section. By doing that, the Guard of the Panther can give some free space to the Panther and this Guard can move to the “helpside”, that is moving more to the funnel of the Tiger or to the rebound area of the Bear. The Panther is then in an unguarded position but he can use that free position when he can receive a long pass. During that time the Guard of the Panther can come back in his first position: guarding 1-1 the Panther.
Now the Bear cannot only focus to block the Centre he should also be aware that the Guard of the Panther who is nearby, can steal a shot.
Today, the front defence gives more options than only defending the post zone by Centre and Gurrilla.
There are options for giving pressure by 1-1 defence but also pressure on ball lines and deliberately open ball lines. These options has to do with the power of the attack, especially the dominance power of the Tiger and the way the other roles cooperate and the qualities of “killing” (statistics of scoring percentage can help to make a game plan) by Wolf, Panther and Bear.
In a match the coach or also the defenders themselves, have to make adjustments depending on the attacker's strenghts and weaknesses.
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