Patterns for Killing

Finishing, the - Attack - Patterns
Since Patterns were adopted by Korfball players you can see developments.
Patterns are organisations of roles in the attack. In modern korfball these organisations are based on skilful interaction, variation and circulation of roles . The options which belong to each role are now the fundamental ideas / concepts. (A Bear is not only a rebounder. See for the options of roles (functions): the Tiger, The Panther ; The Wolf and The Bear in this web log).
The two Patterns which can be named as the finishing or the killing patterns are 3-1 and 2-2. These organisations are transitional. In one attack the patterns appear after each other.

3-1 Pattern
Basic idea:
In modern korfball the 3-1 Pattern or Y1- Pattern is mostly an equilateral triangle. The post is centred and the Bear is near by the post in rebound position
Tiger and Panther play next to each other or play centred to the post (then the triangle is isosceles); the Wolf always tries to be centred in relation of the ball position. Tiger, Panther and Wolf pass the ball to each other and in the moment that one player accepts the ball, he /she steps out of the defence of the guard. In that moment he / she moves on the main axis, collecting the balance of the body and makes the shot or is ready for a shot but feints a shot.
Tiger, Panther and Wolf play wide from the post, the Wolf plays from about 5 to 6 metres “back” of the post.
The 3-1 Pattern is often used as a transition option to 2-2 Pattern.

2-2 Pattern
Basic idea:
The roles are very clear.
Tiger and Panther are supported, assisted by the Wolf who is just in front of the post on the main axis of the Tiger or Panther. The Bear is under the post and keeps his rebound position.
In this Y2- Pattern Tiger and Panther are positioned on the arms of the Y , the Wolf and Bear are positioned on the one leg ( I ) of the Y.
The Wolf tries to get on the best position for the assist.
The weak side of this pattern is that defenders can recognize very easy the roles of the attackers.

Transition phase.
During the transition phase there is the possibility of circulation of roles.
But just in this phase there are many options for beautiful chances around the post if there is a very good cooperation and insight in the moments when defenders have to make choices for front defence or back defence. (See for these options the articles about Wolf, Bear, Panther and Tiger.)
 

Building up Patterns

PATTERNS

A pattern in korfball is an organisation for setting up an attack (mostly 4-0 or 3-1) and an organisation to finish the attack ( mostly 2-2 and 3-1)
Read also: Korfball Concepts[1]

Novices and Attacking
As soon as the ball comes into the attack zone every attacker can make a shot (for to score!).
When players are novices the coach should motivate them to make a shot, even if there is no organisation. Korfball is complex because the game needs cooperation and communication. Novices have not the experience to cooperate and communicate by a game plan and it takes a long time before they have enough insight that they can build up with a game plan. Novices spend a long time with passing the ball and running around for a free position and often they are not really aware why they should do these actions. These actions are media for to get a chance to score. The most simple pattern for novices is a “give and go and assist and shot”. Novices should not bother about all kinds of roles. Scoring is difficult and the number of goals in matches of novices are low ( some teams make only 2 - 6 goals in a match out of many attempts) In matches of novices defenders should go for interception.

When the level of the players is higher, an opportunistic shot is not rational.
The experienced players build up the attack with care and go for the different roles (Tiger, Bear, Panther and Wolf)
People who know the history about development of korfball, can tell that patterns in korfball have been used by me, since 1980. When I started with patterns I gave the patterns names with numbers or with one character: 4-0 = X pattern; 2-2 = Y pattern.

Patterns for building up the attack
When the ball enters the attackers zone, the players start to build up the attack.
Mostly teams start to play a variation of 4-0. Some other teams starts with a variation of 3-1.


4-0 Pattern
The basic idea of 4-0 is while attackers pass the ball and try to get free positions they hide the final roles. The objective in the cooperation is to pass the ball while the defender has his back to the ball and the post. The basic positions are modelled as an X, each player in on the end of the leg of the letter X. The post is in the centre and vacant. The players should always centre the post when they move and interact.
The weak side of 4-0 is that players in this pattern basically cannot go for a shot. In the 4-0 pattern the defenders are closer to the korf than the attackers. Attackers may shoot but will loose the ball after the shot.

Variations of 4-0 in modern korfball are used in the first 9 seconds of a new attack for setting up the attack and for positioning the roles.
Now a days, in international matches the shot clock (25 seconds) is used, the time for setting up an attack is limited. Most attacks have to use about 9 seconds to come in positions that the Tiger or Panther can finish the attack with a shot. If one player in the attack makes a shot and the shot misses the korf there are less than 16 seconds left for another shot. Mostly the preparation for a second shot needs again about 6 seconds. It takes too long time for the attackers to come back in 4-0 for a second attack during 25 seconds.

4-0 is a pattern that was popular in the period before the shot clock in korfball was used. In that time korfball used a lot of time to get depth in the game of attack and gain time with the 4-0 pattern when the team of the attack had the lead in the game. Now a days the 4-0 pattern is very useful in trainings for to practice the long width pass which flies over the diagonal axis (X axis) of the zone.

3-1 Pattern
The basic idea of 3-3 during setting up an attack is that the Bear already consolidate the post zone before the ball enters the attackers zone.
It costs normally time before the Bear can come in his position, near by the post. When an attack starts to set up an attack while the Bear is already positioned The Tiger, Panther and Wolf can use more time for preparing the final situation before a shot.
The weak side of this 3-1 pattern is that the attackers can be pressed by the defenders in bad positions. The defenders can chase the attackers to the player who is static while he is in ball position. This variation of 3-1 pattern is very often modelled as a screen of the umbrella. These positions of the three attackers are always visible by the defenders. So defenders can cooperate very well.
The three attackers need a lot of time to find the best position for executing the roles in the new variation of 3-1 pattern which is modelled as a triangle around the post, (Y pattern, the Post and so the Bear are positioned in de V of Y, the Tiger and Panther are positioned on the two arms of the V and the Wolf plays on the leg of the Y.)

[1] Korfball Concepts 2003 Bunnik, ISBN 90-807931-1-6
READ: page 39: Context

 

The Bear in the Line - Up

Photos by (from left to right): Elke de Gram, Wim de Bruijne and Cor Mantel.

The Bear
The Bear is a tall, strong and very athletic attacker.
He / She plays under the korf. His /her most important function is to rebound shots.
The strong Bear can give control to the continuity of the attack.
The Bear who wins frequently the rebound, gives confidence to the Tiger, Panther and Wolf when they go for a goal chance.
The Bear can develop his / her role as rebounder better and support the Tiger, Panther and Wolf in the best way if he / she is able to operate as a killer around the post.

• The most important quality of the Bear is that he likes to win the ball after a shot. Of course he / she is really physical strong (a wide body and he /she is a good jumper) but also he / she mentally very motivated to rebound the shots.

• The Bear can read the attack very well and his speciality is that he can read where the ball will come down after a shot.
  By reading the attack he moves around the post so that he can dominate the post zone. By blocking out his Centre or Guard he prepares the most best position for rebound the shot.
  By carefully reading the ball which comes down he / she knows how to win the ball: keeping his wide body in position or jumping up to the ball.

• The Bear is a killer. In moments that the Guard of the Bear forgets that defence is his / her first duty, the Bear will punish that fault. The Guard or Centre (personal opponent of Bear) should not forget that control is more important than a risky undertaking for intercepting the ball. The Bear makes about 4 – 12 shot during a match and his scoring percentage near by the post is between 30 – 50 %.

• The Bear who is a specialist rebounds 15 – 25 shots during a match. The better Bear wins about 70% -80%.
  
• The Bear should cooperate with the Wolf. By his position under the korf he can give support to the Wolf that she / he can conquer the best feeding position. Sometimes the Wolf uses Bear's position to block out the Guard of the Wolf, so the Wolf can go for a goal chance. Sometimes when there is a smart cooperation, Bear and Wolf can change their roles nearby the post.
• Very often the Bear needs the help of Wolf or Panther to come in his blocking position. The Bear gets his free lane to the post by cutting the Wolf or Panther in a feeding position. The Guard of the Bear has to follow the Bear otherwise the Bear comes in a goal position.
• Of course the Bear can feed the Tiger and Panther from his position near by the post. The Bear is empathic for the needs of Tiger and Panther.
• The experienced Bear is important for coaching the Tiger; Panther and the Wolf. He / she gives support and directs the other roles by communicating loudly.
• The best Bear is all round. Sometimes he operates as a Tiger or Panther as well.
• Mostly the Bear is a male player. There are a few female players who can operate as a strong Bear.

 

The direction of the game (see book "Korfball concepts" Bunnik 2003. ISBN 90-807931-1-6 )

Photo: Marco Spelten


Images by Bird (CKTA)

The direction of the game
The direction of the games is initially centred from outside to inside and from inside to outside.
These are the main axis of the game.

Shooting and scoring are the most important tasks in korfball. Shooting and scoring determines the direction of the game. Shooting and scoring takes place over the main axis's. A main axis is the line , which can be drawn between the korf and the attacker. Receipt of the ball by a Tiger is a direct line while facing the korf, is an immediate threat to a Guard as he is in a shooting position.

Main axis in the game precede width axis.

A pass of the ball over a main axis from inside to outside places pressure on the defence, because the Tiger receives the ball in a position to shoot. A top Tiger is a master at requesting a ball over that main axis whilst he is still under strong defence of the Guard. When a high pass is coming over the main axis, the Tiger can withdraw from the Guard and so the Tiger can come in a shooting position. A pure shot followed like a flash.
Width axis is the entire imaginary axis that is vertical on the main axis and binds these axis together. The movement of the Tiger in such a width axis will be worthwhile and creates defensive tension when there is a move from one main axis to another. Throwing the ball over a width axis will have real tension if the Tiger recieves the ball when he is centred on the axis.

The Diagram: "axis in korfball"

The Wolf in the Line - Up

Photo 1: Cor Mantel (Stuntmantel) Photo 2: Willem Kracht


Photo 3: Wim de Brijne Photo 4: Lieke Meijling

The Wolf
The Wolf is the most social role in the attack. She/ He has a good feeling for the needs of Tiger and Panther. She / he is empathic and can imagine the time and space Tiger and Panther needs for their “final” action: a goal chance.
The Wolf can support the Tiger and Panther in the best way if she / he is able to operate as a killer too.

The capabilities of the Wolf are:

* The most important quality of the Wolf is feeding the Tiger and the Panther.
The second task is to be an important link when the ball is transported all around the division so that all the roles can come in their positions. During the building up of the attack The Wolf can prepare the timing / the moment to come to the best feeding position.


* The Wolf is a killer. But she / he needs this quality to prepare her core tasks: feeding Tiger and Panther and transporting the ball. The Wolf has a very good shot from the short distance around the post. It is very special if she / he makes more that 10 shots during a match. Mostly the number of shots are between 5 – 10. The scoring percentage from the area where she starts supporting Tiger and Panther is: 16 – 30 %.

* The Wolf who fakes to come in a feeding position ( = just in front of the post and on the line Tiger _______________Post) and brings her Guard in a position that the Guard has to make a choice: going for front defence or going for back defence and give 1-1, is a false Wolf. She / he brings the Guard in a trap. The false Wolf brings her Guard to a point of definitive choice. When the Guard makes the choice for front defence, the false and smart Wolf uses her his positioning for seizing a free shot position and goal chance.

* The Wolf starts to operate on the continue of the line / axis: Tiger ___________ Post. By doing that she / he forces the personal Guard to focus on her or when the Guard does not want to do that she / he can get a free position on the back side of the Guard.

* The Wolf is able to give a goal chance to Tiger or Panther by feeding in the right way. The right way is depending on the specials of the Tiger or Panther. She / he knows when to give the pass (timing and tempo) and how to give the pass (position, direction and speed). The Wolf knows exactly the needs of Tiger and Panther to come into a goal chance.

* The action radius seems not to be large. But she / he operates during building up as a crucial link. During building up she / he can pass the ball very precisely over long distances.

* The Wolf is mentally composed and calm. She can handle the stress of the Tiger and Panther. She is socially smart.

* The Wolf is mostly a player of average height.

* Mostly The Wolf is a female player.

* The best Wolf can rotate as a Panther. A few can fill in the role of the Bear because they have an unique body height

The Panther in the Line-up

Jorrit Bergsma and Marijke van den Berg are very good Panthers.

Photos: Elke de Gram en Peter Besemer

The Panther

The composition of the LINE-UP demands players to take on different roles. It is not very effective to play the attack with only (or too many) Tigers. These Tigers will become rivals instead o companions. The Panther is playing in the shadow of the Tiger. We could call him a “shadow striker” or a “shadow attacker”.

The capabilities of the Panther are:

* The Panther is a killer. This players shots are very successful. The number of attempts during a match are between 10 – 18. The scoring percentage is between 20 - 30%. So The Panther makes normally less shots than the Tiger during a match but his / her output is high and important for the total score.

* The Panther is not as good as a Tiger when fighting a duel with a Guard. The Panther makes profit of the pressure of the Tiger. When the Tiger is fighting in a duel, the Tiger asks attention of the defence. In these special moments the Panther can get a free position. The Panther operates at a tempo just behind or besides the Tiger. Normally he /she starts also 6-8 meters from the post.

* The Panther is always moving. This player tries to move in an area so that his Guard cannot see the ball or give to his opponent just a glimse of the position of the ball. The Panther can wait and can choose his/her moment for to kill. He / she has the patient to select the moments to go for a free position and go for a shot. The Panther is mentally always ready but he /she is prepared but he / she can wait. The Panther is aware that he / she does not get so many possibilities to strike. But when their is a chance the Panther is totally ready, in (mental and physical) balance.

* The Panther is also a very good passer. He/she can help the Wolf to transport the ball during the building up of the attack. With the long pass he/she can change the directions of the attack and also assist the Tiger, Wolf and Bear.

* During rotation of roles in the attack the Panther can chance his/her role with the Tiger and can also take the role of the Wolf. Rotation in the attack is necessary. Tactically rotation is very surprising for the defence, the danger is coming from unexpected sides. In attacks where players don’t rotate the roles, the structure of the attack is easily to understand for the defence.