Knowledge of Process and Knowledge of Results (Output)

Ben Crum, Following my experiences at some clubs, during February 2020

Translation by Johan Oosterling.

In top sport, it is common for (top) athletes to keep a diary about their performance behaviour and the corresponding experiences every day, such as the improvement points, the progression and also the disappointments, which they then have to put behind them and convert them into valuable lessons.

I don't know if there are korfball players who do this?

I used the words Knowledge of Process and Knowledge of Output for the evaluation of Saturday's League Matches.

A player learns and can improve if they are at all times aware of the result of their action in relation to the manner of their execution. To become more aware of your actions, knowledge of korfball is essentially required. I think this is important because I think that among other things, shooting (scoring) most korfball players can do much better and must do much better.

Good shooting and therefore a greater chance of scoring depends on a number of conditions.

Like a player noted: It starts with playing yourself free so that you get more time and space in order to create those conditions.

The conditions of shooting have been concisely discussed during the evaluation:

1. Balance: Shooting is measuring and execution, launching the ball, with an arc it is best if you stand on both feet. The shooter's center of gravity is at the launch above the focal point, the feet.  In modern Korfball there is a lot of stepping out on one leg and then the center of gravity of the shooter's body must be above that one focal point of the standing leg. I compare this action to throwing a dart at darts. The chance is that when you move while throwing the arrow at the board it will not easily give the desired score.

Now back to KP and KR: During the match you see player S.  score a lot. She usually scores on two feet. Player J. also prefers to shoot on two feet from afar. Two other players P. and K.  which have to play themselves free in a duel and by penetrating usually shoot on 1 foot and often shoot out of balance and therefore too forced.  They both miss too many shots. They do not yet have the right choice and control to make the decision of non-shooting or postpone the shooting and play with good insight.

2. Speed: When the shot is launched, the ball is given momentum. In fact, that speed is delivered to the ball by an interplay of strength and speed, which is called coordination.  This coordination is the collaboration of long muscles that work together over the joints from the feet (foot) to the hands to convey the right speed to the ball. Shooting is a total movement. When this movement is disturbed by the shooter's body falling backwards and the ball is launched forward, it looks like the darter who was already moving a dart whilst trying to throw it at the board. Measuring the speed of the ball is in motion provides a low level of accuracy. The chance of scoring is considerably low!                              KP and KR: When you sense (perception) that you are not in balance or can get in balance when receiving the ball then the output of the shot will be almost without a chance of scoring. Sometimes    you succeed and score anyway but that has more to do with luck and years of practice with luck.

3. Direction: There are scientific studies on the shooting in Basketball. One, of the questions asked here, is: 'how long should the shooter need to look at the basket so that the chances of scoring are high?'  Turns out a shooter only needs 1/3 of a second to see the basket to program the brain to shoot. But eye contact with the basket/korf is needed. When a player takes a ball with the back to the basket and then turns to shoot, that's not the best preparation (aiming) for the shot. For that, a 3-1 pattern in which three potential shooters can unlock each other is a better pattern than 2-2 where a feeder stands with their back to the post. For most teams, a 2-2 set up is now the most desirable in the competition, with two potential shooters being potentially available for one feeder. The direction of the potential shooters facing the korf is therefore set. In addition, the shooters must prepare the right direction at the last step. The final step often leads to a new (main axis), this is the line through the korf. The last step to the standing leg for balance is important for the direction.

KP and KR: After a change in direction, the ball assumption follows then the direction must be good due to a good placement of the standing leg. During the shooting, the shooter recognises the problem through their connection with the senses in their body (perception) and then you see forms of correction in the shooter. Often, however, they won't score.

4. Arch (trajectory):  it has been calculated what the best arc is to let the ball pass through the korf. When the ball approaches the korf at an angle between 22.5 and 45 degrees it can pass through the korf. The arc that ends at a 45 degree angle has the best chance. A flat shot will be difficult to pass through the plastic korf. A ball that drops perpendicularly above the basket (90 degrees) will be able to go silently but that arc is difficult to measure with a distance shot, because the ball has to be launched very high.

KP and KR: The result is easy, to check this that you do with your eyes. The launch, of course, has got some connection with the method of shooting. The players S. and J.  are of the 22.5 degrees. Player T.  tends towards a high arch perhaps greater than 45 degrees. I'm not surprised that  player J.  has the best shot. His arc approaches the 45 degrees.

Curry the NBA basketball player knows that good shooting is not only determined by aptitude. He trains on his structure for hours every day with the help of fixed exercises and the application of KP and KR. When you train structure, you get to know the 'good' body feeling that goes with a good shot.

Ben Crum februari 2020