Korfball Coaching Theory [1]

 

As coaches, we look at a korfball match through special glasses. Those glasses are coloured by our vision / philosophy[2], the Action Theory. When we, as coaches, communicate about a match, it is important that we use the same way of looking at it (the philosophy). With our philosophy, we try to use the same contextual language so that there is no misunderstanding. 

 

Many coaches use non-contextual terms when they report their observations.  It is often said of a player that he/she has a beautiful technique, or has no confidence, or lack of fitness. Technique and condition (stamina) can be described separately from the context.  Technique refers to the way the execution of bodily movements is performed, the term condition (or fitness) is usually used to identify structures and processes within the body on which they are based.  Technique and condition are traditionally seen as two fundamentals of korfball. They are considered two ‘physical’ pillars on which korfball should be founded on.  We have a different opinion. Not in the sense that no attention should be paid to each, but in our opinion, they are not sustainable and fruitful starting points for a proper korfball theory. When ‘technique’ and ‘condition’ are viewed as isolated factors, the goal, and the laws of the game (see: Korfball Theory, the characteristics of korfball) would have an extrinsic relationship to them, contrary to the contents of korfball. ‘Technique’ and ‘condition’ are ‘physical’ aspects of korfball. In addition to these two ‘physical’ aspects, one generally says that korfball also has a ‘mental’ or ‘psychological ‘aspect.[3]  What  Miscommunication slows down the (international) development of the korfball sport. This must be prevented. Therefore, it is necessary that coaches use universal korfball language and references. Less miscommunication allows for better exchange of korfball knowledge. This will improve the development of the korfball sport. 

 

Korfball language for example, is about shooting or about passing the ball, getting free as an attacker, defending 1 on 1. It is therefore desirable to use action language that names the action and use P, D, S, T.  (position, direction, speed, timing). Passing for example, is a player who passes the ball to reach a team-mate with the precise speed, at the right time. Then the team-mate steps out and can shoot to score. In the latter case, technique [4]is therefore a specification of passing and shooting. Often this is used the other way round in the conversation of coaches: passing and shooting as specifications of the technique. Then the communication is not clear and there is soon miscommunication. So, passing and shooting is the intention of the action. For example, a contextual description of a shot starts with the position of the shooter in the attacking zone and in relation to the korf; what is the position of his defender; is he faced and lined up at the korf; from where the shot starts, head height or chest height; which arc does the ball make; what is the result of the shot.

Technique is about the form of the execution of the action. Technique is a specification of the action. Most important is, are we able to act like we intent. If that does not work, we might have to look at the used technique.

 

The CDE reference (text by Raymond Verheijen 2020; edited by Ben C) 

 

Every korfball coach is familiar with terms such as technique, tactics, and fitness. Most people also know these components are not separate entities but influence each other in practice. Few coaches point out that there is a clear hierarchy between these components. They are all important but form a chronological point of view one component is higher order the other.

 

Communication

 

If we take a closer look at korfball actions in action language, we see that players are first communicating with their environment. In doing so they (un)consciously exchange information with, for example, other players. Just imagine an attacker receives the ball at the middle line. He is aware that he is starting an attack. Before doing so, he observes how the other fellow attackers move to different positions in the attacking zone. He knows the agreed tactics or game plan and first plays the ball on a short line deeper into the zone to the player who is offering himself on a short line. Meanwhile, another fellow attacker positions himself in the rebound position. The two remaining attackers try to move in such a way that their opponents cannot see the ball without taking a risk. If the defenders do want to see the ball, the attackers will read this and use it to gain a free position. The attacker with possession of the ball will read when attackers are free and will then pass the ball to allow the free attacker to shoot. 

In short there is constant non-verbal communication between team-mates and opponents. Non-verbal communication takes place by playing the ball in a certain way, running free or taking up a position. Non-verbal communication with the opponent is a form of surprise and confusion. The non-verbal communication can be supported by gestures and verbal communication. That is why Communication (C) is of highest order in korfball. Based on exchange of information, a player communicates a decision (D) after which he executes his decision (E). This explains the C, D and E reference. 

    

Tactics as a means to improve communication.

 

Communicating with the team-mates and the opponents is the first phase of every korfball action. After all, that is the moment when the interaction between the player and the other players in the korfball context begins. The communication between players can be improved by using tactics.   

Herby a simple example: The main attacker has an incredibly good shot. From about 8 metres, he scores 1 in 3. Therefore, he must be tightly defended in a 1 on 1, so that the attacker is not allowed to get free or has difficulty in getting free. If the attacker does manage to get into a free position, the ball must be passed to the player at the right moment and with the correct speed. If that happens, the defender will try to hinder the attacker in such a way that the attacker can delay the shot. Instead, he/she fakes the shot. The defender has stepped in and he/she can be passed for a running-in shot. For this to happen, the attacker must have a feed player in front whom he/she can play a return pass and to make the action of the running-in shot. It is possible that there was no feeding player in time when the attacker made a fake shot. Then the attacker made the wrong decision? As we know, playing korfball is a team sport so we must analyse whether something went wrong at team level, i.e., a miscommunication between players. In a team sport, the coach should not immediately judge the attacker who made the decision to go for the option of the running-in shot. In this example the team-mates of the attacker did not read the action of the attacker, the faked shot, and the option of the running-shot. There was miscommunication between the attacker and the team-mates. In other words, the failure of running-in option instead of distance shot happened at the team level. 

This miscommunication between teammates can be avoided with the help of a simple tactical agreement. There are several options for this. When the main attacker makes an action to get free, another player immediately gets into a position to support him/her which is to offer himself in the line between the post and the main attacker (2-2), or the rebound player steps out of the rebound position and offers himself to that line. 

In short, the meaning of tactics in korfball is to improve the (non-)verbal communication between teammates and reduce the risk of miscommunication and misunderstandings. 

On the other hand, tactics are tools to try creating miscommunication, with opponents, to deceive them. If the coach spots a weakness in the playing style of the opponent, he/she might decide to develop a specific tactic so set a trap. Based on this tactic he hopes to create game situations which will expose opponents’ incompetent actions resulting in confusion and subsequent miscommunication between these opponents. A simple example is that the coach expects that the players read their personal opponent. What is his/her preference side in the 1 on 1 duel? Is the opponent right-handed or left-handed? Tactic plans can be used from team level to individual level to achieve success.

 

Cde Training

 

A training session in which the (non-) verbal communication between players is overloaded is traditionally called a tactical training.  The coach forces players to deal with all kinds of new and demanding game situations with the aim of improving mutual communications. In korfball arrangements such as 4-4; 3-1 and 2-2; front defence; back defence, the communication between players will be complex. It forces players to communicate with many different components in the context at the same time. Within the CDE reference such tactical overload is symbolised as follows: Cde. There is an overload on C(ommunication) while all other components are still present in underload. This prevents people from interpreting tactical training as a form of training in which only the tactical aspect is considered, and all other korfball components are missing. The term ‘Cde training’ makes it clear that all components are always present and are interlinked.

 

Communication and perception

 

Some people think that perception and not communication is of the highest order in korfball. The attacker who makes the fake shot while the defender steps in too far, perceives that there is an assister so he can pass the ball and goes for the running-in shot.  This two-way traffic between players is what we call communication. The perception of the attacker and the assister is an integral part of communication. Perception is a pre-condition for being able to communicate. In team sports information is exchanged not in one (perception) but two (communication) directions. A korfball action is the interaction of a player with the korfball context. Therefore, the perception of a korfball player is a part of his/her overall action with the korfball context. So, perception does not precede the action. Perception is part of the action.  Perception is part of communication which, in turn, is part of the action. 

 

Decision =execution? 

 

 A flaw within the perception-action in the context of team sports is the fact that this concept suggests that there is only a decision once there is an execution. In other words, the execution represents the decision. Ideally, a player’s execution overlaps 100% with his decision (intention). But in korfball this does not always happen. A player might decide to pass the ball to the attacker in free position. But the attacker could not go for the shot, when the pass was far too high, and the ball goes out of play. In other words, a decision and the execution of this decision do not necessarily have to match. 

 

Game insight: making decisions based on reading the context.

 

In the examples teammates and opponents communicate verbally and non-verbally to the main attacker and to the assister. Based on this two-way information exchange, the main attacker then makes a decision on game insight and so does the feeder. The quality of a player’s decision is of course strongly influenced by the quality of the communication between players.

 

cDe training

  

In the CDE reference, the D stands for ‘Decision making’. A game insight training session consists of arrangements with overload on decision making by players.  The coach puts higher demands on players than they used to. For example: they must make their decisions faster or must choose from more complicated options. Within the CDE reference, such a game insight training is symbolised as follows: cDe training. Overload takes place on D(ecision making) while all other aspects of korfball actions continue to play a role. Not so long ago the running-in shot was always performed with two hands, Due to the current application of the playing rule of ‘defending shooting’ there are now all kinds of versions of the running-in shot.

 

Executing a decision (korfball technique)                               

 

After a player has made a decision, he/she will have to execute that decision. There are two different components within a korfball action. In the example of the feeder passes the ball to an attacker in a free position so that he/she can shoot. But the feeder passes the ball incorrect, too high and ball went out of play. The feeder’s intention was to play the ball to the attacker so he/she can make the shot but failed in executing that decision. In that case, it was an incorrect execution of a correct decision. The execution of a decision is called korfball technique. So, in korfball ‘technique’ means the execution of a decision.

 

cdE training

                                                                                                                                                  

A training arrangement without opponent(s) lacks the element of decision making (D) and, therefore also the execution of decisions (E). This is not korfball technique training. It is only non-contextual technique training. Miscommunication and poor decision making are the two worst enemies of cdE training. Too much misunderstanding between players would force the coach to switch to a Cde training to solve the miscommunication. And improving the execution of bad decisions is also an option. In that case, the session would turn into a cDe training as the coach has to emphasise better decision making first before he can focus on the better execution of good decisions during a cdE training. I.e.: The feed to an attacker can be quite different. When the attacker is totally free the pass has a different line and different speed and timing than when the attacker is hindered by the defender. The defender also influences the form of the pass.

  

CDE: the korfball ability of a player

                                                                                                                      

The conclusion is that a korfball action, i.e., the interactions of a korfball players in the korfball context, consists of three phases: 1. Communication. 2. Decision making,3. Executing decisions. This applies to every player and every coach. That is why it is called universal korfball reference. 

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[1] See: Ben Crum. (2012) The IKF Guide to Korfball Coaching. Verheijen Raymond. (2020) Football Coaching Theory

[2] See: article ‘Korfball Theory”

[3] In a next article this will be reflected under the title: ‘Performance behaviour’.

[4] In the context of korfball technique primarily relates to the way the ball is played.  The move-action, ‘passing’ the ball to the hindered teammate can go hand in hand with the execution of different bodily movements.