Relationship between the defensive efficacy and the technical-tactical elements of handball from the speeches of experienced coaches

The aim of this work was to identify the main handball technical-tactical defensive elements (individual and collective) related to the defensive efficacy. We interviewed four experienced coaches (average time of activity = 23.5 ± 7 years) featured on the national scene, with the application of a semi-structured interview instrument to collect these speeches. The speeches were tabulated, analyzed and interpreted based on Collective Subject Discourse (CSD) method. The individual technical-tactical defensive elements revealed by coaches as relevant for defensive efficacy were: coverage, marking, floating, dissuasion, blocking and fast displacement. The collective technical-tactical elements mentioned by coaches were: tipping facility (displacements in the same direction of ball), fold, sliding, counter blocks and exchange marking. Both categories of elements suggest solving tasks in a specific manner, while maintaining a defensive balance in depth and width.

Sport pedagogy; Team sports; Handball