Against the dribbling ban Klaus Feldmann There is hardly a myth that has been preserved longer and more persistently, than that a game becomes faster and better if dribbling is not allowed. In the same way, a game is then low in calories, environmentally friendly, etc. But all jokes aside, in nearly all training forms (small games, basic games and handball variations) the dribbling ban is on the methodical repertoire of many coaches. The paper does not want to and cannot answer the question "Why". However, it will attempt to deliver arguments for Why not! Game-structural preliminary ideas Based on their play structure, the big games (they have an identical set of rules worldwide and they are played in national and international championships) can be divided into two main groups: Goal-shot games and Shot-back games. Football, basketball, (ice) hockey and handball on one hand, and tennis, table tennis, badminton, volleyball on the other, are the most popular big games. The basic differences between these two categories are shown below, in Table 1. Space Goal-shot games both teams operate in the same space at the right time Shot-back games spatial separation of the teams through a net (exception: Squash) Time predefined game time in halves, thirds or quarters no predefined game time Goal/result goals or points achieved; victory, defeat or draw possible Ball possession more open ball possession with no time limitations avoid a successful shot-back; points are clustered into sets; no draw possibility unequivocal and brief ball possession with limited number of ball contact per player / team Table 1 In all goal-shot games, certain situation appear, which the player should be able to solve through sport-specific movements (= techniques). The most pleasant situation is the socalled goal-shot, i.e. the shooting, hitting or throwing of the playing tool in the aim. A shot or header in football, a blow-shot in hockey, a lay-up in basketball and a step-shot in handball although widely different from a movement-technical perspective, they serve an identical sense and purpose: the executing player wishes to achieve a point or a goal. Unfortunately, a player is not always placed in a position, which would directly allow him to achieve a goal. After the opposing team has lost control of the ball or the puck, it often still needs to be transported to the goal. This can happen in two ways: as an individual movement of a player or as team work of several players. In case of team cooperation, the players must be able to use two techniques: one for passing and one for stopping and controlling the ball.
The technique for the individual ball transport towards the goal is called dribbling or bouncing. In some goal-shot games, it is even clearly stated in the rulebook how this technique is to be carried out. If it is incorrectly executed (e.g., scooping while dribbling), the team is punished with ball loss. Dribbling belongs to handball just like catching, passing, or throwing. So far, so good......, but the question remains: what is the outcome of the dribbling ban and what negative consequences with relation to playing habits result from it? The following list of argumentation (without claiming to be complete) attempts to describe the effects of the dribbling ban on the player who possesses the ball, on the forward without the ball, and on the defender. It is up to the designated reader allowing him/herself to be persuaded. Alternatives Picture 1 shows a comparison of the possible action alternatives a player has after having received the ball. It is obvious, that his scope of action is limited under the dribbling ban, in contrast to the alternatives he has in the game without this additional rule. While under the dribbling ban the player must either throw the ball towards the goal or pass it on to a teammate within three seconds of possession, without this additional rule, he can make his way to the goal without losing his action alternative: at the end of the dribbling he can still throw the ball towards the target or pass it to another player. Picture 1 Space and time advantage What Picture 1 does not show, are two further advantages that the ball-possessing player has at his disposal through dribbling: space and time advantage. These two aspects are also of great importance in small games. If, for example, in a small game dribbling is forbidden, the ball-possessing player can only make three steps to free himself from the defender. In this case, the player will often use pivot, just like in basketball, and then deliver a lob-pass while under pressure by the defender. In these situations it would be helpful and normal for the attacking player to first free himself of the defender while in possession of the ball and move into a free space (space advantage) and then make a safe pass to another player. The ball-possessing player can, therefore, also gain time, which will allow his teammates to run free and get into the open space.
To threaten the opposing goal The most dangerous attacking player is the one who moves with the ball and high speed towards the opposing goal. It is very hard to find anything wrong about this basic statement. Whoever accepts this basic principle as a coach, he should then ask each and every of his players to move with high speed towards the opposing goal, every time they are in possession of the ball. Every coach would be happy to have six players on the court, who would run towards the goal every time they had the ball, for he would automatically have the basis for a strong team, dangerous in any position. However, it becomes a problem when the ball-possessing player does not orientate himself towards the opposing goal, let alone attempt to move towards the goal with the ball in possession. The dribbling ban hinders the player from being the most dangerous player. Position advantage instead of game advantage An undisturbed throw (thrower-against-goalkeeper situation) is perhaps the greatest possible advantage for the attacker. The easiest is to achieve the advantage while playing individually (an attacker needs to win the battle against the defender). Only the ballpossessing player has the direct game advantage (in the situation 1-against-1 with ball). An attacker without the ball has a position advantage (in the situation 1-against-1 without the ball). For the ball-possessing player, the game advantage occurs when he manages to play passed the defender and free himself to make a throw, for example through the use of feints and dribbling. An attacker without the ball has a position advantage if he can position himself in such a way, so that he either stands closer to the goal in comparison to his opponent and is still free (i.e. he is not standing in the defender s shadow), by standing on the same line as his opponent bur closer to the ball-possessing player or by playing the ball away from the defender, provided that there is enough place. fig. 1: Play advantage: the ball-possessing player has dribbled passed the defender; he can either score a goal or pass the ball to a free player, if the defender marking him prohibits him from doing so. fig. 2: Position advantage 1st position: an attacker runs passed the defender. He is now closer to the goal than his opponent and can receive the ball from the ball-possessing teammate.
fig. 3: Position advantage 2nd position: an attacker runs passed the defender. He is now on the same level as his opponent, but closer to the ball than the defender. and can receive the ball from the ball-possessing teammate. fig. 4: Position advantage 3rd position: an attacker runs passed the defender. He is now on the same level as his opponent, but further away from the ball than the defender (the attacker stands in the shadow of the defender). The higher value of the game advantage over the position advantage is obvious. An attacker who has achieved a position advantage must be seen by his teammate in ball possession be passed the ball. Only then does the position advantage turn into a game advantage. It is also clear at this point that the position advantage (win in the 1-against-1 without ball position) is more difficult to be achieved, as there is less space available in width and depth. During the game in large spaces, it is difficult to achieve a game advantage under the dribbling ban. This means that all five attackers without the ball should aim to win the 1- against-1 without ball (position advantage 1 st position). Consequently, the ball-possessing player often becomes the last player of his team and must pass the ball within three seconds, as the dribbling ban also allows no time advantages. As a result, the attackers without the ball need to turn back in order to make themselves available, preferably at the side behind the ball owner (3rd basic principle while in attack: Security of the ball-possessing player at the back). Attacker without the ball in the central game area There is a central game area in all goal-shot games. It can be defined as the area from which the attacker is able to realise a successful goal-shot. The following factors are to be considered: - distance to the goal - angle to the goal - level of the team (beginners / professionals) In big goal-shat games, the central game area is also marked by rule-technical areas: the penalty box in football, the 3-seconds zone in basketball and the free throw space in handball.
An offensive defence in handball (e.g., half court man to man) provides big gaps between the defenders (wide spaces) on one hand, and on the other hand, big and attractive deep spaces at the back of the defence, there where the central game area is. A defensiveoriented defence provides only small wide spaces and little or no deep space behind it. This way the attack gains an advantage: in comparison to the offensive defence, they can regulate their distance to the defence for themselves, and by doing so they are also under less pressure during the game development phase. Now, if under the dribbling ban all the players without a ball want to win the battle forward against their opponents (position advantage 1st position without ball), they run the risk of running against each other and blocking the central game area. This constitutes a violation of the 1st basic principle while in attack (open the central game area). The problem here is, that there is no hierarchy in the between the five players without ball, in contrast to the 2nd basic principle while in attack (priority to the ball-possessing player). For the ball-possessing player this situation poses a challenge with big perception requirements, as he needs to observe all five 1-again-1 without ball situations simultaneously, in order to find the best option to play on the ball. Assistance in defence Defenders should also help their covered teammates in the so-called offensive defence, by observing their opponents and the ball. If the attacker in ball possession asserts himself in the duel, the defenders guarding the attackers without ball must decide whether and at which moment they will leave their opponents, in order to take on the ball-possessing attacker, instead. In a game under dribbling ban, after having won a duel, the player now in ball possession has no space to move to, as he is only allowed to make a maximum of three steps. Clever defenders are aware of this and, therefore, do not help. A defender will have to help in the 1-against-1 without ball situation, i.e. against the attackers who have asserted themselves in the other four 1-against-1 without ball situations. His perception should therefore be directed at his opponent and the other 1-against-1 without ball situations. This would be wrong, on one hand, and distressingly impossible on the other. Creativity Creativity in handball is defined as the capacity to find many solutions during a game situation, which will be original, varied, and at the same time appropriate. Research has shown that creativity cannot be produced under pressure, but that our brains rather need time to develop creative solutions. Based on this, it is highly doubtful if handball players can be creative in a game where the dribbling ban applies, being allowed a maximum of three steps and having the ball in their possession for only three seconds.