Why one-on-one is the foundation of korfball for me

The game of korfball is dynamic and fast, involves a lot of passing and a lot of movement to get free, and is one of the few sports in which you can score from all around the goal. There are plenty of challenges that require working together, and that is also an essential part of the game of korfball. It is a true team sport. Still, I believe that the one-on-one duel forms the foundation for the development of youth players.

I think that with the youngest players the focus should be on two things: the ball and the children. It is about lots of ball contacts, enjoying the game and learning to get along with each other. That is why I use small-sided games as soon as possible. Games on small pitches and/or with numerical advantages are my favourites: lots of attempts on goal, lots of working together and lots of short movements. But what am I actually trying to teach my players within all those small-sided games?

When I looked at what a player constantly needs to be able to do in a match or small-sided game, I mainly came back to two elements: getting free and scoring. To create an attempt on goal, as an attacker you have to try to get into a good position. That often requires moving explosively, recognising space and daring to make a move. And when the opportunity arises, you also have to be able and dare to shoot. This involves many skills that are also essential in other korfball actions. That is why actions like these form the foundation of development for me. A player must be challenged to create space themselves and then also be able to do something with it.

Initiative is one of the qualities I often mention in this regard. With the younger players I have actually replaced that term with courage and boldness. I find those terms even more concrete. Of course players can help each other with, for example, a good move or pass, but a player who can create space themselves gives the team options and choices. If all four players can do this, it becomes a matter of working together and using the skills at the right moment. That is why, for me, good korfball begins with a player getting free on their own.

This also leaves plenty of room in training for my favourite small-sided games. In three against three or three against two, for example, new individual duels arise all the time. By playing with the numbers, tasks and spaces, I can adjust the level and shift the emphasis of the duel. Within all those situations you also develop many other skills, such as passing a teammate free, and it is ideal to combine with rebounds. And what about the defender, who plays an important role in the exercise at every training? When preparing a training session, I often ask myself the check question: Where can I challenge my players with a one-on-one duel?

So a training session of mine always includes a part with lots and lots of scoring and always a form of one-on-one. By that I mean a challenge for players to get free and score on their own. In addition, I usually also cover one of the other korfball skills in training, but that does not always have to be a separate exercise. In game situations, players are often challenged to take action themselves. How I deal with that as a coach is the subject of the next article.

What do you think is most important in the development of korfball players?