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TEAM HANDBALL OVERVIEW History: Modern team handball had its inception in Germany about 1895. It was originally called “field handball.” It was played outdoors, while today’s game has basically moved indoors. The earliest international match was March 8, 1935, between Sweden and Denmark. It was introduced into the Olympic Games during the 1936 Berlin Olympiad as an eleven-players-per-side outdoor game. When reintroduced in 1972 during the Munich Olympiad, it was a seven-players-per-side indoor game, which had been the standard team size since 1952. By 1977, there were some 70 countries affiliated with the International Handball Federation. They hold a World Cup competition and have over 10 million participants. Team handball is a fast and furious court game. It is a rigorous sport with a high level of physical contact and lots of action. It is considered to be second only to pelota (Jai-Alai) as the fastest team game in the world, and it is thus an ideal spectator sport. The cantaloupe-sized, stitched-leather ball, similar to a small soccer ball, is thrown at speeds of 50 m.p.h. or more by the human arm. Goalies are especially dependent upon quick reaction time. It is a simple and inexpensive game, requiring a minimum of equipment, and is played by men and women of all ages. The duration of the game depends upon the age and sex of the participants. Rules of the game are controlled by the International Handball Federation. Participation by women’s teams in Olympic competition began in Montreal in 1976. Synopsis: Team handball is played somewhat like soccer, but with hands instead of feet. The aim of team handball is to score goals, and play is centered almost exclusively around the goal areas rather than in midfield. This is very similar to basketball as opposed to soccer; in soccer there is a lot of midfield play. Players make up two teams, usually seven-per-side, with up to five substitutes, although five-per-side teams have been recently introduced by the British Handball Association. Players pass or dribble the ball with their hands until a shooting opportunity is created. The opposition establishes a defensive formation around their goal area to protect it. The winning team is the one that scores the most goals in the allotted time. Games may be played individually or in the form of tournaments and normally take place on an indoor court, although an outdoor field is still acceptable. Other background sources: See The Rule Book, pages 188-93, for the best description of the technical rules. It also has some good illustrations. See Rules of the Game: The Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia of All the Sports of the World, pages 1346, for more good facts, illustrations and technical rules. The Rand McNally Illustrated Dictionary of Sports, pages 52-3, has most of the terms and definitions characteristic of team handball. TEAM HANDBALL DICTIONARY OF TERMS See the Rand McNally Illustrated Dictionary of Sports, pages 52-3, for most basic definitions. Other definitions: Attack: An attack on the opponent’s goal. A rush. Attack Shots: Basically four classic types of shots designed to score goals for the offensive team. 1. Jump shot 2. Set shot 3. Dive shot 4. Reverse shot Extra-Time: Overtime periods Four Meter Line: Goalkeepers line Handballer: A team handball player Nine Meter Line: Free throw line Player Positions: Team handball players are assigned the following positions: 1. Backcourt players 2. Wing players 3. Circle or pivot players 4. Goalkeepers 5. Shooters. They are the key point makers and usually range in height from 6’3” to 6’9” on men’s teams in Olympic caliber competition. Reverse Shot: One of the classic attack shots taken while facing away from the goal and then whirling around to shoot Rush: An attack on the opponent’s goal Safety Zone: A border space around the 40 meter by 20 meter playing court to prevent players from running into walls during the course of action. This zone is usually at least 2 meters wide beyond each goal line and 1 meter wide beyond each side line. Set Shot: One of the classic attack shots taken at the head or shoulder level Seven Meter Line: Penalty line Shoot: The act of throwing the ball towards the opponent’s goal Tackling: This is legal defensive play in which the defensive player may use his hands or arms to gain possession of the ball. He may use his open hand to play the ball from an opponent. He may use his torso to obstruct an opponent. VISUAL SKILLS IMPORTANT FOR TEAM HANDBALL Visual Acuity: Both static and dynamic visual acuity are important in the fast-moving visual sport of team handball. Peripheral Vision: This is a very essential skill for superior performance in a game like team handball. Depth Perception: This is necessary for accurate attacks on goal, passing and evaluating the defensive positions of opponents, etc. Eye Motility: Eye tracking ability is important in team handball. Quick, accurate saccades are needed to survey rapidly the locations and movements of the other 13 players and the ball in relationship to the goal, boundary lines, etc. Eye-Hand/Body/Foot Coordination: All are helpful to performance for a team handball player. Visualization: This could be very useful for a team handball player, particularly when shooting penalty throws or free throws or when learning team play schematics. The rest of the game is so fast moving, the player doesn’t have time to think and visualize using the five step technique. He or she must simply react. Speed of Recognition Time: This is an essential visual skill for a team handball player (especially the goalies). Opportunities to get a shot off, block an attack on goal, make a pinpoint pass in traffic situations, etc., only present themselves for fractions of seconds. Speed of Focusing: Also important in team handball because the ball and other players move quickly and one has to be able to shift focus from near to far or intermediate targets rapidly throughout the contest while general body stamina is running down due to heavy exertion. Glare Recovery Speed: Of some minor importance in team handball due to bright lighting inside gymnasiums. However, rules such as the ball being uniform in color and of non-shiny (matte) surface finish to prevent reflections, minimize the problem. Ability to See in Dim Illumination: Not an important factor for team handball players unless it is an outdoor game (field handball) played near dusk. Most games are in gyms, however. Ability to Withstand Eye Fatigue Without Decreased Performance: This is important in team handball because it is a very fatiguing sport that requires a lot of running, jumping, and constant concentration. Playing periods are two 30-minute sessions of all-out activity separated by a short 10-minute interval. Color Perception: Color is used in team handball in the following ways: 1. Colors identify the teams the players are on for accurate passing and defensive play. 2. Goal posts and crossbars are painted with contrasting bands of color to make them stand out from the background. Each rectangle of color is about 20 cm long. 3. Team captains must wear an armband about 4 cm wide of a color contrasting with their shirts. Otherwise, color isn’t critical to a team handball player’s performance. Eye Dominance: Of some interest probably, but it is not as critical a factor in this sport as it is in baseball hitting, rifle shooting or archery. Could use for placing of team players on floor. Fixation Ability: Fixation is critical for shooting and passing mainly. Most shots (attacks on goal) in team handball are made on the run. But in penalty throws and free throws, the player may be more stationary. The player needs to focus quickly on his/her target (the weak point in the 6 square meters the defensive position goalie is trying to protect). Then the player must execute the shot and follow through by retaining fixation on the spot where he/she wants the ball to go after the shot is released. So the sports vision consultant should advise team handball players to center on their target’s finest detail and then execute their shot while maintaining their target fixation after the shot is released. Visual Memory: Past experience and the number of proper shots, passes, fakes, steals, etc., on file in the visual memory, combined with some good visualization techniques for certain aspects of their sport, etc., could be a big factor in the steadiness and consistency of a team handball player. Central/Peripheral Awareness: This is an essential skill for a team handball player on both defense and offense. The offensive player has to be peripherally aware of potential teammates to pass to, opportunities for attacks on goal, and where defensive players (who are ready to steal the ball) are positioned, etc. Spatial Localization: Knowing where you are relative to other objects is very important in team handball because the traffic patterns on the court can become very congested, especially the closer you get to one of the goals. Team handball is a fast-moving sport in which both the athletes and the targets (especially in passing the ball) are in constant relative motion. VISUAL SCREENING/TESTING PROCEDURES INDICATED FOR TEAM HANDBALL PLAYERS Visual Acuity (Static and Dynamic) 1. Normal Snellen 2. Vectographic 3. Autorefractor 4. Record player with visual acuity disk at three speeds (33, 45, 75 rpm) 5. Tachistoscopic Acuity Peripheral Vision Dicon, Synamed Fieldmaster, etc. Depth Perception 1. Randot - distance 2. Stereo Circles - projected at distance 3. Stereo Fly - near 4. Randot - near 5. Consider timing the testing on the Randots Eye Motility 1. Eye Track a. This quantifies graphs on paper b. Good for before/after studies c. Athletes and coaches can see if progress has been made. 2. Wayne Saccadic Fixator a. Pursuits b. Saccades c. Rotations Eye-Hand/Body/Foot Coordination 1. Wayne Saccadic Fixator a. Normal use with the hands b. Footboard use, which brings in the team handball player’s balance system 2. Strobe Light - Creates more visual noise, so the athlete has to concentrate more Visualization 1. No specific testing 2. The principles can be taught and trained, however. Speed of Recognition Time 1. Tachistoscope 2. Computerized Anaglyphic Trainer Speed of Focusing 1. Wayne’s near/far fixation module (in 30 seconds, a good score = 15) 2. Flippers (for near only) +/- 2.00 D (2 seconds = normal response) Ability to Withstand Eye Fatigue Without Decreased Performance 1. Ask the team handball player (or their coach) whether he/she is a consistent performer throughout the game. 2. Do a complete evaluation of all pertinent visual skills before and immediately after a game or hard workout. Fixation Ability 1. Eye Track 2. Dicon perimeter, which beeps when the subject loses fixation Visual Memory 1. No specific testing 2. The principles can be taught and trained, however. Central/Peripheral Awareness 1. Wayne Saccadic Fixator with “stick-ups” and gun you fire at the light a. Mode 1 = 15 or greater = good b. Mode 2 = 5 is pretty good 2. Dicon or Synamed Fieldmaster Spacial Localization 1. Phorias a. Base-In b. Base-Out 2. Brock String 3. Computerized Anaglyphic Trainer VISION TRAINING TECHNIQUES INDICATED FOR TEAM HANDBALL PLAYERS 1. Visual Acuity Keep the athlete in current glasses/contact lenses for best visual acuity if an Rx is needed. Soft contact lenses are usually the lens of choice for this sport. But firm lenses and glasses are also used quite frequently when soft contacts are ruled out for some reason. 2. Peripheral Vision a. Awareness of peripheral vision can be enhanced (see under central/peripheral awareness). b. If a visual field defect is present, the team handball player can be counseled as to how to compensate by orienting his/her game toward negating the weak point. 3. Depth Perception Stereopsis is the ultimate of good binocularity. So train binocularity (BI and BO reserves) and stereo should improve with enhanced visual functions. b. Red/Green Sports Tranaglyphs from Bernell can help build ranges. a. 4. Eye Motility Pegboard Rotators Arneson Corrector (Audio Feedback mechanism) Computerized Anaglyphic Trainer Wayne Saccadic Fixator Eye-Hand/Body/Foot Coordination a. Wayne Saccadic Fixator a. b. c. d. 5. Normal use with the hands Footboard use helps train the team handball player’s balance system in response to the visual signals he/she is getting off the board. Strobe Light - The athlete has to concentrate more due to the increased visual noise. This might be good for drills during practice sessions (especially for goalie drills) 1) 2) b. 6. Visualization An example will be given as to how to use the principles of visualization for enhancing penalty throws or free throws. a. Analyze: Move to the 7 m line (penalty throw) or 9 m line (free throw), depending on what type infringement was made by the opponents. Look at the 6 square meter goal rectangle (2 meters high by 3 meters wide) and study the goalie’s defensive position for any weak points. b. Visualize: Precede your performance with a visual picture of the desired action. Decide where you want to place the ball in order to get it past the goalie. See the trajectory of the ball as it leaves your hand. See it heading toward the smallest possible detail of your target as you continue to fine tune visually on that spot. This is called “centering.” c. Centering: Fine center on the smallest possible visual detail you can pick out in the goal area where you’ve decided to place your shot based on your analysis of the goalie’s weak point. Develop a solid awareness of your target, but don’t stare at it for a long time before shooting. Make the fine centering a very brief concentration on the target. d. Execute: Release your shot while fine centering at the last possible second on your predetermined small target. Do not break eye contact with that spot until the shot either passes the goalie’s defense safely for a score...or misses, is blocked and rebounds away. e. Playback: Try to do this after all penalty throws and free throws in practice sessions (both good and bad). This may be too difficult to try to do under game conditions because team handball is so fast moving it’s largely a game of reactions once the game is on. But good shooters are made in practice — not in games. And the playback portion of the visualization sequence can be used extensively in practice to develop one’s shooting. Playback is visualizing the complete sequence of making or missing your shot again and reviewing all the visual images you centered on. This will help to reinforce whatever there was to learn from that shot (good or bad) for future visual memory. 7. Speed of Reaction Time a. Train this visual skill with the same instruments used to measure or test this skill. b. Instruments: 1) Tachistoscope (Targets = shapes, tic-tac-toe, numbers, letters, etc.) 2) Computerized Anaglyphic Trainer c. Make progressions for your team handball athletes from easy toward most difficult. 8. Speed of Focusing a. Red/Green anaglyphic accommodative rock b. Wayne Saccadic Fixator c. Flippers 9. Ability to Withstand Eye Fatigue Without Decreased Performance Use the five steps of visualization on all penalty throws and free throws to enhance concentration and give the player a definite plan of attack for at least that part of his/her game. This will pull the player through the competition even when he/she is fatigued and at a low emotional level. It should help provide consistency so the team handball player won’t be so erratic. 10. Fixation Ability Counsel the team handball player to fine-focus (center) on the smallest possible detail he/she can see on his target (whether shooting or passing). b. The shorter the amount of time he/she fine-focuses on the target, the more intense his/her focusing ability will be. c. Maintain your fixation point after you release the ball until it actually reaches its target. a. 11. Visual Memory This is where the playback phase of visualization (Step 6e) pays big dividends. It helps you build your frame of reference. b. Later you can use this frame of reference to visualize the things you’ve done to succeed in the past under similar circumstances. c. The Memory Book by Jerry Lucas is a good reference book for understanding and applying principles of visual memory more fully. a. 12. Central/Peripheral Awareness a. Wayne “stick-ups” are good for training. b. As you go about your day, just concentrating on how much detail you can gather from your periphery without actually looking over at the details directly (with central vision) is great training for this visual skill. c. This skill isn’t something that is developed overnight. You have to work at it daily until you’re good at it. The skill should transfer well to your team handball game, however. 13. Spatial Localization a. Train with the same instruments and equipment you use to measure and test this skill. b. Instruments: 1) Brock String (in all 9 positions of gaze) 2) Computerized Anaglyphic Trainer SPORTS VISION PROBLEMS/SOLUTIONS RELATED TO TEAM HANDBALL Problems Solutions Safety Risks: Probably a finger in the eye is the most common (or an elbow or another player’s head). This is particularly likely to occur around the goal area lines where it is most congested. Protective goggles with polycarbonate lenses are probably the ultimate protection from abrasion and most trauma. Even a soft contact lens is better than the naked corneas as far as protecting from a fingernail, etc. Vision Correction Needed: Playing team handball with blurry vision could decrease performance, especially in shooting, passing, avoiding potential injury, knowing the time on the game clock, etc. Contact lenses are usually best for team handball players. Soft contacts are probably the lens of choice, if possible. Sports straps on glasses are usually needed if the player is wearing glasses. Contact Sport: The modern game of team handball permits a lot of contact and bumping. Wear soft contacts — they won’t be dislocated as easily as firm lenses or glasses. Have an ocular emergency first aid kit with the trainer so eye traumas can be dealt with swiftly and properly. High Velocity Projectiles: A team handball can be a very fast moving object that can easily break There is not too much you can do about this risk — it’s just “part of the game.” The quicker the team noses and create eye trauma despite its rather large size. handball player’s vision system can process visual information, the less likely he/she will be injured in this fashion. Fogging of Glasses: This is a sweaty sport and drops of sweat on the back of a player’s glasses can be a problem. Anti-fogging compounds can be helpful. Have a soft cloth on the bench to wipe off lenses during time outs and breaks in play. Better yet, wear soft contacts, if possible. Playing with Only One Usable Eye: Team Handball is a sport that has a fairly high risk of eye injury. Some visual skills will be reduced in a monocular or amblyopic player. The player and his parents should be counseled that this is risky and why. PROTECTIVE/CORRECTIVE EYEWEAR FOR TEAM HANDBALL 1. 2. 3. 4. Sports goggles and glasses with polycarbonate lenses Sports straps for glasses with polycarbonate lenses Firm contact lenses - preferably gas permeable firm lenses if the player can’t be fit with soft contacts; also colored lenses for easier location on the court if they are dislodged during a game Soft contact lenses - the corrective method of choice for most team handball players MOST COMMON OCULAR INJURIES SUSTAINED IN TEAM HANDBALL 1. Corneal abrasion 2. Trauma to the globe from fingers, ball, elbows, knees, other players’ heads, etc., with subsequent secondary complications 3. Lacerations around the orbit, lids, or globe itself EMERGENCY FIRST-AID FOR OCULAR INJURIES SUSTAINED IN TEAM HANDBALL Trainers should be taught how to perform the following: 1) Proper lavage and rinsing of an eye with a foreign body 2) Instillation of ophthalmic drops 3) Application of a proper lubricant to an injured eye prior to application of a pressure bandage 4) Handling contact lenses (hard and soft) and removal of them from the eyes OCULAR SUPPLIES FOR THE TEAM HANDBALL TRAINER’S FIRST-AID KIT Sterile saline eyewash Artificial tears Q-tips DMV (hard contact lens remover) Fluorescein strips Black light penlight Regular penlight Polysporin ointment Oval eye pads Dermacel tape 1” Spare contact lenses for all players wearing contact lenses (properly labeled) Trial size storage/disinfectant solution for soft contact lenses Some butterfly tape strips to hold lacerated skin areas together Small mirror for application/removal of contacts by the players themselves MISCELLANEOUS COMMENTS 1. If you knew your athletic income could be over a million dollars over the next 10 years, would you be willing to remove any obstacles to improve your performance? 2. Vision is the dominant sense for team handball and most other sports. 3. Five times as much brain cortex is related to vision as all other senses combined. 4. As much as 80% of all information reaches the human brain through the eye gate. 5. 80% of the optic nerve fibers connect directly to the cortex. 6. 20% of the optic nerve fibers connect to balance and posture control centers in the brain. REFERENCES 1. Diagram Group. Rules of the Game: The Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia of All the Sports of the World. New York, NY: Paddington Press, 1974:134-6. 2. Wright G. Rand McNally Illustrated Dictionary of Sports. Chicago, IL: Rand McNally & Co., 1978:52-3. 3. Diagram Group. The Rule Book. New York, NY: St. Martin’s Press, 1983:188-93. 4. McWhirter N. Guinness Book of Sports Records, Winners and Champions. New York, NY: Sterling Publishing, 1980:174-5. ©1998 American Optometric Association