usa team handball tryout athlete guide

USA  Team  Handball  Tryout  Athlete  Guide  

The  Road  to  Rio  de  Janeiro  starts  NOW!  

info@usateamhandball.org  

Welcome  to  (Team)  Handball  

•  You  are  making  a  first  step  in  poten?ally  becoming  a  Na?onal  Pool  Athlete  eligible  for  nomina?on  to  a  USA  Team  Handball  Na?onal  Team.    We  want  to  create,  nurture  and  grow  a  dream  of  becoming  an  Olympic  caliber  handball  player,  bringing  home  gold  for  the  US!  

•  Good  luck  and  we  look  forward  to  not  only  providing  you  with  the  best  tes?ng  experience  but  also  the  best  athle?c  career  opportunity.  

•  Should  you  have  any  ques?ons  aMer  reviewing  this  presenta?on  regarding  the  process  and  tryout  procedures,  please  feel  free  to  contact  us    info@usateamhandball.org.    

Important  Pre-­‐Tryout  Considera@ons  

•  Complete  and  email  “Player  Informa?on  Card”  to  info@usateamhandball.org  

•  Manage  ?me,  travel,  and  cost  associated  with  trying  out  •  Be  in  top  physical  condi?oning  before  the  tryout  •  Learn  the  rules  of  the  game  and  fundamental  technical  skills  •  Iden?fy  and  take  advantage  of  your  transferable  skills  from  other  sports  to  your  handball  development    

•  Prepare  to  devote  several  years  to  becoming  a  top  handball  player  

•  Engage  in  training/playing  with  a  local/regional  club    

Handball  is  a  Contact  Sport  

VIDEO  RESOURCES  

Video  

Handball  is  a  Fast  Sport  

VIDEO  RESOURCES  

Video  

Physical  Abili@es  Required  

•  Short  and  Powerful  Bursts  

•  Anaerobic  Movements  (Video)  – Fakes  – Shots  – Contact  1  v  1  

•  Endurance(Video)  

Handball  is  a  Team  Sport  USA  Players  Need:  

Tac@cal  Intelligence  

Quick  Decision  Making    

Team  Work  

VIDEO  RESOURCES  -­‐  Pivos  -­‐  Pontas  

Key  Rules  of  Handball  

VIDEO  RESOURCES  Modern  Rule  Contact  1:1  

ANackers  Foul  

You  Have  to  Compete  and  Fight!  

•  We  Fight  for  Open  Space  •  We  Fight  to  Control  the  Ball  

•  We  Compete  with  our  Opponents    

 For  Both  (Space  –  Ball)    

 Within  the  Rules  of  the  Game  

The  Game  We  transport  the  ball  to  areas  where  we  have  the  best  chance  to  score.  

We  try  to  overcome  defenders,  going  into  the  space  between  them  or  making  a  powerful  1  v  1  move  (Fake-­‐Shot).    If  we  succeed  we  finish,  if  we  don’t  we  pass  the  ball  to  the  best  situated  teammate.  

All  of  this  requires  handling  the  ball  (Recep?on,  Steps,  Release:  Shoo?ng  or  Passing)  

Video  Resource  Ataque    

Tryouts  

What  are  we  looking  for  in  a  new  athlete?  

•  Quali?es  that  can  not  be  developed  with  training  

•  Quali?es  that  are  innate  and  put  him/her  ahead  of  the  rest.  

ANributes  for  Impact  

Height  –  Weight  MaNer  

Strength  and  Power  MaNer  – Speed  – Quickness  –  Jumping  Ability  

Ball  Skills  Ball  Handling  

•  Recep?on  •  Steps  •  Release  (Passing,  Shots)  

Throwing  Ability  

Shoo@ng  Quality  •  Variety  •  Accuracy  

Tac@cal  Intelligence  

Decision  Making  

Dynamic  and  Aggressive  within  the  rules  of  the  game  

Self  and  Emo@onal  Control    

Contact  Mentality  (Offense  and  Defense)  

Capacity  to  Read  the  Game  

Team  Work  

•  Posi@ve  approach  to  sports          (Handball  in  Par@cular)  

•  Ability  to  act  and  execute  as  a  team  

Physical  Tes@ng    

Jumping  Ability  

Medicine  Ball  Throws  (3-­‐5kg)  

Aerobic  Tes@ng  

Anaerobic  Tes@ng  (Agility)  

Speed  

What  To  Expect  During  Tryouts?  

The  actual  rou?ne  may  vary  and  will  be  decided  by  the  coaching  staff  but  you  should  be  prepared  to:  

•   do  your  own  warm-­‐up  rou?ne  •  be  tested  on  selected  fitness  components  (Athle?c  Standard  Index  

or  ASI)  such  as  speed,  agility,  jumping  ability,  endurance  as  well  as  morphological  variables  such  as  height,  weight,  upper  limbs  span,  hand  size  

•  be  challenged  physically  and  intellectually/mentally  to  solve  solve  and  make  court  decisions  including  1-­‐2  on  court  sessions  and/or  separate  theory  presenta?on  

•  par?cipate  in  mul?ple  passing/catching,  throwing  exercises  and  small-­‐side  games,  as  explained  above,  to  asses  your  handball  ap?tude  (Handball  Ap?tude  Index  or  HAI)    

•  meet,  team-­‐up  with,  and  compete  against  a  poten?ally  diverse  group  of  NT  hopefuls    

The  following  are  examples  of  drills  that  coaching  staff  may  use  during  the  

on-­‐court  tryout  sessions.  

All  are  subject  to  change  without  a  no@ce  at  USATH  coaching  staff  

discre@on.      

Tryout  Drills  

Pass  and  Go  Drill  

Long  Passes,  Running  Before  the  Ball  Drill  

Long  Passes,  Running  Before  the  Ball  Drill  -­‐  Anima?on  

O

O

OO

OO

O

O

O

O

Pass  Laterally  and  Go  Drill  

Pass  Laterally  and  Go  Drill  -­‐  Anima?on  

O OO

O

Pass  Laterally  and  Go  with  Defenders  

Pass  Laterally  and  Go  with  2  Defenders  

Shoo?ng  Drills  

3  v  3  Plus  1  support  

2  v  3  

2  v  2  One  Side,  2  v  1  Other  

2  v  2  One  Side,  2  v  1  Other  -­‐  Anima?on  

OO

OO

OPTION  1  OPTION  2  

O

2  v  2  in  the  Middle,  1  v  1  either  Side  

6  v  5  

5  v  4  

5  v  4  -­‐  Anima?on  

OO

OOO

4  v  4  

4  v  4  -­‐  Anima?on  

O

OO

O

Game  5  v  5  

3  v  3  Both  Sides  

3  vs.  3  (4  vs.  4)  Full  and  Half-­‐Court  

Evalua@on  of  Handball  Ap@tude  Evalua@on  Process  for  Court  Players:  Handball  Ap@tude  Index  (HAI)  consis@ng  of  4  observable  and/or  measurable  components  graded  on  5-­‐points  scale  (1-­‐5):  1.  Frame  2.  Offensive  Versa?lity  3.  Defensive  Versa?lity  4.  Intangibles  

We  are  looking  for  athletes  scoring  at  least  14-­‐15  points  on  the  HAI  (Max  score  is  4  x  5  =  20)    

Evalua@on  of  Handball  Ap@tude  Evalua@on  Process  for  Goalkeepers:  Handball  Ap@tude  Index  (HAI)  consis@ng  of  4  observable  and/or  measurable  components  graded  on  5-­‐points  scale  (1-­‐5):  1.  Frame  2.  Game  Ins?ncts  3.  Character  Traits  4.  Intangibles  

We  are  looking  for  athletes  scoring  at  least  14-­‐15  points  on  the  HAI  (Max  score  is  4  x  5  =  20)    

Evalua@on  of  Handball  Ap@tude  Scale:  1.   Never  or  very  seldom  =  nothing  there/

insignificant  2.   Rarely  to  some@mes  =  below  standard  but  

there  is  up@ck  poten@al  3.   Occasionally  to  quite  oden  =  average  but  solid,  

can  work  with  4.   Oden    to  Regularly  =  Good  to  very  good,  

desirable  5.   Most  of  the  @me  to  Always  =  superb,  

outstanding,  extraordinary,  special,  unique      

Evalua@on  of  FRAME  Evalua@on  Process:  We  will  be  considering  the  following  variables:  

•   Height, Weight, “Build”

•  Flexibility, Agility, Speed, Jumping Ability, Strength, Endurance, Balance, Coordination, •  Usage of Left/Right Hand, •  Hand size & arm span

•  Explosiveness & Power •  Reaction Time (GK only)  

Evalua@on  of  Offensive  Versa@lity  Evalua@on  Process:  We  will  be  considering  the  following  variables:  •   "being playable, open, free” •  making others "playable, open, free” •  "feeding" open space/partners •  throwing/passing •  “killer” instincts •  ball handling •  throwing mechanics

•  potential to play multiple positions

Evalua@on  of  Defensive  Versa@lity  Evalua@on  Process:  We  will  be  considering  the  following  variables:  

•     footwork & correct positioning between own goal and opponent, •  forcing opponents to make errors and/or risky decisions •  naturally blocking/stealing •  hedging, intercepting •  likes physical contact  

Evalua@on  of  Game  Ins@ncts  (GK)  Evalua@on  Process:  We  will  be  considering  the  following  variables:  •     footwork & movement, positioning in the goal, “tracking” the ball movement •  natural ability to react correctly to shots and save/touch the ball •  sacrifice body to save shots •  starts fast-break at every chance •  does not sit down, lift leg, overreacts, blink, close eyes, turns away from the ball, dives down •  interacts with defense, limits choices available to shooters  

Evalua@on  of  Character  Traits  (GK)  Evalua@on  Process:  We  will  be  considering  the  following  variables:  •     self-confident •  fearless •  aggressive but calm •  in control •  deals well with self-frustrations •  quickly focuses/refocuses

Evalua@on  of  Handball  Intangibles  Evalua@on  Process:  We  will  be  considering  the  following  variables:  •     "warrior, assassin, conqueror attitude •  tactical intelligence including: critical thinking decision making, focus, "reading" the game, fast and accurate processing information, anticipatory skills •  coachability, aggressiveness, innovation, creativity, leadership, self-motivation, self-image, independence in making decisions, perseverance, coping well with stress and adverse circumstances, self-efficacy  

What  To  Expect  Ader  Tryouts?  •  Within  2  weeks  aMer  the  tryout  you  will  receive  your  personal  evalua?on  form  via  email  and  our  recommenda?on  as  to  next  steps  you  should  take.      Some  athletes  will  be  added  to  our  NT  Pools,  become  eligible  for  future  NT  selec?ons,  and  invited  to  residency  program  while  some  will  be  encouraged  to  keep  prac?cing  and  playing  handball  at  the  club  level  first.  

•  The  good  news  is  that  with  ?me,  regular  dedicated  prac?ce,  and  compe??ve  experience  your  results  can  improve  drama?cally.      Thus,  stay  involved!    Take  advantage  of  your  local  handball  ac?vi?es  and/or  become  a  leader  and  create  those  opportuni?es  in  your  own  home  town.    

Thank  You  !  

 Javier  Garcia  Cuesta  –  MNT  Head  Coach  

Chris?an  Latulippe  –  WNT  Head  Coach  

Dave  Gascon  –  High  Performance  Director  

Mariusz  Wartalowicz  –  Technical  Director