TERMINOLOGY OF HANDBALL
By Zoltán Marczinka, A Comprehensive Study of Handball
AIRWORK: The player’s activity in the air.
ARM SWINGING FAKE: A faking technique.
ATTACK: The team’s activity with the aim to score and this starts with gaining possession of the ball and ends with losing it.
ATTACKER: Individual member of the attacking team.
ATTACK SYSTEM: An organised way of scoring which determines the duty, positioning and main movements of the attackers and co-ordinates the activity of individuals and groups according to the team’s plan.
BACK COURT PLAYER: The player who mainly carries out his activities in the second line of the attack, on the left or on the right side of the back court (LB / PB).
BACK HAND PASS: Passing behind the body with one hand.
BASIC FORMATION: The players’ characteristic positions set according to the team’s tactical plan in attack and in defence.
BASIC MOVEMENT: The extension of the basic position; a continuous characteristic movement of the player which makes it possible to be in an advantageous position against the opponent.
BASIC POSITION: The characteristic stance of the player from which the technical element of attack and defence can be carried out.
BODY FAKE: A faking technique.
BOUNCING: Repeatedly forcing the ball into the ground in basic position.
BOW SHAPE: The arc formed between the prepared ball and the back leg when in the throwing position.
BRACING STEP: The firm step taken by the player to temporarily stop his advance.
BREAKING THROUGH: The attacker’s penetration of the defence wall in the hope of goalshooting from close range.
BUILDING UP IMPETUS: The process by which the necessary moving force can be gained.
BUILDING UP THE ATTACK: The way to achieve a scoring position in the organisation phase of the attack.
CATCHING: Gaining possession of a thrown ball with one or two hands.
CENTRE BACK: The player who carries out his activities mainly in the second line the attack in the centre of the back court.
CHANGING POSITION: Co-ordinated interchange of place between two or more players with/out the ball.
CHECKING: A dynamic meeting between attacker and defender with the body and limbs, as permitted by the rules.
CHEST PASS: Passing with both hands at chest level.
CLOSED ZONE: A type of zone defence where the defenders tightly crowd around the goal-area line.
CLOSE MARKING: When the defender keeps his attacker under constant pressure by shadowing him within reaching distance.
CLOSE SHOOTING ZONE: Zone of the close range shots in the score dangerous area.
COMBINED ATTACK: An attack system in which the team can practically unite both mobile and static attack by creating the right proportion between free and set manoeuvres.
COMBINED DEFENCE: Comprises the best points of man-to-man defence and zone defence so that some players have zoning duty while others mark specified attackers.
COMPLETE FAST BREAK: The team’s way of implementing counter attack.
COUNTER-ATTACK: The first attack attempt after gaining possession of the ball when the defence is still disorganised.
CROSSING: A co-ordinated interchange of place between two or more players crossing each other’s path, with/out the ball.
CROSS STEP: A step combination to build up the impetus necessary for throwing.
CURVED DIVE SHOT: A goalshooting technique from the side shooting zone.
CURVED JUMP SHOT: A goalshooting technique from the long shooting zone.
CURVED SHOT: A goalshooting technique from the long shooting zone.
DEFENCE: The team’s activity with the aim to obstruct scoring.
LANDING: After finishing an activity in the air, the player touches the ground with his feet in a balanced position.
LOB SHOT: A goalshooting technique from the side shooting zone.
LONG JUMP SHOT: A goalshooting technique from the close shooting zone.
LONG SHOOTING ZONE: Zone of the long range shots in the score dangerous area.
LOWER CATCHING: Catching with both hands the ball z below waist level.
LOWER PASS: Passing with both hands below waist level.
MAIN DEFENCE LINE: The division of the defenders within a basic formation, includes those players who carry out their activities in the vicinity of the goal area.
MAN-TO-MAN DEFENCE: A player orientated system in which every defender marks a specified attacker and is responsible for him.
MARKING: An individual technical-tactical element of defence where a defender continuously guards a specified attacker, not allowing him to get into a scoring position.
MOBILE ATTACK: An attack system in which the attackers carry out their activities while continually moving and constantly changing their positions.
MOVEMENT ELEMENT: The smallest unit of the game, a recognisable line of movement.
NEAR CORNER: The top and bottom corners of the goalposts closest to the ball.
NUMERICAL ADVANTAGE: When one team has more players than the opponents on the court or on any given part of it.
NUMERICAL DISADVANTAGE: When one team has less players than the opponents on the court or on any given part of it.
NUMERICAL EQUALITY: When both teams have the same number of players on the court.
OFFENSIVE BLOCKING: When the attacker restricts the opponent’s freedom of movement by physically obstructing him, as allowed by the rules.
OPEN PLAY: The way to build up the attack when the moving area and activity of he players as well as the path of the ball are unrestricted.
OPEN ZONE: A type of zone defence where the defenders, particularly in the middle, position themselves further away from their goal-area line.
ORGANISATION OF THE ATTACK: The second attack attempt following counter-attack when the defence is already organised.
ORGANISATION OF THE DEFENCE: The second attempt following quick retreat to obstruct scoring during a systematic attack.
OUTSIDE DEFENDER: The player who carries out his activities below primarily in the main defence line on either side of the court.
OVERARM PASS: Passing with one hand above head level.
OVERARM SHOT: A goalshooting technique from the long shooting zone.
PARALLEL THRUST: Intensive break-through attempts of two or more neighbouring players at the same time, with and without the ball.
PASSING: Throwing the ball to a team-mate.
PASSING FAKE: A faking technique.
PASSING TO THE PIVOT: A special pass for the purpose of setting up a position for the line player.
PHYSICAL BASICS: The natural human movement elements of running, jumping and throwing.
PISTON MOVEMENT: A technical element of the attacker’s basic movement executed by continually moving forwards and backwards mainly in depth.
PIVOT: The player who carries out his activities mainly in the first line of the attack among the defenders
PLAYING INTELLIGENCE: A complex characteristic of the sports-person which presumes a high level of technical-tactical knowledge and the appropriate application of playing elements according to any given game situation.
POSITIONAL ADVANTAGE: In relation to the opponent the player has a favourable location to carry out his activities.
POSITIONING: Constantly choosing and occupying an advantageous position on the court from which the player can carry out the task at hand as well as possible, according to the given circumstances.
PREPARATION OF THE BALL: The process by which the ball is set into the throwing position, ready to throw.
PRESSING IN THE SCORE DANGEROUS AREA: When each defender guards a specified attacker only if he reaches the defenders’ goal area
QUICK RETREAT: The first defence attempt after losing possession of the ball to obstruct the opponents’ counter-attack.
ROTATION FAKE: A faking technique.
SCORE DANGEROUS AREA: That part of the court from which the attacking team, in real circumstances can directly score.
SCORING: The successful conclusion of the attack when the ball crosses the opponents’ inner goal-line between the goalposts and the crossbar.
SECOND LINE OF THE ATTACK: The division of the attackers within a basic formation includes those players who mainly carry out their activities in the back court area.
SET MOVES: Pre-trained team combinations for special game situations to achieve a scoring position.
SET PLAY: The way to build up the attack when the moving area and activity of the players as well as the path of the ball are pre-determined.
SHADOW BLOCKING: An offensive blocking technique.
SHOOTING FAKE: A faking technique.
SHOOTING RANGE: When goalshooting, the distance between the ball prepared for shooting and the midpoint of the goal.
SHUFFLE STEP: A technical element of the defender’s basic movement executed with a few quick sideway steps mainly in width.
SIDE-BY-SIDE BLOCKING: A defensive blocking technique.
SIDE SHOOTING ZONE: Zone of the side shots in the score dangerous area.
SIDE-STEPPING: A technical element of the attacker’s basic movement executed by continually moving sideways mainly in width.
SIMPLE FAST BREAK: The individual’s way of implementing counter attack.
SLICED JUMP SHOT: A goalshooting technique from the long shooting zone.
SLICED SHOT: A goalshooting technique from the side shooting zone.
SLIDING THROUGH-EVADING- SWITCHING: Group tactical elements of defence to frustrate the attack combinations, particularly offensive blocking.
SNATCHING AWAY: A technique for gaining possession of the ball.
SPINNING OUT: A technique for gaining possession of the ball.
SPORTING ABILITIES: The physical and physiological characteristics of the person - that is: agility, strength, endurance and skill - which are necessary for accomplishment in sport.
STARTING ADVANTAGE: The measurable distance between an attacker and a defender in a fast break situation.
STARTING FAKE: A faking technique.
STATIC ATTACK: An attack system in which the attackers carry out their activities in a pre-determined order, maintaining their positions.
STRATEGY: The overall plan to achieve a set goal.
SUPPLEMENTARY BLOCKING: A defensive blocking technique.
TACTIC: The knowledge to appropriately carry out the technical elements of the game.
TACTICAL ELEMENT: A methodical unit of handball which integrates the activities of the individual, group or team in attack and in defence.
TAKING OVER-GUARDING-HANDING ON: A group tactical element of defence to frustrate the attackers’ manoeuvres in width.
TECHNICAL ELEMENT: A specialised component of handball which creates a basis for the player to accomplish his activity in attack and in defence.
TECHNIQUE: A characteristic line of movement created within the limitations of the rules.
THROUGH-SHOT: Direct scoring attempt from a long range through or over the defence wall.
THROWING ARM: The naturally developed dominant arm which carries out the majority of the throwing actions.
THROWING POSITION: The position from which the appropriate throwing technique can be implemented.
TRAJECTORY: The path in the air of he player or the ball moving under given forces.
UNDERARM PASS: Passing with one hand below waist level.
UNDERARM SHOT: A goalshooting technique from the long shooting zone.
UPPER CATCHING: Catching with both hands the ball thrown above waist level.
VERTICAL SHOOTING ANGLE: When goalshooting, the space between two meeting lines starting from the ball to the crossbar and the inner goal-line.
VOLLEY SHOT: A goalshooting technique from the shooting zone.
WAVING: Constant break-through attempts of the attackers in a pre-determined order to force the defenders to move out of their positions.
WINGER: The player who carries out his activities mainly in the first line of the attack on either side of the court.
WRIST PASS: Passing parallel to and in front of the body.
ZONE DEFENCE: A ball-orientated system in which every defender secures a specified area and is responsible for its protection.