handball is a sport with few positions, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t full of responsibility and extremely important for the best moves. The sport requires a lot of skill, technique and tactics, as well as agility, physical strength and endurance to be able to make the most important plays and lead a team to victory.
Among the positions in handball are the armers, who lead the game in attack, the pivots, who are always on the front line creating the best spaces and finishing plays, and the goalkeepers, who are the ones who will protect their goal area and prevent the opposing team from getting the ball in.
So let’s find out what all the handball positions are and learn more about them.
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Handball positions: complete list
- Goalkeeper;
- Tips;
- Shipowners;
- Pivot;
- Ward.
Handball positions: learn all about each one
Goalkeeper
In handball, the goalkeeper has the main responsibility, of course, of defending the goal, constantly protecting it. But the athlete needs to be alert and always ready to defend the opposing team’s shots, using not only their hands, but also their arms, body or even their feet.
Goalkeepers also need to react quickly, relying on excellent reflexes to know what to do in the face of unforeseen circumstances and attacks from the opposing team’s players.
Goalkeepers also need to be able to communicate very well, make the best clearances and take part in set pieces, i.e. executing the best free kicks and other tactics.
Tip
The point players in handball are those who take the best shots from acute angles. In other words: they are positioned at the ends of the attacking line, on the left or right, and use their agility and speed to find the best spaces in the opposing team’s defense, throwing the ball into the goal.
These players also need to know how to exploit the back line very well, often heading towards the goal line to receive teammates’ passes and take shots from the most difficult and narrow angles.
The winger is also an expert in fast attacks, counter-attacks and when it comes to applying the best defensive pressure, leaving opponents at a loss as to how to act. They also have to make quick transitions between defense and attack, which requires a lot of training and agility.
Shipowners
In handball, there are also left and right shooters, who have very similar tasks, but each with different characteristics and responsibilities that will make all the difference to the play.
Left winger
The left shooter, therefore, is the one who will create the best attacking moves on the left side of the court, and can also use his left hand to drive play.
He also knows how to take the best long-range shots, using his dominant hand to play the ball powerfully outside the 9-metre area.
Finally, the left midfielder must be able to conduct the central play even when positioned on the left, helping the central midfielder to distribute the ball and create chances to score.
Central frame
The central midfielder in handball is a player who needs to be responsible for distributing the ball among his team, so he must have excellent vision and know how to make the best passes, finding teammates who are in the right positions to create goals.
Speaking of playmaking, this handball position needs to act as the brains of the team’s attack. This means that they are creative and can read the opposing team’s defense in the best possible way, creating new scoring opportunities.
This can be done through rehearsed plays, analyzing free spaces, or even making the best dribbles. The central midfielder must also know how to lead the team on the court, take the best shots and actively participate in defense. Therefore, they need to be very versatile and have many skills.
Right winger
The right winger, on the other hand, is responsible for creating new chances and scoring goals, usually using his dominant right hand to direct play.
They also need to know how to shoot from long range, but above all they must take part in the defense, helping to put pressure on the opposing team’s players.
Pivot
Among the most important handball positions is the pivot, which is essential for a successful game. Pivots are those who play with their backs to the opponent’s goal, facing the defense, receiving passes from teammates and creating new scoring opportunities.
They make a lot of close-range shots, as well as passes to their teammates. Pivots are specialists when it comes to creating space for their teammates, making great use of their physical strength and skills to keep opponents at bay and allow their own team to make the best shots.
The pivot also tends to face his opponents in defense, impeding their movements. They must therefore be able to use physical contact to keep possession of the ball. These players also know how to take shots from close range, taking advantage of the fact that they are close to the opponent’s goal, which is why their shooting skills are very important.
Finally, the pivot position players are very involved in defense and know how to deal with the rapid transitions of play that take place on the pitch, constantly switching between defense and attack.
Wing
In handball, the wing position is the one with the most versatile players on the team, as they need to know how to play both attack and defense.
Basically, then, these players need to attack from the sides of the court, looking for the best gaps in the opposing team’s defense and creating scoring opportunities for their own team.
The wings are also responsible for taking the best shots and shots on the court, especially long-distance shots when necessary. They are also great at defending the perimeter of the court, which hinders the movement of opposing players, who also feel threatened in the shooting area.
Wingers can also intercept passes like nobody’s business, which requires a lot of agility to move laterally. As we’ve already mentioned, these players also need to be able to move very well between attack and defense, so they’re key players in a team’s performance.
In addition, he can provide excellent defensive cover and perform well in dead-ball situations, such as free kicks.
Handball positions: complete list
- Goalkeeper;
- Tips;
- Shipowners;
- Pivot;
- Ward.
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