Handball Goalkeeper Anticipation – Awareness, Positioning and Timely Adjustments for Breakthrough Shots

I’m excited to dive into one of the most exciting aspects of handball goalkeeping: handball goalkeeper anticipation when dealing with breakthrough shots from the 6-meter line. As most of us know, these close-range shots can make a lot of problems for our entire defense, for our goalkeepers, and for coaches.

When an attacker comes toward the 6-meter line, a goalkeeper only has a small fraction of a second to predict and cover the player’s shooting angle, predict the shot placement, and adjust their positioning on the go. In these high-pressure scenarios, even small improvements in anticipation can make the difference between a save and a goal.

In this blog post, I will discuss the most important components of anticipation, awareness, and proper positioning – including that crucial step forward toward the shooter – to maximize the goalkeeper’s chances of preventing goals from close range. I’ll also explore the approximate speed of these shots, how to calculate the reaction time your goalkeeper has, and compare reaction times for male and female goalkeepers. My hope is that these insights will help you and your goalkeepers refine your handball goalkeeper coaching sessions and perform well under pressure.

Key Takeaways

• Anticipation Bridges Reaction Gaps
  Because shot speeds can reach 80 – 90 km/h (men) or 70–80 km/h (women) from only 6 meters line, the pure reflex window of ~0.24–0.27 seconds is very tiny. Proactive anticipation – reading the shooter’s body language and movement – gives the goalkeeper that important head start before the ball is released.

• Reading the Incoming Player is Essential
  Great anticipation relies on spotting subtle cues in the attacker’s stance, shoulder and hip positioning, and approaching speed. By interpreting these signals, the goalkeeper can predict shot placement and angle, improving the chances of a successful save.

• Continuous Positioning Adjustments
  The keeper should constantly realign with the shooter’s movements. Subtle footwork and micro-shifts keep the goalkeeper centered, ensuring they aren’t off-balance or leaving an open corner as the shot is taken.

• Stepping Forward Can Disrupt Shooters
  A controlled movement forward toward the shooter narrows the shooter’s shooting angles and can force hurried decisions under the pressure. The timing must be spot-on – going out too early, making too big of a step, or making too many steps forward can expose gaps, but a decisive, well-timed move forward puts a big pressure on the shooter.

• Mental Resilience Underpins Physical Skill
  Techniques like positive self-talk, visualization, and rapid mental resets help keepers stay focused after both successful and missed saves. Confident body language and a calm mindset can even make attackers second-guess their shot in those final, crucial moments.

Why Anticipation Matters

When it comes to top-level handball goalkeeping, anticipation is not simply guesswork – it’s a learned skill combining game sense, previous experience, psychological awareness, preparation, and quick analysis of the shooter’s body language. Here’s why it’s such a game-changer:

1. Closes Reaction Gaps: At 6 meters, shots can reach speeds of 70 – 90 km/h. That leaves a goalkeeper with a reaction window often shorter than 0.30 seconds!!! If a goalkeeper relies solely on reflexes, they’re simply gambling against physics. Anticipation acts as a “cheat code”, giving the goalkeeper a head start on where and how to move.

2. Disrupts the Shooter’s Plan: Attackers love to exploit goalkeepers who react too late, too early, or position themselves incorrectly. A goalkeeper who actively anticipates the moment the shooter commits can quickly cut down angles and force the attacker to change their shot last-second, leading to mistakes or weaker shooting attempts.

3. Bolsters Confidence: Few things rattle an attacker’s confidence like a goalkeeper who appears to be “one step ahead.” Well-timed anticipation from the goalkeeper can confuse and pressure even the most capable shooters by making them second-guess their preferred shooting corners.

4. Synthesizes Defensive Tactics: Your defense isn’t just the backcourt players; it’s a fully integrated system that ends with the goalkeeper. A goalkeeper’s anticipation complements the defenders’ efforts, making sure there are no easy shots just because an attacker slipped through.

Encouraging your keeper to read the unfolding offense proactively – and to use that knowledge for fast action – is at the heart of handball goalkeeper anticipation.

Reading the Incoming Player

To anticipate effectively, a goalkeeper must develop the skill of “reading” the incoming attacker. This involves an acute awareness of body positions, approach angles, and even intangible factors like confidence:

1. Body Language Cues

   • Shoulder and Hip Alignment: Attackers often “telegraph” their shot direction with their hips and shoulders. A slight rotation can signal a preference for a corner or an intention to feint.
   • Arm Draw: Observe if the attacker moves their arm back fully (often indicating a powerful, direct shot) or keeps it closer to the body (suggesting a subtle change in shot angle).

2. Approach Speed

   • A player sprinting at full speed, needing to go through the defense might have less control over placement, making it a more predictable shot for a goalkeeper.
   • An attacker slowing down, falling, or taking extra steps is likely aiming for a precise, placed shot or is preparing to feint.

3. Confidence & Habits

   • Attackers sometimes give away their “favorite shot” under pressure. If your video analysis work, or in-game observation reveals a particular corner they favor, your keeper can lean slightly toward that side – though not too obviously – or be ready to cover it more quickly.

4. Spatial Awareness

   • Coaches can train goalkeepers to visually map the attacker’s movement route: Where did they receive the ball? Are they cutting in from a wide position, or coming straight down the center?
   • This mental picture allows the goalkeeper to subtly shift positioning as the player approaches.

Encouraging your goalkeeper to notice and process these cues quickly is integral to anticipating the attacker’s intentions. In real time, the difference between a correct read and a misread might be just a few centimeters in positioning, or in angle, but that can be the deciding factor in saving – or conceding – a goal.

Positioning and Continuous Adjustment

Of course, even perfect anticipation means little if the goalkeeper fails to place themselves effectively in front of the goal. Positioning is the physical embodiment of anticipation – ensuring that, once the goalkeeper predicts the direction of the shot, they are already optimally positioned compared to the shooter and shooter’s arm with the ball, or they are ready to adjust/correct the position.

Key Elements of Positioning

1. Centered Stance

   • Always begin from a point that lines up with both the center of the goal and the location of the ball. This fundamental alignment ensures that you’re covering the widest possible area of the goal.
   • Keep a balanced stance: feet shoulder-width apart, slightly bent in the knees, and hands in a comfortable goalkeeper basic stance position (appropriate for your style), ready to move laterally or forward when needed.

2. Forward Lean and Weight Distribution

   • Lightly resting the weight on the balls of the feet primes the legs for explosive side-to-side or upward movements.
   • A slight forward lean signals readiness and helps cover lower angles quickly. This position also helps with the “push off” move for reactions on high shots.

3. Micro-Shifts as the Shooter Approaches

   • Great goalkeepers don’t just stand and wait; they perform small, calculated lateral or diagonal steps to adapt to the attacker’s angle.
   • Drills that emphasize subtle footwork – constantly re-centering on the ball – can make these adjustments second nature. (This is why I love working in so many different ways on footwork with my goalkeepers!)

4. Corrective Movements

   • Often, an attacker’s final step or jump drastically changes their shooting position. Teach your keepers to respond in real time. That means if the attacker shifts a step to the left, the keeper counters with a micro-step to re-center.
   • This concept of “continuous adjustment” is the essence of advanced handball goalkeeper anticipation: don’t wait for the shot to commit; be ready to shift at any sign of a new angle.

A huge mistake is for a goalkeeper to get locked into a single stance, hoping a shot lands in their coverage zone. The best goalkeepers move fluidly, constantly, tracking the attacker’s approach and fine-tuning their position until the moment of ball release.

The Psychological Side of Anticipation

No discussion of handball goalkeeper anticipation is complete without acknowledging the mental aspect in this topic. Quick reflexes can be trained, but mental clarity and the ability to process stimuli under pressure are equally important!

Confidence and Composure

1. Visualizing Success

   • Before a match, encourage your goalkeeper to picture a successful save. Visualization builds positive scenarios in their mind, so they can recall that state when the real moment happens.

2. Shutting Out Distractions

   • Loud crowds, agitated teammates, frustrated or tensed coaches, or high-stakes scoreboard pressure can disrupt focus. A brief deep breath or mental reset before each critical shot can help keep the goalkeeper’s mind clear.

3. Adapting Quickly After Mistakes

   • Inevitably, some 6-meter shots will go in. The key is how quickly the goalkeeper resets mentally. Overthinking a missed save can impact in a negative way anticipation for the next shot. Always focus on the NEXT SHOT!

Reading Attacker Psychology

1. • Some attackers, even experienced ones, hesitate momentarily if the goalkeeper shifts or feints a quick movement. That split second of uncertainty can reduce shot speed or accuracy.
   • An anticipatory goalkeeper can utilize that hesitation by appearing ready to attack.
   • Subtle illusions – like a slight dip of the shoulders, slight intention to lift up a foot, or a momentary shift – can influence the attacker’s perception of available space. Goalkeepers should also take time to practice save reaction feints to make the shooter doubt their chosen corner.

Ultimately, the more confident and mentally agile the goalkeeper, the better they can leverage anticipation to outsmart an incoming attacker.

Speed of Shots from 6 Meters and Reaction Times

A major reason anticipation is so important for goalkeepers is the sheer velocity of close-range shots. At 6 meters, handball shots often come at speeds such as:

• Women’s handball: Typically 70 – 80 km/h (about 19.44–22.22 m/s)
• Men’s handball: Around 80 – 90 km/h (which translates to roughly 22.22–25 m/s)

While long-range shooters sometimes generate even higher velocities, the critical difference here is distance. From 6 meter line, you have almost no time to see the ball and react purely on reflex!!! So always consider that!

Calculating the Reaction Time

We can use a simple physics formula to approximate how much time a goalkeeper has:

1. Women’s Handball Example

   • Distance = 6 meters
   • Speed = 22.22 m/s (≈ 80 km/h)

   

2. Men’s Handball Example

   • Distance = 6 meters
   • Speed = 25 m/s (≈ 90 km/h)

   

These time frames – roughly 0.24–0.27 seconds – are unbelievably short, especially when you consider that human visual reaction time can be around 0.20–0.25 seconds! By the time the ball is even visually registered, there’s barely any window left to make the physical move to block or catch it. This can feel like a near-impossible task, especially when the shot arrives with power, unpredictability, and pressure from a fast-paced match scenario. Goalkeepers who rely solely on raw reflexes often realize that, in these critical moments, reaction on its own just isn’t fast enough.

This gives you an answer for why I prioritize so much working on visual skills training, and on brain training / cognitive training with my athletes.

Visual Training and Early Recognition

To cope with the demands of a very short time to react, and the importance of visual system training – modern goalkeeper training has to consist of working extensively on visual and vision-training skills. This might include drills that sharpen peripheral awareness, exercises that teach quick identification of body language cues, cognitive training – with the goal of improving the speed of visual information processing. The goal isn’t only to reduce reaction time, but to recognize vital information – like the shooter’s body and arm position or hip alignment – earlier, giving the goalkeeper a “head start”. Anticipation bridges this gap, giving goalkeepers that split-second advantage to react. In a sport where only hundredths of a second make the difference, this sharper visual acuity can transform how quickly a goalkeeper transitions from “seeing” to actually “saving” a shot!

Reading changes and shifts in the shooter’s movement,  footwork, body position, shoulder, hips, shooting arm position, or release point is extremely important. Anticipation is what gives the goalkeeper that fraction of a second before the shot is taken – a moment that could otherwise be lost to basic reaction time. In essence, anticipation isn’t just helpful – it’s a necessity that enables goalkeepers to pull off  split-second save reactions, bridging the gap between physiological limits and high-performance demands.

Stepping Forward Toward the Shooter

One specific positioning tactic that can dramatically reduce a shooter’s angles is stepping forward. This proactive move can shrink the distance to as little as 5-4 or even 3 meters in some cases (sometimes even less – if both goalkeeper and shooter are in jump towards each other), essentially cutting the attacker’s shooting window, and cutting the goalkeeper’s window to receive the visual input and react accordingly. This is why anticipation, positioning, and lateral or forward correction of the position (before making a save reaction) are so important in every moment for every goalkeeper.

I was already writing about this topic before, so if you want – you can check that article: Step Forward in Saves of 6-Meter Line Shots.

1. When to Step Forward

   • Timing is everything. If you move too early, a skilled shooter can see the gap you leave behind and score by shooting a “lob” (overhead) shot. If you step out too late, you’ve lost the advantage and you left too much open space in the goal. Generally, the ideal moment is as the attacker commits to the shot – when you sense they are about to release the ball.

2. Keeping Balance

   • The step forward should be powerful but controlled. Making too many steps, or still be in the phase of stepping out when the ball is released, might cause a loss of balance, leaving you less capable of performing the appropriate reaction.
   • Maintain a slight forward lean, keep your body weight on 2 front thirds of your both feet equally, and be ready to push off in any direction. More about proper body position in goalkeeper basic stance, and what exactly I mean with “2 front thirds of your both feet equally”, you can read here: The Basic Stance of Handball Goalkeeper.

3. Psychological Edge

   • Attackers often expect goalkeepers to move or react before they release the ball. Moving forward toward shooters with good timing (not too early, not too late) can unsettle them and feel stressful, especially if the shooters are mid-air or mid-stride.

A lot of practice is crucial here, because mastering the forward step demands precise anticipation and excellent body mechanics. Done well, it can drastically boost save percentage rates on 6-meter shots. This is why working on the step forward needs to be done with young goalkeepers with a big focus, and with enough time to work on such a complex topic. Also, it’s important to notice that this topic needs to be revisited often as your goalkeepers are getting older – because they physical body (size) will change, but also their skill level will improve – speed, agility, explosivity…

Practical Drills Ideas for Anticipation and Positioning

Bringing these concepts to life in training requires deliberate, game scenario-based drills. Below are some exercises designed to refine both anticipation and the continuous correction of positioning.

Shadow Step Drill

• Setup: Have a coach or an attacker stand at the 9-meter line with a ball. The goalkeeper starts in a neutral position in front of the goal.
• Execution: The attacker feints or dribbles toward the 6-meter line at a moderate speed, while the goalkeeper mirrors every move – maintaining correct alignment. Encourage the attacker to change direction unpredictably (to the left or right).
• Focus: This is all about reading body cues and adjusting positioning in real time. Goalkeepers learn the importance of micro-shifts, never allowing themselves to be caught off-center.

Multi-Angle Breakthrough Simulation

• Setup: Place three attackers on about 8-9 meters distance from the goal line, for example – one at the left back, one at center, and one at the right back. Each holds a ball. They can either each hold a ball and be static, or they can dribble in place, or they can pass one ball to each other, and then breakthrough and shot can come suddenly.
• Execution: On a signal, only one attacker actually starts going towards, for a 6-meter breakthrough shot (this can be “decided” shot – so that both shooter and goalkeeper know the direction of the shot: high, middle, or low shot, to the front or back post), while the others may either pretend to move or remain still. The goalkeeper doesn’t know in advance who will shoot (only the direction of the shot can be known, and in the next / harder version of the same drill – the direction of shots can also be unknown).
• Focus: Builds anticipation by forcing the goalkeeper to track multiple threats until the true shot is revealed. The goalkeeper must anticipate angles and step into position quickly.

Reaction Light or Signal Drill

• Setup: If you have the technology, set up a reaction light on or near the shooter, which turns on the moment the ball is about to be released. Alternatively, have a coach call out a verbal cue or show a certain color (for example – blue color means no shot, right color means yes shot).
• Execution: The goalkeeper must respond instantly to the light or cue to shift or step forward before making a save reaction. Shots come quickly after the signal, replicating real-game timing.
• Focus: This combines reflex training with anticipation. The goalkeeper learns to rely on early signals, combining them with quick reactions to secure the save.

Forward Step Timing Practice

• Setup: Attacker (or coach) stands at about 7-8 meters away from the goal, turned with their back to the goal. The goalkeeper starts at the normal basic stance position in front of the goal, roughly a step in front of the goal line.
• Execution: The attackers can come in a pre-decided order of shooting, or randomly (called out by a given number to each player). Each player makes a 180 turn to the left or to the right side + makes a breakthrough and takes a shot from the 6 meter line (the shot can be decided or undecided / free). The goalkeeper must time the forward step precisely to cut down the angle.
• Focus: Teaches goalkeepers how to avoid stepping too early or too late. They learn to read the shooter’s body movement, jump, arm and torso positions to anticipate the shot timing and shot direction.

Video Review Practice Sessions

• Setup: Record your goalkeeper during practice or in matches.
• Execution: In a group session, break down the footage and highlight moments where a better anticipation or positional correction would have improved the goalkeeper’s chance of saving.
• Focus: Reinforces learning through visual feedback. Goalkeepers can see exactly where they made (or missed) crucial micro-adjustments in positioning.

Integrate these or similar drills consistently, and your goalkeeper’s sense of timing, awareness, and confidence will improve for sure.

Besides these drills, a lot of work can be done with visual system, but that is a little bit more complex topic that needs a deeper understanding of neurology and applied nervous system work in sport. I love working on aspects of visual training and brain training, and I saw big improvements with that kind of work with my goalkeepers.

Building Mental Resilience and Adaptability

Technical and practical skills are only half the “battle”. In a match, the goalkeeper must stay focused, calm, and composed under intense pressure. Encouraging mental resilience is essential, and here are a few suggestions and ways how can you do it:

1. Post-Save Routine

   • After a successful save, the goalkeeper can take a very quick mental inventory: “How did I read that shot? Did I position correctly?” This reflection installs good habits.

2. Positive Self-Talk

   • Whether a shot is saved or missed, a goalkeeper’s internal dialogue can shape future outcomes. A phrase like “I’m ready for the next shot” or “Stay on your toes” can help them remain engaged and calm. On the other hand, a negative self-talk will disrupt focus and concertation for the next shots.

3. Debriefs and Constructive Criticism

   • As a goalkeeper coach (or a head coach), after each practice or game, spend time discussing with the goalkeeper – what felt right, what felt off, and where they hesitated, where they noticed that they made mistakes in positioning and anticipation. If they see each shot as a learning opportunity, they’ll improve faster, for sure!

4. Trust in the Process

   • High-level anticipation is the culmination of repetitive drills, physical fitness, and mental training. Remember that sometimes results won’t show immediately. Goalkeepers who trust the process are more likely to remain patient and motivated.

By bolstering your goalkeeper’s mental preparedness, you ensure they don’t just rely on fleeting athleticism. Instead, they develop a holistic skill set that stands firm under even the most intense match scenarios.

Common Challenges and How to Overcome Them

1. Overthinking vs. Over-Guessing

   • Challenge: A goalkeeper might get so wrapped up in reading the shooter that they become paralyzed or make a wild or a wrong guess.
   • Solution: Balance intuitive reading with a foundational positioning strategy. Rely on subtle cues, but always remain ready to switch if the shot goes somewhere unexpected.

2. Failing to Reposition Continuously

   • Challenge: Standing too rigidly, waiting for the shot while ignoring the attacker’s potential lateral movement or change of body position.
   • Solution: Reinforce small, consistent footwork drills, making sure the goalkeeper tracks every centimeter of the attacker’s movement.

3. Wrong Step Forward Execution

   • Challenge: Goalkeepers who lunge too far or too early compromise their balance and space in the goal they are trying to cover.
   • Solution: Stress technique and timing in specific “forward step” drills. Correct mistakes in real-time, and encourage the goalkeeper to feel the difference between a stable and an unstable position.

4. Neglecting Mental Preparation

   • Challenge: A goalkeeper with strong fundamentals who breaks down under pressure during close-range shots.
   • Solution: Incorporate mental exercises – visualization, breathing exercises, short reset rituals – into every training session.

5. Misreading Shooter Intent

   • Challenge: Focusing only on the ball and missing the shooter’s pre-release body language, movements, or feints.
   • Solution: Encourage goalkeepers to watch the shooter’s body position, especially shoulders and hips, which often dictate the shot’s trajectory.

Emphasizing these corrective strategies ensures mistakes become teaching moments rather than ongoing vulnerabilities.

Integrating Anticipation into a Coaching Philosophy

A strong coaching philosophy treats handball goalkeeper anticipation as one of the main basis of defensive strategy. Here’s how to incorporate it into your broader approach:

• Collaborate with the Defense: Teach defenders to funnel/”press” attackers toward predictable (or easier) angles where your goalkeeper has a better chance to read and save them. Proper coordination among defenders and the goalkeeper can reduce the uncertainty of incoming shots.
• Embrace Data and Video Analysis: If possible, do an extensive video analysis and compile stats on opposing attackers’ shot preferences. Even a few pieces of information – like a player’s tendency to aim for the certain corner or height of shots from certain shooting positions – can supercharge your goalkeeper’s anticipation.
• Holistic Physical Training: Anticipation is useless without the explosiveness to execute. Combine agility drills, plyometrics, and strength training to support fast lateral and vertical movements, that are followed with different kinds of save reactions.
• Celebrate Small Improvements: Saving 6-meter shots isn’t easy. Praising and supporting your goalkeeper for an almost-save or a correct read and position- even if the ball still goes in the goal – fosters a culture of continuous improvement.
• Individualized Feedback: Each goalkeeper has unique strengths and weaknesses. Tailor and adapt anticipation drills to their style. Some goalkeepers thrive on reading feints, others excel in lateral quickness and correction of positioning. Use those strengths as a foundation to build a complete skill set.

When you treat anticipation training with the same focus as shooting or defensive drills, your team gets the benefits of a well-rounded, cohesive defensive unit.

Conclusion

Handball goalkeeper anticipation is a transformative approach that combines together game intelligence, psychological readiness, and precise positioning. At just 6 meters (or often even less), attackers can execute shots of 70 – 90 km/h, leaving the goalkeeper with a small fraction of time – sometimes only around 0.24 to 0.27 seconds – to identify the ball’s trajectory and respond. Proper positioning, positioning corrections, good footwork, and the willingness to step forward at the perfect timing aren’t optional –  they’re the critical variables in saving close-range shots.

As coaches, working on  anticipation and continuous positional corrections with your goalkeepers starts with proper drills, consistent feedback, and mental conditioning. Encourage them to read the attacker’s body language, be aware of any signs of hesitation, and help them position themselves effectively. Above all, cultivate a mindset that treats every shot – saved or missed – as a Lesson, fueling a cycle of constant improvement.

When a goalkeeper truly masters anticipation, they don’t just wait for the action – they dictate its outcome. Through dedicated practice, in depth video analysis, well-structured drills, mental resilience, ongoing refinement, and the firm belief that the next save is always within reach, your goalkeepers can become the last line of defense that attackers dread facing.

I hope this blog post helps you understand this topic better, and assist you in creating training sessions that make a difference in your goalkeeper’s performance. There’s something unexplainably exciting about watching a well-prepared goalkeeper close down and save a 6-meter breakthrough attempt. It’s a combination of skill, courage, and strategy at its highest – a proof of the power of consistent and informed coaching.

Remember, even the best goalkeepers in the world constantly adjust and evolve their skills. Encourage your goalkeepers to remain humble, hungry, and open-minded. With time, dedication, and the right coaching approach, they will be making game-winning saves against those challenging 6-meter breakthroughs.

Keep coaching, keep pushing boundaries, and may your goalkeepers stand tall and confident against every breakthrough shot!  🙂

References

• “Shooting velocity differences between shooting positions in top level handball” – Nikola Foretic, Vladimir Pavlinovic, Sime Versic (2021) – In this study, it is examined how shot speeds vary based on player position (e.g., backcourt vs. wing), highlighting that backcourt players typically generate higher velocities than others. This is directly relevant to goalkeeper anticipation, as understanding these positional velocity differences helps keepers adjust their positioning and reaction strategies for the faster, more powerful shots they may face.

• “Throwing speed in team handball: a systematic review” – Mª Elena Vila Suárez, Carmen Ferragut (2019) – In this study, it is eexamine how technical, physical, and contextual factors influence throw velocity across different player types and situations. Their findings support the importance of goalkeeper anticipation, as understanding the variables behind throwing speed allows keepers to better prepare for – and respond to – a wide range of shot velocities.

• “Estimating Throwing Speed in Handball Using a Wearable Device” – Sebastian D Skejø, Jesper Bencke, Merete Møller, Henrik Sørensen (2020) – In this study, the researchers demonstrated a method for accurately measuring ball velocity through sensor technology, offering precise insights into players’ throwing mechanics. For goalkeepers, this data underscores the critical role of anticipation and positioning in countering varying shot speeds, aligning perfectly with your blog post’s focus on quick reactions and informed defensive strategies.

• “Handball shot on goalkeeper’s head – How detrimental is it?” – Caroline Bergquist Linnéa Jern Andreas Johansson Sumit Sharma Maja Skärby Elina Vaez Mahdavi (2018) – In this study, authors examined the risks and potential injuries associated with goalkeepers being hit in the head by high-speed shots, emphasizing the importance of protective measures and reaction training. This study reinforces the relevance of anticipation and positioning in goalkeeping, as refining these skills not only improves save efficiency but also helps goalkeepers avoid dangerous head impacts from close-range breakthrough shots.

• “Decreasing number of distance shooting in handball – trend of nowadays male handball competition” – Marcin Smolarczyk (2023) – In this study, the author analyzes data from the EHF EURO 2020 and 2022 tournaments, revealing a significant 24.2% decrease in 9-meter shots and a corresponding 20% increase in 6-meter center shots. This study is showing a decline in long-range shots in favor of closer, high-percentage scoring opportunities like breakthroughs and 6-meter shots. This trend directly reinforces the importance of goalkeeper anticipation and positioning, as goalkeepers now face more fast-paced, close-range duels where reaction time is minimal, making proactive reading of the game essential.

• “Factors Influencing Ball Velocity in the Handball Throw” – Zapartidis, I., Skoufas, D., Vareltzis, I., Christodoulidis, T., & Toganidis, T. (2009) – Discusses biomechanical and physical attributes (including arm speed, trunk rotation, leg drive) that affect throwing velocity in handball players.

• “Influence of Instruction on Velocity and Accuracy of Overarm Throwing” – Van Den Tillaar, R., & Ettema, G. (2003) – While this study addresses general overarm throwing (which applies to sports like handball, baseball, and volleyball), it provides insights on how technique changes can affect throwing speed and accuracy—key elements for analyzing shot velocity.

• “Movement Variability and Skill Level of Various Throwing Techniques in Team-Handball” – Wagner, H., Pfusterschmied, J., Klous, M., von Duvillard, S., & Müller, E. (2011) – Examines differences in throwing techniques between players of varying skill levels, discussing how technique intricacies influence velocity.

Stay in Touch

You can let me know what topics you have the biggest challenge with in goalkeeper coaching by filling out this form.

If you would like to get updates about my online and in-person projects, my research papers, my creative projects (such as blog posts, books and e-books), about my ongoing and new online programs, please subscribe to my newsletter and then you won’t miss any updates and news.

Here you can find my online video courses: Level 1 Video Course for Coaches; Level 2 Video Course for Coaches; Sliding Technique Video Course and Agility Ladder Drills Video Collection with 102 drills.

Subject to Copyright

Unauthorized use and/or duplication of any part of content from this website without express and written permission from this site’s owner is strictly prohibited.  All content (such as text, data, graphics files, images, illustrations, videos, sound files), and all other materials contained in www.vanjaradic.fi are copyrighted unless otherwise noted and are the property of Vanja Radic Coaching. If you want to cite or use any part of the content from my website, you need to get the permission first, so please contact me for that matter.