- if the basic play does not give a shooting solution.
- if the play just go on and on and becomes monotonous.
- to make the players do something different.
- to loosen up a panic situation (what shall we do???)
- have something ready if the opponent shift defense formation.
An attack system can contain 1 to 4-5 shooting solutions and the players must learn to use the best solution very fast, if the situation demands it.
A thing which can be tried in connection with the more simple attack systems is to make a "fake attack". If the systems says that left backcourt must shoot the ball can be passed to right backcourt player instead. Right back moves in to the shot and indicate, that here the shot should be taken. But the system "fails". The coach shout very high to his players (making sure that the opponents hear the same) that they must try that attack again. "Come on - try it again - You can do it!!""
The defense is now ready for the system and if not their coach will tell them. "Right backcourt is the shooter". Left backcourt is forgotten and the ball is now passed to left backcourt for the shot. There should be a good possibility because that player was not supposed to shoot.
Learning an attack system
It is important that the players understand every single running pattern and every single pass in a system, if it shall work. If a player cannot see the purpose of running in a certain direction, the player will be unengaged and the system will only have a little chance of success.
Therefore the first step is to go through the attack system in slow motion, starting with the player, who takes the first initiative. "You must - with the ball - attack between the defending left backcourt and wing in order to pull the defending backcourt away from his position and create a space between him and the defending center backcourt." When the player has reached the position where the ball must be passed and the defending backcourt has moved to the right position, the player pass the ball to the next player in the attack system and again explain how and why.
When the players understand the system, you can start the actual training. The system is divided into smaller pieces and those are trained separately: Crosses, passes, necessary running in, receiving and screening. When the technical ability in these smaller parts are present, the parts are put together again and now the whole attack system can be trained. The defense is put in and at the beginning that defense acts like it is unaware of the system and do what it is supposed to do. When the system can be performed with great speed the defense can start doing what it can to meet the attack and it is now up to the attacking team to use alternatives. However remember that the attackers must shoot if the defense don't react correctly against a shooting threat or running in just because the defense know that the ball should be passed.
Example of a full attack system:
Divide the above system into part elements and practice these separately:
When all the part elements can be executed, the whole attack system can be practiced.
Don't start practicing all the alternatives at once. Start with one basic way of doing it and go on with the next when the first is well trained.
When can a team start with attacking systems?
I would say about age 13-14, but the simplest attacking systems can easily be started earlier. Because what is an attacking system? It does not have to engage the whole team and include 4-6 passes. If a backcourt and center backcourt runs in in order to draw 2 defending players together and then pass the ball to the wing, who then attacks the empty space- is that not an attacking system? Many of the attacking systems are just a combination of some basic exercises, for instance a cross between wing and nearest backcourt player where the afterwards is passed to the opposite backcourt.
I have used attacking systems with that purpose to force players, who - under no circumstances would take a shot against goal in games - to take action. When such players knew that they should shoot under such a system, they did so. And after a couple of successful shots they found out, that they also were able to score during a game, they became more willing to try without a backing up group.
As mentioned in the beginning it is up to the coach whether to use attack systems or not. Some coaches swear to the basic play and regard attacking systems as a "nice to have but not necessary thing" in the game and should only be used when the players are 100 per cent efficient in throwing and catching and can perform a deadly pressure and piston movement attack on the opponents. But when is a player a 100 percent player when even the National Team cannot perform 100 percent passing and catching? In my opinion players, who uses different attacking systems have a greater possibility to understand the intention and see the whole picture in modern team handball. They will come to understand the 3-dimension picture (length, width, depth) in team handball. And you will observe the joy on the team when a well played attack system opens up the defense and the shooting player runs through a meter-wide gap and shoots.
REMEMBER: AN ATTACK SYSTEM IS MADE IN ORDER TO CREATE A SHOOTING SOLUTION - NOT TO OVERLOOK A SHOOTING SOLUTION.