The objective - a necessary tool for the trainer, player and the team

For many handball players the objective and motives for playing handball are at first understandable and visible, both for the player, the trainer and the team.

However that doesn't change the fact, that there can be even very great difference regarding the player’s attitude and view on training and match. Especially in conflict situations the different degrees of motivation and attitudes are brought clearly forward.

It is therefore important for both the trainer and the players on the team that a united knowledge and consciousness about the trainers and the players’ objective and motivation is present, if a good result shall be obtained both sportsmanlike as well as humanitarian.

The choose of training time and intensity, leading- and social convention and team composition must in best possible way take place in the players objective and attitude to the handball game.

Most players, teams and trainers can make good profit by using time and effort to clarify the team and the single player objective and level of ambition. Such a clarification will create better conditions for at greater awareness about the team and the single player’s possibilities and limitations.

It is expedient that the team and the single player's objective are treated systematically and thorough in the form of a constructive dialog between the trainer and the team. It can for instance be performed through regular player meetings or by personal talks between the trainer and each single player

However, the chosen form depends very much on the age of the players, sex and degree of ambition. One of the most important goals in these open dialogs between the trainer and the team is that a better understanding is achieved among the players regarding the connection between the players’ objective and motivation compared with the team and the single player’s amount of training and – intensity.

It is of great importance that by setting the objective considerations are take n to a row of different aspects. These aspects will be explained in the following parts.

The objective is both for the team and for the single player

For the first the objective must include a collective as well as a personal element. In a team sport like handball it is necessary that the players have a common idea about the intention to play on the same team.

The teams' objective must be precise and visible for all the players and the trainer, which will improve the individuals understanding and motivation to co-operate. The common objectives for the team should include both sportsmen -like as well as social elements. Furthermore it is an advantage to include more individual objectives in the common objective, which are more pointing against each single player.

Furthermore it is essential, that there is a concordant between the team’s common objective and the single player’s personal objectives.

In team-sport like handball the collective objective for the whole team must always have a higher priority than the more individual objectives and interests. It can be a difficult assignment - both for the trainer as well as for the teammates - to create space and freedom for the "unique" with special interest on a handball team. The trainer and the team must however be aware, that there ought to be room for individual wishes and considerations. Simplified said - the individualist can join, both within the limit of the teams limits and conditions. I was once asked on a trainer course if I could have Anja Andersen in my team. The reply was Yes under the condition that the team accepted her style.

Unfortunately it often happens that the trainer before and under the season loudly proclaims that he or she will treat all equally. But life shows that it can be difficult or impossible to comply with. In other words it is an impossible task for the trainer to treat all players equal, and - looking further ahead - maybe not desirable.

Objective - avoid missing it

Secondly the objectives - both for the team and the single players - be realistic and challenging at the same time. If the objectives - not at least the sportsman-like - are too easy to achieve it will normally moderate the energy and effort for most players.

On the other hand the objectives must no be too difficult, and certainly not unrealistic and unattainable. Here the trainer has an important task, as it is often the trainer who misses the target regarding the character and level of the objective.

If the trainer attempts to reach some very ambitious objectives, which also are unrealistic - especially within a short time limit - there is a considerable risk that the player’s motivation and effort drops. Further more the trainer will have problems being a trustworthy and confidence - building person to the players. The trainer must - unlike the players - work from both a short and long time limit.

Often the team and the trainers effort is measured with a relatively simple standard - namely you win or you loose the games. The surroundings often "forget" to make a many-faceted evaluation of the team’s effort in relation to the opponent's qualities.

Because of this reason it is very important, that the trainer looks at the team and the single players efforts and results from a quality-conscious analyze and evaluation. And as a trainer one must be especially careful not to focus too much on a single match. In other words it is important, that the trainer and the team evaluates the effort and results over a longer period of time, for example an half or a whole season.

If the trainer only looks forward to the next match or weeks, chances and “loose " ideas will often influence the work with the team. By this there is serious danger that something will be missing in "the red thread" both in training and in matches.

This often creates insecurity and anxiety both for the trainer as well as the players.

The objective is not just big words but also concrete actions

Thirdly great advantages can be obtained the objectives are concrete and specific. That goes for both the sportsman-like as well as for the human dimensions.

It is without perspective to have an objective for a team, which means that the team must do, as well as possible or that the team must have a good social life on the court and outside the court. Such objectives are to general and diffuse, which means, that the trainer and the players can take in and interpret the "reality" in very different directions.

Instead the objectives must be concretized and specified. For example it could be done in that way, that the team aims for a certain number of points within a certain number of games or arrange that the team meets to a monthly evening with common dining for the whole team. By working with specific and concrete objectives you achieve that the player’s expectations to each other and the expectations from the trainer to the players and reverse, in such case the objectives will be much more precise and handy. The trainer must also be aware, that it is not only the eloquent and dominating on the team who sets the line for the team's collective objective. It can be extremely difficult in a players meeting to make all give their expression of opinion what is important for the team. That will be the trainer's task - eventually in close co-operation the leader of the team or spokesman - to et a personal talk with each player, so that there is a clarity and general view regarding the individual players wishes and interest.

Another possibility is that the trainer asks every single player to answer a few questions about his/her personal and collective objectives, interest, wishes as well as strong and weak sides.

The objective is a choice, which can be altered and given priority

Fourthly it must be possible to alter and give priority to the objectives.

It can be necessary and often desirable that the team and the trainer stops after a certain amount of time and make a valuation whether you are close or far away from the determined objective. Maybe the team has already achieved the objective and now it may be the time to set up new challenges. Or the single player has maybe developed so much that new demands and assignment regarding the player's individual technique may be in order. For example the player may - during a dialogue with the trainer - express ambitions pointing in the direction in learning new forms of shooting or train new movement in the defense.

However the possibility also may exist, that the objective for the whole season has missed completely. The reason could be that a team has been placed in a row with far better teams. Or if the team only gets hard competition in a very few matches during the whole season. If the team and the trainer in these situations do not harmonize common objectives and ambitions, serious conflicts and problems may occur, both on the court and outside the court.

Finally the team and the trainer are often obliged to fix an order of priority between the different objectives. Especially if additional of the objectives are in conflict with each other. In this connection it is very important, that the discussion about the order of priority is kept in an open dialog and it is made visible to everybody how the priority is concretized.

In the end it is very important that - after a season - a total analyze and evaluation of the whole season is made. Here both positive as well as negative things which have influenced whether the objective has been fulfilled fully, partial or not at all must be put forward.

A good and realistic objective creates consciousness to the players and the trainer. Unfortunately it often happens that the trainer and the team underestimate the importance of the determination of the team’s objective. Such can give the single player and the trainer a number of positive advantages, which reflects in the training and games.

Summarized it can be said, that a good objective convey along that the player regard the training as challenging and relevant in relation to matches, that the players consider themselves as a part of the team, who works in accordance with the determined line of directions and also that the player has influence on the values, which mark the fellowship with the team-mates on and outside the court.