In the Olympic Games in Munich the Yugoslavs showed in a brilliant way how effective and entertaining the handball game can be, when a team has the ability to play and make use of the counterattack, when the possibility is present. They scored an incredible lot of goals on the fast counterattacks, where the opponents could only see the back of 3-4 Yugoslavs and then heard the referee’s whistle for goal.

Then it is temptation to say, that it is the fast goals which are the easy goals, because it looks very easy when a team counterattacks with a conquered ball and with 3-4 players or the whole team launches its  attack and where the ball is passed like lightening between the players until the last player is totally free to the shot

It is not enough against the counterattack  that the opponents comes back in the defense with 2-3 players, at the counterattack is performed in 2 waves (there is depth in the attack) and if the defenders covers the front wave/attack line, the second wave will be free to break through.

In order for a team to be able to play and make use of a counterattack, when the chances are present it demands:

1. Ability to read the play very fast
  A – to see when the chance is present without opening the defense.
  B – to see the possibilities (grasp and make use of team mates- and opponents positions.
2. Fast taking off and spurt.
3. A highly developed and safe ball technique.
4. A good ability to conquer the ball.

By a well-performed counterattack you get:
1. Easy and not so resource demanding goals.
2. The opponent’s team moral drops due to the easy goals.

A counterattack includes 3 stages:

Stage 1 – Fast attack with 1 or 2 players
Here it is often 1 player, who catches a bad passing and dribbles alone to the opponents goal and shoot or by 2 players who combines themselves to a shot. It can also be a long passing from the goalkeeper or teammate. It is very important that stage 1 is performed in a high pace and it demands very fast players with an excellent technique. As those counterattack players typically takes off when the opponent takes a shot it is important that they are not placed besides each other, as they will not be present to pick up the ball

Tactically stage 1 can be used when:
 1. The team in the defense has players, who are able to rush out and conquer the ball without making faults in the defense.
2. The goalkeeper is able to get hold of the ball quickly and make a long and precise pass.
3. The opponents take a long time to return to their defense positions.
4. The opponent’s returns with their backs to the counterattack. It is easy to pass an opponent, who has her back to you.
5. The opponents are worn out.  

Stage 2 – Fast attack with 3 or more players
In order to use stage 2 attack with good profit the team must obtain several fast players, who have a good technique. These players participate in stage 2. By this there are players, who can collect eventual counter balls and secure that the attacking players are not in line. The ball must as a principle be sent obliquely forward during a counterattack, but in the ending stage it can be an advantage to be able to pass the ball backwards to a player in the second wave, who can then shoot. In stage 2 there must be depth and width in the attack, so that the ball can be sent past the defenders, who could have returned to the defense

Tactically stage 2 can be used under the same conditions as stage 1. Further more it can be used when stage 1 is useless because no one is in position to receive a long pass. The basic rule for stage 2 attack is, that the players, who are not in possession of the ball always tries to seek a position where they can receive the ball in relation to the defenders and the one who has the ball.

Stage 3 – Organized basic play
If the team does not succeed with the stage 2 attack, the pace is reduced until the rest of the attackers are in place and the ordinary basic play is started.

It is important – regardless if you are in possession of the ball on the side where the ball is or on the opposite side – that you are in a total movement and with initial feints, body language and concentration, spirit and willingness shows your teammates and opponents, that you are interested to make influence in the game. That goes however not only in the counterattacks but in all facets in the handball game.

Counterattacks can be trained in several ways. Of course the best way is that the players get used to it during the ordinary training, when it is natural.
But it does not become natural if the players are unfamiliar with the basic principles/basic rules for counterattack. Therefore different exercises must be performed where the basic rules are taught. When the players are familiar with these, the best way to practice is to use complete teams. That is most relevant if it is to be used in a match. The training of counterattack also includes that value, that the players will get used to return to their defense very quickly and at the same time it is a good exercise to raise the condition and concentration.