When you think about the coach „right hand” on a court, the player who care about coach’s plan, the player who is the reflection of tactic success – you think about playmaker. The brain of the team on the court. Let’s talk about that handball position today!
Playmaker – characteristics
Attack
Playmaker is a center backcourt player who will be in most cases responsible for offensive tactics on a court. You want him to be smart, understand the game and see connections and dependencies in the game. The trend is the playmaker is rather not one of the tallest in the team but has a great mobility. It is very rare nowadays to see almost 2-meter-high playmaker. Very often it rather like 185-190 cm fast player with a good field overview. Apart from that, playmaker should play 1 vs 1 perfectly – he will be the key to make advantage in different areas on the court. We want that player to have good shooting possibilities. Maybe we will care less about jump shots, however shooting from fields (like running shot) should be at good level. Playmaker is the brain of the team. Sometimes we see the tall playmaker with a good jump shot (like side backcourt player). Then the tactic should be amended, we will not get so many clear positions by playing 1 vs 1 – we need to score more from 9 meters.
Defense
It is hard to talk about defense when it comes to playmaker. It is because there is a wide range of defense positions they play. It is great when playmaker can handle playing as 2nd defender. Very often however, we see the substitution to defense or playing as the last defender. It is extremely rare situation when playmaker play in the center of defense (like Nicola Karabatic). Playmaker is very useful in defense in case of starting and creating 2nd wave fast attack. Sometimes we can use intelligence and anticipation skills of playmaker to play as a forward defender. The shorter playmaker defense skills are similar to wing player skills: anticipation, mobility, fast movement.
Players to observe: Luca Cindric, Igor Karacic, Mate Lekai, Jim Gottfridsson, Aaron Pallmarsson, Nicola Karabatic.
Excercises
Shot
Playmaker make jump shot or other (example: running shot)
Playmaker change the position avoiding bollard – get the ball and shot from the side area.
Playmaker play 1 vs 1 or shot (any kind of shot – if the defender stay high: 1 vs 1, if closer to 6m: jump shot or any ground shot).
Immediately the same action on the other side.
Defense (forward defender)
Forward defender protect green area not let playmaker to pass to red areas (more about idea in the article: https://bethecoach.pl/index.php/2021/02/14/dlaczego-tak-malo-zespolow-gra-z-jedynka/)
Defender run to the side back player (when he/she do not have the ball) and protect closely.
Prevent the pass.
Decision making
2 vs 2 in the centre. Playmaker decide to shot, play 1 vs 1, pass to pivot.
Playmaker goes on one side, avoid the barrel and decide: shot by himself/herself, pass to side back player, pass to wing player.
The same on the other side of the court.