Abstract Aims: to analyze the choices of handball coaches for structuring the defensive return throughout the teaching-learning process (U-12 to U-18 teams). Methods: Nineteen coaches from teams U-12 to U-18 from two leagues in the state of São Paulo were interviewed. The speeches from the semi-structured interviews were analyzed through thematic analysis, which produced two themes and their respective subthemes. Results: Most coaches structure their defensive return and emphasize content to make it difficult for an opponent to counterattack. A higher percentage of directed play was observed in teams U-12 and U-14, which suggests a possible early specialization process. In the U-16 and U-18 teams, higher percentages of free play were observed when compared to the others. In older teams, a higher percentage of directed play would be expected, mainly because these are stages with an increase in player specialization. Conclusion: The findings suggest that the simultaneous training of different teams may be leading to sports specialization procedures in the younger teams and, simultaneously, underestimating the possibilities in the older teams.

Abstract Aims: To analyze the structuring elements of the defensive phase of beach handball based on the coaches’ speeches. Methods: Five coaches of adult male and/or female teams that played the Beach Handball championship of Sao Paulo State were interviewed. For the analysis of the speeches, the Collective Subject Discourse method was used. Results: The defensive phase is structured from hierarchical aspects: numerical asymmetry (by the presence of the specialist player), defensive systems (influenced by the characteristics of the players of their own team and the opponents), and technical-tactical specific actions (defensive blocking, coverage, dissuading…). The numerical asymmetry and the defensive system are responsible for the choices of the technical-tactical actions. Conclusion: The defensive structuring elements are related in a hierarchical way, which provides a better understanding of beach handball by coaches and players.