Gros' game: “My shot is my primary weapon, but I find joy in making a good pass”

For over 16 years, Ana Gros has been a standout in the world of handball. From the early days, she was recognised as a talented player with a bright future. She started playing in her hometown Velenje, but soon moved to a professional side Krim Mercator and achieved success in France, Germany and Hungary before moving back to where it all started in Ljubljana.

Even though Gros is well-known for her deadly shot, the right back always knew she needed to contribute more on the court.

"I think I've improved in all aspects of the game. I believe that with each year, I've made more and more progress. I remember when I was little and just started playing handball, my first coach, Snežana Rodič, would always tell me that I also needed to see others — to play for everyone, not just to shoot and have a strong shot,” says Gros.

“That advice stuck with me throughout my career — to always involve others in the game. However, I believe over time, I've developed a better sense of the game — seeing the bigger picture, creating opportunities for other players like wings or line players.”

For Gros, scoring goals has always been a special part of handball, but over time, her joy in assisting her teammates and helping her team do great things has grown. Even though we still enjoy seeing her make a jump shot and send a high-speed ball into the goal, Gros has learned to celebrate every move on the court.

“I am not a player who plays a lot one-on-one or does breakthroughs. Of course, my shot is my primary weapon, but I find joy in making a good pass, whether it's to the wing players or line players — especially if it creates a scoring opportunity for someone else.

“I can't say that I'm not enjoying it when I score. There’s something special about scoring a goal, especially in a crucial moment. However, both scoring and assisting have their value, depending on the situation in the game,” explains Gros.

The obstacles she has faced in her career have helped her shape her approach to the game. A more relaxed environment and the coach's trust give the Slovenian right back more confidence and joy while being on the court. After overcoming difficult times in Germany, it was her stubbornness that helped her thrive in France. Still, although Gros has been playing at a high level for years, she always strives to improve.

"When I was in France, I started playing more relaxed, without the fear of making risky passes or mistakes. With that, my confidence grew. I think that’s where I improved even more. I could create better opportunities for my teammates,” says Gros.

"Over the past few years, I’ve also improved in defence. Early on, everyone would say 'Gros doesn't play defence' but that was never true. I always wanted to, but I didn’t get the chance. Now, I’ve made significant progress in that area too.”

While opponents, especially goalkeepers, dread Gros' moves on the court, primarily her long-distance shots, there are two things she wishes to implement more in the game — elements that she stopped using for years but hopes to get back again: Ground shots and one-on-one play.

"There were moments in my career when I used the ground shot a lot, but now I rarely use it, and I don’t know why. I know it can be a shot that really surprises the defence. It’s not that I’ve lost it, but I just don't use it as often. That’s something I’ve been working on lately. At every training, I tell myself I need to use it more,” says Gros.

"When I take a ground shot in training, even the goalkeepers tell me I need to use it more often. So, I really try to consciously use it more during games, but when the moment comes, I forget. It’s like that instinct doesn't come naturally anymore, so that’s something I’d like to use more in the coming years. I know I can still improve on that. Also, I think I can still improve on my one-on-one play. Even though I’m not the fastest player, I think I can make more use of that in situations where I need to attack a player.”

For the EHF Champions League Women 2020/21 top scorer and winner of last season's title with Györ, instinct is everything. Although she can find new inspiration every time she watches a game, for her it all comes down to the feeling she has on the court in the heat of the moment.

"I don't have any specific inspiration. Of course, I watch a lot of handball, both men's and women's games. When you see a move by someone, maybe you want to replicate it yourself, you get some inspiration. I can’t say exactly from whom or what. But of course, when it comes to those moments in a game, in a do-or-die situation, you just do what you feel at that moment. It’s not like, 'I saw that on TV. Now I’m going to try it.' You just feel what’s right in the moment,” says Gros.

"You shouldn’t overthink it because, in handball, you don't have time for that. Everything moves so fast, and the game is getting faster and faster. So, as a right back, I often take on the responsibility for the shot.”

But how hard it is to make a quick decision and take that responsibility, especially in crunch time, when everything comes down to your experience? For Gros, it's all about mind games.

"You never know for sure that you’re going to score a goal. I think it’s also a lot about mind games with the goalkeeper. Goalkeepers are now watching more and more videos, analysing us. So, I know I have to think about that more. Especially when it’s passive play and I know more or less that I’ll be the one to take the shot because we need that long shot. And I try to read the defensive player. If they aren't pressing, they’re playing deep, they’re not aggressive towards me, I always try to take advantage of that,” explains Gros.

Her ability to read the game and predict situations has become one of her greatest strengths. Gros attributes this to her years of experience and the emotional intensity she brings to the game, even though she admits it is not easy to describe her style of play.

"My game vision and ability to see others on the court are probably my biggest strengths. But I also bring a lot of energy and emotion to the game. I always want to show my emotions on the court, and, if you ask me, that is an important part of handball, at least for me. I believe showing those emotions can sometimes unsettle the opponents.”

Over the years, Gros has learned to control her emotions better, particularly during challenging moments in a match. When she was younger, she admits that her emotions could sometimes throw her off balance and lead to unnecessary energy loss. Now, when things do not go well on the court, she has a way of lifting her confidence.

“It’s really difficult sometimes, honestly. However, I’ve learned to control my emotions, and I try to breathe and tell myself 'Ana, calm down. You need your energy for whatever’s coming next.' If the game is still long, there are still many situations to come,” says Gros, who admits she sometimes swears at herself when things are not going well.

"Of course, sometimes I do curse myself,” she says, laughing. “There’s some of that, for sure. I think it happens more during training than during matches. My teammates already know what is happening when they hear me. When things don’t go well, sometimes I let it out, and then I can reset and start again.”

Before all the decision-making, reading opponents, taking responsibility and celebrating wins, there is a specific process Gros goes through when it comes to preparation.

“Well, yes, as a team, we always have a lot of videos during the week. But I always watch videos at home, mostly on the day of the match, because it’s easier for me to focus that way. Of course, I might watch something beforehand, but I like to watch the most on the day of the match.

“For example, I’ll watch who I’ll be defending against, either the left back or the centre back, and I try to see their strongest sides or which direction they prefer when they fake, or whether they have a strong shot or something like that. I try to prepare myself the best I can for that,” says Gros.

However, when it comes to offence, it is a bit different.

“As for the attack, I don’t watch that as much because it’s hard to pre-determine what will happen. Of course, we agree as a team on what actions we’ll take, but to say that I’ll specifically target this or that player, especially if we know they’re not good at defending, doesn’t happen that often.

“When you watch a video at home, you forget most of it anyway because, in the game, you have to act on instinct. No video can prepare you for that. And after all, they analyse you as well,” concludes Gros.

October 2024