Mini handball
Ready when: Catch and throw at the wall (b2) and Dribble and pass in play (b3) done.
What you are learning
The real game in a small, safe form: a soft ball, no contact, three steps, nobody but the keeper in the goal area, and a throw-off from the middle with everyone in their own half. Every child shoots, passes, defends and takes a turn in goal.
Words on this card Court player, Goal area, Dribble, Throw-off, Free throw, Mini handball, Grid ball
- Court player
- The six players who run, pass and shoot, and the keeper who guards the goal.
- Goal area
- The D-shaped zone in front of each goal, 6 m out; only the keeper may be in it.
- Dribble
- Bouncing the ball with one hand while moving.
- Throw-off
- The throw from the middle that starts the game and restarts it after each goal.
- Free throw
- An unopposed throw after a foul.
- Mini handball
- A small game for children: four court players and a keeper.
- Grid ball
- A passing game where players throw and catch but may not move with the ball.
Set up
A small court, a lowered goal or a wall goal, a soft ball; mixed teams.
Weather: dry ground
Show it first for the one teaching
- Walk the court: the goals, the goal areas and the middle line.
- Show the throw-off: everyone in their own half, the ball thrown from the middle.
- Walk an attack: three passes, then a shot from outside the goal area.
Your part while they practise
Referee gently; explain each rule; every child takes a turn in goal.
Step by step
- Grid ball first: throw and catch, no moving with the ball.
- Then modified handball: soft ball, no contact.
- Up to 3 steps; nobody but the goalkeeper in the goal area.
- All players in their own half before each throw-off.
How much: 2 halves of 6 minutes 15 min a session once a week
Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.
The game: Mini handball
Four players and a keeper a side, with the rules above.
Who plays: two teams of 4 or 5 against each other; you referee.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- Throw-off from the middle; everyone starts in their own half
- Pass toward the other goal and shoot from outside the goal area
- After a goal, the other team throws off from the middle
- Two halves of 6 minutes; a new keeper each half
- Fair play
- Start with one more attacker than defenders, or a grown-up who passes but may not shoot.
- Points
- 1 goal for each shot into the goal; 2 goals if every court player on the team touched the ball first.
- Fouls
- A free throw to the other team
- More than three steps, or a second dribble
- A court player in the goal area
- Pushing, holding or hitting
- Winning
- More goals after two halves.
- 1 goals for 1 star
- 3 goals for 2 stars
- 5 goals for 3 stars
Easier or harder
More attackers than defenders.
Even sides.
What you will see, and what to say
- one player hogs the ball
Pass to the free player
Look up first. - a child is afraid of the ball
Soft ball, no contact
Nobody will push you.
Self-check
Every child shoots, passes and defends in a 15-minute game: 3 of 3.
Stop and get a coach when
A child is hurt.
Fitness for this
Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.
This card trains game sense, fair play, shooting.
awiseathlete.com/sports/handball/handball-b4