Introduction to Handball
Primary 4 · Physical Education
Introduction to Handball
4 lessons
Lesson 4 of 4
Playing a Short Handball Game
17 min
Let's begin
Did you know that modern handball is more than 100 years old? Its modern rules were written down in 1917, in Berlin, Germany. Today handball is played at the Olympic Games, and in schools all over the world.
You can already pass, catch, shoot and dribble, so now it is time to play! Today you will learn the rules of a real game, and how to play it fairly and safely.
Warm up first
Jog, side-step and skip around the court. Then play "Five passes" from the first lesson for 3 minutes, to get your hands and eyes ready.
The main rules
- Each team has 7 players on the court: 6 court players and a goalkeeper. At school you can play with fewer, such as 4 court players and a goalkeeper, so everyone touches the ball more.
- A full court is 40 metres long and 20 metres wide, a little bigger than a basketball court.
- You score a goal by throwing the ball into the other team's goal. The team with more goals wins.
- Only the goalkeeper may stand in the goal area. Inside it, the goalkeeper may also stop the ball with the legs and feet.
- Court players may not touch the ball with their feet, and they must follow the step rules: up to 3 steps, up to 3 seconds, and no double dribble.
- A full game has two halves of 30 minutes. In games for children aged 8 to 11, each half is usually 20 minutes. A class game can be much shorter.
Starting and restarting the game
- Throw-off: the game starts at the centre line. The thrower keeps one foot on the line and passes to a teammate. After a goal, the team that let the goal in takes the throw-off.
- Throw-in: if the ball goes out over the side line, the other team throws it back in, with one foot on the line.
- Goalkeeper throw: if an attacker sends the ball out over the goal line, or the goalkeeper saves it out, the goalkeeper throws it back into play from the goal area.
- Free throw: after a foul or a broken rule, the other team gets a free throw from the place where it happened. If that place is inside the dashed free-throw line, the throw is taken from the dashed line instead.
- 7-metre throw: if a foul stops a player who had a clear chance to score, their team gets a 7-metre throw. One player shoots from the 7-metre line, with only the goalkeeper to beat. It is like a penalty kick in football.
Fouls and cards
You may not push, hold, trip or hit another player, or jump into them. You also may not pull or hit the ball out of someone's hands. If you do, the other team gets a free throw.
For a bad foul, the referee may show a yellow card, which is a warning. A player can also be sent off for 2 minutes, and their team plays with one player fewer until the time is up. For a very rough foul, the referee shows a red card, and the player must leave the game.
Defending fairly
So how do you win the ball without a foul? Stand between your player and your goal, with your arms up to block passes and shots. Move your feet to stay in front of them. When they pass, try to catch the pass before it reaches their teammate.
A short game for your class
- Mark a court about 20 metres long with chalk or stones. Make each goal from two stones about 3 metres apart, and draw a half circle about 4 metres out from each goal for the goal area.
- Play 4 court players and a goalkeeper on each team. Play two halves of 5 minutes, and change goalkeepers at half-time.
- An extra rule for your first games: everyone in your team must touch the ball before you shoot.
Fair play, cool down and hygiene
- Shake hands with the other team before and after the game.
- Accept the referee's decision, even when you do not agree.
- Pass to everyone in your team, not only your best friends.
- If a player falls, stop and help them up.
- After the game, walk and stretch to cool down. Drink clean water, and wash your hands and face with soap.
Warning
Stay safe
- Check the court for stones, glass and holes before you play.
- Take off watches and jewellery.
- Play the ball, not the player. Stop at once when the whistle blows.
Tip
Out, foul, or big chance?
Ball out at the side: throw-in. Out over the goal line after a shot: goalkeeper throw. A foul: free throw. A foul that stops a clear chance to score: 7-metre throw.
✦
Try it yourself
Try each one first, then tap Show answer to check.
1
The ball goes out over the side line. How does the game start again?
Show answerHide answer
Answer: The other team takes a throw-in, with one foot on the line.
2
Your team has just scored a goal. Which team takes the throw-off?
Show answerHide answer
Answer: The other team, the one that let the goal in.
3
Gatete is alone in front of the goal, about to shoot, when a defender pulls his shirt. What should the referee give?
Show answerHide answer
Answer: A 7-metre throw to Gatete's team.
4
Name two things a good defender does to win the ball fairly.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: Any two of: stay between the player and the goal, keep your arms up to block, move your feet to stay in front, catch the other team's passes.
5
The game is over. Name two things you should do.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: Any two of: shake hands, cool down and stretch, drink water, wash your hands and face.
What you learned today
- 7 players a side, a goal area only for the goalkeeper, and the step rules for everyone else.
- Throw-off, throw-in, goalkeeper throw, free throw and 7-metre throw start the game again.
- Defend fairly: no pushing, holding or grabbing. Cool down, drink water and wash after the game.
Sources and credits
- Handball, by Simple English Wikipedia contributors, Simple English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Facts (teams of 7, a 40 by 20 metre court a little bigger than a basketball court, and 30-minute halves) adapted and simplified by Ganzaa.
- Handball, by Wikipedia contributors, English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Facts (the modern rules written in Berlin in 1917, handball at the Olympic Games, the goal area, the step rules, the throw-off, throw-in, goalkeeper throw, free throw and 7-metre throw, fouls, cards and 2-minute suspensions, and shorter halves for children) adapted and simplified by Ganzaa.
- Schools Handball tournament at Kawanda SS (photo), by Samson Ssemakadde, Wikimedia Commons, CC0 1.0 (public domain), used unchanged.
- Skill steps, games, diagrams, "Try it yourself" and the practice questions written by Ganzaa.
This lesson adapts CC BY-SA material and is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.