Team Tactics in Handball

1Warm up: passing triangles

In threes, jog around the court passing the ball, keeping a triangle shape. After every pass, run to a new space. Then play "ten passes" for 3 minutes: two teams, and a point for 10 passes in a row.

2The positions

A handball team has a goalkeeper and 6 court players. Positions are named as your own goalkeeper sees the court, so "left" means your goalkeeper's left.

• Wings (left and right): fast players who play wide, near the corners, and jump in from the side to shoot.
• Backs (left and right): often tall players with strong jump shots from about 9 metres, over the defenders.
• Centre back: the playmaker, who organises the attack, like a point guard in basketball.
• Pivot, or line player: plays among the defenders near the 6-metre line, blocking their way and looking for gaps.

3Attack in waves

1. First wave (the fast break): the moment your team wins the ball, from a save, a steal or an interception, the wings sprint up the sides. The goalkeeper or a defender throws long to them before the other team is back. This has the best chance of scoring.
2. Second wave: if the first wave does not work, the other players follow quickly and pass fast, to have more attackers than defenders near the goal.
3. Third wave (the set attack): when all the defenders are back, the backs pass quickly across the court, cross over, look for a gap to pass to the pivot, or take a jump shot.

4Support and passing

The ball moves faster than any player, so pass and move. Always make sure the player with the ball has a teammate close by to pass to. The give-and-go works in handball too: pass to a teammate, run into space, and get the ball back.

5Passive play

A team may not keep the ball for ever without trying to score. If the referee thinks your team is only passing to waste time, the referee raises one arm as a warning. If your team still does not shoot soon, the ball goes to the other team.

6Defending as a team

• Sprint back first. As soon as you lose the ball, run back to your goal area.
• The 6-0 defence: all 6 court defenders stand in a wall between the 6-metre and 9-metre lines. They move together towards the ball, help each other, and keep their arms up.
• The 5-1 defence: 5 defenders stay near the 6-metre line and 1 moves out in front, usually to trouble the centre back.
• In your first class games, it is often easiest for each player to mark one opponent (man-to-man).

Never stop a fast break by making contact from behind: in handball, that is punished with a red card.

7Drills with little equipment

• Fast-break relay: the goalkeeper catches a shot, then throws long to a wing who has sprinted up the side. The wing shoots at the other goal.
• Three against two: three attackers against two defenders and a goalkeeper. Can you score in 3 passes or fewer?
• The moving wall: 6 defenders hold hands and move together along the 6-metre line as the teacher points to different places. Then let go, and try it with arms up.

8Small-sided game

Play 4 court players and a goalkeeper on each team. A goal scored in the first wave, before all the defenders are back, scores 2.

9Cool down

Walk slowly, stretch, drink water, and wash your hands and face.

Try it yourself

Try each one first, then tap Show answer to check.