Colpbol: Striking Shots Against a Goalie

A shooting progression in colpbol, a sport from Valencia, Spain, where the ball is struck with the hands and can never be held. Students practice palm, fist, and two-handed hits and choosing a shot against the goalie.

How to play

1. Partner wall hits: open palm, closed fist, and two-hand strike, always after a bounce (4 min).
2. Partners facing the goal: one hits a bounce pass and the other strikes it at goal from outside the area, no goalie (7 min).
3. Trios: two attackers against a goalie; at least one pass before shooting, and no one hits twice in a row (8 min).
4. Zone shooting contest: goal corners marked with cones count double (4 min).
5. Teams put away the equipment (2 min).

Rules

• The ball may not be caught, held, or dribbled with the feet: hit it only with hands or arms.
• The same player can't hit twice in a row.
• Shoot from outside the area; only the goalie may be inside it.
• The goalie uses only hands and arms; shots at the head don't count.

Variations

Adaptations

• Students with visual impairments: shoot at a goal where a partner claps in the center; use a ball with a bell.
• Students who use wheelchairs: may strike from a closer zone marked with cones and receive bounce passes.
• Students with a wrist injury: hit gently with the forearm only, or play goalie wearing gloves.

Learning goals

• Master different hand strikes for passing and shooting.
• Choose the type of hit based on the goalie's position.
• Follow the basic rules of colpbol.

Equipment for a class of 25

• soft rubber balls: 8
• goals: 2
• cones: 12

Teacher tip

Use soft rubber multisport balls; a handball hurts the hand when struck. The typical mistake is holding the ball for a split second before hitting: correct it early.

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