Quinielas: Rotating-Pair Handball Against the Wall

Handball against a wall using the quiniela format from Basque pelota: several pairs wait in line, the pair that wins the point stays on and the losing pair goes to the back. Waits are short, the pace is high and students act as wall judge and scorekeeper.

How to play

1. Chalk a foul line on the wall 80 cm up and an 8 x 6 m court on the ground with a serving line at 4 m; repeat on a second wall if you have one (3 min).
2. Technique review: forehand and backhand with a firm, cupped hand, striking below the waist; free rallying in pairs (5 min).
3. Explain quinielas: seven or eight pairs per wall, two play; the pair that wins the point stays on and scores one, the losing pair goes to the back of the line; the first pair to 7 wins (2 min).
4. First quiniela with a wall judge calling fault or good and a scorekeeper tracking points on the sheet; both roles come from the waiting line (9 min).
5. Second quiniela with new pairs drawn at random to mix ability levels (8 min).
6. Wrap-up: each pair discusses which formation, front-and-back or side-by-side, won them more points (3 min).

Rules

• Play with a soft rubber ball, and warm up the hands before striking.
• No one steps on the court until the previous pair has left.
• If there's a risk of hitting someone with a hand or the ball, stop the point and replay it.
• The wall judge has the final word on fault or good.

Variations

Adaptations

• Wheelchair user: their partner covers the back court, and they may return after two bounces.
• Hearing impairment: the wall judge signals fault with an arm pointing down and good with an arm pointing up.
• Sore hands: uses a light wooden paddle or a padded glove.

Learning goals

• Improve forehand and backhand strikes in handball.
• Make quick decisions about the direction and depth of the shot.
• Respect officiating calls and cooperate in managing the line.

Equipment for a class of 25

• rubber balls: 6
• chalk: 2
• cones: 8
• worksheets: 4

Teacher tip

With two walls, no one waits more than two points in a row. Explain that quinielas started in jai alai frontons and are a great example of a format that keeps everyone playing.

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