Team Handball Goalie School Stations

Every student rotates through four goalie stations: ready stance, high saves, low saves, and reaction. Students learn positioning in the goal, coordinating arms and legs, and confidence facing a shot, always with soft balls.

How to play

1. Set up four stations and make four groups of six. Explain the ready stance in 2 minutes: feet shoulder-width apart, knees bent, arms in a 'W' at head height.
2. Station 1, positioning: in one goal, the goalie slides to four cones along an imaginary arc and sets the ready stance when a partner lifts a cone.
3. Station 2, high saves: in the other goal, in pairs, a partner throws foam balls high and the goalie saves with both hands and an extended arm.
4. Station 3, low saves: in cone goals, stop rolled balls with the leg and arm on the same side. Station 4, reaction: catch tennis balls a partner drops without warning.
5. Each station lasts 4 minutes, rotating clockwise; inside each one, switch roles every 30 seconds.

Rules

• Foam balls only, thrown at half speed.
• Shooters always aim away from the goalie's head.
• Safety: bend the standing knee on low saves; no splits and no diving to the floor.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the student practices high saves and the reaction station seated or from a wheelchair.
• Visual impairment: use larger, brightly colored balls and give a verbal cue before each throw.
• Fitness level: each goalie picks the shooter's distance at stations 2 and 3.

Learning goals

• Use the team handball goalie's ready stance.
• Save high and low balls with correct technique.
• Improve reaction time to unexpected cues.

Equipment for a class of 25

• foam balls: 12
• tennis balls: 6
• cones: 12
• goals: 2

Teacher tip

Many students are scared of the ball and flinch, so start soft and build up slowly. Having everyone try goal helps you find volunteer goalies and builds respect for the position.

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