Team Handball PE Games and Lead-Ups
Team handball is a great invasion game to add to your curriculum because most students have never played it, so nobody walks in as the expert. Think of it as a mix of basketball and soccer: you pass and dribble with your hands, then throw at a goal guarded by a goalie, with a goal area nobody else can enter. Lead-up games teach passing on the move, jump shots, cutting to open space and person-to-person defense.
Before full games, try ten-pass keep-away, end zone games and throwing at cones. Elementary students can play with a soft foam ball, relaxed dribbling rules and wide goals without a set goalie. Middle schoolers are ready for 4v4 with goalie rotations, and high school classes can learn simple zone defense and the fast break. Rotating goalies and using foam balls keeps anyone from dreading their turn in the net.
Handball: Elementary (ages 6–12)
Handball: Middle School (ages 12–16)
Handball: High School (ages 16–18)
Drag any activity into a warm-up, main activity or cool-down, run the class timer from your phone and track SHAPE America standards per class.
Frequently asked questions
How do I keep the goalie from getting hit in the face?
Use foam or soft handballs while students learn, mark a minimum shooting distance and make any shot to the head an automatic no-goal. You can also play without goalies, knock down cones or score in target zones on a mat. Rotate goalies every few minutes so no one gets stuck in the position.
What rules should I modify for team handball in PE?
Relax the three-step and dribbling rules at first, but keep the goal area, because it organizes the whole game. Add participation rules, such as everyone touching the ball before a shot. Smaller teams and wider goals help when scoring is rare, and you can bring in the official rules gradually as skills grow.
Is team handball a good fit for elementary PE?
Yes, with modifications. Throwing and catching are skills young students already practice, so a soft ball, a big goal and a few simple rules let third graders play right away. Start with keep-away and target games, then add the goal area. Save tactical concepts like zone defense for middle and high school.