Handball

What is handball?
The game is fast and high-scoring, with professional teams tending to score between 20-35 goals per game. Body contact is permitted for the defenders trying to stop the attackers from approaching the goal.
Find out more about how to play handball formats.
Equipment needed
- Ball
- Goals
- Court space (either indoors or outdoors)
A brief history of handball
Handball was first introduced at the Olympics in 1936, although it did not appear again until 1972. It has been ever-present since then, with a women’s competition introduced four years later. Goalball is considered by many to be the Paralympic equivalent of handball.
Results have been mixed. France lead the medal table with seven medals in total, with Denmark having won five medals overall.
Team GB last competed in the Olympic handball event in London in 2012. Both the men’s and women’s teams lost all five of their group matches and went out of the competition in the first stage.
Get involved
The School Games is inclusive to all young people and provides opportunities for everyone to get involved, either within school, against other local schools, or at county or regional level.
School Games Organisers
School Games Organisers (SGO) help schools coordinate appropriate competitive opportunities for all young people from Key Stage 2-4, to recruit, train and deploy a suitable workforce, and to support the development of club.
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Learn more about the School Games formats suitable for handball competitions:
Quick and easy handball activities
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