Team Handball Games for PE: 9 Fun Stations and Small Group Games for Elementary Students
Updated: 2 days ago
Team handball is a fast, action-packed game that's perfect for PE. It works on lots of skills and keeps students moving the whole time. Handball combines elements of basketball, soccer, and ultimate, so it's a great way to build skills that carry over to other sports. The modern game started in Denmark in the late 1800s, and the International Handball Federation was founded in 1946. Today, handball is played all around the world!
Pic by Corey Winter @MrWinterOA
Quick Answer: Team handball stations and games for PE include Target Throw, Partner Wall Throw and Catch, Pass and Move, Run, Jump, and Shoot, and Spot Shot, plus small group games like Handball Keep-Away, 2 vs 1 and a Goalie, Catch Ball, and small-sided handball. They build passing, catching, throwing, shooting, and teamwork.
Team handball is full of skills that are easy to teach in a PE unit: passing, catching, overhand throwing and shooting, dribbling, defending, and goalkeeping. Start your unit by reviewing the basic rules, then move on to skill stations and fun small-sided games.
In this post, I'll share tips for teaching team handball in PE and 9 stations and small group games that will make your handball unit even more fun. Let's get your students moving with the exciting sport of team handball!
Quick Section Links
Click any of the links below to jump to a section of this article:
What Is Team Handball?
Team handball is a fast-paced sport played indoors or outdoors. Two teams of seven (six court players and a goalkeeper) play on a court about 40 by 20 meters. Players dribble, pass, and shoot to score goals, and the team with the most goals at the end wins. Handball builds fitness and agility along with teamwork and communication. Beginners and experienced players of all ages can enjoy it!
Pic by Miss Volz @volzpe
Can Team Handball Games Help Students Meet PE Standards?
Team handball activities and small-sided throwing games make PE a blast, and they help you meet your district, state, and national standards. Handball is a great way to build the motor and manipulative skills that belong in every well-rounded PE program.
The activities in this post line up directly with SHAPE America's Standard 1: Develops a variety of motor skills.* Because students work in small teams, they also practice Standard 3: Develops social skills through movement.*
Pic by Nicart Obsuna @PECREDENCE
Tips for Teaching Team Handball in PE
Small group stations and games make learning team handball fun for students. Here are 9 practical tips for planning great lessons:
Teach the Basics: Start with passing, catching, shooting, defending, and goalkeeping. My Team Handball Skills poster is a great visual for this.
Keep It Age-Appropriate: Choose activities that fit the age and ability of your students.
Explain the Rules: Before each station or game, explain and demonstrate the rules and boundaries so everyone knows what to expect.
Plan Your Space: Make sure there's enough room in your gym or field, and set up two or more courts if you need them.
Use Stations: Set up stations that focus on specific skills like passing or shooting, and have students rotate through them.
Pic by Jana Paulk @Paulk_PE
Keep Groups Small: Use small groups whenever possible so every student gets more chances to move and touch the ball.
Start Simple: Begin with simple games and fewer players. As students learn the rules and build confidence, move on to bigger, more challenging games.
Pic by Caleb Hill @hillcaleb17
Talk About Sportsmanship: Discuss good sportsmanship before any competition. Healthy competition is great, but everyone should have fun and learn no matter who wins.
Teach the Vocabulary: Introduce key team handball terms early in the unit. My Team Handball Terms poster helps students learn them.
9 Team Handball Stations and Games for PE
Here are 9 team handball activities your students will love: 5 skill stations and 4 small group games.
Team Handball Stations
Stations focus on one or more handball skills, like passing, catching, shooting, defending, and goalkeeping. They give students a chance to practice and build confidence in a safe, supportive setting. For more ideas, check out my post on 15 PE stations.
1. Target Throw: Students take turns throwing at a target on the wall from different distances. They start behind the start line cone, choose a distance, and throw to hit the target. After 2 throws, they go back to the start line and repeat for a set amount of time. Keeping score adds extra fun!
2. Partner Wall Throw and Catch: Partners take turns throwing the ball off the wall to each other. As they get comfortable, have them move farther from the wall. This simple activity builds coordination and communication.
3. Pass and Move: Partners pass a ball back and forth as they travel from one end of the court to the other, then run back to the start. Remind them to lead their partner by passing in front of them, and to watch the ball all the way into their hands.
4. Run, Jump, and Shoot: Students run from a cone, jump before they reach the goal area line, and shoot while in the air, just like in a real game. They must release the ball before they land. After getting their ball, they move to the side and wait for their next turn.
5. Spot Shot: Students dribble from the start line to a poly spot and shoot at the goal. If they score, they keep the poly spot. If they miss, they return the ball to the line for another turn. The goalkeeper tries to block every shot!
Small Group Team Handball Games
Small group games are a great way to build handball skills with some friendly competition. Small-sided games have fewer players than a full game, so everyone stays involved and engaged.
6. Handball Keep-Away (2 vs 1): Two offensive players pass and catch while one defender tries to block or intercept the ball. The player with the ball can pivot but can't move their feet. The defender must stay at least 3 feet from the thrower. When the ball is blocked or intercepted, players switch roles.
7. 2 vs 1 and a Goalie: Two offensive players work together against one defender and a goalkeeper. Use a soft ball for safety. The offense must complete at least 3 passes before shooting, and only the goalkeeper can be inside the goal area. Switch offense and defense after a set number of shots.
8. Catch Ball: Two teams of 4 to 6 players try to make the ball bounce twice on the other team's side of the court. If the ball bounces only once before it's caught, play continues. Each time a team gets two bounces on the other side, they score 1 point. It's one of the best catching games for PE!
9. Small-Sided Handball Games: Students play in small teams of 3 to 5 with modified rules. No contact or reaching in is allowed. If the ball goes out of bounds, the other team throws it back in. Depending on age and skill level, dribbling can be optional or required. If there's no dribbling, players can take up to 3 steps before they must pass. Only the goalkeeper can be in the goal area, and shots must be taken from outside it.
Video by 2-4-2 Sports @241Sports
Final Thoughts
Team handball activities and games are a great way to get students moving and learning. With fast-paced play and plenty of action, handball challenges students physically while teaching good sportsmanship. Stations build the skills, and small-sided games bring them to life and build teamwork.
I hope these 9 team handball activities help you and your students have fun while learning the game. Don't be afraid to create your own stations and games, since handball is easy to adapt for different ages and skill levels. If you'd like a ready-to-go plan, my Team Handball Skills and Games Unit includes 10 K-5 lesson plans, and my Team Handball PE Bundle adds stations and skill signs. For more sport ideas, check out my posts on basketball stations, football games, soccer stations, and floor hockey. Which of these handball activities will you try first? Let me know in the comments below!
*National Physical Education Standards are used under license from SHAPE America. © 2024, SHAPE America, https://www.shapeamerica.org/. All rights reserved.
Need Resources?
Do you need sport-related skill stations with clear instructions and colorful graphics for your physical education program? Here's one to help!
Fill in the form below to download 20 FREE Sport-Specific PE Station Signs. This PDF digital download includes two cards from each of these sport station sets: 1. Base Games, 2. Basketball, 3. Floor Hockey, 4. Football, 5. Lacrosse, 6. Paddle and Racket Sports, 7. Soccer, 8. Team Handball, 9. Track and Field, and 10. Volleyball.
This freebie set will give your PE curriculum a boost for years to come!
If you want even more handball station ideas, my PE Stations: 20 Team Handball Activities and Games resource is available here on TPT.
If you want to really spice up your PE program, check out my PE Sports Stations: 10 Product Mega Bundle. It includes more than 200 sports-themed station signs and cards (20 stations per sport) to use in your gym or learning area.
You can find this bundle in my TPT store: PE Stations: 10 Resource Bundle, Sports Activities and Games for Skill Development
This collection helps you teach important PE skills and concepts from 10 traditional sports: basketball, base games, football, floor hockey, lacrosse, paddle and racket sports, soccer, track and field, team handball, and volleyball.
About Pete Charrette
Pete Charrette is a National Board Certified physical education teacher and former Georgia PE Teacher of the Year with more than 30 years of experience teaching elementary PE. He is the creator of Cap'n Pete's Power PE and has developed more than 1,000 PE and health resources used by teachers around the world. Pete loves helping PE teachers build programs their students enjoy.
