Curriculum Portal

Select a course.

arrow_back

Handball

infoWhy this? Year 9 handball connects advanced passing, shooting, movement, positional roles, and defensive systems within competitive play. Fast breaks, legal screening, interceptions, and choices between player-to-player and zonal defence develop tactical flexibility, communication, and rapid decision-making.

scheduleWhy now? Earlier handball units established secure techniques, core rules, overloads, and transition play. Pupils can now rotate through specialist positions, organise a 6–0 defence, coordinate fast breaks, and adapt shooting and marking choices to increasingly complex situations.

neurologyYou need to know

  • In team handball, the main positions are goalkeeper, left wing, right wing, pivot, left back, right back, and centre back.
  • The goalkeeper's primary role is to prevent goals by blocking shots and to start counter-attacks with quick, accurate passes to teammates in space.
  • The pivot usually plays on or near the 6-metre line, establishing legal screening positions without holding, pushing, or moving illegally into a defender's path to create space and offer close-range shooting options.
  • Wing players attack from wide areas, making fast runs and taking angled shots toward goal, especially during fast breaks when the defence is not yet organised.
  • Back-court players (left back, centre back, right back) usually organise attacks and attempt long-range shots, often using jump shots over the defensive line.
  • In a 6-0 defence, all six outfield defenders line up close to the 6-metre line, forming a compact wall that protects the central shooting area in front of the goal.
  • A fast break is a quick counter-attack immediately after winning possession, where attackers sprint into space before the defence can get organised.
  • Man-to-man marking is a defensive strategy where each defender follows and blocks a specific opponent to limit their passing and shooting options.
  • Zonal marking is a defensive strategy where each defender protects a specific area of the court and takes responsibility for any attacker who enters that zone.
  • An effective defensive stance has feet shoulder-width apart, knees bent, weight on the balls of the feet, and arms raised to block passes and shots without fouling.
  • An interception happens when a defender correctly anticipates a pass and catches or deflects the ball before it reaches the intended attacker, without making illegal contact.
  • A jump shot involves jumping upwards, driving the shooting arm back, and releasing the ball at the highest point of the jump to shoot over defenders.
  • A standing shot is taken with both feet on the ground and uses strong arm drive and body rotation for power, making it most effective when the shooter has time and space near goal.
  • A side shot is taken with the body turned sideways to the goal and the arm swinging across the body, often from a wing position, to create a better shooting angle from a tight position near the touchline.
  • A spin shot uses strong wrist action to put side-spin on the ball so that, after bouncing, it curves away from the goalkeeper and becomes harder to predict and save.
  • An underarm shot is taken with a low arm swing and a release close to the floor so the ball travels under or between defenders' arms toward the goal.
  • A feint is a fake movement or false pass or shot that is used to mislead a defender and create space to move, pass, or shoot.
  • A pivot turn is an on-ball movement in which the ball carrier turns on one foot while keeping the other foot planted; it must be completed without taking more than three steps and is different from the pivot playing position near the 6-metre line.
  • Creating space in attack means using movement, width, and depth to pull defenders apart so that the ball carrier has clear passing and shooting options.
  • Effective support play means moving quickly, usually within 2–3 seconds of a pass or transition, into positions where you can receive the ball, recycle possession, or legally screen a defender for a teammate by establishing position without holding, pushing, or moving illegally into the defender's path.

rocket_launchYou must be able to

  • Execute accurate passes and secure catches while being marked by a defender, consistently delivering the ball to a teammate's safe side and into space.
  • Maintain control of the ball while running at speed by using balanced footwork, presenting a clear target for the passer, and keeping the ball on the safe side of the body away from the nearest defender.
  • Select an appropriate shooting technique (jump, standing, side, spin, or underarm shot) based on distance from goal, shooting angle, defender pressure, and position on the court.
  • Perform each handball shot type with correct footwork and arm action, releasing the ball at the optimal point to maximise accuracy and power under defensive pressure.
  • Use off-the-ball movement techniques such as feints and sprints to lose a marker, create space, and become a clear passing or shooting option for a teammate.
  • Adopt and adjust a correct defensive stance to mark opponents, timing interceptions and blocks so that the ball is disrupted or won without committing a foul.
  • Apply man-to-man and zonal marking systems in small-sided games, shifting position in response to ball movement, teammate positioning, and the most dangerous attacking threats.
  • Rotate between different handball positions in drills or games, taking up appropriate starting positions and making simple tactical decisions such as when to pass, shoot, move into space, or hold position.
  • Contribute to basic team formations such as a 6-0 defence or a fast break by moving quickly into the required shape and communicating with teammates to maintain spacing and structure.


Revision Quiz

trophy Congratulations! You have completed the quiz.