Developed By Mike Nahmiash September 2009-09-12

WHAT IS Mini TEAM HANDBALL?

What is Mini team handball? Sometimes described as ―indoor soccer with

your hands‖ or ―water-polo on a court‖, the sport of team handball is a fast-
paced game that Combines elements of basketball, soccer and water polo,
and is played on a court (20m x 13m) with goals at each end. Two teams,
each with 5 court players and a goalie, try to score by throwing the ball into
the goal. A match consists of two 10-minute halves with a 10-minute
halftime. Team handball is the 2nd most popular team sport in the world
behind soccer. Played in more than 150 countries, by more than 8 millions of
sportsmen and sportswomen, it is one of the most developed team sports for
women. In countries such as Denmark, Germany, France, Spain and
Norway, men’s and women’s professional leagues attract more media
attention than the WNBA and the NBA.

Team handball is really an exciting game to watch; it is a fast game, and

where the duel between shooter and goalkeeper is very important. In term of
the natural athletic skills, a team handball player needs to develop several
skills, such as running, jumping, throwing, passing, catching and dribbling
and so on. Team Handball can be played: indoors in gymnasium; outdoors
on the grass, on paved area; or on a beach.

Developed By Mike Nahmiash September 2009-09-12

PLAYERS
A team consists of 8-12 players, 6 of whom may be on the field at one
time.

Substitutes may enter the game at any time and for an unlimited number of
times. They don’t need to notify the timekeeper, but the players they are
replacing must be off the field before they enter. Substitutes must enter a
game at the substitute line, which is near mid-court. A faulty substitution
results in a 1-minute suspension for the offending player and a free-throw
for the opponents. The goalkeeper wears colors distinct from all other
players on the court

Teams use different offensive sets and have different names for positions,
but one basic offensive set is to have three players—left, center and right
backcourt—just beyond the free-throw line, and three others—left wing
and right wing—between the free-throw line and the goal-area line. Wing
players tend to be smaller and quicker players who can shoot from difficult
angles The backcourt players. Centers are like quarterbacks, directing the
offense. The other backcourt players tend to be taller, with the ability to
jump and shoot over the defence from the backcourt.

 Size of the court:

Developed By Mike Nahmiash September 2009-09-12

Length of Game:

A game consists of two 10-minute halves, with a 2-

minute intermission. The playing clock normally runs continuously but is on
occasion stopped

Scoring

A goal is scored when the entire ball crosses the goal line.

Advancing the Ball:

Players may throw, catch, stop, push, or hit the ball,

using their open or closed hands, arms, head, torso, thighs and knees. A player
may hold a ball for a maximum of three seconds

Player’s are allowed to:

Run with the ball 3 steps
Hold the ball 3 seconds

Player is not allowed to:

Endanger an opponent with the ball
Pull, hit or punch the ball out of the hands of an opponent
Contact the ball below the knee

If a player is holding the ball, he/she must pass, or shoot it within three
seconds

Developed By Mike Nahmiash September 2009-09-12

Approaching an Opponent:

At a Mini Handball level, please be strict,

never allow pushing or holding, especially if the defender is not in front of
the attacker, but please reward good defence (blocking, stealing The Ball).

Goalkeeping:

Only the goalkeeper may be in the goal area. A

court player may not play the ball when it is stationary or rolling in the goal
area. However, a court player may play the ball when it is in the air above
the goal area if she is not in the goal area herself. A free throw is awarded to
the opposing team when a court player enters the goal area in possession of
the ball; a free throw is also awarded when a court player enters the goal
area without the ball but gains an advantage in doing so.

A Six-meter throw is given when a defending court player enters the goal
area and gains an advantage over a player with the ball. No throw is awarded
if a player enters the goal area without the ball and gains no advantage. If a
defending player intentionally plays the ball into his own goal area and the
goalkeeper touches it, the opponents are awarded a free-throw. If the
goalkeeper doesn’t touch it and the ball stops in the goal area or goes out of
bounds, the opponents are awarded a free-throw.

Developed By Mike Nahmiash September 2009-09-12

The goalkeeper may:

 touch the ball with any part of her body while inside the goal area;
 Move with the ball inside the goal area, with no restrictions;

Throws: The following throws may be made during a game

Throw-In

When: The ball has gone out of bounds.

Where: From where it went out, or from the intersection of the goal line and
side line, if it went out over the outer portion of the goal line.

How: The referee doesn’t whistle; a player on the team awarded the ball
throws the ball in with one foot on the side line until the ball leaves his hand.
He may not play the ball in to himself. Opponents must stand at least three
meters away, though they may stand outside their goal line, even if it’s less
than three meters away.

Developed By Mike Nahmiash September 2009-09-12

Goalkeeper’s Throw

When: The ball crosses the outer goal line.

Where: From the goal area.

How: The goalkeeper throws the ball over the goal-area line; the referee
does not whistle. The goalkeeper may not touch the ball again until another
player has touched it.

Free-Throw

When: For numerous violations, including goalkeeper infractions, court

player infractions in the goal area, infractions when playing the ball, passive
play, and infractions connected with other throws.

Where: Either where the infraction occurred, or, if the violation occurred
between the nine-meter line and the goal-area line, then from the nearest
point immediately outside the nine-meter line.

How: Without a whistle, the player takes the throw with opponents at least
three meters away. Teammates may not be on the nine-meter line or between
it and the goal line before the player takes the throw.

Six-Meter Throw (Penalty Shot)

When: A clear chance of scoring is destroyed by a defensive player’s illegal

action or a
referee’s inadvertent whistle

Where: At the Six -meter line.

Developed By Mike Nahmiash September 2009-09-12

How: A referee blows her whistle, and the player has three seconds to take a
shot on goal from behind the six-meter line. The player must not touch on or
beyond the line before the ball leaves her hand. Just the goalkeeper and the
thrower are initially involved; the ball is not played again until it has touched
the goalkeeper or goal. All other players must be beyond the nine-meter line
or three meters or farther away from the player when she takes the throw.
The throw is retaken if a defensive player violates this positioning (unless
the player scored a goal); the player may also throw again if the goalkeeper
moves beyond the four-meter line before she releases the ball.

Penalties

A referee may warn, suspend, disqualify, or exclude a player.

Warnings result from less serious infractions, such as were noted in
“Approaching an Opponent”. They also may result from violations
occurring when a player is executing a formal throw and from
unsportsmanlike conduct. The referee indicates a warning by holding up a
yellow card.

Suspensions

Suspensions occur for repeated infractions, for faulty

substitutions and for failure to put the ball on the floor when the referee
makes a decision. Suspensions last 1 minute and are indicated by the
referee’s holding up her hand with two fingers extended. The team may not
replace the player during the suspension.

Equipment

Size of the ball: 46-48 cm – 225-275 gr. Other balls can be used

Officials

One referee is in charge of the game. A scorekeeper assists the referee

Developed By Mike Nahmiash September 2009-09-12
PASSING, CATCHING, DRIBBLING DRILLS

10-PASSES GAME: Two teams (number of

players depends on the space available) try to do
10 passes in a row without being touched by
members of the other team. When a player with
possession of the ball is touched, the ball goes to
the other team. If a team achieves 10 passes, 1
point is awarded.
Alternatives
- Everybody should do 1 pass
- You can or can’t dribble
- Only bounce passes or jump passes
__________________________________________
______________________________

FREE ZONE: Two teams (number of players

depends on the space available), each team,
respectively, attempts to bring the ball in the 6
meter zone on the opposite side. Once more the
player with possession of the ball cannot be
touched. A free zone exists in the middle of the
Free
court where a player cannot be touched by the other Zone
team, even if he/she has the ball.
Alternatives
- An extra point is awarded if every player on
the team touches the ball.

Developed By Mike Nahmiash September 2009-09-12

 - You can or can’t dribble.
- Only bounce passes or jump passes are allowed.
- Decrease the size of the goal area or the free zone.
TOUCHDOWN: Same rules as the free zone but without a free zone.
Alternatives
- You can play a version of touchdown, where no one can enter the 6-meter area
and to score a point a player needs to place the ball in the 6-meter area with his
feet outside the area. This way, the players are conscious of the 6-meter zone.
- All the players must pass the centerline for a touchdown to be good.
________________________________________________________________________
POLICE AND THEVES: All the balls Police Station Thief
start with a thief (A). The thieves ( ) try bbB B
bB B
to get as many balls as possible by passing
them to the other thieves until they end up
with a thief (B). The thieves should stay in
their hoop, if they are touched outside of
their hoop by the members of police they
have to go in jail.
The police ( ) try to intercept the balls
Hoop JAIL
and pass them to the police station.
Alternative Thief A
- No specific passes pattern
________________________________________________________________________
THE CHASE: One team ( ) tries to
Finish line
pass the ball back and forth, at the same
time one member of the other team ( )
tries to complete a full lap around the Start line
Start line
cones ( ) dribbling the ball. The first
team to complete the task gets one point.
Alternatives
- Switch hands while dribbling

Developed By Mike Nahmiash September 2009-09-12

 - Dribbling backwards
- Changing type of passes (jump, bounce)
STEAL THE BALL: Each member of one team
( ) has a ball and dribbles. The other team ( )
tries to steal all the balls from the first team. You
count the time it takes them to do it. The team with
the fastest time wins.
Alternatives
- Dribbling only with left hand
- Limit the space (half court, 9-meter zone or
6-meter zone)

________________________________________________________________________
PASS TAG: Two teams (number of players depends on the space available). Team (A)
tries to touch all the players of team(B), using the ball. Team(A) can do it by passing the
ball between teammates in order to get close to the opponent and touch them with the
ball. No dribble is allowed. The fastest team wins.
Alternatives
- Limit the space (half court, 9-meter zone or 6-meter zone)
- Play with 1, 2 or 3 balls
________________________________________________________________________
FOUR CORNERS: Two teams, at the same
time, try to pass the ball as long as they can,
without dropping it Each player catches the ball
in movement, passes to the next player and then
goes behind the next column. The team that
lasts the longest gets one point.
Alternatives
- Bounce pass or jump pass
- 2 balls
- Reverse the order every 10 passes

Developed By Mike Nahmiash September 2009-09-12

THROWING DRILLS

DODGE BALL ADAPTED TO TEAM HANDBALL:

Every child knows the rules of dodge ball. If a child is
touched by the ball, he/she is out of the game. The
difference here is that you can revive the person touched
by the ball by scoring a goal in the opponent’s net.
Following the level of play, you can add more balls and
add a goalie.

_____________________________________________________________
BOWLING PIN: One team tries to knock down all the
bowling pins of the other team. Each team has to stay in
their zone.
Alternatives
- Add the dodge ball rules adapted to team handball
to this game.
- One pass before each shot.

________________________________________________________________________
BOMB GAME: Each team tries to throw their balls on the
medicine ball (the bomb) until it crosses the goal line of
the other team or touches an opponent. Each team has to
stay in their zone.

Developed By Mike Nahmiash September 2009-09-12

COWBOY SHOOT-OUT: Each team tries to throw their
ball on the bowling pins. The player that throws the ball
needs to run to get the ball back and give it to the next
player. The first team that knocks them all down wins.
This is a nice way to teach the jump shot. You can play
with 2 to 6 teams depending on your equipment.
Alternatives
- Jump shot only
- Set shot only
- Use the four corners of a goal with cones in the goal.
- Shoot from one goal to the other
________________________________________________________________________
PENALTY SHOT SHOOT-OUT: Same rules as the cowboy shoot-out but with a
goalie. Adapt the distance from the goalie in function of your level (9, 7 or 6 meters).
________________________________________________________________________
DEFENSIVE DRILLS

PROTECT THE CRYSTAL: 6 attackers try to

pass the ball between each other and throw it on
the crystal ball in the middle of the circle. 5
defenders protect the crystal ball as long as they
can, but they cannot enter the circle. Introduce
the concept of shifting, blocking, counting
players and communication.
Alternative
- Put one person in the middle, instead of a
ball, only bounce passes to the person in
the middle are allowed.

Developed By Mike Nahmiash September 2009-09-12

4 GOALS GAME: Put 1 goal in each corner.
You can use mats or cones if you don’t have 4
handball goals. Each team has two goals to
defend (two in diagonal). Both teams try to
defend their goals and score goals against the
opposite team.
Alternatives
- No dribble
- 1, 2 or 3 balls
- At least 3 passes before scoring
________________________________________________________________________
CATERPILLAR TAG: Two players /tags/ in
the middle, everybody else behind the goal line.
After the whistle blows everybody tries to cross
the entire court without being touched by the
tags. If they are touched they have to grab the
hand of the tag and try to get another person on
the next whistle. The tag that has the most
persons wins.
Alternative
- Dribble to cross
________________________________________________________________________
DOORMAN: 5 doors of 4 feet wide are
delimited by cones in the middle of the court. 4
doormen act as defenders. The rest of the players
are on the goal line. After the whistle everybody
tries to cross to the other side by passing through
a door. If a doorman is in front of the door they
cannot pass through. No contact is allowed.
Alternative

Developed By Mike Nahmiash September 2009-09-12

 - Dribble to cross
OFFENSIVE DRILLS

RELAY RACE: The Team Handball game is a

fast game, you can use different sort of relay
game to increase the skill and speed of your
players. For example, this relay race, where the
circles are the attackers (with one ball each) and
the triangles are the defenders (no ball). Each
player starts with one foot on the corner line.
After the whistle, the attackers dribble on the
other side and shoot against a goalie, if they
score they can come back right away by turning
around the cone near the 7-meter line and run to
the cone on their side and touch it. If they don’t
score, they have to turn around the goal and run
to their cone in their zone and touch it. At the
same time, the defenders run after the attackers
until they touch them. They have to turn around
one cone and run to touch their cone in their zone, than another defender can relay
him/her.

You count how many goals they score before they get touched and then the attackers
become the defenders and vice-versa.

Alternatives
- At least one passer in the middle
- Both teams attack and defend at the same time

________________________________________________________________________

Developed By Mike Nahmiash September 2009-09-12

4 on 3 GAME: One team (4 players) starts in
the middle of the court with one ball and one
team (3 players + 1 goalie) starts on the 6-
meter line. The triangle team tries to score a
goal without being touched by the circle team.
You give 1 point to the offense if they score
and 1 point to the defense if they don’t score.
Moreover, if they don’t score, the defenders
become attackers and try to bring the ball in
the middle of the goal without being touched
by the other team. If they succeed, it is another point for them.

Alternatives
- 2 on 1
- 3 on 2
- 4 on 3
- 5 on 4
- 6 on 5
- No dribble
- Everybody should touch the ball in attack.

TRAINING PLAN FOR A CLASS

At the elementary school level, the classes are generally 50 minutes long. This
doesn’t allow a lot of time for complicated session. Moreover, you want to be sure that
the children are active, learn and have fun. Our advice for a good plan is to keep it
simple and fun. A maximum of 3 different games should be used in a session and this
includes the final game, which should be a real game of team handball.

Developed By Mike Nahmiash September 2009-09-12

 This is an example of a typical plan
Course #1 of Team Handball for 5th and 6th Grade (50 minutes) DATE:
Equipment: Pennies, balls and goals

Session Part Description Space Organization Time

Welcome and - Welcome children; Children sit in the gym 5 min
explanation - Presence;
- Team division;
- Explanation of the session and
objectives
Warm-up and 10 PASSES GAME 4 teams of 7 at the same 12 min
first game - use space time.
- get open
- team work
- quick execution
Second game 4 ON 3 GAME Switch defensive 13 min
- Recognize who is open players every minute.
- Execution
- Quality of passes and shooting
TEAM TEAM HANDBALL GAME 4 teams of 6 players, 2 15 min
HANDBALL - Game of 2 goals or 3 minutes teams play, 2 teams
GAME watch

Comeback - Bring back the equipment 5 min

- Answer children’s questions

CONCLUSION

We hope that this document will help you to understand what the rules of Mini
team handball are and help you with teaching team handball in your classes. We are sure
that this game will please almost all your children and that all these little drills will make
almost every child sweat and work hard and more importantly have fun.

Developed By Mike Nahmiash September 2009-09-12