PULSE


Handball The schools’ view


Why did you choose Handball?


Handball was a sport that captured the nation’s imagination at the London Olympics. Our pupils were talking about it and we felt it would generate a lot of excitement and perhaps encourage a wider range of pupils to take up sport. I knew Tom was involved in handball so asked him if he would


help me set up a club at Lower Halstow School which he very kindly did.


How did the children take to it?


It became a very popular club. No one had tried it before so it was fun seeing them all learn together. Some less confident children really came out of their shell and were not afraid to play


alongside children who played a lot more sport in and out of school.


Was it hard to pick up?


Not at all. Tom encouraged the pupils to work on their fundamental skills such as throwing, catching and balance. These directly transferred to handball and provided the children with a good basis.


You play with mixed teams so how do the boys and girls get on playing together?


They really enjoy it. They work well together and play to each other’s strengths. In year 6 a few of the girls are taller so the boys make sure they throw high passes to them! To be honest when they are playing they forget all about gender and friendship groups.


Do the kids enjoy it?


They love it. We have had pressure from the pupils to continue Handball and set up more clubs. Now we give two lessons a week to the sport as well as lunchtime and after school clubs.


If another school were to ask you about Handball and its merits, what would you say?


It is a great sport that can be adapted to include anyone. We often play Sitting Handball. It means anyone can play and it adds an extra element of challenge to those more able athletes in the group. They have to think more tactically which in turn supports the standing game. It is also a relatively unknown sport so odds are your whole class will be learning together.


The Kent & Medway School Sports Magazine 7


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16