Handball
With thanks to England Handball for the use of this video.
Junior handball is growing year-on-year in England in schools and at club level which is not surprising as handball is an incredibly exciting, high scoring, action-packed sport. It’s also a new sport for many. This means everyone is learning together, so everybody feels included.
With thanks to England Handball for the use of this video.
The game has grown hugely in schools. In 2009/10 just 25 teams took part in the England Handball Schools’ competition. In 2018/19 that figure had grown to more than 1700!
England Handball also runs a successful pathway for talented players. This includes regional academies and a National Academy, and feeding players into the GB age-group set up.
Interview with Alex Trent
England Handball put us in touch with junior handball player Alex Trent....
ALEX TRENT
How old are you and where do you play handball?
I am 15 years old and I play for Poole Phoenix Handball Club, in Poole Dorset
How long have you been playing handball?
I’ve been playing for 3 years
How did you first learn about the sport and get started playing?
I first started playing in PE Lessons at middle school and went to the after school sessions once a week, inspired by my older brother who was already playing with Poole Phoenix I then joined so I could train more and compete in tournaments
You’re an England handball academy player – how often do you train/play?
I train once a month in the South West Regional Academy and with the England Futures programme around every 8 weeks, we also have tournaments where all the Regions from across the country play against each other
What age group do you play for?
I play for Poole Phoenix in the Under 16’s and Under 19’s Leagues
Is handball an expensive sport to play?
Like most sports, there is a monthly fee for training, but you don’t need a lot of extra kit, just a good pair of shoes. Competitions can be quite far away so you need to be prepared to travel
Do you still have time to play other sports?
I was playing football but now that I’m in my GCSE year I have lots of studying plus training twice a week and competitions most weekends, I try to go to the gym once or twice a week too if I can
How many people are in a handball team at your age group?
7 play on the court at one time, plus up to 7 subs allowed on the bench
Does that number increase for senior players?
No, it’s the same.
What advice would you give kids who might like to learn handball?
Find your local club and give it a try, it’s fast and it’s physical, really great fun to play, you could also end up representing your country and have an opportunity to compete abroad.
With thanks to England Handball for the use of this video.
Players
Are you interested in playing for a club? Take a look at our clubfinder to discover your nearest club.
Want to learn to play in school?
Tell your teachers they can download free resources from the England Handball website
England Handball also runs an Introduction to Teaching Handball course. For more information please click here.
England Handball National Cup Finals
The England Handball National Cup Finals weekend takes place on 6 and 7 June 2020 at the David Ross Sports Village at the University of Nottingham. The weekend will be a festival of handball with the Schools’ under-15 and under-13 finals, as well as the clubs under-16, under-19, and senior National Cup Finals.
Under-16s, accompanied by an adult, will have free entry. Keep an eye on the England Handball website at www. Englandhandball.com in the New Year for more information.
