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      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can demonstrate a variety of passes from stationary and on the move to keep possession of the ball in isolation and conditioned practices.

      Key learning points

      1. Move: receiving a ball safely with one or two hands requires moving our body towards the ball to keep it under control.
      2. Move: keeping possession of the ball requires us to execute a variety of accurate passes.
      3. Think: knowing that we have to pass the ball within 3 seconds requires decision making.
      4. Feel: focus and composure before every pass helps improve accuracy.
      5. Connect: receiving and sending the ball within 3 seconds requires an awareness of where the ball/players are on court.

      Keywords

      • Bounce pass - a short pass in a crowded area that hits the ground once

      • Overhead pass - a pass thrown from above the head to outwit a player marking the ball, usually over a longer distance

      • Accuracy - a skill that reaches the intended target

      Common misconception

      Power is more important than accuracy.

      Accuracy is crucial to keep the ball within possession of your team so you have more opportunities to score.

      Teacher tip

      The activities and conditioned practices used in this lesson can be used as part of the moderation process to showcase skills.

      Equipment

      1 handball between 6, 30+ cones, 8 x sets of 4 bibs

      Content guidance

      Risk assessment required - physical activity

      Supervision

      Adult supervision required

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      4 Questions

      Q1.
      How many players are there in a handball team?

      5
      Correct answer: 7
      9

      Q2.
      How many seconds can you hold the ball for?

      Correct answer: 3
      5
      8

      Q3.
      How long should a full game of handball be played for?

      Correct answer: 60 minutes
      80 minutes
      90 minutes

      Q4.
      Which position is allowed in the goal area?

      goal shooter
      pivot
      Correct answer: goalkeeper

      4 Questions

      Q1.
      What is the maximum amount of steps you can take with the ball?

      1
      Correct answer: 3
      no limit

      Q2.
      Which is not a type of pass in handball?

      flick pass
      Correct answer: switch pass
      overhead pass

      Q3.
      How can you improve your accuracy of a pass?

      Correct answer: Look before passing.
      Throw with power.
      Throw faster.

      Q4.
      What happens if the ball goes out of the playing area?

      Correct Answer: a throw-in, a throw in, a throwin, throwin, throw-in

      To help you plan your 10 physical education lesson on: Handball: passing and receiving, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...