Handball: footwork and dribbling
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can move with the ball to create space and keep possession whilst playing within the rules of handball.
Key learning points
- Move: accelerating after a fake step in the opposite direction helps to get past a defender.
- Move: dribbling with bent knees and a low body position maintains balance and allows for agile changes in direction.
- Think: passing or shooting the ball before the fourth step/dribble will not break the travelling rule.
- Feel: it takes time to reset muscle memory when learning that you can take 3 steps while carrying the ball.
- Connect: using good communication and eye contact with teammates enables greater success at keeping possession.
Keywords
Feint - faking the direction of movement by stepping or changing direction
Dribbling feint - a player suddenly changes the direction of their dribble
Double dribble - bouncing a ball, holding it and bouncing the ball again
Travelling - if a player does not pass or shoot the ball before taking the fourth step
Common misconception
Dribbling is always the best option to move with the ball.
While dribbling can be helpful to gain ground up the court, it can slow down the game, whereas passing can often be faster and more efficient at breaking through a defence.
Teacher tip
Using taller obstacles like rounders posts may provide a step between a cone and a defender to allow pupils to gain confidence in feint and dribble feint.
Equipment
Handballs (1 between 3), 30 + cones, 10 x sets of 3 bibs
Content guidance
Risk assessment required - physical activity
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Prior knowledge starter quiz
4 Questions
Q1.What is the maximum amount of steps you can take with the ball in handball?
Q2.Which type of pass starts with the ball high above the body?
Q3.What is it called when a player takes too many steps while carrying the ball?
Q4.How is it best to dribble the ball in handball?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.What could you do after taking 3 steps?
Q2.When might be a good time to pass the ball to a teammate?
Q3.If a player bounces the ball, catches it and then bounces it again, what is it called?
Q4.Which is the fastest way to get the ball up the court?
To help you plan your 10 physical education lesson on: Handball: footwork and dribbling, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 physical education lesson on: Handball: footwork and dribbling, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom.
Explore more key stage 4 physical education lessons from the Non-examined assessment: handball practical unit, dive into the full secondary physical education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.