What do you need to play?

• Small court: 20-24m x 12-16m (one third of a normal handball court).
• Two goals: 1.70 x 3m or 1.60 x 2.0m.
• Goal areas: 5 m radius.
• Soft ball (size 1 or 2) colourful, suitable for children, soft, not too heavy, must bounce well and be easy to grab to guarantee a “fear-free” game.

Basic rules of the game

Minihandball rules are made extremely simple to allow the teacher or coach (not a referee) to make fair and easy decisions that children can understand.

The general rules – ball handling, defending, attacking, scoring, etc. – are identical with the rules of basic handball.

Kids are alowed to make about three steps with the ball, before bouncing, and about three steps after bouncing. Bouncing, is continuous (once a player has picked up the ball after bouncing, they can not bounce again). 

Kids can hold the ball for around three seconds before they are asked to make a pass. When there is a break in play, all oponent players should be at least 3 metres away from the person starting play.

The game should always be played in the spirit of fair-play.  If the teacher or coach feels that children are not playing fairly, the children will be substituted for about two minutes.