List of Handball Skills

To master handball, you must learn a certain number of skills and practice them until they are second nature. Most of the skills in the list below can be transferable to other sports, but playing handball is definitely a unique experience. Read on to learn about the most important skills for a handball player!

List of Handball Skills

Below is a list of the most important skills needed for handball:

• Dribbling
• Throwing
• Catching
• Jumping
• Saving
• Accuracy
• Power
• Running
• Screening
• Communication
• Faking

Dribbling

It is important to know how to dribble when entering a game of handball. If you are a ball carrier, you must dribble in order to move up the court. Focus on dribbling with the same size ball that you will use during a game or a smaller ball to develop better coordination.

Throwing

Throwing the ball is vitally important to the game of handball. You will be throwing the ball to either shoot or pass to a teammate. Practice throwing with both hands using overhand and underhand motions. Being able to pass or shoot with either hand is a great skill to have and will make you a more well-rounded player on offense.

Catching

Catching is most often used when passing the ball or when playing goalie. It is important to work on hand-eye coordination because if you drop the ball, you give your opponents a chance to get possession. While playing in goal, catching the ball is critical to saving goals for your team. When receiving a pass, it should be much easier to catch the ball, as long as your teammates can control their passes.

Jumping

Maximizing your jumping ability is an important aspect of training for handball, especially for offensive players who shoot the ball often. In handball, players will frequently perform a jump shot, which means they jump before throwing the ball at the net. This can be done to gain a height advantage over a defensive player or get closer to the opposing net without stepping in the crease. Jumping can also be used when catching the ball if it is above your head.

Saving

Saving is most important for goalies, but it is useful for other players on the court as well. Being able to save the ball by either catching or deflecting it will prevent the other team from scoring. Defenders can also save the ball indirectly by using their bodies to block shots from the other team.

Accuracy

Accuracy is arguably the most important skill to have in handball. Having good accuracy when you shoot will result in a better chance of scoring, which will help your team win. When passing, accuracy is important because you will aid your teammates in keeping possession. Effective passing is integral in any offensive possession and could lead to a goal. Careless passes allow the other team to steal possession and potentially score a goal.

Power

Power is mostly needed for shooting the ball toward the net. Combined with accuracy, powerful shots will be difficult for any goalkeeper to save. You can practice your power throws against a wall or with a teammate in the net. You can also improve your power by getting stronger, which can be accomplished through weightlifting or other sports. Be sure to control where the ball is thrown so you do not miss the target.

Running

While you are not running the whole time during a handball game, it is still an important skill. On offense, being able to get by defenders and make your way to the net is easier when you are fast. On the other side of the game, defensive players need to be able to move quickly in order to intercept passes and block shots headed for the net. There are tons of drills that you can do to increase your speed, endurance, and acceleration. Speed is another skill that can be improved by playing almost any sport, as the more you run, the faster you will become.

Screening

In handball, screening is mostly used in the form of a pick and roll. Similar to basketball, a teammate will stand in front of a defender so that the ball carrier can go by easily. This is an important skill because it creates space for a player to either pass or shoot the ball on net. Screening is a highly technical skill, so the more times you practice screening, the more natural it will feel.

Communication

While not necessarily as apparent in-game, having good communication skills is crucial in handball. Communication within the game aids with other aspects of the game, like passing and screening, by making sure everyone on your team is on the same page. Miscommunication can ruin scoring opportunities and give the defending team a great chance to steal the ball and capitalize on the other end of the court. Furthermore, miscommunication on the defensive side of the game can result in leaving an opponent uncovered, allowing them to get an easy scoring chance.

Faking

Faking is a commonly utilized skill that can tremendously benefit the team in possession of the ball. The art of faking can be broken into two main scenarios: shot faking and pass faking. Each of these types of fakes are meant to draw drastic movements out of the defense in an attempt to get the ball, opening up more room to complete passes and leaving lanes for offensive players to take shots on the goal. Faking is an instrumental part of offense in professional handball, making it a worthwhile skill to build for any aspiring handball players.

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