Last week, our Handball Development Officer, Guillaume, delivered the final instalment of a two-part introductory course designed for teachers in Derby to learn all things handball. The course targeted teachers from both primary and secondary education, as well as School Games Organisers (SGOs) who were complete beginners to the game. This initiative was part of a wider project to support Derby’s progression and growth in handball.
The engaging course welcomed teachers from across Derby over two days, focusing heavily on interactive learning and tailored support. With ample opportunities for questions, teachers were able to immerse themselves in the content, adapting the key messages and learning outcomes to meet the specific needs of their students.
Our Introduction to Handball has been a staple course for us to interact with new audiences to handball for several years now with Derby being the most recent recipient of this entry level course. The course delivered in Derby is one of thirty-three introductory courses England Handball has delivered in 2024 to teachers and SGOs.
Our Handball Development Officer, Guillaume, comments: “It was a brilliant experience introducing handball to the teachers at Noel Baker academy. We covered the rules, different phases of the game and loads of gameplay using mini handball goals, court and balls which is always a crowd pleaser for the participants. Teachers are our biggest asset on the ground to introduce Handball to new audiences; my goal is to give them the necessary tools and tricks to so they can use Handball in their own context.”
School engagement is a core pillar of England Handball’s strategy, The Ascent, with an ambitious target to engage with 4,000 new primary schools by 2030. Introductory courses such as the one held in Derby is just one of many ways we are committed to reaching that goal.
National Manager for Club and Community Development, Harriet, adds: “Guillaume is such a fantastic asset, and his passion for delivering handball is inspiring. His expert knowledge and experience in the sport are integral to our work, and he provides invaluable insights for teachers and SGOs alike. His ability to connect with so many new faces is a testament to the organisation’s commitment to bringing our strategic aims within the Ascent to life.”
Courses like these play a vital role in England Handball’s mission to reach new audiences and empower teachers to confidently deliver handball in their schools. Ensuring the quality of the sessions is key to the success of these courses which is why we as an organisation are dedicated to ensuring the content is relevant to what school’s need and tailor these accordingly.
If your school or region is interested in teaching handball and want to engage in a course delivered in person by one of our expert coaches, please contact our Coaching Lead Chris, via email: coachingadmin@englandhandball.com.
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