How To Play…
Wall Handball!
A procedural book for children
Written and Illustrated by Brittany Huber
Why Health Literacy?
The increase in technology means that more children are spending
time sitting on the couch instead of being physically active. Being
physically active is a key ingredient to living a long and healthy
life. If children from a young age are not physically active they
can develop a variety of medical concerns that will make everyday
life difficult. This health literacy book is intended to teach
children a new game and inspire them get up off the couch and go
outside and play.
Why this activity written in this format?
This book is written in a procedural form so that teachers,
parents, and children can learn to play a new game that will
encourage children to be physically active. Wall handball is a
manipulation game for children ages 8+. There are modifications
that can be made so that children younger than 8 can still enjoy
the game.
To play wall handball you need a wall and a tennis ball if playing with
older children. For younger children use a softer, larger playground ball.
A service line is drawn on the ground five feet away from the wall. The
area between the service line and the wall is called The Box.
1
2
Wall handball can be played with 2-4 players. If there are only two
players then they are competing against each other. If there are
four players, then each team has two players. Each team member
must switch with each other after contacting the ball.
To begin the game, the opposing players must decide who gets
to serve first. It is decided that the red player will serve
first. The red player must stand behind the service line and
bounce the tennis ball off of the floor.
3
4
As the tennis ball is bouncing back up off the floor the
server must hit the ball with an underhand swing. The ball
must hit the wall - it is not allowed to bounce off of the
floor a second time.
After hitting the wall the tennis ball must bounce inside the box before
crossing the service line. Once the ball is across the service line, the blue
player must move towards the ball in order to return it. The ball cannot
touch the ground outside of the service line once it has bounced inside
the box.
5
6
The blue player may use an underhand swing or an overhand
swing to hit the ball back against the wall. Once the ball has
bounced out of the box the server can move toward the ball
to return it.
There are three different ways to score a point in Wall
Handball. One way is if the red player was not fast enough to
reach the ball and return it for the blue player to return. If
the red player is not fast enough, the tennis ball will have
bounced off the floor on the other side of the service line.
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8
Another way to score is if the ball bounces twice inside the
box. In the picture, the blue player returned the ball but the
ball bounced twice within the box. Because the blue player
touched the ball last the red player wins the point.
The third way to score a point is if the ball bounces against
the side wall or outside the boundary lines if the game is
played outside. The red player was the last to touch the ball so
the point is awarded to the blue player.
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10
The game is played to fifteen points; whoever gets to fifteen
first wins. It is important to always congratulate the winning
team on playing a good game.
There are several ways that the game can be adapted to make it
easier for younger children to play. Instead of having to hit the ball,
it may be easier for children to catch and throw the ball back at the
wall. A larger playground ball can be used instead of a tennis ball.
11
Another way to make the game easier is to move the service
line closer to the wall. The children will not have to throw the
ball as far, helping the game to keep going.
12
About the Author
Brittany Huber lives in Pilot Butte, SK and
is currently studying Therapeutic
Recreation at the University of Regina.
She has always had a passion for the
outdoors and staying fit by competing in a
variety of sports such as soccer, volleyball
and ultimate frisbee.
The purpose of this book is to encourage
children and adults to get out and be
active. An active lifestyle is a healthy
lifestyle.
References
Title: How to Play…Wall Handball
Author/Illustrator: Brittany Huber
“How to Play…Wall Handball” was created in partial fulfillment of KIN 180: A Growth & Development Course at the University of Regina
This book was created in conjunction with Children in Sport: A Resource Manual for Sport Leaders from SaskSport
http://www.sasksport.sk.ca/cis/pdf/table_of_contents.pdf