Rugby pupils take up popular European sport - The Rugby Observer

Rugby pupils take up popular European sport

Rugby Editorial 26th Oct, 2019   0

A POPULAR European sport has been added to the curriculum at a Rugby secondary school.

Avon Valley School pupils can now take up handball after the school’s head of PE was introduced to the sport during a visit to Spain through the Erasmus project, which allows schools to collaborate with European partners.

Since then the school has forged links with handball club Coventry Sharks, and has helped set up a youth team which encourages youngsters to take up the sport.

Handball is a team sport which is particularly popular in Germany, France, Spain and the Nordic countries, in which two teams of seven players pass a ball using their hands with the aim of throwing it into the goal of the other team.




PE teachers at Avon Valley have received expert advice through sessions run by Coventry Sharks player-coaches Boris Bailleul and Milosz Pospiech.

Students have also been coached by Caroline Theill, who plays competitive handball in Denmark for AGF Haandball, a Danish women’s 1st Division club based in Aarhus.


And the school’s first ever handball kit, designed and made by local company Webb Ellis, was recently unveiled.

PE faculty leader Dan Payne said: “Seeing how popular handball is in Spanish schools inspired me to introduce the sport at The Avon Valley School.

“The uptake has been excellent and the students have enjoyed learning a new sport.

“We’re very excited to be working closely with Coventry Sharks who are working with us to set up a youth team and I’m hoping some of our students will be a part of this.”

Head teacher Alison Davies said: “This is a great example of how working in collaboration with other schools can benefit out students.

“The PE department has done a great job introducing handball to the curriculum and to our students. I am grateful to everyone who has offered their support to our school.”

Online Editions

Catch up on your local news by reading our e-editions on the Rugby Observer.

Subscribe

Receive a weekly update to your inbox by signing up to our weekly newsletter.

Recruitment

Find a career you'll love with our free career finder website.

Reader Travel

Check out all of the latest reader travel offers to get your hands on some free gifts.