How to start a beach handball club?

group pictures of the San Diego Sea Dragons

Starting a club can be a daunting task, but we hope we can take some of the fear away with this little How-To Guide. The guide was mainly written by members of the San Diego Sea Dragons Beach Handball Club who have started their own club in 2019 and within a year were able to be competitive at the biggest beach handball tournaments in the US and have even travelled to Europe for competitions.

Equipment

Basic needs include a goal, markers to indicate sidelines and goal areas, and balls.

Goals

Regulation size for handball goals is 3mx2m. Futsal goals have the same size, and may yield more results when searched.

Examples of available goals for purchase:

  • QUICKPLAY Kickster Soccer Goal Range – Ultra Portable Soccer Goal | Includes Soccer Net and Carry Bag [Single Goal] https://a.co/d/guOWvzO
  • Franklin Sports Futsal Goal – Aluminum Official Size Futsal Goal – Indoor Soccer Net – Folding, Portable Futsal + Soccer Goal – 9′ 10″ x 6’7″ https://a.co/d/3DHhvKD
  • Aoneky Futsal Soccer Goal https://a.co/d/gyZBvSK
  • GoSports ELITE Futsal Soccer Goal – 3 M x 2 M Size, Foldable Bow Type Frame and Net – Play & Train Like The Pros, Includes Carry Bag and Agility Cones https://a.co/d/iLl8g1l

The point is to play, so any size goal can be used for recreational purposes.

Court Lines

These are some of the trickiest parts of the handball court. Official lines can be purchased from European handball companies such as Trial or HandballShop.com, but these are often pricey and can take up more space.

If you are practicing in sand the no budget solution to the problem is to draw the lines in the sand. Yes, you will have to redraw them probably a couple of times, but it works. 

Another option is to make the lines yourself. More “official” looking lines can be constructed using webbing (Strapworks Heavyweight Polypropylene Webbing – Heavy Duty Poly Strapping for Outdoor DIY Gear Repair, 1.5 Inch by 10, 25, or 50 Yards, Over 20 Colors https://a.co/d/auie4hl) or ropes, and any combination of welded rings, carabiners, bungee cords, sand stakes, etc. You will need about 55 yards of material to construct a full court.

Instead of building a full court simply having strings to mark the goal area lines (also referred to as 6m line) on both sides can be another cost saving alternative. 

Balls

For official handballs, handballshop.com is the most reliable source that ships to the US, but will not always service the US. They have several types and brands of handballs available including men’s, women’s, and children’s sizes.

If it seems impractical to purchase balls before a club has been established, slightly deflated soccer balls or dodgeballs can easily be used.
To get started, you only need 1 ball. Women’s sizes will be easier for coed play, but if you have a men’s team that is looking to compete, you’ll want men’s sizes as well. For a smooth practice and games, we recommend at least 3 handballs of the desired size, but more handballs means you don’t have to run around collecting them as frequently.

Beach handballs are also difficult to get in the US, so if you are able to order extras, your players may become interested in purchasing some after a while.
Warning: these balls can get damaged by excess heat, so to extend their longevity, do not store them in the car or outside.

Bonus Equipment
  • Pinnies can be helpful for playing games to distinguish teams, but to save on costs, ask players to bring a light and dark shirt or play shirts vs skins (to people’s comfort)
  • A sand wagon makes carrying equipment to the beach significantly easier.
  • Sandbags to keep the goals down. Two sandbags near the front of each post should be sufficient to keep the goal from tipping over.
Comforts
  • Sunscreen and water, for players that forget to bring their own.
  • A small outdoor speaker, to play music during the games.
  • Shade, for players between sets.

Finding Players

The easiest way to start is to invite friends, colleagues, family, etc out to play. Set aside an hour at the beginning of each training session to teach the basics of the game, do a few drills, then play a few games.

Schedule and begin promoting your first practice 2-4 weeks ahead of time. Give as many people as possible the opportunity to make their schedules work for that first session. In messaging, be sure to emphasize that this will be entry-level, with no experience required.

To retain players, focus on consistency and community. Be consistent with your practice schedule, so players can make it a part of their weekly routine. Stick to the same time, make your schedule in advance, and tell players when the next practice will be after each practice. For community, take the time to bring new players in when they first come out, and make sure everyone is having fun. Going out for food/drinks after practice can go a long way, and consider hosting an event for the team every now and then.

Other options to get new people involved include creating a social media profile and advertising in local groups. If using Facebook, creating an event for each practice will not only help new people find the group, but will also give you an idea of the number of people to expect. Using local group meetup apps can also help draw people. It is important to be consistent with posting on social media as this is how a lot of people keep track of groups they are interested in.

It is helpful to include a short video, infographic, etc that has a summary of the rules somewhere on the page so that people who are interested have an idea of what the sport is before going to their first practice. You can download a one-page rule overview from our Rules page.

Finding a Practice Location

If you live near the coast of California or Florida you probably have an easy time finding a beach to practice on. However what about everyone else or if you happen to not live near the coast?

There are multiple ways to practice beach handball despite access to natural beaches. Here are the options:

  • Natural Beach: When practicing on natural beaches you usually have the most space and will be able to construct a full beach handball court. However even on natural beaches it is important to check if you need any permits for organized sports activities. In addition you should always check the area for debris that could potentially harm you when running, jumping and landing in the sand. Not all sand is equal either. Beach with very coarse grain sand can be a risk for injury as well and practices should be adjusted accordingly (i.e. less falling). If the sand is very compact it is recommended to limit 360 jumps or replace them with two 180 jumps to protect the knees.
  • Artificial Courts / Beach Volleyball Courts: Beach Volleyball has become more and more popular across the US and Canada and can be found in cities all across the country. If you have two courts with nets side by side you will even have enough length to put down a full size beach handball court. If you only have a single beach volleyball court you can still use it to practice on a half court, which is sufficient for most practice drills. Make sure you cover the net poles with sufficient padding and avoid placing your court in a way that the goal area line (6m line) is next to poles. 
  • Grass or Turf fields: Not everyone has access to sand. Don’t let that stop you from practicing though. You can mark down the same are on grass fields. We do recommend some modifications to protect players health.
    • Replace the 360 spin shot with two 180 spins in succession. This will lower the impact on the jump apparatus. 
    • Make sure everyone wears shoes. If the field tends to become slippery consider playing in cleats to reduce the risk of injury through accidental sliding
    • Practice falling properly on grass to limit injury.
  • Gym: Renting a gym is another option to practice. Just as on grass due to the harder surface stay away from full 360 jumps unless you have mats to soften the landing.

Organizing Training Sessions

No matter the level of competition that you want your club to attain, it is very important to make your training sessions fun! Being patient and encouraging are key to keeping people coming back, so start with easy drills and simple explanations of the game. Once people seem generally comfortable with the concept of beach handball, you can begin scrimmaging. Note that most adults join recreational clubs to play games, not to drill techniques, so the faster you can get to playing, the better your ability to retain interest.

Example of a first training session
  • Explanation of the basic rules/concepts
  • Warm-ups: jog, dynamic stretches, a few sprints, jumps, etc
  • Warm-up arms: throw from above the head with both arms, throw sidearm with both arms, throw from a 6 o’clock position (near the ground) with both arms, throw from a 9 o’clock position (around the head) with both arms, 360 spin passes (newer players can start with two 180 degree spins, where you start facing your partner, jump once so that you’re facing away from your partner, then jump again to face your partner, trying to throw the ball before your feet touch the sand), and finally in-flights (one person will throw the ball just above the head of their partner, who will then catch the ball and throw it back before their feet touch the ground)
  • Optional piston movement: Have all pairs stand goal width apart facing a goal. Players pass the ball back and forth, focusing on receiving the ball moving forward on a zero step, looking at the goal, passing from the forward position just in front of their partner, then stepping back to their starting position.
  • Goalie warm-up: For experienced goalies, ask them what they need. For new goalies, have the court players line up at the 6m and take shots in the following order. Alternating face and feet (focus on reseting to a default stance with hands up in a W position and legs tall but not flat-footed), alternating top corners (focus on efficient movement, one step out with extended arm, then reset to that default stance), alternating bottom corners (focus on keeping the chest up even when bringing a hand low, and getting comfortable stepping out with the feet), alternating hip pockets (focus on bringing the knee and elbow, then hand and foot, together next to the body without losing balance)
  • Positional shots: Form one line on each side of the court. The person at the front of one line will pass a ball to the person at the front of the other, who will catch the ball while moving forward and take a shot on the goal. Start with specialist/one-point shots, then 360 spin shots. Next have a coach/center-back stand in the center of the court and pass in-flights to alternating wings. A pivot rotation, or mixing in pivot shots, is optional at this point.
  • Optional blocking/defense practice: For new players, it is critical to go over the rules of defense to keep gameplay safe. Teach the basics of blocking a spin shot (cut off angle, give enough space, wait until after the shooter has already jumped, then jump parallel to them and use your hands to cover the far-top corner) and allow players to practice against more experienced shooters. Focus on safety, so these players can immediately jump in on a game. Additionally, basic movement and positioning can be covered through a 2-on-1 drill, focusing on efficient spacing, keeping hands in passing lanes, and maintaining defensive responsibilities.
  • Short court drills: This is a great option while new players are brought up to speed, if there aren’t enough players for a full game, or if you are looking to teach/drill a specific situation. Common versions include 2-on-1 (CB and wing vs defender, or CB and pivot vs defender), 3-on-2 (missing one of the wings, usually assumed to be a speciailist and marked 1-on-1 by a defender), 3-on-1 (CB who can’t shoot with a pivot and wing behind them, with one defender between the pivot and wing), or 3-on-3 (suspended player situation). Half court possessions are another good option if you have at least 8 players, but not enough for a game.
  • Full court games: With at least 10 players, consider whether or not you have enough players willing to run offense-defense to play a full game. If numbers are on the lower side, consider any of the following: multiple players running offense defense, goalies coming out as specialists (no fast-breaks), one dedicate specialist who switches between teams, or simply playing shorter sets. Additionally, although keeping score can be fun and ramp up the intensity, it can often ramp up the conflict as well; if you want to keep score, it is recommended you have someone act as ref. Games can be structured as official matches (2 sets plus a shootout tie breaker if needed), alternating 2 sets then a shootout (regardless of whether there is a tie), or a series of ~10 minute sets (less if few players present, more if looking to better condition a larger group of players)
  • Optional shootout: If not included as part of the games, consider ending with a shootout

Becoming a Non-Profit Organization

Especially when starting out there is no need to become a non-profit organization. No tournaments on the US Beach Handball Tour require you to be a legal entity of any kind (NPO, LLC, etc…) 

Becoming a non-profit can help you attract more donors and allows you to work with other organizations like schools and can provide legal separation between yourself and the activities at practice. 

Becoming a Non-profit organization looks very different state by state, but generally adds requirements to draft bylaws, have consistent leadership (in California you need at least 3 people to form a NPO) and commit to filing taxes.

The San Diego Sea Dragons have made the investment and are a registered 501.3c Non-profit. If you are considering these path, feel free to reach out to them for pointers on how to get started. 

Reach out for Help

You are about to become a part of the beach handball community. Don’t hesitate to make use of it! Check out the Teams page to find clubs near you and find the teams social media channels and contact information. Everyone will be more than happy to help you get started, be it recommending exercises, talking about tools like Canva.com to make content creation as easy as it can be.