At the Partille World Cup in Gothenburg, it’s not just seasoned youth teams taking center stage. On Monday, the fields at Heden hosted mini handball for children aged 6 to 9, giving them a chance to try the sport in a supportive, low-pressure environment.
Here, results take a back seat. Instead, it’s all about offering kids their first taste of handball alongside teammates and families cheering from the sidelines. Parents, siblings and friends make up the stands, ready to applaud every goal or moment of bravery on the court.
After the matches, all participants received medals, a way to encourage and celebrate their efforts regardless of how many goals were scored. It’s part of what makes mini handball such a valued element of the tournament, helping children ease into the sport without feeling any pressure.
GoHandball reporter Astrid Månsby Schmidt, covering the event on-site, put it this way:
– Partille World Cup could hardly have asked for a better start, with brilliant sunshine and fantastic camaraderie and joy among the tournament’s youngest participants. It’s amazing what memories sun and a handball can create.
Mini handball at Heden is a great example of how the sport can be introduced early in a fun, accessible way. And with this year’s Partille World Cup only just getting underway, more players in the older age categories will be stepping onto the courts as the tournament continues on Tuesday.