Learning more about Tchoukball

Physical education trainee teachers learnt more about a new team game that combines the pace and excitement of handball and volleyball.

The Swiss non-contact invasion game of Tchoukball is played with two ‘frames’ situated at both ends of a playing court. A line runs three meters from the centre of the bottom of the frame around in a semi-circle – this area is known as the ‘forbidden zone’ or more familiarly, the ‘D’. Teams can attack and defend at both ends.

The object of the game is to throw, or ‘shoot’ the ball at the frame, so that it lands over the line of the D. The opposition’s role is to catch the ball, and then ‘shoot’ it. This sequence continues until a point is scored.

Everything works in threes: you have three seconds with the ball, three steps with the ball, and three passes with the ball before it has to be thrown at the frame. There is no tackling involved and the only time play switches from one team to the other is when the ball is shot into the frame by the attacking team and caught by the defense.

To shoot the ball at the frame you have to jump from outside the safety zone, and release it before you land. In order to score a point the player that has shot the ball into the frame must ensure that the ball lands outside of the ‘D’. If it lands inside, it is a point to the defending team.

PGCE and school Direct PE course leader Dr Gary Stidder said: “Tchoukball is another example of how PE teachers might introduce new and alternative team games to pupils that have all the elements of mainstream team games usually taught schools.

“Learning about new games such as this enhances trainees subject knowledge and gives them confidence to introduce them to pupils.”