Sports of playing games for student’s competence are rapidly growing and beneficial in the process of the development of skills. The article provides material on handball training in physical education lessons and informal environments (workouts), using a small-sided games method (SSG). The benefits of this method have been proven in the preparation of high-performance athletes, seeking the highest results in the competition. Team handball has become a modern and fast game that fascinates viewers and participants in much more foreign arenas. Therefore, it is particularly important that children and adolescents in schools can try this game at innovative methods. A problem-related question arises – how to organize physical education classes using a small-sided game method, teaching handball to make them more relevant to youth? The aim: to reveal how small sided games (SSG) can help quickly master the content of a learning game and contribute to handball promotion in schools. The article uses the analysis of scientific literature. Training based on techniques denies tactical training by dividing them, but gaming provides a new meaning, which allows to follow the integrity of the game (technique, tactics, thinking, social aspects) education. Usually, the basis for such gaming method relies on certain task limitations, which change the usual characteristics of the game, but maintain the main principle of the game. Conclusions. A handball training program based on game method is beneficial to the development of individual and team tactical, technical activities and improvement of other gaming components. Education through games allows the trainees to discover different solutions, teaches how to think fast and make the right decisions. Training tasks are completely connected to certain handball actions by applying SSG method [...]

The aim of the study is to define the opinion of handball coaches, team players and physiotherapists on the most common injuries and their causes in handball. Research object: sport injuries and their risk factors. Research methods: analysis of literature, questionnaire “Injury prevention in handball”, quantitative data analysis chi-square (χ2 ) p < 0.005. The study used an international questionnaire on “Injury Prevention in the Handball” (www.safetysport.eu). The questionnaire was translated into Lithuanian, a pilot study was carried out and a questionnaire adjusted. The questionnaire is for handball coaches, athletes and physiotherapists. A total of 348 questionnaires were sent to team players, 112 of them answered (men/women). 38 handball coaches were asked to fill out their questionnaire, 21 coaches answered and 7 physiotherapists. Respondents (athletes and coaches) are playing in the highest and student leagues. Injuries in handball are associated with poor physical preparation, and it‘s noted that the lower limb injuries mainly related to non-contact situations. The head, hands, knees, ankle injuries identified as the most common injuries in handball. Incidence rate of injuries by men 50% and women 60% among handball players, but mostly there were affected lower limbs. By playing positions, the wing players affected ankle, knee and hand injuries, which is caused by jumping, landing or contact situation. Most injuries affect knees and ankle of the backcourt players, which happens in jumping, deceptive movements, running, and contact situations. The pivot players get head and knees injuries when they rotating or in contact situations with other players, as goalkeepers get lower limbs injuries after jumping, landing movements. The study of various sports athletes has shown that taller athletes are more likely to be injured than shorter athletes. [...]