Secondary School Competition

Is your school ready to compete for the title of All-Ireland champions? Join one of the most accessible and exciting school competitions in Ireland.

Olympic Handball is back—and your school could be on the path to an All-Ireland title.

The 2025/26 Secondary Schools Competition is open to schools across all four provinces, with separate events for boys and girls at Junior and Senior level. It’s easy to take part, fun for students, and a highlight of the school sports calendar.

Who Can Enter?

Secondary schools located in: Leinster, Munster, Connacht, and Ulster. Each school can enter one team per category (initially), with more spaces possibly released later.

How It Works

Register your team(s) for your province’s Blitz Day
Provincial Blitzes take place in November
Winning teams from each category qualify for the All-Ireland Finals in April
All events are run in a one-day blitz format, organised by OHI

Blitz Day Dates

Leinster: 12 Nov – Gormanston College
Munster: 19 Nov – Neptune Stadium, Cork
Connacht: 26 Nov – Knocknarea Arena, Sligo
Ulster: TBC

How To Register

1 team – €50 → €45 with early bird discount (10% off until June 8th)

FAQs

Want full details? Read our Secondary Competition Guidelines.

What’s included in registration?

Every registered school becomes an affiliated member of Olympic Handball Ireland. That means you’ll get access to:

Free teaching resources (PE lesson plans, rule guides, etc.)
Entry to all relevant stages of the competition (group to All-Ireland)
Support from the OHI team to help you run your matches

Do we need equipment to take part?

Not necessarily. You can start with just a basic PE setup. We’ll also offer special discounted handball equipment bundles through our partners—perfect for schools new to the sport.

Is Olympic Handball hard to teach or play?

Not at all. Olympic Handball is designed to be easy to teach, fast to learn, and fun to play. It’s a dynamic, inclusive sport where all kids get involved. Even if you’ve never taught it before, our resources will walk you through it.

How many players do we need for a team?

Minimum 7, maximum 14 players. Teams should have a supervising teacher. Schools can register multiple teams.

Can we enter more than one team?

Yes. Many schools enter more than one team across age groups. Simply choose how many teams you'd like to enter during registration.

Do boys and girls play separately?

Yes—there are separate competitions for boys and girls at every age level. If mixed teams are needed at local level, they typically compete in the boys’ division.

What if we don’t have our own sports hall?

No problem. Matches can be played at other schools or neutral venues in your group. You don’t need your own indoor facility to join.

Do teachers need to referee matches?

Referees are provided by OHI for Blitz Days and finals.

How are fixtures organised?

OHI will organise groups, fixtures, and timelines. All you need to do is take part—we make the process as smooth as possible.

What if we’re totally new to this?

You’re in good company. Many schools try Olympic Handball for the first time through this competition. It’s simple, fun, and inclusive—and our team is here to support you.