Secondary School Competition

Olympic Handball Secondary Schools Competition 2026/27

Represent your school. Compete. Reach the All-Ireland Finals.

The Olympic Handball Secondary Schools Competition is back for 2026/27!

Schools from across the country will compete in provincial events, with teams battling for the opportunity to progress to the All-Ireland Finals.

The competition has 2 stages:

PROVINCIAL FINALS → ALL-IRELAND FINALS

It’s a fantastic opportunity for students to represent their school, compete against other schools and experience an exciting day of Olympic Handball.

Will your school be there?

Places are limited!

VIEW COMPETITION REGULATIONS

The road to the All-Irelands starts here 🏆

REGISTER NOW USING THE LINKS BELOW:

MUSTER Blitz Day 1 (2nd of November)

MUSTER Blitz Day 2 (3rd of November)

LEINSTER Blitz Day (10th of November)

CONNACHT Blitz Day (20th of November)

Each event has a maximum number of teams, so schools are encouraged to register early to secure their place.

All-Ireland Finals for Secondary Schools:

🏆 29 April 2027
Gormanston College, Co. Meath

FAQ

Who can take part?

The competition is open to Secondary Schools, with teams competing in the appropriate age and gender categories for the 2026/27 season.

Schools must ensure that all players meet the relevant eligibility requirements and that teams are registered in the correct category.

Full information is available in the Olympic Handball Secondary Schools Competition Regulations 2026/27.

How does the competition work?

Schools register their teams for their chosen regional competition and appropriate category.

At each event, teams will initially compete in a group stage, with results determining which teams progress to the knockout stages.

The exact competition structure may vary depending on the number of teams registered in each category.

Who qualifies for the All-Ireland Finals?

The highest-performing teams from the provincial competitions will qualify for the All-Ireland Finals, where schools from across the country will compete for the national title in their respective categories.

The number of qualifying teams depends on the number of regional competitions taking place within each province.

Where a province has two regional competitions:
One team per category from each regional event will qualify.

Where a province has one regional competition:
Two teams per category will qualify.

How many matches will our team play?

This will depend on the number of teams registered in your category and the competition structure for that event.

The final schedule and format will be prepared based on registrations.

What categories are available?

For Secondary Schools we have 2 categories for both boys & girls:

Juniors - 1st, 2nd & 3rd Years (ROI) | Year 9, Year 10 & Year 11 (NI)
Seniors - 4th, 5th & 6th Years (ROI) | Year 12, Year 13 & Year 14 (NI)

Can our school enter more than one team?

As we have limited space in the events, we limit one team per category, per school at first. In case by the end of registrations we still have spots available, we will contacts school to offer them extra spots.

What are teachers responsible for on the day?

Teachers are responsible for supervising their students and ensuring their teams are ready to play when called.

Teams should also arrive and complete registration/check-in by the time communicated by OHI.

I still have a question. Who should I contact?

If your question isn’t answered in the Competition Regulations, event information or FAQs, please contact Olympic Handball Ireland and our team will be happy to assist.

Email: schools@olympichandball.org.