Handball

Handball is a team game, the objective is to throw the ball into the opposing team's goal. Handball is an olympic sport, and it is played throughout the world. This sport is fast paced and full of action. Players pass and dribble the ball to move it around the court. Players are allowed to hold the ball for three seconds before they must dribble or pass. Each team has six court players and one goalie playing at one time. Handball is considered to be a combination of basketball, water polo, and soccer. In Europe, handball remains one of the most popular sports to this day.

Table of Contents

• History
• Playing Surface
• Equipment
• Gameplay
• Positions and Roles
• Rules and Regulations
• Referees and Officials
• Lingo and Terminology
• Coaching
• Skills and Techniques
• Strategy
• Olympic Handball
• Handball Brands
• Handball Coaches
• Handball Players
• Handball Leagues
• Handball Teams
• Handball Tournaments
• Handball Books
• Handball Websites
• FAQ
• What is handball?
• What are the 5 rules of handball?
• Who created handball?
• How do you play handball?
• Where is handball most popular?
• What are the rules and regulations of handball?
• What is the history of handball?

History

There is speculation that the Ancient Greeks played a game extremely similar to modern team handball. However, handball was first confirmed in Scandinavia and Germany in the late 19th century. The sport was officially named and introduced in 1910. In 1936, "field handball," an 11-man outdoor version of today's handball was played in the Olympics. The 11-man version was soon dropped, and in 1972 the 7-man indoor version was brought into the Olympics.

Playing Surface

Handball is played on a hard surface court, the rectangular court has a goal on each end. The court surface is 40 meters long and 20 meters wide. In comparison, this is much larger than a basketball court (29mx15m). A half court line separates the court into halves. 9 meters from the goal is the free-throw line, this is a dashed arc. Following penalties that occur within this line, the attacking team put the ball back into play behind this arc. Penalty throws take place at the penalty mark, 7 meters from the goal. The 6 meter line, also known as the goal area line, is an arc surrounding the goal. The goalie is the only player allowed within the 6 meter line.

Equipment

In handball, required equipment includes a goal, an appropriate ball, athletic clothing, and athletic shoes. There also must be some type of distinguishing factor between the two teams playing. In organized play teams wear uniforms to clearly show the difference. In recreational play, teams may use bibs or colored shirts.

Gameplay

Handball is a physical and fast paced game. The ball is moved around the court with passes. Players may also move the ball with dribbles and steps. When a player catches the ball, the player has 3 seconds to make a move. The player may choose to pass the ball, take up to three steps, or dribble the ball. Teams strategically move the ball around to get the ball in the goal. Court players are not allowed within the goal area (6 meter line). However, an offensive player may jump from behind the line, shoot the ball in the air, and land within the line. Goals count as 1 point each. The game is divided into two halves that are 30 minutes each.

Positions and Roles

A team in handball consists of 7 players, 6 court players and 1 goalkeeper. The court players include a centre, a left back, a right back, a circle runner, a left winger, and a right winger. The centre plays both sides of the court. Also called a playmaker, the centre sets up and creates for his teammates. The left and right backs are mainly defensive players, they try to make block shots and are often the largest players on the team. The circle runner leads the offensive attack but also disrupts defensively. The wingers control the sides of the court. They look to counter opposing wingers and get different angles to shoot the ball.

Rules and Regulations

Handball is separated into two 30 minute halves. In between halves there is a 10 minute rest period. Although handball is a physical game, penalties can still be called. Players are not allowed to endanger opponents with the ball, pull or punch the ball out the opponents' hand, or contact the ball beneath the knees. Further, players should not be overly aggressive on defense. They can make physical contact, but are not allowed to push, hold, or intentionally trip opponents.

Referees and Officials

Referees in handball are responsible for ensuring that players follow the rules of the game. This includes judging if players are being too physical, staying within court lines, and following on-ball rules. Referees have the ability to give minor infringements, minor fouls, or majority fouls.

Lingo and Terminology

The majority of handball terms are in relation to gameplay along with other aspects of the game.

Coaching

In handball, coaches manage their teams substitutions, formations, and plays. The majority of professional coaches are retired players. This allows coaches to relate to players and understand their perspective. Different coaches have different strategies and tactics. Some may encourage an aggressive offense while others may focus on a strong or rough defense. The coach is responsible for ensuring that each player understands the style in which the team will play.

Skills and Techniques

The main skills in handball include throwing, catching, running, and agility. Throughout handball, the majority of players use similar techniques. When throwing, players may alter arm angles in order to put spin on the ball. Players can also jump and shoot the ball to try and get leverage on their throws. When catching the ball, players can choose to use one or two hands. Players may attempt to use evasive moves to try and get open to shoot or pass the ball.

Strategy

Teams may use different strategies and formations to try and outsmart the defense. Defensively, teams can decide between man to man defense or a number of zone defense tactics. Offensively, teams have lots of options. They can switch between aggressive and consertive strategies. Further, They can use numerous formations to try and free up opportunities for the offense.

Olympic Handball

In the Olympics handball is a very competitive sport. A varied version, outdoor team handball, was first introduced to the olympics in 1936. Modern handball has been an Olympic sport since 1972. European teams tend to dominate the Olympic tournaments, as that is where the sport is the most popular. Some of the most dominant countries include Denmark, Croatia, and France. Men and women each have their own tournaments in the Olympics.

Handball Brands

In handball there are many brands that create similar products. Most handball brands create a variety of products.

Handball Coaches

The coach of a handball team is extremely important. The most successful teams in handball have all been managed by legendary coaches.

Handball Players

Handball Leagues

Throughout the world, there are numerous leagues. The International Handball Federation (IHF) is the highest level in Handball. The IFC is in charge of setting rules and regulations. Anything changed in the game of handball goes through the IHF. In the table below, some handball leagues are listed:

Handball Teams

The most well known handball teams are international teams participating in the olympics. As mentioned above some of the most dominant nations include Croatia, Denmark, France, and Germany. Although there are leagues, teams, and tournaments around the world, the most notable teams are olympic and international participants. Within countries there are private teams that play within smaller leagues. However the most talented and respected teams are countries' national teams.

Handball Tournaments

There are handball tournaments occurring throughout the world all throughout the calendar year. The most important tournaments are international tournaments. The table below will display some of these:

Handball Books

For the most part, handball books focus on tutorials and introductory level information. These types of books will give insight to beginners and those seeking to better understand the sport.

Handball Websites

There are a handful of websites that address the sport of handball. Some focus on basic information, such as ours, others focus on news, blogs, or other general information regarding the sport.

FAQ