The History Of Handball

The Game

Handball has developed from a number of similar games, which were in existence at the start of
the 20th century. These games were played in Central and Northern Europe and in 1926 Standard
International Rules were established. In 1928 the International Amateur Handball Federation was
established by 11 countries during the Summer Olympic Games. This body later became the
present International Handball Federation.

In the early part of the century Handball was an eleven-a-side game played outdoors on a soccer
pitch and indeed this version of the game is still played by ‘Veterans’ in countries such as
Austria and Germany.

As the popularity of handball spread throughout Europe, major modifications were being
considered in Northern Europe due to the more severe climate. The need for indoor handball
became apparent. As an indoor game, handball became faster and more colorful and rapidly grew
to become popular throughout Europe.

Indoor handball and the outdoor field version enjoyed equal popularity until the late 1960’s. In
1965 the Olympic Committee approved indoor handball for the Olympic Games and the name
‘Handball’ now refers exclusively to the indoors 7-a-side version.

The first IHF men’s indoor World Championships were held in 1954 and Sweden emerged as the
champions. Three years later Czechoslovakia won the first Ladies Championships. The
Scandinavian countries, along with Germany and the former Soviet Union, were traditionally the
powerhouses in world Handball. This has been changing over the past decade as the popularity
of the sport has increased in the Southern and Western European countries as well as in the Far
East. We now have very strong national teams from other nations France, Denmark, Egypt, and
Korea.

Handball has yet to gain a significant foothold in the English speaking world but even so is
played in all parts of America, Canada, Australia, Britain and Ireland. Teams from these
countries regularly compete at World and Olympic championships but as yet they have not
broken into the top ranking nations.
 Team Handball Basic Rules
The Basics

The Playing Court: The court measures 20 meters (65' 7") by 40 meters (131' 3"). The
court is larger than a basketball court, but the length may be shortened when space is
limited. The goal area line, or 6-meter line (19' 8"), is the most important line. No one
except the goalie is allowed to stand in the goal area. The goal opening is 2 meters by 3
meters. Players may jump into the area if the ball is released before landing in the area.

The Ball: Team handball is played with a 32-panel leather ball. For women, the ball is
54 to 56 centimeters and 325 to 400 grams. For men, it is 58 to 60 centimeters and 425
to 475 grams.

Number of Players: There are seven players on each team (six court players and one
goalie). A maximum of 12 players may dress and participate in a game for each team.
Substitutes may enter the game at any time through own substitution area as long as
the player they are replacing has left the court.

Uniform of the Players: Player numbers are 1 to 20. Uniform shirts and shorts are the
same color. The goalkeeper must wear a different color shirt from teammates and
opponents. No jewelry is allowed.

Referees: There are two referees, a court referee and a goal line referee. Referees
have complete authority: Their decisions are final. The referees are assisted by a timer
and a scorer.

Duration of the Game: For players 18 years and over, the game consists of 2, 30-
minute halves with 10-minute half-time. For tournament and youth games 2, 15-minute
or 2, 20- minute halves. This is running time except for injury or one team time-out per
half. The teams change benches at half-time. The game ends in a tie unless the game
demands a winner. (Tournament rules dictate that a winner must be determined.)
Overtime consists of 2, 5-minute periods).

Passive Play: It is illegal to keep the ball in a team's possession without making a
recognizable attempt to attack and to try to score. In other words, a team cannot stall
(free-throw awarded to the other team).

Throw-Off: A throw-off is taken by the team that wins the coin toss and chooses to start
the game with the ball. Each team must be in its own half of the court with the defense 3
meters away from the ball. Following a whistle, the ball is passed from center court to a
teammate and play begins. Throw-off is repeated after every goal scored and after half-
time.
Scoring: A goal is scored when the entire ball crosses the goal line inside the goal. A
goal may be scored from any throw (free-throw, throw-in, throw-off, goal-throw).

Playing The Ball

A player is allowed . . . -To run with the ball for 3 steps -To hold the ball for 3 seconds
-Unlimited dribble with 3 steps allowed before and after dribbling (no double-dribble).

A player is NOT allowed . . .

 To endanger an opponent with the ball.

 To pull, hit or punch the ball out of the hands of an opponent.
 To contact the ball below the knee.
 To dive on the floor for a rolling or stationary ball.

Defending the Opponent: A player is allowed to use the torso of the body to obstruct
an opponent with or without the ball. However, using the outstretched arms or legs to
obstruct, push, hold, trip or hit is NOT allowed. The attacking player is not allowed to
charge into a defensive player.

Throw-In: A throw-in is awarded when ball goes out of bounds on the sideline or when
the ball is last touched by a defensive player (excluding the goalie) and goes out of
bounds over the end line. The throw-in is taken from the spot where the ball crossed the
sideline, or if it crossed the end line, from the nearest corner. The thrower must place
one foot on the sideline to execute the throw. All opposing players must stay 3 meters
away from the ball.

Referee Throw: A referee throw is awarded when . . . The ball touches anything above
the court after a simultaneous infringement of the rules after simultaneous possession
of the ball.

The Referee throws the ball vertically between two opposing players. The jumping
players may grab the ball or tap it to a teammate. All other players must be 3 meters
away from the throw. The referee throw is always taken at center court.

Free-Throw: For a minor foul or violation, a free-throw is awarded to the opponent at

the exact spot it took place. If the foul or violation occurs between the goal area line and
the 9-meter line, the throw is taken from the nearest post outside the 9-meter line. The
thrower must keep one foot in contact with the floor, then pass or shoot.

7-Meter Throw: The 7-meter throw is awarded when . . .

 A foul destroys a clear chance to score

 The goalie carries the ball back into his or her own goal area
 A court player intentionally plays the ball to his or her own goalie in the goal area and the
goalie touches the ball
  A defensive player enters his or her goal area to gain an advantage over an attacking
player in possession of the ball.

All players must be outside the free-throw line when the throw is taken. The player
taking the throw has 3 seconds to shoot after referee's whistle. Any player may take the
7-meter throw.

Goal-Throw: A goal-throw is awarded when . . . The ball rebounds off the goalkeeper
over the endline The ball is thrown over the endline by the attacking team.

The goalie takes the throw inside the goal area and is not restricted by the 3-step/3-
second rule.

Progressive Punishments

Progressive Punishments: Pertain to fouls that require more punishment than just a
free-throw. "Actions" directed mainly at the opponent and not the ball (such as reaching
around, holding, pushing, hitting, tripping and jumping into an opponent) are to be
punished progressively.

Warnings (yellow card): The referee gives only one warning to a player for rule
violations and a total of three to a team. Exceeding these limits results in 2-minute
suspensions thereafter. Warnings are not required prior to giving out a 2-minute
suspension. 2-minute suspensions awarded for . . . -Serious or repeated rules violations
-Unsportsmanlike conduct -Illegal substitution. -The suspended player's team plays
short for 2 minutes.

Disqualification and Exclusion (red card): A disqualification is the equivalent of three,

2-minute suspensions. A disqualified player must leave court and bench, but the team
can replace player after the 2-minute suspension expires. An exclusion is given for
assault. The excluded player's team continues short one player for the rest of the game.

Handball Rules and Regulations

Handball is a team sport, where the players pass and bounce a ball, the objective being to score a
goal. Handball rules and regulations are divided into different aspects of the game. Depending on
that, the referee takes decisions in the handball matches. So scroll down to know more on team
handball rules.
The number 3, is what rules the roost in this ball game. For those who know, I need not say, but
for those who have not guessed what am I describing, it is Handball. Handball is a team sport,
where two teams have seven players each. The aim and the winning of the game can be achieved
by passing and bouncing a ball by the members of the team in the goal of the opponent's team.
The team which leads the goal score after 2 sessions of 30 minutes, is the winning team. It is also
called Olympic Handball or Team Handball. Quite a few of us must have seen the game on the
TV, but not many us are aware of handball rules and regulations. Thus, the following is a
description of team handball rules, so get ready for a ride in the realms of handball!

Basic Handball Rules

The Court: As per the rules laid down by the International Handball Federation (IHF), the
dimensions of the playing court should be 40 meter by 20 meter. That means that is a 40 meter
long 20 meter wide rectangle. It has two goal areas and a single playing area. There is a
compulsory safety zone on the periphery of the playing court, having a width of at least 1 meter
along the sidelines and around 2 meters behind the goal lines. Longer boundary lines are the
sidelines and lines between the goal posts are called the goal lines. Each goal in the playing area
is marked by a 6 meter goal area, joined by a tangent at the center. The goals need to have net,
attached in a way that it does not let the ball move out. The goal posts and crossbar need to have
8 cm square cross section. The rules of handball also permit a difference in the color of lines
between two adjacent areas of the floor. Outside the goal line, there is another arc, 9 meters from
the posts. This is called the free throw line and is normally dashed. For restart, there is the
halfway line with a center dot. Thanks to Olympics, some of us know the nitty gritties of
handball.
For more on handball in Olympics, read list of Olympic sports.

The Players: On the whole, there are 7 players on the field and 7 players are substitutes. So from
one team there cannot be more than 14 players. On the field, there are six players and 1 goal
keeper from a team. At the start of the play, according to the handball rules and regulations laid
down by the IHF, a minimum of 5 players should be on the field. A game might continue without
5 players as well, but that is totally the referee's prerogative. A maximum of 4 officials are
allowed per team, be it the Team Handball rules or European Handball rules. Another interesting
rule laid down is that at any point of time whilst the game is in progress, a court player can be
designated as the goal keeper and vice versa. But those involved in substitution have to leave and
enter the court over the substitution line of their respective team.

The Ball: The ball is made of leather or a synthetic material and the surface must not be either
shiny or slippery. The circumference and weight according to the categories of teams playing
are:

1. For men above 16 years, it is 58 to 60 cm and the weight is 425-475 grams. This is the
IHF size 3.
2. For women above 14, and male youth in the age of 12 to 16, the circumference of the ball
is 54-56 cm and the weight is between 325 and 375 grams.
3. For boys and girls in the age group between 8 and 14 (girls 8-14 and boys 8-12), the
circumference of the ball is 50 to 52 cm and the weight is between 290 to 330 grams.

There are atleast 2 balls available and the reserve must be readily available, as laid down in the
team handball rules by the IHF.

Ball Playing: There are three basic ball playing rules involving the number 3.

 Three seconds you hold the ball and then pass.

 Only three steps when the ball is in your hand.
 When awarded a free throw, a player needs to be at a distance of 3 meters from another
player.

Then, in addition to this, according to team handball rules, it is permitted for a player to catch,
stop, throw, hit or push the ball with the help of hands, thighs, knees, torso and head. A player
can also move the ball from one hand to another. In case the ball touches the referee on the court,
the game continues. However, a player cannot be in contact with the ball with his or her foot or
any part of the leg below the knee. Just like in soccer, if the ball goes out over the side, the
opposite side retrieves it and gets it.

Goal Scoring: A goal is said to be scored when the ball crosses the back goal line completely
within the goal. In the goal area, the goalkeeper reigns supreme. Even if there is a violation of
rules by the defender and still the ball goes in the goal. If a player scores in his team's goal, the
other side gets the point. A goal declared by the referee cannot be taken back or disallowed in the
course of the game and the entry of the goal is mandatory as said in the handball rules and
regulations by the IHF.

Foul Play: Pulling or hitting the ball out of the opponent's hand, blocking and forcing the
opponent using legs, hands or arms and threatening or endangering a player with or sans the ball
are the top three fouls and these things are not permitted. If a player is fouled, while he or she is
taking a certain shot at the goal, the player gets a 7 meter free shot.

Penalty or Punishment: For a foul play, normally the referee gives a yellow card or if the foul
or contact is too serious, the referee can give the player an instant 2-minute suspension. If a
player gets more than 2 such suspensions, he or she gets a red card, as per the team handball
rules. A red card results in disqualification and the player has to go off the court. A referee or
another player's assault can lead to expulsion of the player. This means that the player cannot
play for the rest of the game. Any objection or gestures or argument with the referee can lead to
2-min suspension.

These were the different aspects involved in team handball rules. When it comes to Street
Handball, I doubt bout street handball rules. Nevertheless, that was all there was to team
Handball. I hope now you know what it is all about. If you have I would say, you have scored
there!