Handball (also known as team handball, European handball or Olympic handball) is a
team sport in which two teams of seven players each (six outcourt players and a
goalkeeper) pass a ball using their hands with the aim of throwing it into the goal of the other team. A standard match consists of two periods of 30 minutes, and the team that scores more goals wins.
Modern handball is played on a court of , with a goal in the middle of each end. The goals are surrounded by a zone where only the defending goalkeeper is allowed; goals must be scored by throwing the ball from outside the zone or while "diving" into it. The sport is usually played indoors, but outdoor variants exist in the forms of
field handball,
Czech handball
Czech handball (Czech: ''česká házená'', also known as ''národní házená'' – ''national handball'') is an outdoor ball game which was created in 1905 in Prague and is still played today. This sport is very similar to team handball.
...
(which were more common in the past) and
beach handball. The game is fast and high-scoring: professional teams now typically score between 20 and 35 goals each, though lower scores were not uncommon until a few decades ago. Body contact is permitted for the defenders trying to stop the attackers from approaching the goal. No protective equipment is mandated, but players may wear soft protective bands, pads and mouth guards.
The game was codified at the end of the 19th century in
Denmark. The modern set of rules was published in 1917 by
Karl Schelenz, Max Heiser, and Erich Konigh,
on 29 October in
Berlin, which day is seen as the date of birth of the sport.
The rules have had several revisions since. The first official handball match was played in 1917 in Germany.
Karl Schelenz modified the rules in 1919.
The first international games were played (under these rules) with men in 1925 (between Germany and Belgium) and with women in 1930 (between Germany and Austria).
Men's handball was first played at the Olympics in the
1936 Summer Olympics
The 1936 Summer Olympics (German: ''Olympische Sommerspiele 1936''), officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad (German: ''Spiele der XI. Olympiade'') and commonly known as Berlin 1936 or the Nazi Olympics, were an international multi-sp ...
in Berlin outdoors, and the next time at the
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad () and commonly known as Munich 1972 (german: München 1972), was an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from 26 August to 11 September 1972. ...
in
Munich indoors; handball has been an Olympic sport since then. Women's handball was added at the
1976 Summer Olympics
Events January
* January 3 – The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights enters into force.
* January 5 – The Pol Pot regime proclaims a new constitution for Democratic Kampuchea.
* January 11 – The 1976 Phi ...
.
The
International Handball Federation was formed in 1946 and, , has 197 member federations. The sport is most popular in Europe, and European countries have won all medals but one in the
men's world championships since 1938. In the
women's world championships
A woman is an adult female human. Prior to adulthood, a female human is referred to as a girl (a female child or adolescent). The plural ''women'' is sometimes used in certain phrases such as "women's rights" to denote female humans regardle ...
, only two non-European countries have won the title: South Korea and Brazil. The game also enjoys popularity in
East Asia,
North Africa and parts of
South America.
Origins and development
![Handball pick-a-back Ancient Greece](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e3/Handball_pick-a-back_Ancient_Greece.jpg)
Games similar to handball were played in
Ancient Greece and are represented on amphorae and stone carvings. Although detailed textual reference is rare, there are numerous descriptions of ball games being played where players throw the ball to one another; sometimes this is done in order to avoid interception by a player on the opposing team. Such games were played widely and served as both a form of exercise and a social event.
There is evidence of ancient Roman women playing a version of handball called . There are records of handball-like games in medieval
France, and among the
Inuit in
Greenland, in the
Middle Ages. By the 19th century, there existed similar games of ''håndbold'' from
Denmark, ''
házená'' in the
Czech Republic, ''handbol'' in
Ukraine, and ''
torball
Torball (German: ''goal ball'') is a team sport for the blind and vision-impaired. With some similar structures in the rules in the 1980s, it is different to the Paralympic Games team sport of goalball.
Description
It is played by two team ...
'' in
Germany.
The team handball game of today was codified at the end of the 19th century in northern
Europe: primarily in
Denmark,
Germany,
Norway and
Sweden
Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic country located on ...
. The first written set of team handball rules was published in 1906 by the Danish gym teacher,
lieutenant and Olympic medalist
Holger Nielsen
Holger Louis Nielsen (18 December 1866 in Copenhagen – 26 January 1955 in Hellerup) was a Danish fencer, sport shooter, and athlete. He competed at the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens. He is probably best known for drawing up the first ...
from
Ordrup
Ordrup is a district of Gentofte Municipality in the northern suburbs of Copenhagen, Denmark. It is located circa north of the city centre.
History
Ordrup was originally a small village which only consisted of eight farms and a forge. The area ...
grammar school, north of
Copenhagen. The modern set of rules was published by Max Heiser,
Karl Schelenz, and Erich Konigh in 1917
on 29 October in
Berlin, Germany; this day is therefore seen as the "date of birth" of the sport.
The first official handball match was played on 2 December 1917 in Berlin.
In 1919 the rules were modified by
Karl Schelenz.
The first international games were played under these rules, between
Germany and
Austria by men in 1925 and between
Germany and
Austria by women in 1930.
In 1926, the Congress of the
International Amateur Athletics Federation nominated a committee to draw up international rules for field handball. The
International Amateur Handball Federation was formed in 1928 and later the
International Handball Federation was formed in 1946.
Men's field handball was played at the
1936 Summer Olympics
The 1936 Summer Olympics (German: ''Olympische Sommerspiele 1936''), officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad (German: ''Spiele der XI. Olympiade'') and commonly known as Berlin 1936 or the Nazi Olympics, were an international multi-sp ...
in Berlin. During the next several decades, indoor handball flourished and evolved in the Scandinavian countries. The sport re-emerged onto the world stage as men’s team handball for the
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad () and commonly known as Munich 1972 (german: München 1972), was an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from 26 August to 11 September 1972. ...
in
Munich. Women's team handball was added at the
1976 Summer Olympics
Events January
* January 3 – The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights enters into force.
* January 5 – The Pol Pot regime proclaims a new constitution for Democratic Kampuchea.
* January 11 – The 1976 Phi ...
in
Montreal.
Due to its popularity in the region, the Eastern European countries that refined the event became the dominant force in the sport when it was reintroduced.
The
International Handball Federation organised the men's world championship in 1938 and every four (sometimes three) years from World War II to 1995. Since the 1995 world championship in Iceland, the competition has been held every two years. The women's world championship has been held since 1957. The IHF also organizes women's and men's junior world championships. By July 2009, the IHF listed 166 member federations – approximately 795,000 teams and 19 million players.
Rules
The rules are laid out in the IHF's set of rules.
Summary
Two teams of seven players (six court players plus one goalkeeper) take the court and attempt to score points by putting the game ball into the opposing team's goal. In handling the ball, players are subject to the following restrictions:
* After receiving the ball, players can pass, keep possession, or shoot the ball.
* Players are not allowed to touch the ball with their feet, the goalkeeper is the only one allowed to use their feet but only within the goal area
* If possessing the ball, players must dribble (similar to a
basketball dribble), or can take up to three steps for up to three seconds at a time without dribbling.
* No attacking or defending players other than the defending goalkeeper are allowed to touch the floor of the goal area (within six metres of the goal). A shot or pass in the goal area is valid if completed ''before touching the floor''. Goalkeepers are allowed outside the goal area, but are not allowed to cross the goal area boundary with the ball in their hands.
* The ball may not be passed back to the goalkeeper when they are positioned in the goal area.
Notable scoring opportunities can occur when attacking players jump into the goal area. For example, an attacking player may catch a pass while launching inside the goal area, and then shoot or pass before touching the floor. ''Doubling'' occurs when a diving attacking player passes to another diving teammate.
Playing court
![Rukometno igralište kod Macanovog doma, Čakovec](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b0/Rukometno_igrali%C5%A1te_kod_Macanovog_doma%2C_%C4%8Cakovec.2.jpg)
Handball is played on a court , with a goal in the centre of each end. The goals are surrounded by a near-semicircular area, called the zone or the crease, defined by a line six metres from the goal. A dashed near-semicircular line nine metres from the goal marks the free-throw line. Each line on the court is part of the area it encompasses; the centre line belongs to both halves at the same time.
Goals
The goals are two metres high and three metres wide. They must be securely bolted either to the floor or the wall behind.
The goal posts and the crossbar must be made out of the same material (e.g.,
wood or
aluminium) and feature a quadratic cross section with sides of . The three sides of the beams visible from the playing court must be painted alternatingly in two contrasting colors which both have to contrast against the background. The colors on both goals must be the same.
Each goal must feature a net. This must be fastened in such a way that a ball thrown into the goal does not leave or pass the goal under normal circumstances. If necessary, a second net may be clasped to the back of the net on the inside.
Crease
The goals are surrounded by the crease, also called the zone. This area is delineated by two quarter circles with a radius of six metres around the far corners of each goal post and a connecting line parallel to the goal line. Only the defending goalkeeper is allowed inside this zone. However, court players may catch and touch the ball in the air within it as long as the player starts their jump outside the zone and releases the ball before they land (landing inside the perimeter is allowed in this case as long as the ball has been released).
If a player without the ball contacts the ground inside the goal perimeter, or the line surrounding the perimeter, they must take the most direct path out of it. However, should a player cross the zone in an attempt to gain an advantage (e.g., better position) their team cedes the ball. Similarly, violation of the zone by a defending player is penalized only if they do so in order to gain an advantage in defending.
Substitution area
Outside of one long edge of the court to both sides of the middle line are the substitution areas for each team. Team officials, substitutes, and suspended players must wait within this area. A team's area is the same side as the goal the team is defending; during halftime, substitution areas are swapped. Any player entering or leaving the play must cross the substitution line which is part of the side line and extends from the middle line to the team's side.
Duration
![Team Time Out Handball](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dd/Team_Time_Out_Handball.jpg)
A standard match has two 30-minute halves with a 10- or 15-minute (major Championships/Olympics) halftime intermission. At half-time, teams switch sides of the court as well as benches. For youths, the length of the halves is reduced—25 minutes at ages 12 to 15, and 20 minutes at ages 8 to 11; though national federations of some countries may differ in their implementation from the official guidelines.
If a decision must be reached in a particular match (e.g., in a tournament) and it ends in a draw after regular time, there are at maximum two overtimes, each consisting of two straight 5-minute periods with a one-minute break in between. Should these not decide the game either, the winning team is determined in a penalty shootout (best-of-five rounds; if still tied, extra rounds are added until one team wins).
The referees may call ''
timeout
Time-out, Time Out, or timeout may refer to:
Time
* Time-out (sport), in various sports, a break in play, called by a team
* Television timeout, a break in sporting action so that a commercial break may be taken
* Timeout (computing), an enginee ...
'' according to their sole discretion; typical reasons are injuries, suspensions, or court cleaning. Penalty throws should trigger a timeout only for lengthy delays, such as a change of the goalkeeper.
Since 2012, teams can call 3 ''team timeouts'' per game (up to two per half), which last one minute each. This right may only be invoked by the team in possession of the ball. Team representatives must show a green card marked with a black ''T'' on the timekeeper's desk. The timekeeper then immediately interrupts the game by sounding an acoustic signal to stop the clock. Before 2012, teams were allowed only one timeout per half. For the purpose of calling timeouts, overtime and shootouts are extensions of the second half.
Referees
A handball match is adjudicated by two equal referees. Some national bodies allow games with only a single referee in special cases like illness on short notice. Should the referees disagree on any occasion, a decision is made on mutual agreement during a short timeout; or, in case of punishments, the more severe of the two comes into effect. The referees are obliged to make their decisions "on the basis of their observations of facts". Their judgements are final and can be appealed against only if not in compliance with the rules.
![Kronau-Oestringen](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/00/Kronau-Oestringen.jpg)
The referees position themselves in such a way that the team players are confined between them. They stand diagonally aligned so that each can observe one side line. Depending on their positions, one is called ''court referee'' and the other ''goal referee''. These positions automatically switch on ball turnover. They physically exchange their positions approximately every 10 minutes (long exchange), and change sides every five minutes (short exchange).
The IHF defines 18 hand signals for quick visual communication with players and officials. The signal for warning is accompanied by a
yellow card. A disqualification for the game is indicated by a
red card A red card is a type of penalty card that is shown in many sports after a rules infraction.
Red card may also refer to:
Art, entertainment, and media
* ''Red Card'' (album), 1976 release by Streetwalkers
* Red card, suit (cards) of hearts or d ...
, followed by a
blue card
Blue is one of the three primary colours in the RYB colour model (traditional colour theory), as well as in the RGB (additive) colour model. It lies between violet and cyan on the spectrum of visible light. The eye perceives blue when o ...
if the disqualification will be accompanied by a report. The referees also use whistle blows to indicate infractions or to restart the play.
The referees are supported by a ''scorekeeper'' and a ''timekeeper'' who attend to formal things such as keeping track of goals and suspensions, or starting and stopping the clock, respectively. They also keep an eye on the benches and notify the referees on substitution errors. Their desk is located between the two substitution areas.
Team players, substitutes, and officials
Each team consists of seven players on court and seven substitute players on the bench. One player on the court must be the designated goalkeeper, differing in his clothing from the rest of the court players. Substitution of players can be done in any number and at any time during game play. An exchange takes place over the substitution line. A prior notification of the referees is not necessary.
Some national bodies, such as the Deutsche Handball Bund (DHB, "German Handball Federation"), allow substitution in junior teams only when in ball possession or during timeouts. This restriction is intended to prevent early specialization of players to offence or defence.
Court players
Court players are allowed to touch the ball with any part of their bodies above and including the knee. As in several other team sports, a distinction is made between catching and
dribbling. A player who is in possession of the ball may stand stationary for only three seconds, and may take only three steps. They must then either shoot, pass, or dribble the ball. Taking more than three steps at any time is considered travelling, and results in a turnover. A player may dribble as many times as they want (though, since passing is faster, it is the preferred method of attack), as long as during each dribble the hand contacts only the top of the ball. Therefore,
carrying is completely prohibited, and results in a turnover. After the dribble is picked up, the player has the right to another three seconds or three steps. The ball must then be passed or shot, as further holding or dribbling will result in a ''double dribble'' turnover and a free throw for the other team. Other offensive infractions that result in a turnover include charging and setting an illegal screen. Carrying the ball into the six-metre zone results either in ball possession by the goalkeeper (by attacker) or turnover (by defender).
Goalkeeper
Only the
goalkeepers are allowed to move freely within the goal perimeter, although they may not cross the goal perimeter line while carrying or dribbling the ball. Within the zone, they are allowed to touch the ball with all parts of their bodies, including their feet, with a defensive aim (for other actions, they are subject to the same restrictions as the court players). The goalkeepers may participate in the normal play of their teammates. A regular court player may substitute for the goalkeeper if a team elects to use this scheme in order to outnumber the defending players. Prior to 2015, this court player became the designated goalkeeper on the court and had to wear some vest or bib the same color as the goalkeeper's shirt to be identified as such. A rule change meant to make the game more offensive now allows any player to substitute for the goalkeeper without becoming a designated goalkeeper. The new rule resembles the one used in ice hockey. This rule was first used in the women's world championship in December 2015 and has since been used by the men's European championship in January 2016 and by both genders in the Olympic tournament in 2016. This rule change has led to a drastic increase of
empty net goals.
If either goalkeeper deflects the ball over the outer goal line, their team stays in possession of the ball, in contrast to other sports like
football
Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly c ...
. The goalkeeper resumes the play with a throw from within the zone ("goalkeeper throw"). In a penalty shot, throwing the ball against the head of a goalkeeper who is not moving risks a direct disqualification ("red card").
Outside of own D-zone, the goalkeeper is treated as an ordinary court player, and has to follow court players' rules; holding or tackling an opponent player outside the area risks a direct disqualification. The goalkeeper may not return to the area with the ball. Passing to one's own goalkeeper results in a turnover.
Team officials
Each team is allowed to have a maximum of four team officials seated on the benches. An official is anybody who is neither player nor substitute. One official must be the designated representative who is usually the
team manager
A team is a group of individuals (human or non-human) working together to achieve their goal.
As defined by Professor Leigh Thompson of the Kellogg School of Management, " team is a group of people who are interdependent with respect to infor ...
. Since 2012, representatives can call up to 3 team timeouts (up to twice per half), and may address the scorekeeper, timekeeper, and referees (before that, it was once per half); overtime and shootouts are considered extensions of the second half. Other officials typically include
physicians or managers. No official is allowed to enter the playing court without the permission of the referees.
Ball
![Handball the ball](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/24/Handball_the_ball.jpg)
The ball is spherical and must be made either of leather or a synthetic material. It is not allowed to have a shiny or slippery surface. As the ball is intended to be operated by a single hand, its official sizes vary depending on age and gender of the participating teams.
Awarded throws
The referees may award a special throw to a team. This usually happens after certain events such as scored goals, off-court balls, turnovers and timeouts. All of these special throws require the thrower to obtain a certain position, and pose restrictions on the positions of all other players. Sometimes the execution must wait for a whistle blow by the referee.
;Throw-off: A throw-off takes place from the center of the court. The thrower must touch the middle line with one foot, and all the other offensive players must stay in their half until the referee restarts the game. The defending players must keep a distance of at least three metres from the thrower until the ball leaves his hand. A throw-off occurs at the beginning of each period and after the opposing team scores a goal. It must be cleared by the referees.
:Modern handball introduced the "fast throw-off" concept; i.e., the play will be immediately restarted by the referees as soon as the executing team fulfills its requirements. Many teams leverage this rule to score easy goals before the opposition has time to form a stable defense line.
;Throw-in: The team which did not touch the ball last is awarded a throw-in when the ball fully crosses the side line or touches the ceiling. If the ball crosses the outer goal line, a throw-in is awarded only if the defending court players touched the ball last. Execution requires the thrower to place one foot on the nearest outer line to the cause. All defending players must keep a distance of . However, they are allowed to stand immediately outside their own goal area even when the distance is less than three metres.
;Goalkeeper-throw: If the ball crosses the outer goal line without interference from the defending team or when deflected by the defending team's goalkeeper, or when the attacking team violates the D-zone as described above, a goalkeeper-throw is awarded to the defending team. This is the most common turnover. The goalkeeper resumes the play with a throw from anywhere within the goal area.
;Free-throw: A free-throw restarts the play after an interruption by the referees. It takes places from the spot where the interruption was caused, as long as this spot is outside of the free-throw line of the opposing team. In the latter case, the throw is deferred to the nearest spot on the free-throw line. Free-throws are the equivalent to
free-kicks in association football; however, conceding them is typically not seen as poor sportsmanship for the defending side, and in itself, they carry no major disadvantages. (In particular, being awarded a free throw while being on warning for passive play will not reset the warning, whereas a shot on goal will.) The thrower may take a direct attempt for a goal which, however, is rarely feasible if the defending team has organised a defense. However, if a free throw is awarded and the half or game ends, a direct throw at the goal is typically attempted, which occasionally goes in.
![Kr-Oe-Siebenmeter](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/eb/Kr-Oe-Siebenmeter.jpg)
;Seven-metre throw: A seven-metre throw is awarded when a clear chance of scoring is illegally prevented anywhere on the court by an opposing team player, official, or spectator. It is awarded also when the referees have interrupted a legitimate scoring chance for any reason. The thrower steps with one foot behind the 7-metre line with only the defending goalkeeper between him and the goal. The goalkeeper must keep a distance of 3 metres away, which is marked by a short tick on the floor. All other players must remain behind the free-throw line until execution and the defending court players must keep a distance of three metres. The thrower must await the whistle blow of the referee. A seven-metre throw is the equivalent to a
penalty kick in association football; however, it is far more common and typically occurs several times in a single game. It is thus tactically similar to free throw percentage in basketball and teams will try to have their best seven metre throwers execute those throws.
Penalties
![Yellow card handball](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/62/Yellow_card_handball.jpg)
Penalties are given to players, in progressive format, for 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, tripping, and jumping into opponent) as well as contact from the side, from behind a player or impeding the opponent's counterattack are all considered illegal and are subject to penalty. Any infraction that prevents a clear scoring opportunity will result in a seven-metre penalty shot.
Typically the referee will give a warning yellow card for an illegal action; but, if the contact was particularly dangerous, like striking the opponent in the head, neck or throat, the referee can forego the warning for an immediate two-minute suspension. Players are warned once before given a yellow card; they risk being red-carded if they draw three yellows.
A red card results in an ejection from the game and a two-minute penalty for the team. A player may receive a red card directly for particularly rough penalties. For instance, any contact from behind during a fast break is now being treated with a red card; as does any deliberate intent to injure opponents. A red-carded player has to leave the playing area completely. A player who is disqualified may be substituted with another player after the two-minute penalty is served. A coach or official can also be penalized progressively. Any coach or official who receives a two-minute suspension will have to pull out one of their players for two minutes; however, the player is not the one punished, and can be substituted in again, as the penalty consists of the team playing with one fewer player than the opposing team.
After referees award the ball to the opponents for whatever reason, the player currently in possession of the ball has to lay it down quickly, or risk a two-minute suspension. Also, gesticulating or verbally questioning the referee's order, as well as arguing with the officials' decisions, will normally risk a yellow card. If the suspended player protests further, does not walk straight off the court to the bench, or if the referee deems the tempo deliberately slow, that player risks a double yellow card. Illegal substitution (outside of the dedicated area, or if the replacement player enters too early) is prohibited; if they do, they risk a yellow card.
Gameplay
Formations
![6-0-Deckung](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/35/6-0-Deckung.svg)
Players are typically referred to by the positions they are playing. The positions are always denoted from the view of the respective goalkeeper, so that a defender on the right opposes an attacker on the left. However, not all of the following positions may be occupied depending on the formation or potential suspensions.
Offense
* Left and right wingman. These typically are fast players who excel at ball control and wide jumps from the outside of the goal perimeter in order to get into a better shooting angle at the goal. Teams usually try to occupy the left position with a right-handed player and vice versa.
* Left and right backcourt. Goal attempts by these players are typically made by jumping high and shooting over the defenders. Thus, it is usually advantageous to have tall players with a powerful shot for these positions.
* Centre backcourt. A player with experience is preferred on this position who acts as playmaker and the handball equivalent of a basketball
point guard
The point guard (PG), also called the one or the point, is one of the five Basketball positions, positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position. Point guards are expected to run t ...
.
* Pivot (left and right, if applicable), also commonly called "line player". This player tends to intermingle with the defence, setting picks and attempting to disrupt the defence's formation. This position requires the least jumping skills; but ball control and physical strength are advantages.
Sometimes, the offense uses formations with two pivot players.
Defense
There are many variations in defensive formations. Usually, they are described as ''n:m'' formations, where ''n'' is the number of players defending at the goal line and ''m'' the number of players defending more offensive. Exceptions are the 3:2:1 defense and n+m formation (e.g. 5+1), where m players defend some offensive player in man coverage (instead of the usual zone coverage).
* Far left and far right. The opponents of the wingmen.
* Half left and half right. The opponents of the left and right backcourts.
* Back center (left and right). Opponent of the pivot.
* Front center. Opponent of the center backcourt, may also be set against another specific backcourt player.
Offensive play
Attacks are played with all court players on the side of the defenders. Depending on the speed of the attack, one distinguishes between three attack ''waves'' with a decreasing chance of success:
![Kiril Lazarov 09](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3f/Kiril_Lazarov_09.jpg)
;First wave: ''First wave'' attacks are characterised by the absence of defending players around their goal perimeter. The chance of success is very high, as the throwing player is unhindered in his scoring attempt. Such attacks typically occur after an intercepted pass or a steal, and if the defending team can switch fast to offence. The far left or far right will usually try to run the attack, as they are not as tightly bound in the defence. On a turnover, they immediately sprint forward and receive the ball halfway to the other goal. Thus, these positions are commonly held by quick players.
;Second wave: If the first wave is not successful and some defending players have gained their positions around the zone, the second wave comes into play: the remaining players advance with quick passes to locally outnumber the retreating defenders. If one player manages to step up to the perimeter or catches the ball at this spot, he becomes unstoppable by legal defensive means. From this position, the chance of success is naturally very high. Second wave attacks became much more important with the "fast throw-off" rule.
;Third wave: The time during which the second wave may be successful is very short, as then the defenders closed the gaps around the zone. In the ''third wave'', the attackers use standardised attack patterns usually involving crossing and passing between the back court players who either try to pass the ball through a gap to their pivot, take a jumping shot from the backcourt at the goal, or lure the defence away from a wingman.
The third wave evolves into the normal offensive play when all defenders not only reach the zone, but gain their accustomed positions. Some teams then substitute specialised offence players. However, this implies that these players must play in the defence should the opposing team be able to switch quickly to offence. The latter is another benefit for fast playing teams.
If the attacking team does not make sufficient progress (eventually releasing a shot on goal), the referees can call passive play (since 1995, the referee gives an advance warning by holding one hand high, signalling that the attacking team should release a shot soon), turning control over to the other team. A shot on goal or an infringement leading to a yellow card or two-minute penalty will mark the start of a new attack, causing the hand to be taken down; but a shot blocked by the defense or a normal free throw will not. This rule prevents an attacking team from stalling the game indefinitely, as it is difficult to intercept a pass without at the same time conceding dangerous openings towards the goal.
Defensive play
The usual formations of the defense are 6–0, when all the defense players line up between the and lines to form a wall; the 5–1, when one of the players cruises outside the perimeter, usually targeting the center forwards while the other 5 line up on the line; and the less common 4–2 when there are two such defenders out front. Very fast teams will also try a 3–3 formation which is close to a switching man-to-man style. The formations vary greatly from country to country, and reflect each country's style of play. 6–0 is sometimes known as "flat defense", and all other formations are usually called "offensive defense".
Organization
Handball teams are usually organised as
clubs
Club may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
* ''Club'' (magazine)
* Club, a ''Yie Ar Kung-Fu'' character
* Clubs (suit), a suit of playing cards
* Club music
* "Club", by Kelsea Ballerini from the album ''kelsea''
Brands and enterprises
...
. On a national level, the clubs are associated in federations which organize matches in leagues and tournaments.
International body
The
International Handball Federation (IHF) is the administrative and controlling body for international handball. Handball is an
Olympic
Olympic or Olympics may refer to
Sports
Competitions
* Olympic Games, international multi-sport event held since 1896
** Summer Olympic Games
** Winter Olympic Games
* Ancient Olympic Games, ancient multi-sport event held in Olympia, Greece b ...
sport played during the
Summer Olympics
The Summer Olympic Games (french: link=no, Jeux olympiques d'été), also known as the Games of the Olympiad, and often referred to as the Summer Olympics, is a major international multi-sport event normally held once every four years. The inau ...
.
The IHF organizes
world championships, held in odd-numbered years, with separate competitions for men and women.
The
IHF World Men's Handball Championship 2021 title holders are
Denmark. The
IHF World Women's Handball Championship 2021 title holder is Norway.
The IHF is composed of five continental federations:
Asian Handball Federation,
African Handball Confederation,
Pan-American Team Handball Federation
The Pan-American Team Handball Federation (PATHF) has been the continental governing body for handball, beach handball, wheelchair handball and snow handball in Americas since 23 May 1977. PATHF includes North America, Central America, South Am ...
,
European Handball Federation and
Oceania Handball Federation
The Oceania Continent Handball Federation (OCHF) is the governing body for the Olympic sport of Handball in Oceania. It was founded in 2014 and is affiliated to the International Handball Federation (IHF).
The OCHF is administered by an executiv ...
. These federations organize continental championships held every other second year. Handball is played during the
Pan American Games
The Pan American Games (also known colloquially as the Pan Am Games) is a continental multi-sport event in the Americas featuring summer sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The competition is held ...
,
All-Africa Games
The African Games, formally known as the All-Africa Games or the Pan African Games, are a continental multi-sport event held every four years, organized by the African Union (AU) with the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (AN ...
,
and
Asian Games
The Asian Games, also known as Asiad, is a continental multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from all over Asia. The Games were regulated by the Asian Games Federation (AGF) from the first Games in New Delhi, India, until t ...
.
It is also played at the
Mediterranean Games
The Mediterranean Games is a multi-sport event organised by the International Committee of Mediterranean Games (CIJM). It is held every four years among athletes from countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea in Africa, Asia and Europe. The fir ...
. In addition to continental competitions between national teams, the federations arrange international tournaments between club teams.
International competitions
* Nor.Ca. Handball Championship (
men,
women)
National competitions
Europe
* Austria:
Handball Liga Austria
The Handball Liga Austria (HLA) is the professional handball league of Austria.
Competition format
The season begins with a regular season between the ten teams. The first five teams qualify for a first playoff round, while the last five play ...
* Belgium:
BENE-League Handball (shared competition with the Netherlands)
* Bosnia and Herzegovina:
Handball Championship of Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Handball Championship of Bosnia and Herzegovina is the top handball league in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The league is operated by the Handball Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is composed of 16 teams. The champion is seeded into the EHF ...
* Croatia:
Croatian First League of Handball
The Croatian Handball Premier League ( hr, Hrvatska rukometna premijer liga) is the highest men's handball league in Croatia. It is organized by the Croatian Handball Federation (''Hrvatski rukometni savez''). The league comprises 16 teams.
Th ...
* Czech Republic:
Czech Handball Extraliga
* Denmark:
Damehåndboldligaen,
Jack & Jones Ligaen
* England:
England Handball Association
The England Handball Association is the governing body for non-International Handball Federation related matters of team handball in England while the British Handball Association has governance over matters relating to the International Handball ...
* Finland:
Finnish Handball League
The Finnish SM-liiga is the name of the professional handball league of Finland.
Competition Format
The season begins with a regular season between the ten teams. The first six teams qualifies for the play-offs, the teams classified four to e ...
* France:
Liqui Moly Starligue (men),
Ligue Butagaz Énergie
The Catholic League of France (french: Ligue catholique), sometimes referred to by contemporary (and modern) Catholics as the Holy League (), was a major participant in the French Wars of Religion. The League, founded and led by Henry I, Duke of ...
(women)
* Germany:
Handball-Bundesliga,
Handball-Bundesliga (women)
* Greece:
Greek Men's handball championship
The Greek Men's Handball Championship, or Handball Premier, is the most important competition of Greek handball. The competition which is organised by Hellenic Handball Federation (Greek: ΟΧΕ) started in 1979–80 season. The most successful tea ...
* Hungary:
Nemzeti Bajnokság I (men),
Nemzeti Bajnokság I (women)
* Iceland:
Olís deildin
* Israel:
Ligat Winner
The Israeli Premier League ( he, ליגת העל, ''Ligat Ha`Al'', ), is a professional association football league which operates as the highest division of the Israeli Football League – the state's league of Israel. The league is contested b ...
* Montenegro:
First League (men),
First League (women),
Second League (men),
Second League (women)
* Netherlands:
BENE-League Handball (shared competition with Belgium),
Eredivisie (women)
* North Macedonia:
Macedonian Handball Super League
The Macedonian Handball Super League ( mk, Македонска Ракометна Супер Лига, Makedonska Rakometna Super Liga), is the top-tier team handball competition in North Macedonia. It is currently sponsored by VIP. As of 2018, ...
* Norway:
Eliteserien (men's handball)
REMA 1000-ligaen is the premier professional men's handball league in Norway. It was established in 1966, and it is currently contested by twelve teams. Sandefjord TIF is the championship's most successful team with nine titles, followed by Opps ...
,
Eliteserien (women's handball)
REMA 1000-ligaen is the premier women's professional handball league for Norwegian handball clubs. It is administered by the Norwegian Handball Federation, and the winners are recognized as Norwegian champions. It was established in 1968, and it is ...
* Poland:
Polish Superliga (men's handball),
Ekstraklasa (women's handball)
The Polish Women's Superliga, also known as the PGNiG Women's Superliga for sponsorship reasons, is the top women's handball league in Poland. The current champion is MKS Lublin
2021-22 teams
* JKS Jarosław
* Piotrcovia Piotrków Trybunalsk ...
* Portugal:
Andebol 1
The Campeonato Nacional de Andebol Masculino (English: Men's Handball National Championship), also known simply as Andebol 1 (or Campeonato Placard Andebol 1 for sponsorship reasons), is the premier handball league in Portugal and is overseen ...
(men),
1ª Divisão Feminino (women)
* Romania:
Liga Națională (men),
Liga Naţională (women)
*Russia:
Men's Championship,
Women's Championship
The Women's Championship (formerly The FA Women's Championship) is the second-highest division of women's football in England. The division was established in 2014 as the FA Women's Super League 2 (WSL 2).
WSL 2 replaced the previous level 2 d ...
,
Women's Handball Cup,
Men's Handball Cup,
Women's Handball Super Cup,
Men's Handball Super Cup
* Scotland:
Scottish Handball League
The Scottish Handball League is the premier handball competition for teams in Scotland. The league is regulated by the Scottish Handball Association and is based on a standard round robin format with each team playing one another twice with 2 poin ...
* Serbia:
Serbian First League of Handball
The Serbian Handball Super League ( sr, Суперлига Србије у рукомету / Superliga Srbije u rukometu) is the top men's handball league in Serbia. It was founded in 2006.
Rules
Competition format
The league is operated by ...
* Slovakia:
Slovenská hadzanárska extraliga
Extraliga is the highest league in the league system of Slovak Handball and comprises the top 8 Slovak handball teams. The first season began in 1993-94.
Structure
The season starts in the end of September with a regular season comprising 8 te ...
* Slovenia:
Slovenian First League of Handball
The Slovenian First League of Handball ( sl, 1. A državna rokometna liga), currently named Liga NLB due to sponsorship reasons, is the top team handball league in Slovenia. It is organized by the Handball Federation of Slovenia (''Rokometna Zvez ...
,
Handball Cup of Slovenia
The Slovenian Handball Cup is the top knockout tournament of Slovenian handball. The most successful clubs are Celje (men's) and Krim (women's) with 21 and 27 titles, respectively. The inaugural edition was held in the 1991–92 season.
Men's
...
* Spain:
Liga ASOBAL,
División de Plata de Balonmano
División de Plata de Balonmano, is the second level handball league in Spain. It was founded in 1994 and is managed by RFEBM. From 1994 until 2008–09 season, this competition was known as División de Honor B. From 2009–10 season onwards, it ...
* Sweden:
Handbollsligan
Handbollsligan ''(literally, "The Handball league")'' is the highest league in the league system of Swedish handball, and comprises the top 14 Swedish handball teams. The first season began in 1931–32. The season ends with a playoff.
Structure ...
(men)/
Svensk handbollselit (women)
* Turkey:
Turkish Women's Handball Super League
The Turkish Women's Handball Super League ( tr, Türkiye Kadınlar Hentbol Süper Ligi) is the top professional league for Turkish women's handball clubs. It is administered by the Turkey Handball Federation, and the winners are recognized as Tu ...
(women)/
Turkish Handball Super League
Turkish Handball Super League ( tr, Türkiye Hentbol Süper Ligi) is the highest league in the Turkish handball and comprises the top 12 elite men teams. The league began in 1982–83.
Structure
The season starts in the end of September with a re ...
(men)
Other
* Angola:
Angola Men's Handball League
The Angolan Men's Handball League is the top tier handball competition in Angola.
Summary
:' Round robin tournament.
Participation details
Titles per club
Men
See also
* Federação Angolana de Andebol
* Angola men's national handball tea ...
(men),
Angola Women's Handball League
The Angola Women's Handball League is the top tier handball competition in Angola for women.
Summary
The winners are:
:' Round robin tournament.
Participation details
National Champions
See also
* Federação Angolana de Andebol
* Angola w ...
(women)
* Argentina:
Confederación Argentina de Handball
* Australia:
Australian Handball Club Championship
Handball Australia hosts two separate national club championships. The first is a Beach Handball nationals competition and the second is the Australia Handball Club Championships featuring the state champions for Handball. The winner of the Handbal ...
,
Handball League Australia
The Handball League Australia (HLA) is an Australian-based championship for handball run by Australian Handball Federation. The principal idea was to play round robin games in each capital city. There are four teams representing four states.
Se ...
,
Australian National Handball Championship (States)
* Egypt:
Egyptian Handball League
* Japan:
Japan Handball League
The (JHL), is the top professional handball league in Japan. Team names and home cities/towns are from the official site for the 46th Japan Handball League (2021/2022 Season).
2021/2022 JHL Men's Teams
2021/2022 JHL Women's Teams
Reference ...
* Korea:
Handball Korea League
The Handball Korea League is a handball league in South Korea. The league has been sponsored by the SK Group since 2011 and is therefore called the ''SK Handball Korea League''.
The league finals are hosted at the SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium w ...
* Tahiti:
Tahitian Handball League The Tahitian Handball League is a European Handball competition held in Tahiti
Tahiti (; Tahitian ; ; previously also known as Otaheite) is the largest island of the Windward group of the Society Islands in French Polynesia. It is located i ...
* United States:
USA Team Handball Nationals
The National is a team handball tournament to determine the Men's and Women's National Champion from the United States. At the men's side there exist an Elite and Open Division. In years with many teams, the Open Division is split in Division I ...
,
USA Team Handball College Nationals
The USA Team Handball College National Championships is a team handball tournament to determine the Men's and Women's College National Champion from the United States.
History
The best college team from the Nationals was recognized as College ch ...
Attendance records
The current worldwide attendance record for seven-a-side handball was set on 6 September 2014, during a neutral venue
German league game between
HSV Hamburg and the
Mannheim-based
Rhein-Neckar Lions.
The matchup drew 44,189 spectators to
Commerzbank Arena
The Waldstadion (, ''Forest Stadium''), currently known as the Deutsche Bank Park for sponsorship purposes, and formerly known as the Commerzbank-Arena, is a retractable roof sports stadium in Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany. The home stadium of the ...
in Frankfurt, exceeding the previous record of 36,651 set at Copenhagen's
Parken Stadium during the 2011
Danish Cup final.
Commemorative coins
Handball events have been selected as a main motif in numerous collectors' coins. One of the recent samples is the €10 Greek
Handball commemorative coin, minted in 2003 to commemorate the
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympics ( el, Θερινοί Ολυμπιακοί Αγώνες 2004, ), officially the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad ( el, Αγώνες της 28ης Ολυμπιάδας, ) and also known as Athens 2004 ( el, Αθήνα 2004), ...
. On the coin, the modern athlete directs the ball in his hands towards his target, while in the background the ancient athlete is just about to throw a ball, in a game known as ''
cheirosphaira'', in a representation taken from a
black-figure pottery vase of the Archaic period.
The most recent commemorative coin featuring handball is the British
50 pence coin, part of the series of coins commemorating the
London 2012 Olympic Games.
See also
*
Beach handball
*
Handball at the Summer Olympics
*
Handball in the United States
Handball in the United States is a minor sport. The U.S. is represented in international competitions, such as the Summer Olympics and the Pan American Games, by the United States men's national handball team and the United States women's nationa ...
*
Water polo, a similar sport played in water
References
Sources
*
External links
Team Handball News – Handball news and commentary
{{DEFAULTSORT:Handball
Handball,
Ball games
Indoor sports
Team sports
Summer Olympic sports
Sports originating in Denmark
Sports originating in Germany
Articles containing video clips