Handball
Handball (also known as team handball,
Handball
European handball, Olympic handball[3] or
indoor 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 opposing 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 40 by 20
metres (131 by 66 ft), with a goal in the middle of each
end. The goals are surrounded by a 6-metre (20 ft)
A handball game in progress at SAP Arena in
zone where only the defending goalkeeper is allowed;
Mannheim, Germany.
goals must be scored by throwing the ball from outside
the zone or while "diving" into it. The sport is usually Highest IHF
governing body
played indoors, but outdoor variants exist in the forms
of field handball, Czech handball (which were more First played 2 December 1917 in
Berlin, Germany.[1]
common in the past) and beach handball. The game is
fast and high-scoring: professional teams now typically Registered > 27 million (2016)[2]
players
score between 20 and 35 goals each, though lower
scores were not uncommon until a few decades ago. Characteristics
Body contact is permitted for the defenders trying to Contact Limited
stop the attackers from approaching the goal. No Team members 7 per side (including
protective equipment is mandated, but players may goalkeeper)
wear soft protective bands, pads and mouth guards.[4] Mixed-sex Separate competitions
Type Team sport, ball sport
The modern set of rules was published in 1917 by Karl Equipment Ball and goals
Schelenz, Max Heiser, and Erich Konigh,[5] on 29 Venue Indoor court
October in Berlin, which is seen as the date of birth of
Presence
the sport.[1][6] The rules have had several revisions
since. The first official handball match was played in Country or region Worldwide; but most
popular in Europe
1917 in Germany.[1] Karl Schelenz modified the rules in
Olympic Part of Summer Olympic
1919.[5] The first international games were played
programme in 1936.
(under these rules) with men in 1925 (between
Demonstrated at the
Germany and Belgium) and with women in 1930 1952 Summer Olympics.
(between Germany and Austria).[7] Returned to the Summer
Olympic programme in
1972.
Men's handball was first played at the Olympics in the World Games Beach handball: 2001–
1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin outdoors, and the present (invitational sport
next time at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich before 2013)
indoors; handball has been an Olympic sport since
then. Women's handball was added at the 1976 Summer
Olympics.[8]
The International Handball Federation was formed in 1946 and, as
of 2016, has 197 member federations.[9] 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 Handball game highlights video
championships, 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
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
A picture copied from an amphora
as both a form of exercise and a social event.[10] shows youths playing a version of
handball, c. 500 BC.
There is evidence of ancient Roman women playing a version of
handball called expulsim ludere.[11] 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 in Germany.[12]
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. The first written set of team handball rules
was published in 1906 by the Danish gym teacher, lieutenant and Olympic medalist Holger Nielsen
from Ordrup grammar school, north of Copenhagen. The modern set of rules was published by Max
Heiser, Karl Schelenz, and Erich Konigh in 1917[5] on 29 October in Berlin, Germany; this day is
therefore seen as the "date of birth" of the sport.[1][6] The first official handball match was played on 2
December 1917 in Berlin.[1] In 1919 the rules were modified by Karl Schelenz.[5] 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.[7]
In 1926, the Congress of World Athletics (then known as the International Amateur Athletic
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 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 in Munich. Women's
team handball was added at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.[8][13] 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, most recently published in 2024.[14]
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 player 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 toward the inside of 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
