Handball Court Dimensions and Basic Rules
Handball Court Dimensions and Key Features
The handball court has a rectangular shape and consists of an area of play and two goal areas. The longer sides are called side lines, and the shorter ones are called goal lines. The court is 40 meters long by 20 meters wide.
Goal Area and Free-Throw Line
The goal area is delimited by a continuous line 6 meters from the goal. Three meters from this, there is a dotted line called the free-throw line.
Penalty Line
Between these two, there is a small line located 7 meters from the goal line called the 7-meter penalty line. This is the place from which penalties are thrown.
Center Line and Substitution Area
The court is divided into two equal halves by a center line. The 9-meter-long substitution area is located along this line, where player substitutions are made.
Goals
Goal boxes or goals are positioned in the center of the goal lines and must be secured to the floor. They measure 2 meters high by 3 meters wide. The net of the goal boxes should be loose enough to allow the ball not to be shot out once it enters.
Court Markings
- Halfway or Center Line: This line is parallel to the goal lines and equidistant from both. A point is marked at the center of the halfway line; the game starts from there at the beginning and is re-started from the same point after halftime and after any goal is scored.
- Free-throw Line (9 Meters): The free-throw line is a dashed arc outside the D-zone. Its furthest point is 9 meters (9.8 yards) from the outer goal line. After an attacking team is fouled inside the free-throw line, players resume the game from this line.
- Penalty Mark (7 Meter Mark): The penalty mark is 7 meters (7.6 yards) in front of the goal line and is 1 meter (1 yard) wide. A player from the opposing team takes a penalty throw from this mark.
- Goal Area / Crease / D-Zone (6 Meters): The goal is surrounded by a D-shaped area formed of two quarter-circles, each with a radius of 6 meters (6.5 yards), using the outer end of the goal post as the center. A short straight line joins the open ends of the two quarter-circles. The only player allowed in the crease is the goalkeeper defending that goal. This line separates the goalkeeper from all other players.
- Goalkeeper Line (4 Meter Line): The goalkeeper line is drawn 4 meters (4.4 yards) away from the goal and centered along the width of the court. This line marks the outermost distance to which the goalkeeper is allowed to go from the goal being defended during a penalty throw.
Handball Game Duration
A match lasts 60 minutes, divided into two halves of 30 minutes each, with a 10-minute break in between. If the match ends in a tie, there are two additional periods of 5 minutes each.
Handball Player Rules
A full team consists of 12 players (10 field players and 2 goalies). A maximum of 7 players (6 field players and a goalkeeper) can be on the field at any time.
Substitutions
During the game, players can be substituted at any time without notifying the timekeeper or referee, provided that the substitution takes place within the substitution area.
Allowed Actions
Players are allowed to:
- Push, catch, throw, stop, roll, hit, and bounce/dribble the ball in any manner using their hands, arms, fists, body, head, thighs, or knees. Players can attempt to use their hands to gain possession of the ball, but they cannot pull or hit the ball out of an opposing player’s hands. They can use their torso to block an opponent, whether they have the ball or not.
- Move the ball from one hand to the other.
- Pass the ball when standing, kneeling, sitting, or lying on the ground.
- Stop the ball with both hands and then grab or catch it, as long as they do not move.