Handball Essentials: Gameplay and Rules

Posted on Apr 4, 2025 in Physical Education

What is Handball?

Handball is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each pass a ball using their hands with the objective of throwing it into the opponents’ goal. The match consists of two periods, and the team that scores the most goals wins. There isn’t any protective equipment typically worn by field players.

History and Origins of Handball

Handball, in its modern form, is not very old. However, there is evidence of ancient Roman women playing a version called “expulsim ludere”. There are also records of handball-like games in medieval France and among the Inuit in Greenland. In Spain, the origins are related to the military.

The game became particularly popular in Northern Europe, where the cold weather influenced its development. The rules were modified for indoor play, reducing the court size and the number of players to make it a faster and more spectacular sport. Its popularity grew significantly when it became an Olympic sport at the Munich Games in 1972.

How Handball is Played

Handball is played on a rectangular court measuring 40m x 20m (Note: Original text mentioned 25x42m, which is incorrect for standard indoor handball; 40x20m is the IHF standard. Adjusted for accuracy based on common knowledge, but kept original text’s intent of describing gameplay), divided into two halves. The objective is to score points by putting the ball into the opponents’ goal. The winner is the team with the most points at the end of the game.

  • Duration: The game lasts for two 30-minute halves with a 10-minute halftime break.
  • Teams Switch: At halftime, teams switch sides of the court as well as their benches.
  • Timeouts: There are 3 timeouts allowed per team per game.
  • Players: Each team has seven players on the field (six court players and one goalkeeper) attempting to score.
  • Substitutions: Substitutions can be made at any time during play from the designated substitution line. The game doesn’t need to be stopped, and no warning to officials is required for a substitution.

Handball Regulations and Rules

Basic Rules

  • The ball must be played with the hand.
  • It must not be played with any part of the body below the knee.
  • Contact is generally limited to the torso; arms or legs may not be used to obstruct, hold, push, hit, run into, or trip an opponent.
  • To stop an opponent, players must block using their bodies.
  • Goal Area Rule: No court player may enter the goal area (the ‘crease’), which is delineated by two quarter-circles extending six meters from the center of the goal. However, court players may catch and touch the ball in the air within the goal area as long as the player starts their jump outside the zone and releases the ball before landing.

Common Infractions (Resulting in Foul/Free Throw/Loss of Possession)

When a foul occurs, the ball is put back into play via a free throw from the place where the foul took place. If the foul occurred between the 6-meter and 9-meter lines, the ball is put back into play from the nearest point outside the 9-meter line (dashed line).

  • Traveling: Taking more than three steps while holding the ball without bouncing (dribbling) it.
  • Double Dribble: This occurs when a player bounces the ball with both hands simultaneously, or when a player dribbles, stops, and then begins dribbling again.
  • Entering the Goal Area: A court player stepping into the goal area of the opposing team (or their own).
  • Passive Play: This occurs when a team stops making a clear attempt to attack or score a goal, often to waste time. Officials will give a warning signal, after which the team must shoot promptly or lose possession.

Other Ball Situations

  • Throw-in: Awarded to the team that did not last touch the ball when it fully crosses the sideline or touches the ceiling. For execution, the thrower must place one foot on the sideline where the ball went out.

Infractions Sanctioned with a 7-Meter Throw (Penalty)

A 7-meter throw (penalty) is awarded for:

  • A foul that destroys a clear chance of scoring anywhere on the court.
  • Illegal interference by a defender within their own goal area (e.g., a defender entering the goal area to gain an advantage over an attacker).

The 7-meter throw is the maximum penalty related to a specific scoring chance and provides an excellent opportunity to score. When the ball is thrown, one foot of the thrower must remain behind the 7-meter line until the ball has left their hand.

Disciplinary Sanctions

  • Warning (Yellow Card): Given for fouls that clearly violate the rules but don’t meet the criteria for a suspension. A player can only receive one warning. Subsequent fouls warranting a sanction will result in a suspension. A team can receive a maximum of three warnings in total.
  • Suspension (2 Minutes): Awarded for more serious or repeated fouls, illegal substitutions, or unsportsmanlike conduct. The suspended player must leave the court for two minutes, and their team plays shorthanded during that time. A player receiving three suspensions is disqualified (Red Card).
  • (Note: The original text regarding Suspension seemed incomplete.)