Handball is one of the fastest team sports in the world, with plenty of goals in every match. It is an Olympic sport for men and women and is governed by the International Handball Federation (IHF). Here are the basic rules.
The court
- The court is 40 metres long and 20 metres wide.
- Each goal is 3 metres wide and 2 metres high.
- A goal area line is marked 6 metres from the goal. Only the goalkeeper may stand inside it.
- A dashed free throw line is marked at 9 metres.
Teams and timing
- Each team has seven players on court: six outfield players and one goalkeeper.
- Substitutions are unlimited and can be made on the fly through the team’s substitution zone.
- Senior matches have two halves of 30 minutes with a 15 minute break.
- Each team gets a limited number of team timeouts of one minute.
Moving with the ball
- A player may take up to three steps while holding the ball.
- A player may hold the ball for up to three seconds.
- A player may dribble, then take up to three more steps, but cannot dribble again after catching the ball. That is a double dribble.
- Players cannot touch the ball with the leg below the knee, except the goalkeeper defending inside the goal area.
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Scoring
A goal is scored when the whole ball crosses the goal line between the posts and under the crossbar. Attackers often jump from outside the goal area and shoot while in the air, which is allowed as long as they take off before the line.
Fouls and penalties
- Defenders may block with the body but cannot push, hold, hit or trip.
- Minor fouls lead to a free throw from the spot of the foul or the 9 metre line.
- A foul that destroys a clear scoring chance gives a 7 metre throw, which is like a penalty.
- Punishments include a yellow card warning, a two minute suspension, and a red card for disqualification.
Passive play
Teams cannot hold the ball without trying to attack. Referees raise a hand to warn, and the team must shoot within a limited number of passes, currently four under IHF rules.
Handball in India
The Handball Federation of India and state bodies organise national championships, and the sport is part of school and university games.
Bottom line
Seven players, three steps and three seconds: learn these basics and handball becomes easy to follow and exciting to watch.
Source / स्रोत: International Handball Federation (IHF), Olympics.com, Handball, Sports Authority of India
