Handball rules in brief History and basic regulations: fouls, doubles

Handball rules in brief History and basic regulations🤾‍♀️🤾‍♂️: fouls, doubles🤾‍♀️🤾‍♂️

If you are passionate about handball, you surely know some basic aspects of handball rules . However, you may not know the history of handball , its origin and evolution of the official regulation. This sport, played mainly in Europe, stands out for its speed and level of concentration that it demands from its players. In order to follow the development of the game, it is essential to become familiar with its basic rules.

In this article we leave you a summary of the official handball regulations , including the bases of fouls, doubles and sanctions . We also detail the handball rules related to field measurements, ball dimensions, player positions and much more. Discover how the handball regulations manage to give dynamics and excitement to the game. Know the basic rules to be able to follow and practice this captivating sport.

What is handball in short?

It is a sport practiced indoors, in which two teams of 7 players each face each other. The objective of the two teams is to score the greatest number of goals in the opposite goal, and add more goals than the rival.

The handball rules define a series of rules that must be met for the goal to go up on the scoreboard. Among them, for example, launch without stepping on the rival area. No one can enter it except the goalkeeper of that goal. While the defending team must prevent them from scoring a goal in their goal. He will try to avoid it by trying to steal passes or blocking rival shots.

As the name of the sport says, handball is always played with the hands. Only the goalkeepers have an exception to this rule of the game . The time of possession is limited to the arbitration criteria, since there is no specific time.

handball history

origin of handball

Handball has its origins and similarities to Greek and Roman games . In ancient Greece there was a similar game called "the game of urania". This consisted of playing with a small ball that had to be thrown through the air.

The Roman era also has its mention in the history of handball , since the Romans played a game called "harpastum". It was a sport that was played with the hands and a ball. It consisted of throwing the ball and catching it on the fly by jumping. It was practiced in court without official regulations or basic rules.

However, handball is considered a young sport, from the beginning of the 20th century. As we know it now, the history of handball indicates that the sport was born only in 1896. It arose as a similarity to soccer, with a smaller ball and with the difference that it was played with the hands.

handball today

Handball began as a sport originating in central and northern Europe. In 1926 the first international handball regulation was established . The current International Handball Federation (IHF) was not established until 1928, although it was initially considered as an international amateur handball federation.

Previously, handball was a sport practiced outdoors, on soccer fields and played 11 vs 11. As the rise of this sport begins to spread throughout Europe, the rules of handball that dictate how and where to play this sport. Due to the cold, matches begin to be played indoors.

The first World Championship was held in 1954, organized by the IHF. Sweden was the first world champion in handball history . And 3 years later, the first women's world championship was held, resulting in Czechoslovakia being the first champion.

The world powers in those early years were Germany, the Soviet Union, and the Scandinavian countries. Currently this has been changing, because during the last decades this sport has become popular in the rest of the European countries and in North Africa.

The 1965 is another important milestone in the history of handball , since its incorporation as an Olympic sport was approved. And it was not until 1972 when his first participation in the Olympic Games in Munich took place, in the men's category. And in the women's category at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.

Currently it is considered a minority sport in Anglo-Saxon countries, America, Africa and Asia, where it is only practiced in some countries. It is in Europe where it is most popular.

10 basic rules of handball

1. Each team plays with 7 players (6 on the field + 1 goalkeeper). The rest of the players wait their turn on the bench. The changes can be at any time and there is no limit of changes. They can enter and leave the field whenever the coach requires it.
2. The playing field is rectangular (40x20m). With a goal at each end (3x2m), and an area of ​​6 meters to the goal.
3. It is forbidden to touch the ball below the knees (except the goalkeeper in his own area).
4. You cannot step on the goalkeeper's area (neither attacker nor defenders).
5. When moving with the ball, according to handball rules you cannot take more than 3 steps without dribbling, passing or shooting.
6. In the event of a foul on a shot in front of the goalkeeper, it is penalized with 7 meters or a penalty shot.
7. It is also sanctioned with a penalty, if a player defends by stepping on his own area.
8. When there is a foul near the area, it is penalized with a free kick.
9. The throw-in is done by stepping on the outside line with one foot.
10. The duration of a match is 60 minutes. Two times or parts of 30 minutes each. In the event of overtime, two parts of 5 minutes each are played. In the event of a tie, another extension would be played. The third draw is decided by penalties.

How is handball played in summary?

Handball is a sport that combines football and basketball techniques. The handball rules define that the main objective is to defeat the rival. This is done through the achievement of goals, since the party that achieves the most goals in the time that the game lasts wins the match.

In a handball game, two teams face each other. A team defends the goal while the opponent attacks it, and so on throughout the match, alternating possessions. The official handball regulations indicate that matches can end in 3 ways: victory, defeat or tie. The tie is valid as long as it is not a direct elimination to a match.

Field dimensions according to handball rules

The handball field is divided into two halves separated by a line. The basic rules of handball establish that the dimensions of the field are 40 meters long by 20 meters wide. In each half of the field there is a goal on the end line, delimited with an area of ​​6 square meters. In this area you can only step on the goalkeeper. Also on each field there is a broken line in the form of a semicircle 9 meters from the goal from where free kicks are taken.

Rules for the size of the handball ball

The ball has a circular shape, and is made of leather or synthetic material. According to the official handball regulations , the size and weight of the balls depends on the age of the players and is classified into three types:

• 1: +16 years: 58-60 cm, 425-475 grams.
• 2: women +14 years and men between 12 and 16 years: 54-56 cm, 325-375 grams.
• 3: boys 8-12 years old and girls 8-14 years old: 50-52 cm, 290-330 grams.

Handball match duration

The duration of the handball game in total is 60 minutes. There are two parts of 30 minutes each, with a break of 10 minutes. Time is not running, that is, it is stopped time. In addition to the field referees, there will be a table referee who will stop time every time the ball is not in play.

However, handball rules shorten the duration of matches for teams under 16. Players between the ages of 12 and 16 play in two halves of 25 minutes. And in games between the ages of 8 and 12, game times last only 20 minutes.

In addition, according to the handball regulations , each team has a timeout of one minute each, in each part. And they can only be used when the team is in possession of the ball.

Handball rules for scoring

The way a winning or losing team is declared is by the result, which will announce the number of goals each team has scored. Handball rules indicate that for a goal to be valid it must cross the entire goal line completely. And he can't have done it by committing any offence.

Players according to the rules of handball

A handball team can be made up of up to 14 players according to the official rules of the game . However, only 7 can be on the field at the same time (6 field players + 1 goalkeeper). Players can be changed without limitations and without stopping the game. They are exchanged for the substitution line, close to the bench and with a maximum of 7 on the field.

Field players are in charge of taking the ball to the opposite goal with the aim of scoring a goal. Through passes they advance through the field trying to reach shooting situations, always respecting the rules of handball :

• They cannot touch the ball below the knees.
• They cannot stand for more than 3 seconds with the ball. Neither take more than 3 steps without bouncing the ball.
• They can never step on the area of ​​6 meters from the goalkeeper, in a play. If they can step on it after having made the launch.
• Stepping on the area is penalized, both offensively and defensively if you participate in the play.
• The ball cannot be returned to the goalkeeper until he leaves his area.
• In a penalty kick or 7 meters, it is forbidden to shoot at the goalkeeper's head.

Handball rules for player positions

According to the handball regulations , there are some differentiated positions:

• Central : player who directs the offensive game. In the defensive line he usually places himself in the center.
• Laterals : there are two, one on each side of the center. Offensively, its function is to displace or break the defensive line from 9 meters. They have powerful shots.
• Wingers : usually the shortest and most dynamic of the team. There are two of them, one in each corner, near the touchline. They open the defenses with their breadth, generating gaps to attack. They need a lot of skill, since their shots are usually from complicated angles.
• Pivot : in charge of fighting with the defense for a hole to receive a pass, or opening a hole for the teammates' launch.
• Goalkeeper : in charge of avoiding the goals of the opposing team. Based on handball rules, the goalkeeper can touch the ball with any part of the body.
  

Handball rules for throws and serves

In addition to passes and shots at the goal when the ball is in play, there are other shots signaled by the referees.

Center kick : It is a kick that is performed several times. At the start of each period and after each goal. It is executed from the center of the track and the players who start the game must be positioned in their area. However, the opposing team does not necessarily have to be located in your area. The pivot (or any other player) who is going to take the center, must be located in the middle waiting for the goalkeeper's pass to start the game, whether or not their opponents are on their court. This update to the official handball rules brought more dynamics to the game.

Throw-in : It is done after the ball left the field of play by a side of the field. The serve is made from the place where the ball came out.

Goal kick : It is always done by the goalkeeper. It occurs when the rival team, when shooting at the goal, sends the ball out over the bottom line. Also if an attacking rival steps on the 6-meter area or if the goalkeeper catches a shot. It can be taken from anywhere within the area.

Free kick: It is taken for the realization of a foul or play against the rules of handball. A direct shot at the goal is unusual, except for a passive game warning or when time is running out.

7 Meters : It is the penalty shot in handball. It occurs when a foul is committed when the rival has a chance to score and if the defense participating in the play steps on the 6-meter area. In handball there is no law of advantage. It gets its name from 7 meters, because it is the distance from the goal at which this shot is launched.

DO NOT MISS OUT ON = Handball positions🤾‍♂️Attack and defense players in handball: goalkeeper, pivot🥇🏆

Sanctions according to the rules of handball

Handball is a contact sport. You can hit chest to chest, using your hands with semi-flexed arms, grab, block. However, handball rules dictate that shoving is not allowed, which is penalized with a free hit.

Admonition

The warning is the moment when the referee gives the player a yellow card. According to handball rules , this happens when the player shows illegal behavior, exceeds contact with the rival or an unsportsmanlike action. It is a notice that can only be shown once to each player.

Exclusion

It is the sanction of "expulsion" for 2 minutes, which your team will play with inferiority on the field. The player can play again once the two minutes have passed. A player can only be excluded a maximum of 3 times, after the third time he cannot return to the court for the entire match. The official regulation indicates that a player is excluded when he commits violations repeatedly or repeats his unsportsmanlike behavior. Also when he does not put the ball on the ground when a foul is called against his team.

Disqualification

It is the most serious punishment, the player is eliminated from the match. The handball rules define what is produced by accumulating 3 exclusions and before fouls and excessively violent behavior. It is marked with a red card. The team, as in the exclusion, will be 2 minutes in inferiority. The difference is that at the end of the 2 minutes this player will no longer be able to play again.

The passive game in the handball rules

Despite the fact that there is no set time for each attack, as in basketball, the handball regulations define what a passive game is. If the referees consider that the attacking team is wasting time and do not take a shot on goal, they can signal passive play. This leads to calling a foul for the attacking team and a change of possession.

Before signaling this handball rule, there is a warning signaled with an arm raised, so that the players are aware that they either look for the goal quickly or possession will end. This warning ends when a shot on goal, warning or suspension is taken. On the contrary, a shot blocked by the defense or a free kick maintains said signal and the referee would continue with his arm up.

Official handball regulations for referees

During handball matches, there are two referees on the pitch. Both have the same authority to enforce the rules of handball . Normally in the attacks they are usually placed in the corners to have a better vision of the plays diagonally. Depending on the play, they can be called field, goal or goal referees. They can change position and band repeatedly.

Outside the field of play there are two other judges of the match, such as the scorer and the timekeeper. As the word says, the first is in charge of scoring the goals, suspensions, etc. The second keeps time from start to finish, stopping time whenever the ball is not in play.

Rules of other modalities of handball

Volleyball Beach

Beach handball is a sport very similar to handball that, as its name says, is played on the beach. The basic rules of beach handball define that 2 teams of 4 players each participate in the game, one being a goalkeeper.

The measurements of the beach handball field are 27×12 meters. The match lasts 20 minutes, divided into two 10-minute parts, and the result is counted independently. If both times are won the final result will be 2-0. If each team wins a half, the game is decided by playing the system of one player against the goalkeeper.

When a player is excluded, he cannot re-enter until his team has possession of the ball again. According to the beach handball regulations, you can make as many changes as you want. If a player is disqualified, the team is behind until possession is regained, and the player may not participate again. The IHF regulates the most important competition of this modality, such as the Beach Handball World Cup.

DO NOT MISS OUT ON - Beach handball

minihandball

Minihandball is a modality that is played with two teams of 5 players each, one being a goalkeeper (must be replaced in each period). It is a game aimed at children, in which everyone must participate in one of the 4 times. According to the rules of minihandball , 4 periods of 10 minutes are played, with a 6-minute break in the long break (after the first 2 periods) and 2 minutes between each period.

The rules of the game determine that the dimensions of the field for this modality of handball are 20×13 meters. The area measures 5 meters and the penalty is 6 meters away. The goal is also smaller, 1.6 meters for youngest and 1.8 meters for fry. The ball used is also smaller, 44cm (youngest) 48cm (fry).

The result is independent in each part, one point is noted for the winner of each part. It is a sport practiced for the initiation of children, and has no international representation.

Frequently asked questions about the rules of handball

What is handball?

It is a sport practiced in an indoor court, in which two teams of 7 players each face each other. The objective of the two teams is to score the greatest number of goals in the opposite goal, and add more goals than the rival.

What are the 10 basic rules of handball?

• Each team plays with 7 players.
• The playing field is rectangular (40x20m). With a goal at each end and an area of ​​6 meters to the goal.
• It is forbidden to touch the ball below the knees.
• You cannot step on the goalkeeper's area.
• You cannot take more than 3 steps without dribbling, passing or shooting the ball.
• In the event of a foul on a shot in front of the goalkeeper, it is sanctioned with a penalty shot.
• If a player defends by stepping on his own area, he is sanctioned with a penalty.
• When there is a foul near the area, it is penalized with a free kick.
• The throw-in is done by stepping on the outside line with one foot.
• The duration of a match is 60 minutes (two parts of 30 minutes).

How long does a handball game last?

The duration of the handball game in total is 60 minutes. There are two parts of 30 minutes each, with a break of 10 minutes. Time is not running, that is, it is stopped time. In addition to the field referees, there will be a table referee who will stop time every time the ball is not in play.

How is handball played?

Field players must take the ball to the opposite goal in order to score a goal. The teams have to advance through the opposite field through passes until they generate shooting situations. Handball players may not touch the ball below the knees, stand still for more than 3 seconds with the ball, take more than 3 steps without dribbling the ball, or step inside the 6-meter area of ​​the goalkeeper in the course of a play. Neither can they step into the area, return the ball to the goalkeeper until he leaves his area or shoot at the goalkeeper's head for a penalty.

What are the dimensions of the handball field?

The handball field is divided into two halves separated by a line. The dimensions of the field are 40 meters long by 20 meters wide. In each half of the field there is a goal on the end line, delimited with an area of ​​​​6 meters, and also a broken line in the form of a semicircle 9 meters from the goal from which free kicks are taken.

What is beach handball and minihandball?

In addition to the traditional handball that we know, there are two lesser-known modalities: beach handball and minihandball. In both cases, the different modalities also present variations with respect to the handball rules.Beach handball is played between 2 teams of 4 players each, one being the goalkeeper. The beach handball rules indicate that a match lasts 20 minutes, divided into two 10-minute parts, and the beach handball field measures 27×12 meters.

Minihandball is played with two teams of 5 players, one being the goalkeeper. According to the rules of minihandball, 4 times of 10 minutes are played. In addition, the rules of the game determine that the dimensions of the field for this modality of handball are 20×13 meters.