42 Handball Facts: Rules, History, Players And More

Handball is the second most played game in Europe.

People enjoy this game because it is a hybrid of many other ball games, including volleyball and football. There are two referees in this game, including the line referee and the court referee.

Men's handball, as well as women's handball, are international games and have their World Championships held every other year. This sport is played indoors as indoor handball, and also outside, in form of field handball and beach handball. In a handball game, the winning team must score more than the other. Opposing teams from 32 countries have participated in the Men's Handball World Championship. Your team has to score points more than another team in order to win a match during the limited time period. Handball might look like a modern game, but there have been some sports played in the Greek and Roman periods. The teams have to score using a number of shots such as stand shot, jump shot, and so on, and they differ by the technique of the ball thrown by the player. Only the goalkeeper is allowed to cross the goal line, not even fellow team players are allowed to do so.

Facts About Handball

Most of us love playing handball games, but not all of us know the facts that make this game so unique. In this article, we will be discussing some facts about handball that will make you love this sport even more.

Handball is played not only in Europe, but throughout the whole world. The European Men's Handball Championship takes place every two years and is the official competition for the men's national team since 1994.

It is also the second-largest sport in all of Europe.

The size of the ball used in handball is similar to the balls used in football and volleyball.

One of the most interesting facts about handball is that there is no limit to the number of faults produced by a player.

Handball is considered a hybrid sport because it is a combination of football, netball, basketball, and water polo.

The Handball World Championship is held every other year, since 1993.

However, before 1993, the World Championship used to be conducted every fourth year, as an Olympic sport.

Handball has a three-second rule that was introduced in 1936. No player can keep ball possession for more than three minutes, according to international rules.

Handball is said to have developed in the 1920s in Europe.

It appeared in the Olympics in 1936 but was dropped from the Olympics. However, handball returned as part of the seven main indoor games in the year 1972.

In 1976, women's team handball also became an Olympic sport.

There are two referees in handball, one is the line referee and the other one is the court referee.

Just like volleyball, there is also a beach handball version, and it is also pretty famous among people who like to visit beaches.

The handball game is the second fastest game in the world, after ice hockey.

Handball's Rules

Although team handball resembles other games, such as water polo, football, and others, there are some rules that are unique to this game. In this section, we will be discussing some basic rules of handball.

An official handball match consists of two 30-minute halves with 10-15 min breaks between these segments of a particular match.

The sport can be played between two teams indoors as well as outdoors.

No team can keep a ball without attempting to attack.

Any type of throw scores a goal.

No player is allowed to endanger another person with the ball.

A handball court is 21.87 yards (20 m) wide and 43.74 yards (40 m) long, which is slightly bigger than a basketball court.

Before or after dribbling, a player can only take a maximum of three steps.

Both of the teams should be in their respective halves before the match has started.

In handball, only a defending goalkeeper is allowed to go within the goal line.

No player can obstruct, push, trip, or hold other players by outstretching their arms or legs.

Every opposing team player must stay 3.2 yards (3 m) away from a throw-in.

You are awarded a throw-in when the bowler gets out of bounds, and the person throwing must put one foot on the sideline to make the throw.

Along with two referees, there are two other handball (team) officials, a timekeeper, and a scorekeeper.

These officials communicate by way of 18 hand signals.

Handball's History

Although a modern concept, handball has been around for quite a while. There are other games that have many similarities to this game that have existed for a long time. In this section, we will be discussing some facts about handball history that will leave you shocked.

Although some games from the Greek and Roman period have similarities with handball games, modern handball is believed to have been introduced in the late 19th century or early 20th century.

In 1928, the sport's international governing body was first formed.

At that time, it was known as the Federation International Handball Amateur, and received its present name in 1946, in Copenhagen, Denmark as the International Handball Federation (IHF).

Avery Brundage was the first President of the IHF.

As we know, handball is played outdoors as well as indoors; indoor handball was invented in Denmark, in 1940.

Indoor handball is played all over the world and was reintroduced as an event in the Olympics.

Other than field handball, a new outdoor version of the sport has also been played by many people. It is called beach handball simply because it is played on beaches, particularly on the sand.

Famous Handball Players

This game has given us many legends. In this paragraph, we will take a look at some of these famous players of handball.

Linnea Torstenson was born on March 30, 1983 and is a female Swedish player who plays as left-back for the Liga Națională Club. She retired from the Sweden national team on February 21, 2017.

Anders Eggert Magnussenwas, a Danish handball player, was born on May 14, 1982 and is now retired. His team, SG Flensburg-Handewitt, won the 2013-14 EHF Champions League trophy.

Grow Hammerseng is a former Norwegian handball team player. She last played for the club Larvik HK.

Mikkel Hansen is a Danish handball player who was born on October 22, 1987. He played for Paris Saint-Germain as well as for the Danish national team. Hansen has even been named the IHF World Player of the year a total of three times.

Jaleledine Touati is a Tunisian handball player and is currently playing for Dunkerque. In the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, he played for the Tunisian national team. In this event, the Tunisian Team even reached the quarterfinals.

Bertrand Gille was born in 1978, in Valence, Drôme, and played for France. With a strong physique, he is known for being one of the best pivot players. He was also presented with the title of World Player of the Year in 2002.