Handball Basic Rules

Know your game

The Basics

The Playing Court: The court measures 20 meters (65' 7") by 40 meters (131' 3"). The court is larger than a basketball court, but the length may be shortened when space is limited. The goal area line, or 6-meter line (19' 8"), is the most important line. No one except the goalie is allowed to stand in the goal area. The goal opening is 2 meters by 3 meters. Players may jump into the area if the ball is released before landing in the area.

The Ball: Team handball is played with a 32-panel leather ball. For women, the ball is 54 to 56 centimeters and 325 to 400 grams. For men, it is 58 to 60 centimeters and 425 to 475 grams.

Number of Players: There are seven players on each team (six court players and one goalie). A maximum of 12 players may dress and participate in a game for each team. Substitutes may enter the game at any time through own substitution area as long as the player they are replacing has left the court.

Uniform of the Players: Player numbers are 1 to 20. Uniform shirts and shorts are the same color. The goalkeeper must wear a different color shirt from teammates and opponents. No jewelry is allowed.

Referees: There are two referees, a court referee and a goal line referee. Referees have complete authority: Their decisions are final. The referees are assisted by a timer and a scorer.

Duration of the Game: For players 18 years and over, the game consists of 2, 30-minute halves with 10-minute half-time. For tournament and youth games 2, 15-minute or 2, 20- minute halves. This is running time except for injury or one team time-out per half. The teams change benches at half-time. The game ends in a tie unless the game demands a winner. (Tournament rules dictate that a winner must be determined.) Overtime consists of 2, 5-minute periods).

Passive Play: It is illegal to keep the ball in a team's possession without making a recognizable attempt to attack and to try to score. In other words, a team cannot stall (free-throw awarded to the other team).

Throw-Off: A throw-off is taken by the team that wins the coin toss and chooses to start the game with the ball. Each team must be in its own half of the court with the defense 3 meters away from the ball. Following a whistle, the ball is passed from center court to a teammate and play begins. Throw-off is repeated after every goal scored and after half-time.

Scoring: A goal is scored when the entire ball crosses the goal line inside the goal. A goal may be scored from any throw (free-throw, throw-in, throw-off, goal-throw).

Playing The Ball

A player is allowed . . . -To run with the ball for 3 steps -To hold the ball for 3 seconds -Unlimited dribble with 3 steps allowed before and after dribbling (no double-dribble).

A player is NOT allowed . . .

1) To endanger an opponent with the ball.
2) To pull, hit or punch the ball out of the hands of an opponent.
3) To contact the ball below the knee.
4) To dive on the floor for a rolling or stationary ball.

Defending the Opponent: A player is allowed to use the torso of the body to obstruct an opponent with or without the ball. However, using the outstretched arms or legs to obstruct, push, hold, trip or hit is NOT allowed. The attacking player is not allowed to charge into a defensive player.

Throw-In: A throw-in is awarded when ball goes out of bounds on the sideline or when the ball is last touched by a defensive player (excluding the goalie) and goes out of bounds over the endline. The throw-in is taken from the spot where the ball crossed the sideline, or if it crossed the endline, from the nearest corner. The thrower must place one foot on the sideline to execute the throw. All opposing players must stay 3 meters away from the ball.

Referee Throw: A referee throw is awarded when . . . The ball touches anything above the court after a simultaneous infringement of the rules after simultaneous possession of the ball.

The Referee throws the ball vertically between two opposing players. The jumping players may grabthe ball or tap it to a teammate. All other players must be 3 meters away from the throw. The referee throw is always taken at center court.

Free-Throw: For a minor foul or violation, a free-throw is awarded to the opponent at the exact spot it took place. If the foul or violation occurs between the goal area line and the 9-meter line, the throw is taken from the nearest post outside the 9-meter line. The thrower must keep one foot in contact with the floor, then pass or shoot.

7-Meter Throw: The 7-meter throw is awarded when . . .

1) A foul destroys a clear chance to score.

2) The goalie carries the ball back into his or her own goal area.

3) A court player intentionally plays the ball to his or her own goalie in the goal area and the goalie touches the ball.

4) A defensive player enters his or her goal area to gain an advantage over an attacking player in possession of the ball.

All players must be outside the free-throw line when the throw is taken. The player taking the throw has 3 seconds to shoot after referee's whistle. Any player may take the 7-meter throw.

Goal-Throw: A goal-throw is awarded when . . . The ball rebounds off the goalkeeper over the endline The ball is thrown over the endline by the attacking team.

The goalie takes the throw inside the goal area and is not restricted by the 3-step/3-second rule.

Progressive Punishments

Progressive Punishments: Pertain to fouls that require more punishment than just a free-throw. "Actions" directed mainly at the opponent and not the ball (such as reaching around, holding, pushing, hitting, tripping and jumping into an opponent) are to be punished progressively.

Warnings (yellow card): The referee gives only one warning to a player for rule violations and a total of three to a team. Exceeding these limits results in 2-minute suspensions thereafter. Warnings are not required prior to giving out a 2-minute suspension. 2-minute suspensions awarded for . . . -Serious or repeated rules violations -Unsportsmanlike conduct -Illegal substitution. -The suspended player's team plays short for 2 minutes.

Disqualification and Exclusion (red card): A disqualification is the equivalent of three, 2-minute suspensions. A disqualified player must leave court and bench, but the team can replace player after the 2-minute suspension expires. An exclusion is given for assault. The excluded player's team continues short one player for the rest of the game.

Important Announcement

Dribble Rule Amendment.

First and foremost we would like to wish Eid Mubarak to all Muslimin and Muslimat in Brunei.

On behalf of BHA committees I would like to make official announcement to all handballers in Brunei regarding the doubtful of ‘Dribbles with one hand only’. According to the relevant sources it has been confirmed that changing Dribbles with both hands are ALLOWED to do so (as stated in the International Handball Federation rules and regulations). This Amendment will come into affect on 1st November 2007.

We try to manifest any confusion regarding the rules in the future.

Regards,
Vice President BHA

Handball Rules and Tips: Part 1

What are some rules and penalties to be aware of in handball?
By Handball Expert Owen McFadden extracted from Sports Expert Village

Before anyone can become solid at the sport of team handball, they must first become aware of the game itself.

Potential players must be aware of court dimensions, equipment, positions and eventually the rules.

Owen McFadden is the director of recreational sports at Furman University. Of the 22 years he has held the position McFadden has coached and played the sport of team handball since 1997.
McFadden knows the rules and the eventual penalties in the sport of team handball.

Team handball is just like any other sport in that it has rules and penalties that keep it going.

"On offense you can have an offensive charge like in international basketball," McFadden said. "Whenever there is a turnover you don't have to wait for the referee to touch it, you just pick it up and go with it."

"If you delay the restart, if you take the ball and don't set it down, they can give you a yellow card for delaying the game," he added. "They can also give you a two minute penalty. The foul is how hard you hit the person who has the ball. The idea is, one person is shooting and another person is going to try and block the shot."

"If he jumps with him and blocks the shot, that's fine," he said. "But a lot of times, as a defender, they come up and meet the offensive player and grab and pull down their shooting arm so they can't shoot."

So what are some ways be penalized on defense?

"There is also a hip check," McFadden said. "That's how you play defense. You can't get the block if he gets really close to you, so that's when you want to try to pull their shooting arm down. The degree of how hard you pull the arm is where you get a foul call. But, you are not going foul out. If you repeatedly foul somebody over and over and over again you may get a yellow card and you may get two minute warning."

Having played the sport of team handball for many years, McFadden has tips for playing solid defense.

"For one, once a defender or an offensive player gets by you, you should go to grab their arm," he said. "If they are strong enough or they can move around you and you have part of their arm or their body once they get equal or by you, you have to let them go. That way you are not grabbing their arm as they are passing for safety reasons. Keeping a hold of the arm is how you really wind up with penalty shots."

"It's legal to tie somebody up," McFadden said. "If you stop a fast break you can run up to the person who has the ball. You can't wrap your arms around them, but you can hold them and that stops the play. The referee is going to blow the whistle and then you put the ball back into play. If somebody is dribbling and you want to go up and tie him up, that's fine. If it's not inside the nine-meter line, then wherever the foul occurred is where they put the ball into play."

Your Handball Knowledge: 1

What does the hand signal below indicate in a game of handball?

ANSWER: Restraining opponent by pushing, pulling etc.

Playing Time

The normal playing time consists of two halves of 30 minutes with a 10 minutes half-time break in between. The playing time for youth and juniors are shorter usually around 20 to 25 minutes per half.

In knock out games, overtime is played if the game ended in draw at normal time, usually after a 5 minutes break after normal time ended. The overtime period consists of 2 halves of 5 minutes, with a 1-minute half-time break. If the game is again tied after a first overtime period, a second period is played after a 5-minute break. This overtime period also has 2 halves of 5 minutes, with a 1-minute half-time break.

If the game is still tied, the winner will be determined by means of penalty throw.

Handball Rules

What is Handball?

Handball is one of the fastest indoor sports. It is an Olympic sport played more than 150 countries. It is a sport where players are encouraged to be athletic, be flamboyant and inventive, and above all you work together as a team. It helps you keep fit and healthy.
It is a team game where you:

How do you play?

Played with 6 court players and 1 goal keeper per side, the object of the game is to throw the ball into the opponent's goal. Handball is played on a court which is 40 m long by 20 wide. With physical contact, unlimited substitutions and shots at goal that can reach over 100 km/hour, there are always something exciting happening on the field of play.

Who can play?

Virtually anyone. You don't have to be a towering giant. The rules are virtually the same for men's and women's handball. Only the size of the ball is different. For children the ball is smaller. As a guide the ball sizes are as follows:

For under 8 year olds the circumference of the ball is 48 cm and the weight is at least 290 grams (size 0)

For Male youth (8-12 years) and female youth (8-14 years) the circumference of the ball is 50-52 cm and the weight is at least 315 grams (size 1)

For Women, male youth (12-16 years) and female youth (over 14 years) the circumference of the ball is 54-56 cm and the weight is at least 325-400 grams (size 2)

For men or male youth (over 16 years) the circumference of the ball is 58-60 cm and the weight is at least 425-475 grams (size 3)

Players

Each team has 12 players. However, only 7 players take the court at any one time and one of these must be the goal keeper. The reminding players are substitutions during the game. They enter and leave from the substitution area of the court. Players alternate between an attacking position and a defending position, depending on who has possession of the ball. The goal keeper of each team wears a different colour from the rest of the team.