Handball is a fast, physical indoor team sport that combines elements of football and basketball: two teams of seven pass and dribble a ball with their hands, trying to throw it past a goalkeeper and into a goal. It is one of the most popular indoor team sports in Europe and is played competitively around the world, including in India, where it has a long-standing school and college following.
Objective
The aim is to score more goals than the opposing team by throwing the ball into their goal within the time allowed. Teams move the ball by passing, dribbling or taking a limited number of steps while holding it, working it up the court to create a clear shot on goal.
Rules and regulations
- A player may take up to three steps while holding the ball without dribbling, and may hold it for a limited time before passing, shooting or dribbling again.
- Only the goalkeeper is allowed inside the goal area itself; an outfield player stepping into that area, even while airborne after a shot, concedes possession unless they released the ball before landing.
- Fouls range from minor contact, punished with a free throw, to rougher play that draws a two-minute suspension or, for serious or repeated offences, disqualification from the match.
- The International Handball Federation periodically updates its rulebook, with amended rules taking effect from mid-2025, refining details such as timekeeping, suspensions and passive play calls.
- The core structure of the game, including the seven-a-side format and the step and time limits on holding the ball, has stayed consistent.
Equipment and playing area
- A handball court measures 40 metres by 20 metres, with a goal area marked out six metres from each goal and a free-throw line at nine metres.
- Goals stand three metres wide and two metres high.
- The ball is slightly smaller for women’s competition than men’s, and both are made with a grippy surface, often coated in resin, to help players catch, control and throw it at pace.
- The International Handball Federation governs the sport globally and runs World Championships for men and women.
- In India, the Handball Federation of India oversees the domestic game and the national teams, though the sport’s profile here remains smaller than football, hockey or cricket.
Scoring
- Every successful throw that crosses the goal line completely counts as one goal, and there is no distinction in value between different types of shots.
- A senior match is played over two 30-minute halves, and whichever team has scored more goals when the final whistle goes wins; drawn matches in knockout competitions typically go to extra time and, if still level, a shoot-out.
