Handball History in the World

HISTORY OF OUTDOOR AND INDOOR HANDBALL

To talk about the History of Handball, we first need to understand that it started as an outdoor sport, played in a field. After, it was developed to be an indoor game.

HANDBALL ORIGIN

We have already published studies on the History of Handball there are several versions about the origin of Handball. See the main versions below.

HANDBALL ORIGIN

In the published studies on the history of handball, there are several versions of the origin of handball. Below, see the major versions>

DENMARK 1848

According to Nogueira (2004), there are reports that Handball appeared in Denmark in 1848, through a game created by Prof. Holger Nielsen, whose name was Handebold or Haadbold.

CZECHOSLOVAKIA 19th CENTURY

Nogueira (2004) also affirms there are reports that Handball appeared in Czechoslovakia in the nineteenth century with a game called Hazena or Azena.

URUGUAY 1911

There are also reports of a game called “Balon”, created in Uruguay by Professor Gualberto Valetta.

FROM WHERE HANDBALL CAME

Handball was created in Germany as Field Handball in the late 19th century, which was initially called “Torball“, which was a game derived from two other games created by Konrad Koch the “Raffball” and the “Konigsbergerball”.

According to Nogueira (2004) “Torball” was a sport widely practiced by young women in a field measuring 40 meters by 20 meters. With the adherence of men to the “Torball” the dimensions increased to 80 x 40 meters and then to the same dimensions as the soccer field.

WHEN HANDBALL WAS CREATED

Handball was created in 1919 when the rules of “Torball” were reformulated, including its name changed to Handball.

WHO CREATED HANDBALL

The main responsible for the transformation of “Torball” into Handball was Karl Schelenz, who is considered the creator of Handball. Schelenz was assisted by Max Heiser and Erich Konigh.

FIRST INTERNATIONAL HANDBALL MATCH

It was in 1925 when Germany and Austria faced each other in what is considered the first international handball match. The Austrian team won by 6 to 3.

CREATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL HANDBALL FEDERATION

In the late 1920s the International Handball Federation (FIHA) was founded with the participation of 11 countries, which published Handball rules in three languages: German, French and English.

HANDBALL IN OLYMPIC GAMES

In 1394 the International Olympic Committee (IOC) chose Handball (still as Outdoor Handball) as one of the sports to be played at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games.

The first Olympic Handball competition had Germany beating Austria in the grand final by 10 to 6. The final was attended by over 100,000 people at the Berlin Olympic Stadium.

INDOOR HANDBALL HISTORY

According to Nogueira (2004), Handball began to be practiced indoors in Sweden in 1924, due to the harsh winter that prevented the games in open fields.

FIRST WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

The first World Handball Championship was organized by FIHA and took place in Germany in 1938 and had only 4 participating teams (Germany, Sweden, Austria, and Denmark), Germany was the champion.

THE CREATION OF IHA

On July 11, 1946, the International Handball Association (IHA) was founded, the new International Handball Federation, affiliated with the International Olympic Committee.

HANDBALL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

In 1948 the world championships were held again but without the participation of the Germans who were excluded for a time after World War II.

In 1948 the Men’s Handball World Championship was held and in 1949 the Women’s Handball World Championship.

Indoor handball had its Men’s World Championship held in 1954, won by Sweden, and the first Women’s World Championship was held in 1957 and won by Czechoslovakia.

Currently, IHA Handball World Championships are held every 2 years.

MORE HANDBALL CONTENT

• Handball Fundamentals
• Handball Tactical Systems
• Handball Rules
• Handball Court