INTRODUCTION: THE MAIN RULES OF HANDBALL
In this article, Dicas Educação Física has prepared a summary of the main Handball rules with simple explanations so you can understand everything you need to know about Handball rules.
HANDBALL COURT MEASUREMENTS
The handball court is a rectangle measuring 20 meters wide by 40 meters long. The lines and markings on the handball court are: the goal area, free-throw line, goalkeeper limitation line, 7-meter line, substitution lines, center line, sideline and end line.
DURATION OF A HANDBALL MATCH
One of the basic rules of handball concerns the duration of a handball match. For players aged 16 and over, a match lasts two 30-minute halves with a 10-minute break. See the time of a Handball match for other categories:
- For players between 12 and 16 years the duration is two strokes of 25 minutes;
- For players between 8 and 12 years the duration is two strokes of 20 minutes;
- If extra time (overtime) is required, it is played in two 5-minute times each.
NUMBER OF PLAYERS IN A HANDBALL TEAM
A handball team is made up of 7 players on the court and can have up to 7 substitutes. To start a match a team must have at least 5 players on the court.
SUBSTITUTIONS IN HANDBALL
According to the Handball Rules, substitutions are free, as long as they are made in the substitution zone and the substitute player only enters the court after the player being substituted has left.
HANDBALL GOALKEEPERS CAN’T:
- Endangering the opponent in a defensive attempt
- Leaving the goal area with the ball in hand
- Touching the ball that is stationary or rolling on the ground outside the goal area, while he is inside the goal area
- Entering the goal area from the playing area with the ball under control
- Touching the ball with the foot or leg below the knee when it is moving out of the goal area
- Crossing the goalkeeper’s limitation line (4-meter line) before the ball has left the hand of an opponent taking a 7-meter shot
THE HANDEBALL GOALKEEPER CAN:
- Touching the ball with any part of their body, in an attempt to defend, inside the goal area
- Move with the ball inside the goal area
- Leave the goal area without the ball and, upon receiving the ball, take part in the game as a line player
INVASION OF THE GOAL AREA IN HANDBALL
The goal area in handball is restricted to goalkeepers. When a line player enters the goal area, it will be scored:
- Goal kick, when a player from the attacking team enters the goal area with the ball or enters without the ball, but gains an advantage by entering
- Free kick, when a player from the defending team enters the goal area and gains an advantage,
- 7-meter throw, when a player from the defending team enters the goal area and prevents a clear chance of scoring
“It is not allowed to return the ball to the handball goalkeeper when he is inside his goal area. A free kick will be awarded to the opposing team.”
HANDLING THE BALL IN HANDBALL:
- Throwing, catching, stopping, pushing or striking the ball using the hands (open or closed), arms, head, torso, thighs and knees is allowed.
- Hold the ball for a maximum of 3 seconds
- Take a maximum of 3 steps while holding the ball.
- Bounce the ball once and catch it again with one or two hands
- Bounce the ball repeatedly with one hand (dribbling) and then grab it again with one or both hands
- Roll the ball over the ground repeatedly with one hand and then grab it with one or both hands
FOULS IN HANDBALL:
- Snatching or striking the ball out of the opponent’s hands
- Pushing or blocking the opponent with arms, hands or legs or using any part of the body to dislocate them
- Grabbing an opponent, even if they remain free to continue playing
- Jumping or running over an opponent.
LATERAL SHOT IN HANDBALL
- The throw-in is taken from where the ball left the court on the sideline
- The referee’s whistle (authorization) is not required for the execution of the throw-in.
- The player must keep one foot on the line during the throw-in.
- The opponents must respect a minimum distance of 3 meters from the taker of the throw-in, except when there is a throw-in from the side of the goal area and the opponent can position himself less than 3 meters away to remain outside the area.
GOAL KICK IN HANDBALL
According to the Handball Rules, the goal kick is taken only by the goalkeeper and there is no need for the referee’s whistle.
A goal kick is taken when:
- an opposing player invade the goal area
- the goalkeeper dominates the ball in his goal area or the ball is stopped within the goal area
- an opponent player touching the ball that is rolling or stopped within goal area
- the ball comes out the bottom line, after being touched by the goalkeeper or by an opponent
7-METER SHOT IN HANDBALL
The 7-meter throw is one of the main official rules of handball and is awarded every time a clear chance of scoring is interrupted by a foul, an unjustified whistle, a person not taking part in the game or any official member of a team.
- The 7-meter shot must be executed after the referee’s whistle within 3 seconds and throwing the ball into the goal
- The 7-meter shot performer must remain behind the 7-meter line
- after throwing the ball can not be played by running or a teammate of the same team until the ball touches an opponent or on the crossbar
- performer’s companions should stay out of the free firing line
- opponents must stay outside the free-kick line and 3 meters away from the 7-meter line
- if the opposing goalkeeper crosses the goalkeeper’s limitation line and the goal was not scored the 7-meter shot should be repeated
More about Handball
- VIDEO: Main Handball Rules
- Basic handball fundamentals
- How to Teach Handball
- Passive Play in Handball
- Side Shot in Handball
- 7-meter Titus in Handball