This is the #2 sport in the entire world! (Yes, only soccer is bigger)
Team Handball happens to be the fastest and most exciting sport in the world. It is a combination of basketball, soccer, hockey and lacrosse, and has been described as water polo played on land. Six players move the ball down a floor that is larger than a basketball court and try to score by throwing the ball past a goalkeeper into the goal. A successful scoring attempt results in the awarding of a single point. Two points are scored if the ball bounces off the floor before going into the goal. Each goal is surrounded by a 6m goal area (three point line). The ball-playing rules are in 3's. 3 steps with the ball (a full three steps too, landing after catching the ball is step 0); 3 seconds holding the ball, 3 passes before scoring and 3 dribbles. The goal keeper is the only player allowed in the goal area. They are also the only player allowed to touch the ball with their feet (below the knees), but only to save a goal, not to direct it out of the goal or to control the ball when it is not being shot at goal. The attackers may shoot from in the air above the goal area but must shoot before landing. A defender (or an attacker can not travel through the goal area in order to get an advantage at another spot, (no short cuts). Casual entry into the goal area is OK. The rule only applies if you are seen to gain some advantage by entry into the goal area.
Players are not allowed to: Endanger an opponent with the ball Pull, hit, or punch the ball out of the hands of an opponent. Contact the ball below the knees Block a throw or shot from behind. All players (exception goalkeeper) are only permitted to hold the ball for three seconds, three steps, or dribbles before a violation is called. Three steps are called like in basketball (Jump stops count as one complete step) The three second count starts as soon as the player gains control of the ball. Fumbling of the ball does not count as possession/control The ball is played with the hands, but it may be touched with any part of the body without a violation called. The ball can not be played off of the foot or below the knee, except when the ball is thrown off the opponent to give advantage (i.e. throw off opponent to deflect out of bounds)
Penalties: Free throw- for a minor foul or violation, an indirect free throw is awarded to the opponents at the exact spot it took place. Opponents must be 3 meters away from the ball when the throw is taken. Penalty shot is awarded when: A foul destroys a clear chance to score The goalie carries the ball back into the goalie area A court player intentionally plays the ball to his or her own goalie in the goal area and the goalie touches the ball. Anytime a pass or shot is blocked from behind. Any player on the team may take the penalty shot for a team; while shooting the penalty shot the players pivot foot may not break contact with the penalty shot line (foul line).
Origins and Development
Team handball is very popular in much of the world, but little known in North America. Its very name is confusing even to an American who knows quite a bit about sports. The modern game actually grew out of three sports that were developed, independently, in three different European countries: The Czech hazena, the Danish handbold, and the German Torball. The team handball game of today was formed by the end of the 19th century in northern Europe, primarily Denmark, Germany, Norway and Sweden. The Dane Holger Nielsen drew up the rules for modern handball (håndbold) in 1898 and published them in 1906, and R.N. Ernst did something similar in 1897. Another set of team handball rules was published on 29 October 1917 by Max Heiser, Karl Schelenz and Erich Konigh from Germany. After 1919 these rules were improved by Karl Schelenz. The first international games were played under these rules, between Germany and Belgium for men in 1925 and between Germany and Austria for women in 1930. In 1926, the Congress of the International Amateur Athletics Federation nominated a committee to draw up international rules for field handball. The International Amateur Handball Federation was formed in 1928. The International Handball Federation was formed in 1946. Men's field handball was played at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin at the request of Adolf Hitler. It was removed, to return as team handball for the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. Women's team handball was added at the 1976 Summer Olympics. Although it has never achieved great popularity, it was adopted by the U. S. Army as a camp sport in many areas of the country. Many Boys' and Girls' Clubs also took it up, followed by Explorer Scouts and even some high schools and colleges. The U. S. Team Handball Federation was founded in 1959 to standardize rules and sanction competition. Now, handball is played in roughly 150 countries, with 8 million players registered worldwide. The South Korean women won gold medals in 1988 and 1992. Yet, the game's heartland remains Europe, where Olympic handball stars like Czechoslovakia's Jiri Vicha, Romania's Gheorghe Gruia and the Soviet Union's Zinaida Turchina became some of sport's biggest names. In Sydney, the Olympic champions were Denmark for the women and Russia for the men.