Team Handball

TEAM HANDBALL Study Guide

 Game Play  History  Court Diagram  Players  Goal Scoring  Fouls  Offensive Philosophy  Review Sheet History Team handball is the second most popular sport in the world, and is gaining popularity in the United States. A vigorous team game now played in the Olympics Games it was developed by Germany and Denmark around 1900. Team handball is filled with spirited movement and encompasses many of the familiar skills of soccer, basketball and speedball. It involves the natural human instinct of using hands to control the ball and combines lots of running, jumping, throwing, catching and dribbling.

Teams of seven players play team handball. There are no walls. The object is to score goals by throwing a ball past a goalkeeper into a net using good teamwork and passing. Team handball promotes excellent conditioning and a good working knowledge of team play and strategy planning. Team handball should not be confused with the game of handball that is played with two players, four walls, and one rubber ball.

Court size Team handball is played on a court approximately the size of a basketball court, 20 meters by 40 meters. There are two goals about the size of soccer goals. A goal zone or 6 meter line, similar to the three point arc in basketball, is off limits to all players but the goalie. The Players The game can be played with as few as 5 players on a team or by as many as 15, depending upon the size of the class, and the age of the players. An official game consists of 12 players on each team, 2 goalkeepers and 10 field players. There is only 1 goalkeeper and a maximum of 6 field players on the court at a time.

Rules The ball-playing rules are in 3’s:  3 steps with the ball (landing after catching the ball is step 0) but no pivoting is allowed like basketball.  3 seconds holding the ball.  3 meters from the player when they are awarded a free throw.

Dribbling is allowed (but slows the game down, passing is better). An individual can NOT start and stop his/her dribble. A player must dribble, pass, or shoot within 3 seconds of gaining possession of the ball.

Goal scoring rules A goal is scored when it passes completely over the back goal line within the goal. Play resumes at the centerline with the non-scoring team in control of the ball.

The goalkeeper is the only player allowed in the goal area. They are also the only players allowed to touch the ball with their feet, 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 the 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 O.K. The rule only applies if you are seen to gain an advantage by entry into the goal area. The goalkeeper can play as a field player out of the goal area. They can not have the ball passed back to them if they are in the goal area though.

Fouls Handball is a non-contact sport. There should be no contact made be either the offensive or the defensive player. There is no swiping away the defenders arms with your hands to get past them. An infraction by the offense results in a loose of possession. Any foul by the defense will result in a free throw either on goal or a free pass.

Offensive philosophy There are some set plays in team handball, but the game is essentially a free-lance sport. As in basketball, player’s screen for each other and set picks for jump and set shots.

Players should maintain proper court spacing so that each player may be an offensive threat.

Players should be constantly cutting towards the goal with or with out the ball. This will force the defense to respect all players on the court and create more scoring opportunities.

Players should move quickly with minimum amount of dribbling. Scoring opportunities develop when sharp, quick passes are used and the defense does not have time to adjust to new offensive positions.

Shooting should not be forced. If a player drives for a shot and is blocked by the defense, he should pass to a teammate and a new offensive threat should be initiated. TEAM HANDBALL REVIEW SHEET

1. The game of team handball was invented by ______&

______around ______.

2. List the “3 rules”

3. An individual can dribble the ball for as long as the choose true / false

4. After a goal who is awarded the ball

where are they awarded the ball

5. Who is the only player that can use their feet

6. Can a defender or attacker cross through the goal area

7. What is the best way to develop a scoring opportunity