Handball is a fast paced and exciting team game which is popular in Europe and which combines soccer and basketball techniques to create a unique and competitive game. To play team handball, each team must shoot, dribble and pass the ball to score. To play handball alone or with two, the most popular style in America, you need to score goals with the help of two, three or four walls. To learn how to learn both versions of handball read the steps below.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Playing Team Handball
Step 1. Familiarize yourself with the pitch
The team handball field is 20 x 40 meters wide. Here are some things to know about the field:
- In the field is the goal area line (known as the line) 6 meters long where only the goalkeeper can stand. The door is 2 meters high and 3 meters wide. Players can only enter the goal area after throwing the ball.
- At 9 meters from the goal there is the semi-circular free-throw line (free throw).
- The center line is called the center line.
- Familiarize yourself with the ball. Traditionally, a leather ball of 32 is used in handball. For women, the ball is 54-56cm wider while for men it is 58-60cm wider, therefore heavier.
Step 2. Form a team
There are seven players for each team on the pitch. One of these seven players is the goalkeeper. Each team can have a total of 12 players (America) or 14 (England) in one match. The extra players are used for substitutions as well as in all other sports, such as volleyball, basketball, football, etc. Players who are not the goalkeeper can be substituted during a match.
- The players wear uniforms that are not numbered from 1 to 20. Each team must wear shirts and shorts of the same color, while the goalkeepers wear different colors to distinguish themselves from the rest of the team.
- In official matches there are always two referees, one for the field and one for the goal. Their decisions are irrevocable.
Step 3. Understand the purpose of the game
Each team must score points by throwing the ball towards the opposing team's goal. The team with the most points wins. A handball match can also end in a draw, except in a tournament where there must be a winner. If the game is tied after the end of the half, an overtime of 2-5 minutes is played.
A team scores when the ball crosses the line and enters the goal. You can score with any type of shot: goal-throw, free-throw (free throw), throw-in (throw-in), or throw-off (kick-off - more information on shots below).)
Step 4. Play for the appropriate length of time
A handball match is played in 2 halves of 30 minutes with a 10 minute break in between. Youth tournaments or matches are shorter, i.e. 2 halves of 15-20 minutes.
- Time passes during the game. The only time the time is blocked is during an injury or team time-outs (1 per half).
- After the first half, the teams change doors.
Step 5. Understand what players can do on the pitch
Players can touch the ball with any part of their body (so no kicks!) If they have the ball, they can only stand still for three seconds (similar to basketball) and can only take three steps with the ball in hand. If this rule is broken, the ball passes to the other team. Players must quickly decide where to shoot, who to pass or whether to dribble.
- A player can dribble as much as he wants as long as he keeps his hand on the ball. After dribbling, the three second / step rule always applies. If after dribbling again you break the rule and then the ball goes to the other team.
- If the player enters the goalkeeper's area with the ball, he commits a foul.
Step 6. Know the different types of shots
Here are the pitches to know:
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The throw-off. (Starting roll) The game begins with this roll. This shot is taken in midfield. The shooter must touch the center line with one foot, while the other players remain in their own half. After the coin toss, the winning team decides whether to start or not.
- After the kick-off, the player with the ball in the center passes the ball to his teammate and the game begins.
- After a goal, the ball passes to the team that conceded it for another kick-off. The kick-off is also taken at the start of the second half.
- The throw-in. (Throw-in) If one team throws the ball out of bounds, the other team takes a throw-in.
- The free-throw. (Penalty) The penalty is taken after a game interruption at the same point where the game was stopped. Play is stopped if a player is blocked, pushed, hit or injured and the offending player receives a penalty.
- The referee throw. (Referee's shot) It is made if the ball touches something up on the court and after the infringement of several rules and simultaneous possession of the ball. In this situation, the referee stands in the center of the field and throws the ball vertically two teams who have to jump to grab it or touch it to push it towards a teammate. The other players must be within 3 meters of the shot.
- The 7-meter throw. (7-meter shot, penalty) This shot is taken when a player is blocked while scoring a goal, if the goalkeeper brings the ball into his area, if a player throws the ball to his goalkeeper or if a defending player enters the its area. During this shot, all players must stay outside the free-throw line and the player taking the shot has 3 seconds to do so.
- The goal-throw. (Goal Kick) It occurs when the ball bounces past the goalkeeper and goes out or if the ball crosses the end line. During this shot, the player throws the ball from his area without following the 3 steps / seconds rule.
Step 7. Learn the fouls
There are many ways to commit a foul. If one team commits a foul, the other team receives the ball by taking a throw-in, free-kick or goal-flick. Here are the fouls:
- Passive play. Indicates possession of the ball without attacking or scoring a goal. That is, in a stalemate.
- Put the player at risk with the ball.
- Pushing, hitting or punching the ball in the opponent's hand.
- Touch the ball with the lower parts of the body.
- Swim underwater to catch the ball.
- Fully extend your arms and legs to push, hold, hinder, trip or hit the opponent or mark a defender.
Step 8. Learn how progressive penalties work
These penalties occur when the player commits something that is aimed at the player instead of intending towards the ball. Here are the stages of the progressive penalties:
- Yellow card / yellow card. Each player can receive 1 for a maximum of 3 for each team.
- 2 minute suspension. It happens after a series of fouls, illegal substitutions and unsportsmanlike play. You can receive a 2-minute suspension even without having received a yellow card. If a player commits this foul, he will have to wait outside for 2 minutes without being substituted leaving the team in the numerical minority.
- Disqualification / red card. A player receives the red card after 3 suspensions of 2 minutes. After 2 suspensions the player can be substituted.
- Exclusion. A player is excluded after attacking a player and stays out until the end of the game. This is a serious foul that will leave the team in the numerical minority.
Step 9. Improve your way of playing
There are many tips and tricks to improve the way a handball player plays, but perhaps the most important thing to do is keep playing. Here are some things to work on as you improve your game:
- To be an excellent handball player you have to pass the ball often. It works better than dribbling and is used to score faster goals.
- When defending, you can use raising your arms up to block the opposing team's shots and passes.
- When dribbling, use one hand to shield yourself while holding the ball with the other hand.
- But most important of all is training! The more you train, the better you will be at handball.
Part 2 of 2: Play Handball Alone or Two
Step 1. Decide on the style of the game, Chinese or American
Both of these styles are played with a smaller ball than team handball. Official games are played with a "small ball" or an "ace ball", while street games are commonly played with a "big ball" similar to that used in racquetball.
- There are three versions of the game (4 walls, 3 walls and 1 wall) and it can be played with 4, 3 or 1 player.
- The Chinese style is easier, in which the player bounces the ball on the ground before it hits the wall, while in the American style the ball does not bounce. If he doesn't bounce (in the Chinese style) or bounce (in the American style), the other player will have to "serve".
Step 2. Choose the rules
For example if you want the DBA rule (Double bounce American, where the ball bounces twice and is hit in the American style, this rule is used in the Chinese style) or if you want the DBC rule (only in the American style, the ball bounces two times and is struck in the Chinese style).
- You can decide if the player can try to distract you without interfering with the ball, or if you are on a team with someone decide the "saves" (saves, in which the player of a team hits the ball, bounces and the other person hits in style. American).
- This also applies to "self saves". You can have them for yourself or for the whole team. You can also decide on the "Kings" rule ie no precise rule. Don't forget the "slams" where you can hit the ball as hard as you can.
Step 3. Play until you win
Normally, a player wins after scoring 7 points but you can change things according to the situation. Here are some things to keep in mind while scoring:
- There is usually a set of points in the case of "shutout" (where the opposing player remains at 0)
- The set of points equals 5 for "shutouts" when you play up to 7. After deciding the set of points, a player starts the game with a shot called a "volley" (throwing the ball in Chinese or American style, depending on to the chosen style).
- Now the other player has to hit the ball. This decides who goes first.
- The person who misses the ball after it has bounced twice (once if you use the Kings rule) will not serve first.
- The game continues in the same way without the "volley" shot anymore, but only by serving.
Advice
- Play in the corners but be ready to move to the center if the ball is thrown low. By playing in the corners you will have better space management and will be ready for any direction.
- When shooting the "volley" a good tip is to throw the ball "sideways", moving the arm in a lateral movement. Don't do it often or you could get hurt.
- Train alone or with friends. Don't worry about the score.
- Try to "kill". Kill is when you hit the ball to keep it low without the opponent being able to hit it to bounce it off the wall. The term "kill" is similar to the term "schooled" in street basketball.
Warnings
- Don't always throw the "volley" sideways. You could seriously injure your arm.
- Follow the ball well if "slams" are allowed among the rules of the game. Sometimes the ball can travel at high speed.
- Know your skills.
