What is handball?

Handball is a major sport in Europe and beyond, and is the quickest growing Olympic sport in the UK. The modern game was created at the end of the nineteenth century in Denmark.

Handball (also known as team handball or European handball) is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each (six out-court players and a goalkeeper) pass a ball using their hands with the aim of throwing it into the goal of the other team. 

A standard match consists of two periods of 30 minutes (but differs for some age groups), and the team that scores more goals than the other team wins.

Modern handball is played on a court of 40 by 20 metres (131 by 66 ft). The goals are surrounded by a 6-metre (20 ft) zone where only the defending goalkeeper is allowed; goals must be scored by throwing the ball from outside the zone or while “diving” into it. The sport is usually played indoors, but outdoor variants exist, such as beach handball. The game is fast-paced and high-scoring where teams typically score between 20 and 35 goals each. Body contact is permitted for the defenders trying to stop the attackers from approaching the goal. No protective equipment is mandated (glasses are not permitted while playing and appropriate goggles must be worn), but players may wear soft protective bands, pads and mouth guards.

Our National Governing Body is the England Handball Association (EHA).