European Handball
European Handball, also known as Team Handball or Field Handball is a popular european indoor sport (which can also be played on the beach) commonly known for its presence in the Olympics.
Two teams play each other with seven players on a side. To gain points the handball must be thrown in a goal similar to that of a football (soccer) goal. Each goal is equivalent to one point. Handling the ball involves the players' hands and similar to basketball you must bounce the ball while running.
The defending side (team without possesion of the ball) can prevent the offensive side from scoring by blocking the path of the player with possesion.
Professional European Handball originated in Northern Europe (Denmark, Germany, Norway and Sweden) and the game has been played internationally since the 1920s.
European Handball is an outstanding spectator sport due to its athletic, high-scoring and dynamic attributes. Handballs most eye-catching spectacle comes when players shoot for goal. Top players can produce shots on goal up to 100km/hr while gracefully launching themselves into the air to dodge defence and get as close to the goal as possible without stepping into the zone or crease (the near-semicircled area only the goal-keeper is allowed in.)
European Handball History: European Handball dates back to 1897 when the first recorded rules of Team handball were created but has origins reaching as far back as antiquity: urania in ancient Greece, harpaston in ancient Rome, fangballspiel in medieval Germany as examples. There are also records of handball-like games in medieval France, and among the Inuit in Greenland, in the Middle Ages, and in Ancient Africa, primarily Egypt. By the 19th century, there existed similar games of haandbold from Denmark, hazena in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, gandbol in Ukraine, torball in Germany, as well as versions in Ireland and Uruguay.
European Handball Rules: European Handball is a high paced sport and can be explained as a mix between soccer, netball and basketball and can be played indoors or outdoors, on sand, grass or timbered floor.
The European Handball court is the size of two basketball courts (40 meters long by 20 meters wide). At either end of the field is a goal similar to that in football (soccer). The object is to get the handball (smallish soccer ball) into the oppositions goal more often than they can get it into yours.
The ball is transported accross the court by passing in the style of netball. Players can take 3 steps and hold the ball for 3 seconds. Dribbling is allowed, however the ball must be patted with the palm, similar to basketball, therefore passing is usually the quicker option.
An average match equivilates to 2 periods of 30 minutes and a 10 minute half-time. Substitutions can be made throughout and each side gets one Time-Out per period similar to that in basketball.
Two teams play each other with seven players on a side. To gain points the handball must be thrown in a goal similar to that of a football (soccer) goal. Each goal is equivalent to one point. Handling the ball involves the players' hands and similar to basketball you must bounce the ball while running.
The defending side (team without possesion of the ball) can prevent the offensive side from scoring by blocking the path of the player with possesion.
Professional European Handball originated in Northern Europe (Denmark, Germany, Norway and Sweden) and the game has been played internationally since the 1920s.
European Handball is an outstanding spectator sport due to its athletic, high-scoring and dynamic attributes. Handballs most eye-catching spectacle comes when players shoot for goal. Top players can produce shots on goal up to 100km/hr while gracefully launching themselves into the air to dodge defence and get as close to the goal as possible without stepping into the zone or crease (the near-semicircled area only the goal-keeper is allowed in.)
European Handball History: European Handball dates back to 1897 when the first recorded rules of Team handball were created but has origins reaching as far back as antiquity: urania in ancient Greece, harpaston in ancient Rome, fangballspiel in medieval Germany as examples. There are also records of handball-like games in medieval France, and among the Inuit in Greenland, in the Middle Ages, and in Ancient Africa, primarily Egypt. By the 19th century, there existed similar games of haandbold from Denmark, hazena in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, gandbol in Ukraine, torball in Germany, as well as versions in Ireland and Uruguay.
European Handball Rules: European Handball is a high paced sport and can be explained as a mix between soccer, netball and basketball and can be played indoors or outdoors, on sand, grass or timbered floor.
The European Handball court is the size of two basketball courts (40 meters long by 20 meters wide). At either end of the field is a goal similar to that in football (soccer). The object is to get the handball (smallish soccer ball) into the oppositions goal more often than they can get it into yours.
The ball is transported accross the court by passing in the style of netball. Players can take 3 steps and hold the ball for 3 seconds. Dribbling is allowed, however the ball must be patted with the palm, similar to basketball, therefore passing is usually the quicker option.
An average match equivilates to 2 periods of 30 minutes and a 10 minute half-time. Substitutions can be made throughout and each side gets one Time-Out per period similar to that in basketball.