Handball

The Basics

Field handball, played until 1972, was seen as a precursor to the modern version of handball. In addition, beach handball is taking a step forward and gaining popularity. In the USA though, handball is often associated with American handball, which is a completely different sport, namely a form of squash.

Game Play

 

The tactical and fast-paced game takes place on a rectangular playing field with a length of 40 meters and a width of 20 meters. Two teams play against each other, during two halves each thirty minutes long, with the aim of getting the ball, either leather or synthetic, into the marked goals of the opposing team.

A handball team consists of one goalkeeper and six field players, along with a maximum of seven substitute players that can be exchanged an optional number of times. Since each team only has a one-minute timeout per half, and players can be exchanged an optional number of times, substitutions do not have to occur during time-outs.

Team

Principally, each of the seven active players can play the position of a goal keeper, although he must clearly distinguish himself from the other six players by his uniform. The goal keeper is also allowed to be in areas outside of the goal area and participate in the game to help out his fellow team members. In that event a substitute player is put on in his place, wearing a pinny for recognition.

Field players have the task of catching and dribbling the ball. When dribbling, one can move inside the whole playing field (except the goal area) but as soon as a player takes three steps without dribbling, he has to throw the ball to a teammate or attempt to score a goal within three second.

Techniques

Smack Throws/ Stem Throws/ Core Throw
Jump Throw
Fall Throw
Hip Throw (Schlenzer)
‘Kempa’ Trick
Spin
Heave
Air Turn

Penalties

Free- Throw
7- Meter- Throw
The Yellow Card
Two- Minute Penalty
Two + Two- Minute Penalty
Two- Minute Penalty and a Disqualification
Disqualification

Expulsion

Strategies

A popular strategy is the passive play making the game more interesting to watch for spectators. When implementing this approach, the referee steps in after 40 seconds, if it is obvious that the offensive players are not attempting to score a goal. Within the next 10 seconds the players must attempt to score a goal. Due to this ruling, there is hardly a longer period of time in handball without scoring.

The defending team also uses countless variations for zone or player coverage. The most popular strategy is the 6-0 variation, where all players are positioned be the throwing circle, or the 5-1 variation, where the middle defensive player advances.

History and Development

Reaching as far back as the Antiquity and the Middle Ages, people have taken a liking to handball, although not in the form as it is known today. During the last couple of centuries it has steadily developed.

Originally, handball was created for girls, but due to several adjustments to the rules, it also became attractive for boys.

Yet handball was not able to establish itself everywhere since there were already different sports that had a hold on a large fan-base. Due to other diverse reasons, such as complicated game rules and the necessity of an indoor venue, handball was not able to win a very high popularity ranking.

 

Important Players

Bernhard Kempa

Kempa is a former German handball player, one of the best of his time. He became a part of history with the invention of the ‘Kempa’ trick.

Klaus Kater

Kater became famous as a German handball goalkeeper because the goal keeper boundary line in the goal area had to be drawn especially because of him, with a minimum distance of three meters from the player trying to score a goal, as a protective measure. Before this line was instituted, he would always stand directly in front of those trying to score a goal and would thereby provoke a miss.

Stefan Kretzschmar

Also a German handball player; however he wants to end his active career by the end of the 2007/2008 season and become part of management for FC Magdeburg.