Glossary of Handball Terms You Need to Know

Every sport has its own lingo. These are words, phrases, and terms you will hear during a handball game. Knowing their meaning will help you be a more organized handball player.

Basics
Defnese
Attack
Rules

1. Basics

Basic movements	Running around the court during a handball game.
Bouncing	Throwing the ball off the court and catching it again.
Catching	When you receive the ball from another player.
Center-Back (CB)	A player who communicated the strategies and to the rest of the team. Often referred to as the playmaker position the Center-Backs start the offense.
Court Referee (CR)	An impartial person responsible for keeping time and scored during the game. Also making sure that everyone is following the rules.
Goal-Line Referee (GR)	An impartial person who keeps makes sure a ball completely passed the goal line after a shot. Also makes sure everyone is following the rules.
Goalkeeper	The last line of defense. A player standing in the goal zone attempting to block shots and stop the ball from entering the net.
Handling	Catching, passing, or dribbling the ball during a game.
Left-Back (LB)	Often a large player on the left side of the Center-Back clogging up the middle of the court attempting to block shots.
Left-Wing (LW)	A fast player who runs on the left side of the court. Usually taking long-range shots.
Line Player (LP)	The main attacking presence of the court. Often called the pivot.
Player Positions	Handball has 7 positions: Goalkeeper, Left-Wing, Right-Wing, Left-Back, Right-Back, Center-Back, Pivot.
Pass	The act of throwing a ball to your teammate.
Piston Movement	A simple strategy of constant movement up and down resembling a piston.
Right-Back (RB)	Often a large player on the right side of the Center-Back clogging up the middle of the court attempting to block shots.
Rebound	Catching the ball after a shot deflects off the goal post or crossbar.
Right-Wing (RW)	A fast player who runs on the right side of the court. Usually taking long-range shots.
Sidestepping	Using your legs to step away from a defending player to make space for an open shot.
Throwing	Using your hands to throw or pass the ball at a target.

2. Defense

Blocking	Basics of denese in handball. Using any part of your body, above the knee, to stop an opponent’s shot from hitting your net.
Marking	Another way of saying defense.
Rebounding	Catching the ball after a shot deflects off the goal post or crossbar.
Holding	Using your hands to grab or impede an opponent from scoring, passing, or running past you.
Interception	Catching a pass that was intended for an opposing team player.
Man-to-man Defense	A style of defense played where every player pairs up against an opposing team and plays one on one defense during the match.
Combined Defence	Combination of Man-to-man and zone defense.
Stealing	Taking possession of the ball from an opposing player.
Tackling	Stopping an opponent from taking a shot.
Zone Defense	A style of defense played where each player covers a certain part of the court. Together the team prevents the opponents from open shots.

3. Attack

Combination	A designed play that involves player and ball movement with the intent of scoring a goal.
Dribble	Bouncing the ball off the court to make a movement.
Extended Fast Break	The attack after a steal. Involves players running towards the goal to take a shot.
Fake Run	Pretneding to move in one direction just to qucikly turn and run in another.
Faking	Attempting to trick an opponent by pretending to shoot, pass, or dribble and then doing something different.
Give-and-go	Passing the ball to a teammate then running to an open position and getting a pass back. Usually results in a shot.
Shot on Goal	Throwing the ball at the net with the intent of scoring a goal.
Overarm Shot	Shooting technique with the arm above the shoulder.
Underarm Shot	Shooting technique with the arm below the shoulder.
Jump Shot	Shooting technique with both feet off the ground in an attempt to get an open shot on goal.
Bounced Shot	Attempting a shot on goal by bouncing the ball off the floor before it reaches the goal line.
Spin Shot	Shooting technique where back spin or front spin is added to a the bounced shot which makes the ball change directions after it bounces of the floor.
Tactics	Strategies and plays used by players during a game of handball.

4. Rules

3 Meters from the Thrower	Players must give the free-throw taker at least 3 meters of space.
3 Steps	Players with the ball are only allowed to take 3 steps before they must pass or shoot the ball.
7-meter Line	A line on the court where penalty shots are taken from.
7-meter shot/Penalty Throw	A free shot given to the attacking team if one of their players is fouled during a goal scoring opportunity.
Ball	The object used to pass, shoot, and throw during a game of handball.
Bench	An area for team substitutes.
Center Line	A line in the middle of the court cutting the playing area into 2 halves.
Center Court	A circle in the middle of the court.
Changing Goalkeepers	A substitution of goalkeepers during the game or before a penalty shot.
Choice of Sides	At the beginning of the game, one team will choose which side of the court they want to start the game on.
Coach	An individual responsible for creating tactics and substitutions.
Coin Toss	A referee flips a coin to decide which team starts the game with the ball.
Court Player	Players on the court, not including the goalkeepers.
Cross the Sideline	Referring to the ball going out of play on the side of the court.
Cross the Goal Line	Referring to the ball leaving play behind the goalkeepers net.
Disallowed Goal	A goal scored as a result of a rule violation.
Disqualification	Kicking a player out of a game due to excessive physical behaviour or rule violations.
Equipment	Referring to uniforms, shoes, balls, whistles, nets, and other tools used during the game.
Final Signal	A sign from the referee or timekeeper showing that the playing time has run out.
Foot	Blocking or kicking the ball with any part of your body below the knee is a violation.
Forewarning Signal	Referee informing a team that their time out is expiring in 10 seconds.
Foul	A violation of the rules of the game.
Free Throw	A punishment for a foul.
Free Throw Line	The 9-meter line which marks where free throws need to come from.
Goal	What shots are aimed at. 2 posts and a crossbar.
Goal Area	A area that is only for the goalkeeper. Its a D shaped area 6-meters in every direction from the middle of the goal.
Goal Area Line	A line the separates the goal area from the playing area.
Goal Net	A net that catches players shots that go into the goal.
Goalkeeper Throw	The game restarts with a goalkeeper throw when the ball goes out of play behind the goal.
Goalkeepers Restraining Line	A 4-meter line the goalkeeper can advance to during a penalty shot.
Halftime Break	A 10-minute break in between the first and second half of the game.
Interruption	A stoppage during the game.
Out of Play	When the ball goes outside the playing area by crossing the sideline or goal line.
Outer Goal Line	Referring to the ball leaving play behind the goalkeepers net.
Overtime	Additional time played at the end of match that ends in a tie. Usually only used in games where a winner must be decided such as playoffs and tournaments.
Personal Punishment	Warning or a 2-minute suspension for a rule violation.
Players	People on the team taking part in the game.
Playing Court	The area where the game takes place.
Passive Play	Passing the ball back and forth without an intension to attack or shoot.
Re-enter	A player coming back into the game after serving a 2-minute penalty.
Referees	Impartial individuals in charge of keeping the time, score, and making sure everyone is following the rules.
Sanction	Any form of punishment handed out by a referee.
Save	A goalkeeper stopping a goal by blocking a shot.
Scoreboard	Displays the amounts of goals scored by each team in the game.
Score	The number of goals each team has scored during the game.
2-minute Suspension	A punishment for a foul or rule violation.
Sideline	The line that ends the playing area on the side of the court.
Substitution	Player entering the game from the bench replacing a current player on the court.
Substitution Line	An area close to the center of the court where players must be to go in and out of the game.
Suspension	A form of punishment. Can be 2 or 5 minutes.
Team	A group of players, coaches, and trainers that play the game.
Team Official	A manager, owner, or representative of the team.
Throw In	How the game restarts when the ball leaves the playing area on the sideline.
Throw-Off	How a game of hanbdall starts.
Timekeeper	An impartial individual responsible for keeping the game clock.
Team Time-Out	A 1-minute break in play for rest. Usually called by a coach to discuss new tactics and strategies.
Uniform	The clothes players ware during the game.
Unsportsmanlike Conduct	Unnecessary physical or verbal behavior from any player during a game of handball.
Warning	A yellow card issues to a player for a rule violation.
Whistle for the Throw-Off	A signal made by a referee to start the game.
Whistle Signal	A way for the referee to gets everyone’s attention.