Want to play a game of handball but are unsure about how the game begins? Here is everything you need to know about how to start a game of handball.
A handball game starts with a throw-off where a player in the middle of the court passes the ball back to a teammate. A coin toss decides which team starts with the ball. A throw-off takes place at the start of both halves of the game and after every goal.
The team that won the coin toss can choose which half of the game they wish to start with the ball. Teams that lost the coin toss decides which side of the court they want to start the game on.
During the throw-off, both teams need to be on their own side of the court. The player holding the ball needs to have one foot on the line going through the center of the court, while the other needs to be behind the line until the ball is out of their hand.
Neither team is allowed to cross the center line before the throw-off takes place.
How Does the Second Half of a Handball Game Start?
If you’re wondering how the second half of a game of handball begins, it’s very simple to understand.
The second half of a handball game begins with a throw-off for the opposite team that started with the ball in the first half. Someone on the team has to stand on the halfway line and pass the ball back to a teammate. Both teams must remain on their side of the court until the throw-off.
As soon as the first pass is made, the clock begins to run, and the game is underway.
Teams that win the pre-game coin toss have the option to choose which half they want to start with the ball. Strategically, starting with the ball in the second half gives your team a psychological advantage. That is why most professional teams defer the opening throw-off after winning the coin toss.
How Does Overtime Start in Handball?
If a game of handball is tied after the time has run out, an additional period is played to determine a winner. Overtime is usually reserved for playoff games, tournaments, and Olympic Games. If you’re planning on playing handball, it’s important to know how overtime starts.
In handball, overtime starts with a throw-off, with identical circumstances as the beginning of the game. A coin toss decides which team starts with the ball. Overtime begins with a player passing the ball to their teammate.
The second installment of overtime follows the exact same rules as the first. A new coin toss is made to decide which team starts with the ball and the game resumes with a throw-off made at the center-court line.
Who Does the Coin Toss in Handball?
A coin toss is an integral part of many sports. If you have never seen or taken part in a coin toss, here are the basics you need to understand.
The head referee does the coin toss with the captains of both teams at the start of the game. The home team captain has the option to call heads or tails during the coin flip. If the guess is correct, the captain can choose to start with the ball or defer possession to the second half of the game.
If the guess was incorrect, the opposing teams captain has the right to decide ball possession.
The captain who didn’t choose possession gets to decide which side of the court his/her team starts the game on. Generally, this only matters during professional games with home and visiting fans in the stands.
The coin toss is always made in middle of the court.
Want to Know More About Handball?
If you want to learn all the rules of the game, I’ve put together an article with everything you need to know. It’s called Handball Rules, How to Play Handball. The guide is equipped with a bullet point list of all the rules you need to know to play the game. Regardless of if you play indoors or at a beach, the same rules apply.
There, you’ll find a downloadable PDF of all the rules and regulations. Feel free to download my guide and share it with your teammate and organization.
Keep playing this amazing game, and always remember to be competitive and have fun.