If you’re new to the game, you probably have a few basic questions. The most common always being, how do you score in Handball? It’s pretty simple and easy to remember, but there are a few details you need to be aware of.
To score in handball, a player must throw the ball in between the other team’s goalposts. The shot must come from outside of the 6-meter line, and the entire ball must pass the goal line for a point to be awarded. A point in handball is called a goal.
Attacking players are allowed to jump into, or land in, the goal area as long as they released the ball before they land.
Goals can be scored from free throws, throw-ins, throw-offs, and goal throws as long as the shot comes from outside of the 6-meter line.
It’s completely normal for a player to throw the ball directly into the net, bounce it off the court, or deflect it off a post. You’re not allowed to use any part of your body below the knee.
How to Win a Game of Handball?
Like every competitive sport, the game must end with a winner. Wondering how the winner of a game of handball is decided?
The team that scores the most goals in the time allowed wins the game. If the score is tied after time has expired, two 5-minute overtime periods are played. Both periods start with a jump ball. The team with a higher score after overtime is the winner. If the game is tied after overtime, it is decided in a shootout.
A handball penalty shootout has its own rules, see them in detail here.
The most important rules of a handball penalty shootout are:
- 5 shooters from each team
- Shots come from the 7-meter line
- Shooters must keep one foot planted on the ground at all times
- Goalie can move freely around the goal area
- If the score is tied after all 10 shooters, the other players on the court take a shot, including the goalie
- Once all the players on the court have taken a shot, the rotation restarts
The main point of handball, like most sports, is to score more points than your opponent.
It’s important to note that some leagues will choose to allow games to end in a tie during the regular season. Penalty shootouts are always a part of professional leagues, Olympic Games, and tournament-style competitions.
Can a Game of Handball End in a Tie?
Yes, a game of handball can end in a tie. At the professional level, regular-season games end in a draw when the score is tied after all the time has run out. The same goes for group stage games at the Olympics.
A penalty shootout is only used during the playoffs where a winner must be decided.
Every professional, semi-pro, amateur, and youth league will have its own approach to ties and penalty shootouts. They can allow the game to end in a draw, shorten overtime periods, or allow 3 penalty shooters instead of 5. All these rules are usually made clear at the start of the season or when you join the team.
Summary
To score a goal in handball you need to put the ball in your opponent’s net. You can score points from open play, free throws, throw-ins, throw-offs, and goal throws as long your shots come from outside of the guided line.
The most successful teams use a strategy that involves lots of ball movement and player interaction to score creative goals. This technique creates open lanes for players to take higher percentage shots.
Whichever team scores the most goals win the game. Winning is important but always accept healthy competition, exercise, and team camaraderie over winning at all costs.
Most leagues will allow for the games to end in a tie. In a situation where a winner needs to be decided, such as in a tournament, a game of handball will go overtime. If no winner is decided thought overtime, the game is settled in a penalty shootout.
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.