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Interesting Handball Facts

Interesting Facts About Handball

Handball is my favorite sport, and if you give it a try, I am sure you will love it as well.

Before you get on the court, you may be interested in some interesting facts about the game. I put together a simple list of handball facts for you to digest.

Facts About the Rules of Handball

Handball is a team sport with rules that promote quick decision-making, team play, and forward-thinking.

  • Handball teams start the game with 7 players on the court, 1 goalkeeper, and 6 outfield players.
  • The game starts with a throw-off. A player in the middle of the court passes the ball back to a teammate.
  • To score in handball, a player must throw the ball in between the other team’s goalposts.
  • A game of handball lasts 60 minutes. In case of a tie, the game goes to overtime and eventually a penalty shootout.
  • Players holding the ball can take 3 steps before they must pass or shoot the ball.
  • Players can hold the ball for a maximum of 3 seconds before they must shoot, pass, or dribble.
  • Players can dribble (bounce the ball) once to reset the 3-second to take 3 more steps, shoot, or pass.
  • Playing the game passively results in a turnover. The team with the ball must be attacking at all times.
  • Any unnecessary physical behavior is considered a foul. The referee will choose to punish the perpetrator with a warning, a 2-minute suspension, or dismissal from the game based on the severity of the foul.
  • For common fouls, such as kicking the ball, the game will restart with a free throw. If a foul denies a clear goal-scoring opportunity, the referee can award a penalty shot.
  • Penalty shots are taken from the 7-meter line.
  • During a penalty shot, one of the shooter’s feet needs to be planted on the floor the entire time. Jumping is not allowed.

If you want to know more details about the rules of handball, take a look at my Handball Rules for Beginners: How to Play Handball guide. It will teach you everything you need to know about the rules of the game.

Historical Facts About Handball

  • The game of handball dates as far back as the Roman Empire
  • The first signs of the game being played in the British Isles were around the 16th century. Finally, the modern game of handball started forming in Ireland in 1850.
  • The game as we know it today was established in Denmark in 1898.
  • The first written set of team handball rules was published in 1906 by the Danish gym teacher, Olympic medalist Holger Nielsen.
  • The official rules of handball were written down in Berlin on October 29th, 1917, by Karl Schelenz.
  • The first official game of handball took place in Germany the same year.
  • Karl Schelenz is credited as the inventor of handball due to the fact that he wrote the modern rules of the game.
  • Handball was introduced into the Olympics in 1972 for men and 1976 for women.

Next time someone asks you, how much do you know about handball? You can impress everyone with all this information.

Facts About the Handball World Cup

Let’s find out which teams and which players are the most successful in the history of the handball World Cup tournament.

  • The French men’s team has won 6 handball World Cups, the most of any nation.
  • Russia’s women’s team has won 4 handball World Cups, the most of any nation.
  • Sweden’s men’s team has the most medals won at the World Cup tournament with 12.
  • Norway’s women’s team has the most medals won at the World Cup tournament with 10.
  • Germany won the first men’s World Cup in 1938.
  • Czechoslovakia won the first women’s World Cup in 1958.
  • Thierry Omeyer, a French player, has won the World Cup 5 times, the most of any male player.
  • There are over a dozen female players that have won the World Cup 3 times, the most in history.
  • Kiril Lazarov, Macedonia, scored 92 goals in one World Cup in 2009, the most by any male player.
  • Bojana Radulović, Hungary, scored 97 goals in one World Cup in 2003, the most by any female player.

Winning the world cup with your country is considered one of the greatest achievements in the sport. Players who don’t qualify for the national teams look to win the Handball Champions League instead.

Facts About the Handball Champions League

Handball is the 2nd most popular sport in Europe. The Champions League is an annual tournament held between the winning clubs from each domestic league to see which team is the best in Europe.

  • The first team to win the Champions League was Dukla Prague from Czechoslovakia in 1957.
  • The first women’s team to win the Champions League was Știința București from Romania in 1961.
  • FC Barcelona from Spain has won 10 Champions Leagues, the most of any male club.
  • Spartak Kyiv from the former Soviet Union has won 13 Champions Leagues, the most of any female club.
  • Kiril Lazarov, Macedonia, has scored 1363 goals in the Champions Leagues, the most of any male player. He played 20 seasons.
  • Anita Görbicz, Hungary, has scored 1016 goals in the Champions League, the most of any female player. She played 18 seasons.

Winning the Champions League is the highest achievement in club handball.

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.