How many points is a goal worth in handball

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• School Games sports and activities
• Handball

A team sport in which two teams of seven players pass a ball using their hands with the aim of throwing it into the goal of the other team. It came to prominence in Scandinavia and Germany in the late-19th century before expanding across Europe.

The Basics

• Each team consists of six outfield players and a goalkeeper. Each goal is worth one point and the team with the most points at the end of the game wins. When in possession, a player can pass, shoot or dribble the ball – similar to in basketball.
  
• A player is permitted to take up to three steps for up to three seconds at a time without dribbling the ball. Further key rules include no player being allowed in the goalkeeper’s area and not being able to pass back to the goalkeeper whilst he remains in his area.
  
• Handball also has its own version of penalties. When a clear chance of scoring is illegally prevented anywhere on the court by an opposing team player, the result is a seven-meter throw for the attacking team, one-against-one with the goalkeeper.
  

History

• Handball was first introduced at the Olympics in 1936, although it did not appear again until 1972. It has been an ever-present since then, with a women’s competition introduced four years later. Goalball is considered by many to be the Paralympic equivalent of handball.
  
• Results have been mixed. France is one of four countries to have won the men’s competition on two separate occasions, although they lead the medal table by virtue of having four medals in total. Denmark has won the women’s competition three times.
  
• Team GB last competed in the Olympic handball event in London in 2012. Both the men’s and women’s team lost all five of their group matches and went out of the competition at the first stage.
  

Famous Competitors

• Linnea Torstenson – the Swede is one of the most successful and well-known handball players in the world. She was recognised as the best defensive player in the sport in 2014, while she has twice been her country’s player of the year. She helped her club side, CSM Bucharest, win the women’s Champions League title in 2016 before coming third the following year.
  
• Anders Eggers – this Danish player has won four international medals, including two World Championship silver medals in 2011 and 2013, as well as gold at the European Championships in 2012. He’s won a wide variety of club honours including the Champions League, German Cup and Danish Championship, whilst he was also top scorer at the World Championships in 2013.
  

National Governing Body

England Handball – please click here for more information.

Formats

• Intra-School Primary: Competition Card
  
• Intra-School Primary: Challenge Card
  
• Intra-School Secondary 
  
• Local Inter-School
  

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Handball is a fascinating game played throughout five continents, by over 180 countries and 19 million people of all ages. Combining speed, strength, stamina, agility, technical precision, skill and teamwork, handball has become one of the fastest-paced and exciting Olympic sports.

The objective of the game is to throw the ball into the opponent's goal. Defenders may use their body to make contact with attackers to prevent them from having a clear shot at goal. Attackers attempt to break through the defence or shoot over the top of them to score a goal. Two teams compete with 6 court players and 1 goalkeeper playing per team. Substitutions can be made at any time. Each goal counts as 1 point and games regularly finish with teams having scored over 20 points.

The game is played on a 40m long and 20m wide court with 2m high and 3m wide nets at either end. The game consists of two 30 minute time periods with a 10/15 minute rest in between. All players alternate between an attacking position and a defending position, depending on who has possession of the ball. The ball is usually moved around the court by passing and dribbling however, as in basketball, you cannot double-dribble. Players can hold the ball for a maximum of three seconds before having to pass or dribble. Players can take up to three steps while holding the ball.

Goalkeepers stand in a 6m goal area that court players are not allowed to be in, however they may leap into this area whilst shooting provided they shoot before they land. Goalkeepers can leave their goal area when not in possession of the ball and participate as a court player.

With physical contact, unlimited substitutions and shots at goal that can reach over 100 km/hour, there is always something exciting happening on the pitch. To learn more about handball and the rules of the sport, we recommend this site.

Want to see what Handball looks like? Watch the video below!

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