Hand ball game and it's intricacies
Handball is a game played primarily with the hand. It is a team sport played by two teams of seven players on each side and five substitutes. It is always played in a field measuring 40 metres by 20 metres. The objective of this game is to win by throwing the ball into the opponent’s goal post as many times as possible.
In playing handball, there are several positions that the players would take which is as follows:
Basic skills in Handball
Throwing: This passing the ball with two hands to one’s team mates in order to move towards the opponent’s goal. A team is successful when the team is in control of the ball.
Catching: This involves holding the ball securely and briefly with the finger tips before passing it to a team member.
Dribbling: It is bouncing the ball as the player advances. Dribbling is done with only one hand.
Shooting: This is moving the ball quickly in order to score a goal
Goal-keeping: This is when the goal-keeper prevents the opponent’s shot from going through the goalposts and under the crossbar to be a goal.
Handball officials and their duties
A handball game is controlled by two referees, a scorer and a timekeeper
Referees are the top officials of the game. They control the conduct of the game from the beginning to the end.
Timekeeper signals the end of playing session and controls the movement of players in and outside the court.
Scorer keeps the record of the game and also works with the referees and the timekeeper
Rules and regulations in Handball
The game must start with a throw at the centre of the court
A player can only hold the ball for a maximum of three seconds and take only three steps while holding the ball
A player is allowed to bounce the ball and pass it to his partner while either sitting, kneeling or lying, but not walking or running with the ball
It is a fault to play the ball out of court, kick, throw and catch or snatch the ball from an opponent
Only the goalkeeper may enter the goal area. For intentionally defending inside the goal area, a penalty is awarded
A gaol is scored when the whole of the ball has crossed the goal line between the goal post and the crossbar
A throw-in is awarded when the whole of the ball crosses the touch line while a corner is awarded a defending player when the ball is caused to cross the goal line outside the goal area
The ball may be played in any direction with any part of the body above and including the knee
Duration of the game is 30 minutes each half with 10 minutes rest for men, 25 minutes each half with 10 minutes rest for women, 20 minutes play with 10 minutes rest for junior boys or girls.
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