Handball rules: how to play handball

What is handball?

Handball is a fast indoor team sport in which two teams of seven players try to score by throwing the ball into the opponents' goal. The team with the most goals at the end of the match wins.

The game mixes running, jumping, passing and throwing with a lot of physical contact, and high-scoring matches with 50–60 goals are common. The international rules are written by the International Handball Federation (IHF). Elite and grassroots handball follow the same basic rules, but some details – such as match length for younger players and the number of time-outs – vary with level. Where the rules differ, we explain it below.

The handball court and goal

Most sports halls are big enough for a handball court, which is 40 × 20 m. The court is split into two halves by the centre line, and in front of each goal there are markings that show how close court players may come and where the goalkeeper can use their whole body to defend.

• Goal area (6 m): the area in front of the goal, marked by the goal-area line 6 m from the goal. Only the goalkeeper may stand in it.
• Free-throw line (9 m): the dashed line 3 m outside the goal-area line.
• 7-metre line: a 1 m line where 7-metre throws are taken.
• Goalkeeper's restraining line (4 m): the goalkeeper may not come beyond this line during a 7-metre throw.
• Goal: 3 m wide and 2 m high.
• Throw-off area: since 2022, a circle with a 4 m diameter on the centre line, where the throw-off is taken.

Illustration of one half of the court, drawn to scale. Only the goalkeeper may stand in the goal area.

The teams and substitutions

Each team has seven players on court – normally six court players and one goalkeeper – plus substitutes. Under the latest IHF rules a team can have up to 16 players in a match.

• The goalkeeper is the only player allowed to touch the ball with the feet, and only inside the goal area. The goalkeeper may leave the goal area and play as a court player.
• Court players defend when the opponents have the ball and attack when their own team has it. They may not enter the goal area.
• The goalkeeper must wear colours that differ from both teams' court players.
• Flying substitutions are allowed at any time through the team's own substitution area, as long as the player leaving has left the court first. Too many players on court is punished with a two-minute suspension.
• A team may take off its goalkeeper and play with seven court players. The extra court player does not need to wear a goalkeeper's shirt, but may not act as a goalkeeper in the goal area.

Match length, time-outs and overtime

Playing time

For senior players a match lasts 60 minutes, split into two halves of 30 minutes. Youth matches are shorter, and national federations set their own formats. A common structure is:

The IHF half-time break is normally 15 minutes, although many leagues use 10 minutes.

When is the clock stopped?

• When a player is suspended or disqualified.
• When a team takes a team time-out.
• When the timekeeper or delegate whistles.
• When the referees decide to stop the time, for example for an injury.

Team time-outs

Each team may take a one-minute team time-out, and only when it has the ball. Under the IHF rules a team can take up to three time-outs per match, no more than two in each half and only one in the last five minutes. There are no team time-outs in overtime. Some grassroots competitions allow fewer.

Overtime

If a match that needs a winner is drawn at the end of normal time:

1. After a five-minute break, two halves of five minutes are played, with a one-minute break in between.
2. If it is still level, a second overtime follows after another five-minute break: again 2 × 5 minutes.
3. If it is still level after the second overtime, the match is decided by a 7-metre shootout.

7-metre shootout

• Each team nominates five players, who take one throw each, alternating with the other team. The goalkeeper may also take a throw, and teams may change goalkeeper.
• If it is still level after five throws each, the shootout continues one throw at a time until one team has scored more goals than the other after the same number of throws.
• Players who are suspended or disqualified at the end of play may not take part.

The ball

A handball is round and made of leather or synthetic material. The surface must not be shiny or slippery, because players need to catch and hold it with one hand. The size depends on age and gender:

Steps, dribbling and holding the ball

AllowedTake up to three steps with the ball, dribble, and take up to three steps again. Play the ball with hands, arms, head, body, thighs and knees. Hold the ball for up to three seconds. Use your body to block an opponent's path and create space for a team-mate (a screen).

Not allowedTake more than three steps without dribbling. Dribble again after catching the ball following a dribble (double dribble). Touch the ball with the lower leg or foot. Pull or hit the ball out of an opponent's hands. Push, hold or hit an opponent with hands, arms or elbows. Hold the ball for more than three seconds.

Breaking these rules gives the other team a free throw. The goalkeeper may play the ball with any part of the body when defending inside the goal area.

When does a goal count?

A goal counts when the whole ball crosses the goal line between the posts and under the crossbar, and the attacking team has not broken a rule before or during the shot.

• A player who jumps into the goal area to shoot must release the ball before touching the floor inside the goal area.
• A goal is disallowed if a court player without the ball enters the goal area and gains an advantage from it.
• If a team time-out is called before the ball crosses the line, the goal does not count.
• Once the referee has signalled a goal and play has restarted with a throw-off, the goal cannot be cancelled.

Types of throw

Throw-off

Taken at the start of each half and after every goal. Since 2022 the thrower takes it from the throw-off area, a 4 m circle at the centre of the court, with at least one foot inside the circle. Team-mates may already be in the opponents' half, but the opponents must stay outside the circle until the ball has left the thrower's hand. A fast throw-off is a great chance to attack before the defence is set.

Throw-in

When the ball crosses the sideline, the team that did not touch it last takes a throw-in from the spot where it went out, with one foot on the sideline. The referees do not whistle for the throw to be taken, and it cannot be dribbled first.

Goalkeeper throw

When the ball crosses the goal line outside the goal after being last touched by the attacking team or the defending goalkeeper, the goalkeeper restarts play with a throw from the goal area. The ball must leave the goal area before another player touches it.

Free throw

Awarded for most rule violations. It is taken from where the violation happened – or from the 9 m line if the violation was between the 6 m and 9 m lines – and opponents must stand at least 3 m away.

7-metre throw

Awarded when a clear chance to score is destroyed illegally, for example by a foul or by a defender entering the goal area to defend. The defending team may change goalkeeper before the throw.

• The thrower stands behind the 7-metre line and may not touch or cross it before the ball is released.
• The throw must be taken within three seconds of the referee's whistle.
• All other players must stay outside the free-throw line until the ball is released.
• If a thrower hits the goalkeeper in the head on a 7-metre throw, the thrower gets a two-minute suspension.

Passive play

To keep the game fast, a team with the ball must keep building an attack and try to score. It may not simply pass the ball around to run down the clock.

When the referees see signs of passive play, one of them raises an arm as a warning. From then on, the attacking team has a maximum of four passes before it must shoot. (This was reduced from six passes in 2022.)

• A free throw or throw-in awarded to the attacking team does not reset the count.
• If a formal throw is awarded after the fourth pass, one more pass is allowed to finish the attack.
• A shot that hits the goalkeeper or the goal and comes back to the attacking team starts a new attack and cancels the warning.
• If the team has not shot after four passes, the opponents get a free throw.

Suspensions and cards

For serious fouls or unsporting behaviour, the referees can give a warning, a two-minute suspension or a disqualification. These can be combined with a free throw or a 7-metre throw.

Yellow card – warning

A warning for fouls or behaviour that are not serious enough for a suspension. A player may only get one yellow card, and a team no more than three in total. The next offence means a two-minute suspension.

Two-minute suspension

For serious fouls – hard contact, a high-speed tackle, a hit to the head or neck – for unsporting behaviour, or for faulty substitutions. The team plays one player short for two minutes, and suspensions can overlap, so it is possible to play five against three. A suspended team official also means one player fewer on court.

Red card – disqualification

The player or official is disqualified for the rest of the match. It is given straight away for very dangerous or aggressive behaviour, for example a goalkeeper running out and colliding with an unaware opponent, and automatically after a player's third two-minute suspension. The team plays one player short for two minutes, then may bring on another player.

Blue card – written report

Shown after a red card when the referees consider the disqualification serious enough to be reported to the disciplinary body, which can lead to further bans. It is used in competitions where this reporting applies.

The last 30 seconds

If a team prevents a goal by a serious foul or unsporting behaviour in the last 30 seconds of a match, the player is disqualified with a written report, and the opponents get a 7-metre throw, wherever the foul happened.

Recent rule changes

Coaches can plan who plays where, and share it with the team, in a line-up builder before every match.

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