Introduction
Handball is a fast-paced game involving two teams of seven players who pass, throw, catch and dribble a small ball with their hands while trying to score goals. The team with more goals wins the game. A game consists of two 30-minute halves with a 10-minute half-time break.Modern handball is usually played indoors, but outdoors variants exist in the form of field handball (which was more common in the past) and beach handball. American handball is a completely different sport.
Court
The playing court is rectangular measuring 40m*20m. The safety zone surrounding the court has a minimum width of at least 1m along the sidelines and 2m behind the goal lines. The playing court is marked with lines 5cm wide except for the goal lines (between the goal posts) that are 8cm wide.All lines are 5cm wide except for the goal lines which are 8cm wide. Other measurements are as follows:
- broken free throw lines are parallel and concentric to the goal area line with a 3m larger distance from the goal line. Segments and spaces between them are 15cm
- the 7m line is 1m long directly in front of the goal parallel to the goal line, 7m is from the rear edge of the goal line
- the goalkeeper's restraining line is 15cm long directly in front of the goal. It is parallel to and 4m away from the goal line
- centre line connects midpoints of two side lines
- substitution line is 4.5m from centre line outside the boundary
Penalties
"Actions" directed mainly at the opponent and not the ball (such as reaching around, holding, pushing, hitting, tripping, or jumping into opponent) as well as contact from the side or from behind a player are all considered illegal and subject to penalty. Any infraction that prevents a clear scoring opportunity will result in a seven-meter penalty shot.Typically, the referee will give a warning yellow card for an illegal action, but if the contact was particularly dangerous ,the referee can forego the warning for an immediate two-minute suspension. A player can only get one warning before receiving a two minute suspension. One player is only permitted two 2-minute suspensions; he/she will be shown the red card in the third time .
A red card results in an ejection from the game and a two minute penalty for the team. A player may receive a red card directly for particularly rough penalties. For instance any contact from behind during a fast break is now being treated with a red card. A red carded player has to leave the playing area completely. A player who is disqualified may be substituted with another player after the two minute penalty is served.
If a player assaults a referee, an opponent or any other person, the referee can expel the player by forming a cross over his head with his arms, which will tell the player that he/she will have to leave the game completely and his team will have to play a man down for the rest of the game. This expulsion is the most severe penalty in handball.