Sport
Handball
- players
- 2–14
- minutes
- 60
- years
- 6+
In the box
A ball, two goals
Official rules (PDF, federation's site)
Box details
- Origin
- Traditional game, with no specific designer or publisher
- Mechanics
- DexterityTeam-BasedReal-Time
Where to buy it
Near you
In a shop
Within 50 km.
The basics
Two teams of seven, goalkeeper included, try to throw the ball into the opposing goal by hand, without entering the goal area. You may take three steps at most with the ball, then dribble, pass or shoot, and fouls are punished in stages, up to a two-minute suspension and disqualification; each goal is worth one point. After two 30-minute halves, the team that scored more wins, and if a winner is needed, extra time is played, then seven-metre throws.
Checked against the official rules · October 2026
The rules, step by step
Setup
2 teams of 7, 40 × 20 m court, Goal area off limits
- Two teams of seven players, goalkeeper included, on a 40 by 20 metre court, with goals 3 metres wide and 2 metres high.
- A team has up to sixteen players, no more than seven of them on the court at once; at least five are needed at the start of the match.
- The goal area is bounded by the six-metre line: a 3-metre straight line facing the goal, extended on each side by a quarter circle with a six-metre radius. It is off limits to the other players.
How to play
2 halves of 30 min, 3 steps, 3 seconds, 2-minute suspension
- Two halves of 30 minutes, usually with a 10-minute break in between. For young players: two halves of 25 minutes from 12 to 16, two of 20 minutes from 8 to 12.
- You may take three steps with the ball, then you must dribble, pass or shoot. Three seconds at most with the ball in hand.
- Fouls are punished in stages: a warning (yellow card), a two-minute suspension, during which the team plays one short, then a disqualification (red card). A serious foul can earn two minutes straight away, a dangerous one a disqualification. A player's third suspension means a disqualification.
- Each team is entitled to one one-minute team time-out per half, never in extra time; a federation may allow three per match instead, with no more than two per half.
Scoring
1 goal = 1 point, Whole ball over line
- A goal is worth one point. Scores often go past thirty per team.
- A goal counts when the whole ball has crossed the goal line, between the posts and under the crossbar. An own goal counts for the opponents.
End of the game
Draw possible, Extra time if needed, Then 7-metre throws
- The match ends at the end of the second half. A draw is possible when no winner has to be decided.
- If a winner is needed: extra time of two halves of five minutes, a second period of extra time if the scores are still level, then, depending on the competition rules, a seven-metre shoot-out (five throwers per team, then one throw each until one team pulls ahead).
Going further
Frequently asked questions · In the same family
Frequently asked questions
How many players per team?
Seven on the court: six court players and a goalkeeper, out of sixteen at most on the team sheet. A team may also do without a goalkeeper and field seven court players. Substitutions are free and unlimited, without stopping play: the substitute comes on through their team's substitution area once the player being replaced has left the court.
Can you enter the goal area?
No: the goal area (six metres) is reserved for the goalkeeper. An attacker may jump over it and shoot in mid-air, but must not land in it before releasing the ball.
How many steps can you take with the ball?
Three at most without dribbling, and you can only hold the ball for three seconds. Beyond that, it is a violation (steps, or holding the ball too long), punished with a free throw to the opponents.
What is the seven-metre throw?
The equivalent of a penalty: awarded when a clear chance to score is illegally stopped. A one-on-one shot with only the goalkeeper to beat.
How is the score counted?
A goal is worth one point, scored when the ball wholly crosses the line. Matches are close but very high-scoring: thirty goals per team is nothing unusual.