Three steps and three seconds
A player holding the ball may take a maximum of three steps and may hold it for at most three seconds before passing, shooting or dribbling.
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COURT · IHF · HFI
Handball
Team handball is a fast indoor sport in which two sides of seven throw a small ball into a goal defended by a keeper. Players may take only three steps while holding the ball and may hold it for three seconds, so movement and passing are constant. Scores are high — thirty goals a side is routine.
group
PLAYERS
7 on court (6 + goalkeeper), 14 in the squad
schedule
DURATION
2 × 30 min with a 10 min half-time
stadium
PLAYING AREA
Indoor court 40 m × 20 m with a 6 m goal area
scoreboard
SCORING
1 point per goal
HOW IT IS PLAYED
Core Rules
Dribbling
A player may bounce the ball as long as they wish, but once they catch it after dribbling they may not start dribbling again — a double dribble turns the ball over.
The goal area
Only the goalkeeper may stand inside the 6 m goal area. An attacker may jump into it if the ball is released before landing; a defender entering it to gain an advantage concedes a penalty.
The goalkeeper
Inside the area the keeper may use any part of the body, including the feet, to save. Outside it they are treated as a court player and may not carry the ball back in.
Seven-metre throw
A penalty throw from 7 m is awarded when a clear scoring chance is illegally prevented anywhere on court. All other players must stay behind the 9 m line.
Free throws
Free throws for lesser offences are taken from the spot, or from the 9 m line if the offence occurred inside it. Defenders must stand 3 m away.
Passive play
The referee raises a warning signal if a team makes no recognisable attempt to attack. After the signal the team has a maximum of six passes to shoot, or possession is lost.
Substitutions
Substitutions are unlimited and made through the team's own substitution zone without notifying an official, but the outgoing player must leave the court before the replacement enters.
Progressive punishment
Fouls escalate through a warning (yellow card), a two-minute suspension, and disqualification (red card) after a third suspension. The team plays short for the duration of each suspension.
WATCH OUT
Fouls & Penalties
- errorTaking more than three steps or holding the ball longer than three seconds.
- errorDouble dribble, or playing the ball with the leg below the knee.
- errorPulling, hitting or pushing an opponent, or holding them with the arm.
- errorCharging into a defender, or defending from behind with the arm around the body.
- errorEntering the goal area to gain an advantage, and passing the ball to your own keeper inside the area.
WHO DECIDES
Match Officials
- sportsTwo referees — a court referee and a goal-line referee who swap roles as play switches ends.
- sportsTimekeeper — runs the clock, manages suspensions and the team time-out.
- sportsScorer — records goals, cards and substitutions.
- sportsTechnical delegate — supervises the officials at major events.
GOVERNED BY IHF · HFI
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