Handball

Handball is a sport where two teams dribble or pass a ball to throw it into the goal of the other team. It was once called “songgu” from the Japanese name, but this name is hardly used. In Chine and Taiwan, the game is also called “sugu.” There used to be two divisions for the game, the 11 player game and the 7 player game. However, only 7 player game is played. Handball is popular in Northern Europe countries such as Denmark and Norway.

Total days of play :9 days

Events

Two events (men, women)

Rules

Seven players in each team use their hands to pass the ball and to throw the ball in opponent’s goal.
Players can be changed without any limits.

Duration of the game is two halves of 30 minutes each with 10 minute halftime break in between.

When the ball goes into an opponent’s goal, the team scores one point.

The team that scores the most points in the two 30-minute halves wins the game.

If scores are level, game goes into overtime after a five minute break. Overtime consists of two 5-minute halves.

If scores are level after overtime, game goes into second overtime with two halves of 5 minutes.

If scores are still level, winner is determined from the 7m throw.

History

Handball originated from the Greek game of harpaston and the Roman game of harpastum. At the time, the game mostly had to do with physical strength, and players had to take opponent’s ball and throw it into a designated place. The modern day format first appeared in Germany in 1915 at a women’s competition. It eventually spread to other countries such as Austria, Switzerland, the United States, Czechoslovakia, Belgium, Denmark, and Sweden and men began to play the game. The national handball competition held in Hanover, Germany in 1921 was the first time modern day rules were applied in a handball game.

The seven player game was introduced to the school curriculum by Horga Nielsen of Denmark in 1819.