Handball Rules of the Game
Senior 6 · Physical Education
Handball Rules of the Game
Lesson 3 of 4
25 min
Many schools have a basketball court of 28 m × 15 m. A handball court under Rule 1 of the IHF Rules of the Game (2025) is 40 m × 20 m, almost twice the area, with a safety zone of at least 1 m along the sides and 2 m behind the goal lines. So a full handball game needs its own ground, marked with a tape measure, a rope and some care. This lesson sets out every marking, how to lay them out on a school ground, and how players take up positions on the court in attack and defence.
Definition
Goal line: the part of the shorter boundary line between the goalposts (8 cm wide); the rest of that line is the outer goal line.
Free-throw line (9-metre line): a broken line 3 m outside the goal-area line.
Back court: the three attacking players who play from around the 9-metre line: left back, centre back and right back.
Pivot (line player): the attacker who plays on the 6-metre line among the defenders.
Defensive system: the formation of the six court defenders, written as numbers from the goal outwards, such as 6-0 or 5-1.
| Marking | Rule 1 (IHF 2025) |
|---|---|
| Court | 40 m × 20 m; safety zone at least 1 m along the side lines and 2 m behind the goal lines |
| Lines | 5 cm wide, except the goal line between the posts (8 cm). Every line belongs to the area it encloses |
| Goal | 3 m wide and 2 m high (inside); posts and crossbar 8 cm square, painted in two contrasting colours; firmly fixed to the floor or wall |
| Goal-area line (6-metre line) | A 3 m straight line 6 m in front of the goal, joined to the outer goal line by two quarter circles of radius 6 m, centred on the inside rear corners of the goalposts |
| Free-throw line (9-metre line) | Broken line 3 m outside the goal-area line; segments and gaps 15 cm |
| 7-metre line | 1 m long, 7 m from the goal line |
| Goalkeeper's restraining line (4-metre line) | 15 cm long, 4 m from the goal line |
| Centre line and throw-off area | Centre line joins the midpoints of the side lines; throw-off area a circle of 4 m diameter at its centre (compulsory at IHF events, optional elsewhere) |
| Substitution lines | 4.5 m of side line on each side of the centre line, in front of each bench, ended by a 15 cm mark inside and outside the side line |
| Timekeeper's table | At least 50 cm outside the side line, closer to it than the benches |
Worked example 1: marking a court on a school ground
| Position | Role | Qualities |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper (GK) | Stops shots; starts fast breaks with long throws | Reactions, agility, courage; must wear a different colour |
| Left and right wings (LW, RW) | Run the fast break; shoot from narrow angles, often diving into the goal area after release | Speed, jumping, accuracy from tight angles; left-handers are often placed on the right |
| Left and right backs (LB, RB) | Long-range jump shots over the defence from about 9 m; break through gaps | Height, a powerful throwing arm |
| Centre back (CB) | The playmaker: calls the attack, sets up team-mates, makes 1-against-1 moves | Vision, passing, decision-making |
| Pivot (P) | Works on the 6-metre line among defenders; sets screens, receives and turns to shoot | Strength, balance, catching in traffic |
When a team plays without a goalkeeper, it can attack with 7 court players against 6 defenders, at the risk of a long shot into its empty goal if it loses the ball.
Worked example
Worked example 2: choosing a defence. Team B has two tall backs who score most of their goals from 9 to 10 m, but its wings are inexperienced and its pivot is small.
Video: "6-0 defence tactic system 2 | Handball at school", IHF Education Centre. Watch how the six defenders move together, stepping out to the ball and back to the line.
Tip
Coaching point. Teach every player every position before specialising. In school teams, rotate the goalkeeper role so that nobody is left in goal all season, and give the goalkeeper proper protection in training: shots at a beginner's head from close range are unsafe and, in a game, punishable.
Warning
Common mistakes. The 9-metre line is broken; the 6-metre line is solid. The arcs are centred on the goalposts' inside rear corners, not on the middle of the goal, so the goal area is 15 m wide along the goal line, not 12 m. Lines belong to the areas they enclose: the 6-metre line is part of the goal area.
Practice
Remember
Sources and credits
This lesson adapts CC BY-SA material and is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.
