Handball words · Beginner

The words you will hear in your first match, grouped the way you meet them.

B · Beginner · 36 words · Step 1 of 2

Basic setup terms

Team

A team has up to 16 players, with at most 7 on the court at a time and the rest substitutes. One player at a time may be identified as goalkeeper, and a team may also play without a goalkeeper with seven court players. Up to five team officials are allowed.

Playing court

A rectangle 40 m long and 20 m wide, with a goal area at each end and a playing area between, and a safety zone around it. The long boundaries are the side lines and the short ones the goal lines.

Also called: court
See also: Goal area

Goal

A frame in the centre of each outer goal line, 3 m wide and 2 m high inside, with a net. A goal is scored when the whole ball has completely crossed the goal line, if no rule was broken by the thrower, a team-mate or a team official.

Goalkeeper

A player identified as goalkeeper, who may touch the ball with any part of the body in defence inside the goal area and move with the ball there without the court players' limits. The goalkeeper may leave the goal area without the ball, and then plays under the rules for court players.

Goal area

The zone in front of each goal, bounded by the 6-metre line. Only the goalkeeper may enter it, and it counts as entered when a court player touches it with any part of the body. A court player may jump into it to shoot, and may land in it after playing the ball, if no disadvantage results.

Also called: six-meter line
See also: Goalkeeper, Playing the ball

Half

A match for players of 16 and over is two halves of 30 minutes with a half-time normally of 10 minutes. Youth teams play 2 by 25 minutes (ages 12 to 16) or 2 by 20 (8 to 12).

Referee

Two referees of equal authority control each game, assisted by a timekeeper and a scorekeeper. Their decisions on facts are final, and they may use video replay where the competition allows.

Free-throw line

The broken line 3 m outside the goal-area line, 9 m from the goal. Attackers may not touch or cross it before a free throw is taken, and the other team stands outside it.

Also called: 9-metre line
See also: Free throw

Substitution line

The part of each team's side line, from the centre line out to 4.5 m, over which players must leave and enter the court. Substitutes may enter at any time and repeatedly once the player they replace has left. A faulty substitution brings a two-minute suspension.

Scoring terms

Fast break

A quick attacking move where a team rushes the ball up the court before the defence can organize, similar to basketball.

7-metre throw

A throw at the goal from behind the 7-metre line, against the goalkeeper alone, awarded when a clear chance of scoring is illegally destroyed anywhere on the court, among other cases. It must be taken within 3 seconds of the referee's whistle.

Also called: seven-metre throw, penalty throw
See also: Goalkeeper, Referee, Clear chance of scoring

Throw-off

The throw from the centre line or throw-off area that starts each half and restarts play after a goal, taken by the team that conceded. The thrower must play within three seconds of the whistle.

Overtime

If a winner is needed and the game is tied, there is a five-minute break and then two halves of five minutes. A second such overtime follows, and then the competition's rules decide, usually 7-metre throws.

Playing terms

Dribble

Bouncing or rolling the ball repeatedly with one hand while standing or running, and then catching it again. After it has been held, it must be played within 3 seconds or three steps. A player may not dribble a second time after holding the ball.

Three steps and three seconds

A player may hold the ball for at most 3 seconds and take at most 3 steps with it after receiving it or catching it after a bounce. Landing from a jump with the first foot or both feet does not count as a step.

Also called: three-step rule, 3-second rule
See also: Steps

Pass

Throwing the ball to a teammate.

Shot

An attempt to score by throwing the ball toward the goal, often while jumping into the air.

Jump shot

A throw at goal taken while airborne, often into the goal area, which is allowed because the player is in the air when the ball is released and may land in the goal area after playing it, if it gives no advantage.

Save

When the goalkeeper successfully blocks a shot from becoming a goal.

Block

A defender using the trunk, or the body and arms, to stop or deflect a shot or pass is legal. It is not legal to block an opponent with the arms, hands or legs, or to push, hold or displace him.

Throw-in

The restart when the ball crosses the side line, or the outer goal line after a court player of the defence touched it last, or touches the ceiling. It is taken by the other team from the spot, with a foot on the side line, and the opponents stay 3 m away.

Goalkeeper throw

The restart when the goalkeeper has controlled the ball in the goal area, when the ball crosses the outer goal line last touched by the goalkeeper or an opponent, or when an opponent illegally enters the goal area. It is thrown from the goal area over the goal-area line.

Free throw

The restart after a rule violation, and after an interruption with no violation, taken from the place of the violation. It cannot be taken inside the thrower's own goal area or the opponents' free-throw line. The opponents must be 3 m away, and the referees do not whistle unless the positions need correcting or time has been lost.

Fouls and violations

Foul

Illegal contact with an opponent: pulling or hitting the ball out of his hands, blocking with arms or legs, pushing, holding the body or uniform, or running or jumping into him. A foul mainly aimed at the body brings a personal punishment, from a warning up to disqualification.

Yellow card

A warning. A player gets at most one, a team at most three, and a team's officials one in total. After that the punishment is a two-minute suspension, and a player who has had a suspension should not get a warning.

Two-minute suspension

A player is out for two minutes of playing time and the team cannot replace him, so it plays a player short. A direct suspension is given for fouls such as holding for a long time or fouls against the head, throat or neck, and a third suspension for a player means disqualification.

Red card

A disqualification for the rest of the playing time. The player must leave the court and the substitution area, and the team plays a player short for two minutes (four in some cases). If the offence was particularly reckless, dangerous or malicious, a blue card is also shown and a written report follows.

Steps

Taking more than three steps with the ball. The ball goes to the opponents with a free throw.

Also called: stepping violation, travelling
See also: Free throw

Double touch

After the ball has been controlled, touching it again before it has touched the floor, another player or the goal. Fumbling a failed catch is not penalised.

Also called: double dribble

Faulty substitution

Entering before the replaced player has left, not using the team's own substitution line, or entering as an extra player. It is a two-minute suspension for the guilty player and a free throw for the opponents.

Punishments

Warning

The first level of punishment for fouls punished progressively and for unsportsmanlike conduct such as protesting a decision. It is shown with a yellow card.

Disqualification

The player or official is out for the rest of the game, must leave the court and substitution area, and the team plays two minutes short. It follows a dangerous foul, seriously or extremely unsportsmanlike conduct, or a third suspension for the same player.

Positions

Wing

Players positioned on the far left/right of the court, often finishing fast breaks or shooting from tight angles.

Back

Players positioned farther from the goal, often taking longer-range shots and organising the offence.

Also called: backcourt player

Pivot

An attacking player who works close to the opponent's goal area, similar to a basketball post player, to create space and scoring chances.

Also called: circle runner
See also: Goal area

Centre back

The player who typically organizes and directs the team's attack from the middle of the court.

Also called: playmaker

I · Intermediate · 26 wordsNext: Intermediate words