History of Handball

What is the name of the ancient Greek game that resembles handball?

Where did the modern indoor version of handball make its Olympic debut?

What is the width of the goal lines on a handball court?

How many players can be present on the court at the same time?

What is the duration of the half-time break in a handball game?

When was the International Handball Federation (IHF) founded?

What is the name of the African handball organization founded in 1973?

Where is the headquarters of the African Handball Confederation (CAHB) located?

When was handball introduced to Ethiopia?

What is the duration of each half of a handball game for players aged 16 and above?

History of Handball

Handball-style games have ancient roots, with examples including "Urania" in ancient Greece and "Harpaston" in ancient Rome.
The modern version of handball originated in Denmark, Sweden, and Germany in the late 19th century.

Olympic History

Handball first appeared at the Berlin 1936 Games as an outdoor sport.
The indoor version made its Olympic debut at Munich 1972.
The first women's handball competition was held at the Montreal 1976 Games.
Handball has been featured at every Olympic Games since then.

International Handball Federation (IHF)

Founded in 1946, the IHF has 209 member federations.
The African Handball Confederation (CAHB) was founded on January 15, 1973.

Handball in Africa

Handball was introduced to Ethiopia in 1960 by Addis Ababa University instructors.
The Ethiopian Handball Federation was established in 1962.
Ethiopia became a member of the IHF in 1964.

Court and Gameplay

The playing court is a 40m x 20m rectangular shape.
The goal lines are 8cm wide, while all other lines are 5cm wide.
A standard match consists of two 30-minute halves with a 10-minute half-time break.
A team consists of up to 14 players, with a maximum of 7 players on the court at a time.

Skills Required

Handball combines skills such as running, jumping, catching, shooting, dribbling, saving, passing, blocking, and throwing.

Explore the origins and development of handball from ancient games to its modern form. Learn about its evolution in Denmark, Sweden, and Germany, and its Olympic debut.