Handball Rules, Positions, and Tactical Strategies

Handball Fundamentals and Origins

Handball is a sport of German origin, played with 7 players per team on a field measuring 40 x 20 meters.

Basic Rules and Principles

• Objective: The game is designed to introduce the ball into the opponent's goal. The team that has scored more goals at the end of the game wins.
• Material: A leather ball with different diameters according to the category.
• Duration: Two halves of 30 minutes with a 10-minute rest period.
• Players: Each team consists of 12 players: 6 court players and 1 goalkeeper on the field, with 5 reserves.

Player Positions and Roles

• Goalkeeper: The last line of defense.
• Ends (Wingers): These players act closer to the sideline; their principal characteristics are speed and the ability to launch shots from difficult positions.
• Side (Backs): Chosen for their height and throwing power.
• Pivot: Plays in the center with his back to the goal; a strong player who dislocates defenses to open spaces for his companions.
• Central (Center Back): The player who organizes the attack for the team.

Technical Sanctions and Violations

• Free Throw (Golpe Franco): Awarded when a player puts the ball back into play after the opposing team commits a foul.
• Penalty: The maximum penalty imposed on a defender when an illegal situation avoids a clear goal opportunity.
• Steps: Occurs when a player walks or runs more than 3 steps without bouncing the ball.
• Double Dribble: Bouncing the ball, stopping, and then bouncing it again or turning to throw.
• Throw-in (Saque de Banda): When the ball leaves via the sideline, the throw-in is taken from the same location by stepping on the line.

Disciplinary Actions

• Admonition: Represented by a yellow card.
• Exclusion: Expulsion from the game for 2 minutes.
• Disqualification: Occurs after the 3rd exclusion, resulting in a red card.
• Expulsion: For a serious illegal action, a direct red card is shown (the player is not replaced).

Technical and Tactical Strategies

Individual Tactics

• The Feint (La Finta): An action by the attacking player to get open from their defender. This can be done with or without the ball.
• Trapping (Interceptación): A defensive action with the objective to recover the ball, which should be done by surprise.

Collective Attack Tactics

• Successive Penetrations: A collective action where an attacking player takes advantage of the space left by a defender, and the next attacker follows through.
• Blocking (Bloqueo): A collective tactical action in attack where an attacker uses their body to obstruct the trajectory of a defender to benefit a teammate.
• Screen (Pantalla): Blocks involving 2 or more players to favor a shot from the outside.

Collective Defensive Tactics

Collective defensive actions and tactics designed to counter the blocking maneuvers of the attacking team.