Handball is a game in which players hit a rubber ball against a wall with their hands. Each side tries to hit the ball in such a way that the other side cannot return the ball to the wall. A handball game in which two people oppose each other is called singles. Four people can form two teams and play doubles. Handball players use a hard, hollow ball that is 17/8 inches (4.8 centimeters) in diameter. The ball should weigh 62 grams (2.19 ounces), but balls between 61 and 63 grams (2.15 to 2.22 ounces) are permitted. A ball lighter than 61 grams may be used if it receives official approval.
Handball is played on courts with four walls, three walls, or one wall. Four-wall handball is the most popular form. A standard four-wall court is 20 feet (6 meters) high, 20 feet wide, and 40 feet (12 meters) long. Its back wall must be at least 14 feet (4.3 meters) high.
One player starts a four-wall handball game as the server. The server stands in the service box (a zone 5 feet, or 1.5 meters, wide near the middle of the handball court). The server drops the ball on the floor and strikes it with one hand on the first bounce, driving the ball against the front wall. The ball must strike the front wall of the court before hitting the floor or ceiling or another wall. After hitting the front wall, the ball must bounce back over the short line (center line across the width of the court). The serve may hit one side wall after hitting the front wall, but must go over the short line before it hits the ground. A serve that falls in front of the short line is a short, and the server serves again. If the server hits another short, the serve is considered an out, and the other team takes over the serve. The receiver or receivers must stand behind the restraining line, which is 5 feet (1.5 meters) behind the short line, until the server strikes the ball. The server receives a point if the receiver violates the rule.
After a serve comes over the short line properly, the server’s opponent hits the ball if possible. The players or teams then take turns hitting the ball to the front wall until one of them fails to return the ball before it bounces twice on the floor. Players cannot hinder (block) each other from hitting the ball. In returning a ball, a player can use a combination of side walls or ceiling with the front wall, or can hit the ball directly into the front wall. If the server misses a returned ball, the serve is lost. If the opponent misses, the server scores 1 point and serves again. The first side to score 21 points wins the game. A match usually consists of the best two out of three games.
Three-wall handball has the same playing area and rules as four-wall, but there is no back wall. Some three-wall courts have ceilings.
One-wall handball is played chiefly in the New York City area, usually outdoors. It is the only type of handball in which players can take a stationary block position against the opponent. A standard court is 20 by 34 feet (6 by 10 meters). Its wall is 20 feet (6 meters) high.
Team handball is played by two teams of seven players each. The court has no walls and is much larger than the court used in court handball. The ball is inflated with air and is about the size of a small soccer ball. See Team handball .
Drawings made by Egyptians thousands of years ago show people playing a game similar to handball. The type of handball that is played today probably originated among the Basque people of Spain. The U.S. Handball Association was set up in 1950 to help promote the game. Its headquarters are in Tucson, Ariz.
