types of handball games

"Types of Handball Games: A Comprehensive Guide"

By Sarah MartinDecember 26, 2025

Handball, a dynamic and fast-paced team sport, is enjoyed worldwide, with several variations that cater to different ages, skill levels, and cultural preferences. Each type of handball game offers a unique blend of excitement, strategy, and physicality. Let's delve into the most popular types of handball games, exploring their rules, equipment, and global presence.

Indoor Handball (Team Handball)

Indoor handball, also known as team handball or European handball, is the most popular variant of the sport. Played indoors on a court similar to a basketball court, two teams of seven players each try to throw a ball into the opposing team's goal. The game is fast-paced, with players dribbling, passing, and shooting the ball with their hands. It's governed by the International Handball Federation (IHF) and is an Olympic sport.

Rules and Equipment

Each team has six field players and a goalkeeper, with substitutions allowed.
Players can dribble with the ball for up to three seconds before passing or shooting.
The court is 40 meters long and 20 meters wide, with a goal at each end measuring 3 meters wide and 2 meters high.
Points are scored by throwing the ball into the opposing team's goal.

Beach Handball

Beach handball, as the name suggests, is played on sand, combining the excitement of indoor handball with the unique challenges of a beach environment. It's a faster, more physically demanding game, with fewer players on each team. Beach handball made its debut as an official event at the 2019 World Beach Games.

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Rules and Equipment

Each team has four field players and a goalkeeper, with substitutions allowed.
The court is 28 meters long and 12 meters wide, with a goal at each end measuring 2 meters wide and 1.5 meters high.
Points are scored by throwing the ball into the opposing team's goal or by blocking an opponent's shot and causing the ball to hit the sand.

Water Polo

Although often considered a separate sport, water polo shares many similarities with handball, particularly in its use of hands to move and throw the ball. Played in a swimming pool, two teams of seven players each try to score goals by throwing the ball into the opposing team's goal. Water polo is an Olympic sport governed by the International Swimming Federation (FINA).

Rules and Equipment

Each team has six field players and a goalkeeper, with substitutions allowed.
The pool is 20 meters wide and 30 meters long, with a goal at each end measuring 3 meters wide and 0.9 meters high.
Points are scored by throwing the ball into the opposing team's goal.

Comparing the Types of Handball Games

Type of Handball	Number of Players per Team	Court/Pool Dimensions (Length x Width)	Goal Dimensions (Width x Height)
Indoor Handball	7 (6 field players + 1 goalkeeper)	40 x 20 meters	3 x 2 meters
Beach Handball	5 (4 field players + 1 goalkeeper)	28 x 12 meters	2 x 1.5 meters
Water Polo	7 (6 field players + 1 goalkeeper)	20 x 30 meters	3 x 0.9 meters

Each type of handball game offers a unique blend of strategy, physicality, and excitement. Whether played indoors, on the beach, or in the water, these games share a common thread of using hands to move and throw a ball, making them all distinct variations of the same dynamic and engaging sport.