General Rules of Australian Handball

Australian Handball is a sport that has its origins in Europe and has been played in Australia for more than a century. The sport is believed to have been introduced to Australia by immigrants from Europe, particularly from the countries where handball is popular such as Denmark, Germany and Ireland.

The first recorded handball match in Australia took place in Sydney in the early 1900s. The sport then slowly spread to other parts of the country, and in the 1920s and 1930s, it was played in various states including Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia.

The sport experienced a resurgence in the 1960s and 1970s, with the formation of the Australian Handball Council (AHC) in 1971 and the establishment of the National Handball League in 1975. The AHC was the governing body for the sport in Australia and it was responsible for the development and promotion of the sport at the national level.

In the recent years, Handball in Australia has been growing and there are more and more clubs in the big cities and even some universities are starting to have their own handball teams. The Australian Handball Federation was founded in 2016, and since then the sport has been developing and growing in popularity, particularly at the grassroots level.

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Scoring in Australian Handball

Scoring in Australian Handball is done by throwing the ball into the opposing team’s goal. The goal is a rectangular area measuring 2 meters wide and 3 meters high, and it is mounted on a wall.

Points are awarded for each goal scored, and the team with the most points at the end of the match wins. In the case of a tie, the game may go into extra time or a penalty shootout may be used to determine a winner.

A goal is scored when the ball is thrown into the opposing team’s goal and the ball completely crosses the goal line between the posts and under the crossbar. A goal is worth 1 point.

In addition to goals, there are other ways to score in handball. One of them is by using the “7 meter throw” that is awarded when a player is fouled during a clear chance to score or when the opposing team commits a serious infraction, this throw is taken from a spot 7 meters away from the goal, with only the goalkeeper allowed to defend.

Another way to score is by using the “fastbreak” that is when a team scores a goal quickly after winning possession of the ball, usually in the attacking court, and before the opposing team has set up their defense.

It is important to note that the rules of handball may vary depending on the level of play and the specific competition, but the basic principles of scoring remain the same.

Common Terminologies in Australian Handball

There are many specific terms and phrases used in Australian Handball that may be unfamiliar to those who are new to the sport. Here are a few common ones:

• “Throw-off”: The throw-off is taken from the center of the court to start the match or after a goal is scored.
• “Attack”: Refers to when a team is trying to score a goal.
• “Defense”: Refers to when a team is trying to prevent the opposing team from scoring a goal.
• “Wing player”: A player who plays on the side of the court, and is responsible for both attacking and defending.
• “Pivot”: A player who plays in the center of the court, usually the tallest player on the team.
• “Fastbreak”: A quick counter-attack by a team after winning possession of the ball, usually in the attacking court, and before the opposing team has set up their defense.
• “7 meter throw”: A free throw that is awarded when a player is fouled during a clear chance to score or when the opposing team commits a serious infraction, this throw is taken from a spot 7 meters away from the goal, with only the goalkeeper allowed to defend.
• “Pick and roll”: A tactic in which a player moves towards the goal and another player “picks” a defender in order to create space for the player with the ball to move towards the goal.
• “Passive play”: Refers to when a team is not actively trying to score a goal and instead is trying to run down the clock.
• “Man-to-man defense”: A defensive strategy in which each player guards a specific player on the opposing team.
• “Zone defense”: A defensive strategy in which players guard a specific area of the court instead of a specific player.

This list is not exhaustive but it gives a general idea of some of the terms and phrases used in Australian Handball.

Penalties in Australian Handball

In Australian Handball, penalties are given for various infractions of the rules, including fouls, unsportsmanlike conduct, and time-wasting.

• “Free throw” is awarded to a player who has been fouled or impeded in some way, the player who takes the free throw is entitled to throw the ball without any interference from the opposing team.
• “Two-minute suspension” is a penalty awarded to a player who commits a serious foul or unsportsmanlike conduct, during this time the player must leave the field and the team has to play with one player less.
• “7-meter throw” is a penalty awarded to the player who has been fouled during a clear chance to score or when the opposing team commits a serious infraction, this throw is taken from a spot 7 meters away from the goal, with only the goalkeeper allowed to defend.
• “Disqualification” is a penalty awarded to a player who receives three 2-minute suspensions in the same match, the player is not allowed to return to the game and the team has to play with one player less for the remainder of the match.
• “Time-out” is a signal made by the coach, requesting the time to stop for a short period, to give instructions to the team or to make substitutions.

It is important to note that these penalties are not exhaustive and depending on the situation, other penalties may be applied, and some of them may lead to suspension or fines. Also, the rules of handball may vary depending on the level of play and the specific competition.

10 General Rules of Australian Handball

1. The ball must be thrown, not kicked or hit with a closed fist, and not carried or lifted.
2. The ball can be thrown in any direction.
3. The ball can be touched with any part of the body, but it can only be carried for three steps before it has to be passed or thrown.
4. The game is played on a court, with a goal at each end, measuring 2 meters wide and 3 meters high.
5. Points are scored by throwing the ball into the opposing team’s goal.
6. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins. If the scores are tied, the game may go into extra time or a penalty shootout may be used to determine a winner.
7. A player may take a free throw if they are fouled or impeded in some way.
8. Players may not make high contact with an opposing player, whether it is a bump, a hit or a tackle, it will be considered as a penalty.
9. A player in possession of the ball must dispose of it within a reasonable time frame, if not, the opposing team will be awarded with a free throw.
10. The game is divided into two halves, with a break at halftime and time-out can be requested by the coach.

It’s worth noting that these are general rules and there are many other specific rules and regulations that govern the game, but this list gives you a good idea of the basic principles of Australian Handball.

Handball is still considered a niche sport in Australia and it is not as popular as other sports such as Australian Football, Rugby or Soccer, but it is a fun, challenging and exciting sport to play.