How To Play & More

1. Basic Outline of Handball For Beginners: Right, firstly, there is a couple different types of handball games, mainly... • 40x20 • 60x30 • one wall • hardball • 40X20 AND 60X30 40x20 and 60x30 are named like that because of the size of the alley/court they are played in

. With me so far? Great!! Handball can be played as a singles game or a doubles game. The server will stand between the 2 red lines in the centre of the alley and hit the ball off the front wall, making sure it hits the floor outside the short line before it hits the ground. If the ball hits the floor before this line twice in a row it’s called a handout and it becomes the other players turn to serve.

The aim of the other player is to hit the ball back against the front wall before the ball hits the ground twice. Once the player has hit the ball towards the wall, it must hit the front wall before it hits the ground. The cycle then starts again by the other player returning the ball against the front wall. This hitting and returning of the ball is called a rally. This goes on until someone misses the ball or hits the ball without it hitting the front wall. You can only score points when you have served the ball. If the other player served the ball and after you returned it and misses it, then it is your turn to serve. The first player to reach 21 points (also called aces) wins the game Sound easy?? Come to a training session and give it ago. Newbies and others always welcome!

•HARDBALL: Hardball is played in the 60x30 court using the same rules as before with a different sized hard handball. It’s a very hard ball. Very hard. Did I mention it is a very hard ball......hence the name Hardball!!

• ONEWALL One wall is played up against.....yes u guessed it...one wall....the ball is slightly bigger than a 60x30 ball and is blue... The lines are mark out on the wall 20x20 and on the floor 20x30 The rules are similar to before with the exception of no sidewall or roof. If you’re in the other players way, you can stay there....making most games very funny at times!!

Well that’s handball in a nutshell....and no before u ask...we don’t play in a nutshell.... if you like the sound of handball and want to give it a go or even just fancy coming to one of the training session to watch before you try it.....drop us a line.

NEWBIES ALWAYS WELCOME!!!!!

 

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Handball is played in a court, or "alley", the most common form of which measures 12.2 m by 6.1 m (40 feet by 20 feet) with a front wall 6.1 m (20 ft) high, off which the ball must be struck. In Ireland, there is a version of the game which uses a larger court, measuring 18.3 m by 9.15 m (60 feet by 30 feet). The objective of a game is to score a set total of points before your opponent does. Points are only scored by the person serving the ball. In other words, if a player wins a rally but did not serve at the start of that rally they only win the right to serve, and thus the chance to score after a subsequent rally. The serving player has two opportunities to hit the ball, from the "service area" (between the two parallel lines), off the "front wall" and across the "service line" (which is located exactly half-way down the court from the front wall). Players take turns at hitting the ball off the "front wall" before the ball bounces twice following their opponent's previous shot. Most handball games take place in a four-walled court but there are also three-walled and one-wall versions of the game.

 

History Handball

Like games have originated in several places at different times. Hieroglyphs in the temple of Osiris in Egypt portray priests taking part in a game very similar to handball. Mesoamerican civilizations in South and Central America had a form of handball-like game, which was a large part of pre-Columbian culture. The modern game of handball originated in Ireland and Scotland. The earliest written record of a handball game is in the town statutes of Galway, which in 1527 forbade the playing of ball games against the walls of the town. On the west coast of Ireland, Galway had many trading links with Spain, especially the Basque regions, where the similar game of Pelota is played. It is highly likely that one game is derived from or influenced by the other. Irish immigrants brought the game to many countries in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. It is still played in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Wales and England.

Handball today In Ireland

Handball is organised by the Irish Handball Council under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association. Its headquarters are just beside the Croke Park stadium. Handball is now a very competitive game in the countries in which it is played. A world championship takes place every three years with representatives of all ages, both male and female, taking part. The top player in the 40*20 game today is Paul Brady from Mullahoran, Co. Cavan, Ireland. He recently won his fourth successive Irish 40x20 senior singles title. Eoin Kennedy of the St. Brigids Club in Co. Dublin is the current top player in the 60*30 court. He has won the past four All-Ireland Championships in the code and on September 1, 2007 was the victory over Micheal 'Ducksy' Walsh in the All-Ireland final. Micheal 'Ducksy' Walsh is also a legendary player. He currently has the world record for All Ireland Titles. He plays for Talbots Inch (60x30). Today, he designs and fits kitchens, and is regarded by many as Ireland's top player of recent times, ahead of Paul Brady, Tony Healy & Eoin Kennedy. He is the son of Sterling Shepperd, a native of the province of Maine. Attempts are also being made to use the one-wall version of the game as a unifying bridge between handball and those sports to which it bears similarities such as Pelota, Fist Ball, Eton Fives and jai alai, one of those attempts being played by many international federations is the International fronton.