European Handball - or Olympic Handball - is a dynamic team sport played all over the world. Its history stretches back more than a century. Known for its fast pace and high scoring, Olympic Handball has solidified its place as a staple in the Olympic Games.
In simple terms, Olympic Handball is a sport where two teams of seven players compete to score the most points in a game, by passing and throwing a ball between team members by hand, and attempting to throw this into the goal net of the opposing team. A game usually lasts for two periods of 30 minutes and whoever scores the most points, wins. Olympic Handball is usually played indoors and the court looks similar to an indoor football field, but really, you can create a court and play anywhere - indoors or outside.
Gaelic Handball is very different! A traditional Irish sport that’s similar to squash or racquetball, it’s played on a small court where players hit a small ball with their hand against a wall, with the aim of scoring points against their opponent by making the ball rebound in a way that the opponent cannot return it.
Games are usually played as singles or doubles and in Ireland, Gaelic handball is governed by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), which also oversees traditional sports like Gaelic football and hurling.
Olympic Handball and Gaelic handball are quite distinct in terms of gameplay, equipment and history. Here’s how they differ:
Olympic Handball is a huge international sport and especially popular in Europe, Scandinavia and Brazil. The International Handball Federation (IHF) is responsible for promoting and managing the sport worldwide, and the inclusion of Handball in the Olympics has only helped to increase its visibility and encourage people to play Handball worldwide.
In Ireland, Olympic Handball is one of the fastest-growing team sports with players, volunteers and community members of different backgrounds, abilities, ages and nationalities, so we’re truly an international sport! Olympic Handball Ireland is responsible for promoting and developing the sport at all levels across the country, from school programs to competitive leagues, with the support of Sport Ireland.