How to Play Beach Handball
Beach handball is a fast-paced sport played on sand, in which players earn points by scoring on the opposing team’s net. Its popularity has exploded in recent years, and with the potential for it to be played as an exhibition sport at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris and to become an official Olympic sport in time for the 2028 Los Angeles Games, there has never been a better time to get involved as a player or a fan.
How to get started
Recreational beach handball teams usually have five to ten players. There are four players from each team on the court at a time- one goalkeeper (when on defense) or specialist (when on offense) and three field players. The substitutes can rotate on and off the court throughout the match as often as they want, as long as there are never more than four players from each team on the court at once.
Beach handball is played on a sand court, which you can easily set up yourself. This consists of a 27 by 12 meter rectangle, with goal areas (6 by 12 meters each) and a net on either end, and a playing area (15 by 12 meters) in the middle.
Each team is assigned a goal area and net at the start of the match by a coin toss. Only the goalkeeper is allowed in the goal area.
There are two substitution areas (15 by 1 meters), which run lengthwise along either side of the playing area. Each team is assigned a substitution area and players can sub into the match from anywhere inside it.
There are also goalkeeper entry zones, which run along the sides of the goal areas. Goalkeepers can only substitute in from the goalkeeper entry zone beside their own team’s goal area and on the same side as their own substitution area.
Before you play, make sure to check the court for any debris that could injure players, such as rocks, sharp shells, or pieces of beach glass. You can buy specialized kits to mark the lines on the court, or, if you’re just getting started, you can simply draw lines in the sand.
How to setup the court
Beach handball uses a soft, non-slippery rubber ball, slightly smaller than a volleyball. These are easy to find in stores and online, but you could substitute a dodgeball, volleyball, or small beachball if you don’t have one.
Beach handball also uses a specialized net, but you could improvise with an indoor handball net, a soccer net, or any other similarly sized sports net.
Players should either be barefoot or in socks and avoid wearing anything that could hurt themselves or anyone else, such as sharp jewelry or watches.
The basic rules of play
The rules of beach handball are based on the philosophy of Fair Play. This means the sport’s priorities are the health and integrity of the players, the spirit and flow of the game, and sportsmanship.
Beach handball is a fast-paced sport. Matches have two ten-minute periods, which are scored separately. Each set begins with the referee tossing the ball onto the court. Players can start the set from anywhere inside the playing area.
As the name suggests, in beach handball, players use their hands to move the ball around the court. Each player can take three steps while holding the ball before they need to pass, dribble, or shoot it. Dribbling means releasing the ball, letting it make contact with the sand, then taking possession of it again. The ball can’t touch the sand for more than three seconds at a time.
Teams score points by shooting the ball and scoring in their opponents’ net. Certain goals are worth two points, one of the rules that makes this sport so exciting to play and watch. These include spectacular goals, such as 360s (goals scored when a player jumps into the air, spins 360 degrees, then shoots the ball) or alley-oops, or any goal scored by the goalkeeper or specialist. Other goals are worth one point.
Players can’t step into the goal area but they can dive into it while shooting, as long as the ball leaves their hands before they touch the sand.
Goalkeepers can use any part of their body to defend the net. When the goalkeeper is in the goal area, they aren’t restricted the same way field players are (for example, they can take more than three steps with the ball).
Some beach handball athletes focus on either defensive or offensive play, while others play both roles. Players who focus on offense rotate onto the court when their team gets control of the ball and rotate off when they lose control so that defensive players can take over. Players who play both offensively and defensively stay on the court, and run back and forth between their end when playing defense and the other team’s end when playing offense.
At the end of each period, the team that scored the most points during that set wins. If there’s a tie, the period goes into “golden goal” play and the first team to score becomes the winner. If one team wins both periods, they win the match. If both teams win one period each, the match goes into a shootout.
During a shootout, the goalkeeper throws the ball to one of their teammates, who then tries to score one-on-one against the opposing goalkeeper. Each team has five chances to score this way. The team that scores the most goals out of the possible five wins.
What to look for when watching beach handball
Beach handball is an incredibly fun sport to watch, and with its popularity growing quickly around the world, there are more opportunities than ever to be a spectator.
While recreational beach handball teams may be mixed, in competitive matches, men and women play separately. The official rules of the sport are the same for both, aside from the size of the ball (women play with a slightly smaller one).
One thing to look out for when watching a beach handball match are two-point goals. These include goals scored by the goalkeeper or specialist, and spectacular goals, such as 360s and alley-oops. The skill, agility, and athleticism required for players to pull these off are part of what makes beach handball such an exciting sport to be a part of.
You should also watch for quick player substitutions, which can catch a team’s opponent off-guard and give them the advantage if done well.
Beach handball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world for a reason- the pace of this game makes it extremely fun to both play and watch. It’s easy to learn, and players and fans of any skill level or ability can get involved and enjoy being part of this incredible community.
