Handball (also known as Irish/Gaelic handball, court handball or wall handball) is a sport similar to racquetball and squash. The game may be played with two, three, or four players. The important difference between it and racquetball and squash is that the players hit the ball with a gloved hand instead of a racquet. Either the left and right hand can be used, depending on where the ball is hit. American handball is essentially identical to Irish handball, except for certain minor rule differences.
Rules
Handball is played in a court, 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 feet) 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. Mesoamerica 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 organized 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 competitve game in the countries in which it is played. A world championship takes place every four years with representatives of all ages, both male and female, taking part.
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 simliarities such as Pelota, Fist Ball , Eton Fives and jai alai.
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