Olympics Previews, Obscure Edition: Handball

Published Jul 29 2012, 11:30 AM by Kendall Salter

Perhaps you find yourself caught in the middle of a slow stretch of Olympics coverage, in between the speed of Usain Bolt and the spectacular endurance of Michael Phelps. The only thing on is something obscure: fencing, horses, judo, etc. You have to watch. But what, exactly, should spectators be looking for? The Phoenix is here to help. Here's a quick rundown on the high-concept sport known as handball.

The modus operandi of handball is refreshingly simple. Six players try to throw a ball into a net, one goalkeeper tries to stop them, and the team that scores the most wins. Unlike the American version of football, where one's feet hardly come into contact with a ball, handball emphasizes the of its namesake appendages. It's fast, high-scoring, and thus, curiously unknown to American audiences.

Indoor handball has been featured at the Summer Olympics since Munich in 1972, and is dominated by European countries, the geographic home of the game. Outdoor, or field, handball was abandoned after the 1936 Berlin games.

The Basics
If you are trying to understand what handball looks like, try to imagine a combination of basketball and hockey. A handball is about 2 feet in circumference. The women's ball is slightly smaller. Players attempt to score by throwing the ball toward the opposition's net, often using a jump shot to do so. However, this is not like the typical basketball jumper. It is more of a running hurl of the ball, which the player must release before landing in the opposing goal area. Players are allowed an unlimited amount of infractions designed to limit the offensive prowess of an opponent. Seven players compete for each side during 30-minute halves, and a combination of 40-50 goals is not uncommon. Aren't we Yanks supposed to enjoy high-scoring games?

Fun Fact
After three titles by the Soviet Union, Russia won another gold medal as an individual nation in 2000. Sweden are Olympic handball's version of the Buffalo Bills, losing three straight gold medal matches from 1992-2000. Montenegro is competing in their first Olympic handball competition, qualifying on the women's side.

USA! USA!
This isn't a traditionally strong event for Uncle Sam. The American men have not qualified for the Olympics since 1988. They participated in the 1996 Atlanta Games as a host country, and finished 9th.

The Favorites
France are the defending Olympic champion on the men's side. Norway reign supreme on the women's side after a gold medal in 2008 and a world championship in 2011.