If you’ve watched any kind of competitive Handball, you know it’s an aggressive sport. Players are pushing, pulling, and grabbing to try and gain an advantage. However, one of the biggest differences between CSSC Handball and most other Handball being played is the level of body contact. To keep with our fun first attitude, we’ve implemented a NO CONTACT rule that takes the physicality out of the game. So what exactly does that mean and how does it affect your gameplay?
The CSSC Handball rulebook outlines “Defensive Hitting (holding, hitting, jumping into, tripping an opponent)” on the list of fouls. In addition, “Using outstretched arms or legs to obstruct, push, hold, or trip is not allowed.”
So how does one defend in Handball without committing a foul? A good way to go about defending in CSSC Handball is to defend like you would in Basketball:
- Moving your feet to stay in front of the player with your body
- Arms outstretched up or to the sides to deflect passes but not using them to block an opponent’s movement
- Once the player has gone by you, the only thing you can do is turn around and bust it to get back in front of them.
An important thing to remember is that a defensive player is entitled to their space. An offensive player is not allowed to charge into a defending player. On that note, to limit body contact, offensive players should remember:
- If your path to the goal is blocked by a player, go around them not through them.
- When you’re preparing to take your 3 steps and elevate for a shot, be mindful of your landing spot. If a defender is standing there, then you’re not cleared for takeoff.
- A helpful tip for shooting when a defender blocks your way is to jump upwards and shoot over them instead of trying to jump forward and shoot through them.
If you follow these guidelines, your game of Handball should be fun, fast-paced, and contact free!
Best of luck!
