PHL 2023: Rules and Playing Conditions Of Handball

The inaugural edition of the Premier Handball League (PHL) is all set to get underway on Thursday (June 8) with the round-robin matches at the Sawai Mansingh Indoor Stadium in Jaipur.

PHL, organized by Bluesport Entertainment, it will have six teams participating in it in its inaugural season with all the 33 matches including the three knockout matches set to be held at the same venue in Jaipur.

Each team will consist of 17 players - 14 Indian players and three foreign players. The teams competing at the inaugural edition are: Delhi Panzers, Rajasthan Patriots, Garvit Gujarat, Golden Eagles Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra Ironmen and Telugu Talons.

Handball Rules

With the season about to get started, let's take a look at some of the general rules of Handball from number of players, playing duration, intervals and how the match is won:

What is the playing time for a handall match?

• The playing duration for all teams with players of age 16 and above is 2 halves of 30 minutes. The half-time break is normally 10 minutes.

What happens if a handball match is tied?

• There will be overtime to decide the winner on the same day after the match. Overtime is played, following a 5-minute break, if a game is tied at the end of the regular playing time and a winner has to be determined.

The overtime period consists of 2 halves of 5 minutes, with a 1-minute half-time break. If the game is again tied after a first overtime period, a second period is played after a 5-minute break. This overtime period also has 2 halves of 5 minutes, with a 1-minute half-time break.

If the game is still tied, the winner will be determined in accordance with the rules for the particular competition. In the case that the decision is to use 7-meter-throwing as tie-breaker to decide a winner, the procedures indicated below shall be followed.

How many players take the field for play during a Handball match?

Each team consists of 7 players; a goalkeeper and 6 outfield players. A team consists of up to 14 players, but no more than 7 players may be present on the court at the same time. The remaining players are substitutes.

A player who is recognized as a goalkeeper may become a court player at any time (note, however, Rule 8:5 Comment, 2nd paragraph). Similarly, a court player may become a goalkeeper at any time (see, however, 4:4 and 4:7).

If a team is playing without a goalkeeper, a maximum number of 7 court players are allowed to be on the playing court at the same time.

Can the player use his foot during play?

No, an outfield players can touch the ball only with any part of his body that is above the knee. Once a player receives possession, they can pass, hold possession or shoot.

If a player holds possession, they can dribble or take three steps for up to three seconds without dribbling.

Only the goalkeeper is allowed to come into contact with the floor of the goal area. Goalkeepers are allowed out of the goal area but must not retain possession if they are outside the goal area.

How is the handball match won?

A goal is scored in handball when the ball is thrown into the opponent's goal. And the match is awarded to the team that scores more than the other. For the complete PHL rules, click here.