Today we wanted to explain the rules of wheelchair handball and tell you about the equipment you need to practice it. So read this article if you want to know how to play wheelchair handball.
What are the wheelchair handball rules?
There are two ways to play. A wheelchair handball team is generally composed of:
- a goalkeeper;
- 3 or 5 other players.
All sportspeople taking part in this activity are in wheelchairs except for the goalkeeper if they are able-bodied of course.
Wheelchair handball game time
The duration of competitive games is of 45 minutes (3 periods of 15 minutes).
The pitch and the teams
The handball wheelchair pitch is 40 by 20 meters long.
The rules
What are the wheelchair handball adaptations to the classic rules?
The rules do not change that much compared to traditional handball. However, the sport wheelchair is considered as part of the player. To stop or throw the ball, the player can use:
- their arms
- their hands
- their torso
- their thighs
However, they are not allowed to lift their tailbone off of the wheelchair or to use their feet.
The 3-second rule
The player handling the ball can put it on their knees but cannot keep it for very long. The 3-second rule applies. For short, the player cannot keep the ball for more than 3 seconds without:
- dribbling
- passing the ball to a teammate
- send it directly to goal surface
Wheelchair handball fouls
The opponents are allowed to take the ball from the other player’s knees as long as they are not breaking the rules. A foul can be called if:
- a player goes beyond the 6-meter line;
- the holder of the ball makes 4 actions without dribbling;
- a team member knocks the ball with a lower body part.
Like in the traditional sport, throw-ins with a free throw are done where the foul took, place.
What does the player classification look like in wheelchair handball?
Classification is adapted to people suffering from a motor disability in competitions, there is a point system which guarantees equality in competitions.
In wheelchair handball, a certain number of points are attributed to each player according to their disability. For international competitions, the sum of points goes up to 12 for a 4-player team.
Wheelchair handball: what are the benefits?
During a wheelchair handball game, the higher part of the body is strongly used – especially the arms.
This sport contributes to the development of:
- dexterity to move in a wheelchair;
- cardiovascular and breathing capabilities.
Today, wheelchair handball is not just a sport exclusive to able-bodied people.
Outside of competitions, wheelchair handball can be played by people being between 10 and 70 years old.
What to use to play wheelchair handball?
The handball ball
The wheelchair handball ball has a size of 1 or 2 (the latter corresponding to 54-56 cm in circumference and 325 to 375g in weight). It can vary depending on the age and the skill level of the players.
The manual parasport wheelchair
Each player must be equipped with a sport wheelchair. To guarantee the players’ safety, the wheelchair must have:
- straps attached to the torso and the feet
- an anti-swing system
If you are looking for a wheelchair to use for leisure practice, amultisport wheelchair such as the FreeMoovin’ is fully adapted. It is approved by the CERAH (Research and Study Centre for the equipment of disabled people).
This light sport wheelchair has a rotary-modulated case. It is resistant to collisions and comes equipped with an anti-swing and safety straps. The player is completely safe no matter their age.
You know everything about the wheelchair handball rules. You want to try this sport? We are putting sport wheelchairs for renting. You want to know more about parasports? Read our other articles on other adapted sports.