# Game, match, tiebreaker

> A game is played to a set number of points; a match is a set of games; a tiebreaker decides a deciding game.

From the rulebook:

>  A match is won by the first side winning two games. The first two games of a match are decided by the first side to reach 21 points. In the event each side wins a game, a tiebreaker is played and decided by the first side to reach 11 points. (See Rule 4.1.A) a.) Other formats. A match can also be won by the first side winning the appropriate number of points, whether it be 15, 21, or 25 point games, as long as it’s specified on the entry.

— [One-wall · Rule 1.5 Game, match, tiebreaker](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/1.5.md)

## Where it shows up

- [One-wall · Rule 1.1 Types of games](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/1.1.md): intro
- [One-wall · Rule 1.5 Game, match, tiebreaker](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/1.5.md): intro
- [One-wall · Rule 2.2 Ball](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/2.2.md): b
- [One-wall · Rule 2.5 Eye protection](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/2.5.md): b
- [One-wall · Rule 3.4 Referee](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/3.4.md): a, b, d
- [One-wall · Rule 3.7 Appeals](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/3.7.md): a, c
- [One-wall · Rule 3.8 Scorer](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/3.8.md): intro
- [One-wall · Rule 4.1 Serve](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.1.md): a, b
- [One-wall · Rule 4.2 Doubles](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.2.md): a
- [One-wall · Rule 4.5 Changes of serve](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.5.md): intro, f
- [One-wall · Rule 4.6 Rally](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.6.md): k
- [One-wall · Rule 4.9 Technicals](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.9.md): intro
- [One-wall · Rule 4.10 Timeouts](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.10.md): a, d, e
- [One-wall · Rule 5.5 Tournament management](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/5.5.md): intro
- [One-wall · Rule 5.9 Round Robin Tiebreaker Scoring](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/5.9.md): intro
- [Four-wall · Rule 1.1 Types of games](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/1.1.md): intro
- [Four-wall · Rule 1.5 Game, match, tiebreaker](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/1.5.md): intro
- [Four-wall · Rule 2.2 Ball](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/2.2.md): b
- [Four-wall · Rule 2.5 Eye protection](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/2.5.md): b
- [Four-wall · Rule 3.4 Referee](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/3.4.md): a, b, d
- [Four-wall · Rule 3.7 Appeals](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/3.7.md): c
- [Four-wall · Rule 3.8 Scorer](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/3.8.md): intro
- [Four-wall · Rule 4.1 Serve](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/4.1.md): a, b
- [Four-wall · Rule 4.2 Doubles](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/4.2.md): a
- [Four-wall · Rule 4.5 Changes of serve](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/4.5.md): intro, f
- [Four-wall · Rule 4.6 Rally](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/4.6.md): k
- [Four-wall · Rule 4.9 Technicals](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/4.9.md): intro
- [Four-wall · Rule 4.10 Timeouts](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/4.10.md): a, d, e
- [Four-wall · Rule 5.5 Tournament management](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/5.5.md): intro
- [Four-wall · Rule 5.9 Round Robin Tiebreaker Scoring](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/5.9.md): intro
- [Four-wall · Rule 2.1-one Courts](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/2.1-one.md): c, d, e

## Related

- [Point](https://handball.theperfectship.com/point.md)

## In GAA / 60×30 rules

- GAA: Irish championship matches are best of three sets, with adult and minor sets to 21 points and shorter sets for younger juveniles. The Irish tradition is a tiebreaker to 21; international rules play it to 11 (GAA rule 1.5).

## Ref questions

- [All Scoring questions (56)](https://handball.theperfectship.com/referee/scoring.md)

Rules text: United States Handball Association, used with written permission — https://www.ushandball.org/