Summary

Handball can be played by two (singles), three (cutthroat) or four (doubles) players.

Gloves must be worn when playing with the ‘Ace’ handball, proper eye protection must always be worn.

The objective is to win the rally by serving or returning the ball so the opponent is unable to keep the ball in play. A rally is won when one player is unable to reach the opponent’s shot before the ball hits the floor twice, or when a player’s attempted return fails to reach the front wall before striking the floor.

Points are scored only by the serving side. When the serving side loses a rally (or two rallies in doubles), it loses the serve, and the receiver becomes the server.

A match is won by the first side winning two games. The first two games of a match are played to 21 points. If a third game is necessary, it is played to 11 points. A player (team) does not have to win a game by 2 points.

The receiving team must stand at least 5 feet behind the short line when the serve is attempted. Either partner (when playing doubles or cutthroat) on the receiving team may return the ball. If the receiver makes a legal return, either the server or the server’s partner, may return the ball; and so forth.

If a player hits a ball that hits his/her partner, either going to the front wall or rebounding from the front wall, that team loses the rally. The one exception is when the partner standing in the service box gets hit by a served ball rebounding from the front wall. In this case, the serve is replayed without penalty.