Ball sizes (IHF)
| Size | Circumference / weight | Who |
|---|---|---|
| Size 3 | 58–60 cm · 425–475 g | Men and boys 16+ |
| Size 2 | 54–56 cm · 325–375 g | Women and girls 14+, boys 12–16 |
| Size 1 | 50–52 cm · 290–330 g | Girls 8–14, boys 8–12 |
| Size 0 | 46–48 cm · ~225–275 g | Under 8–10 |
Size 3 is the maximum permitted at any level. Mini-handball ball size is not regulated by the IHF playing rules: a soft or foam ball of roughly 44–49 cm works.
Ball sizes by category
Regulated circumference and weight. Size 3 is the maximum at any level.
Mini-handball: soft ball ~44-49 cm, not regulated by the playing rules. Resin starts around 12-13; the IHF trend is toward resin-free balls since 2019.
Resin and resin-free play
- Resin (pine resin / oil mix) improves grip; players typically start around 12–13, applied thinly to the fingertips — too much reduces control.
- The long-term direction is resin-free: since July 2019 the IHF specifies dedicated resin-free balls — smaller and slightly lighter than resin equivalents, with absorbent or grooved surfaces, playable at low pressure. The first resin-free ball used at a World Championship was Molten's d60 PRO at the 2022 IHF Women's Youth (U18) World Championship.
- More and more halls ban resin (it fouls floors and balls): if yours does, buy resin-free balls directly and keep resin remover for existing gear.
Shoes by position
- Wings: light and flexible — the position lives on quick steps and flight.
- Backs: support + cushioning for direction changes and shot landings.
- Pivots: maximum stability, ankle support, cushioning for contact and rotation.
- Goalkeepers: GK-specific models for lateral movement and balance.
Shoes by position
Indoor court shoes: grip, stability, cushioning, weight — dosed by role.
Light, flexible, dynamic (speed, flight).
E.g. Kempa Wing Lite · adidas Counterblast
Support + cushioning for direction changes and landings.
E.g. versatile "stability" ranges
Maximum stability, ankle support, cushioning for contact/rotation.
E.g. Mizuno Wave Stealth · adidas Stabil
GK-specific models: lateral movement and balance.
E.g. Hummel Liga GK
Mini-handball
A court of roughly 20–24 m × 12–16 m (20 × 13 m ≈ one-third of a full court), smaller goals (~2.40 × 1.60 m), 4 field players + keeper, size 0 or soft ball, simplified rules (often no formal free-throw line, modified goal area), short periods — and participation over results. The IHF publishes dedicated materials (Handball at School) for these formats.
Core rules and recent changes
- The base: 40 × 20 m court, 3 × 2 m goal, keeper-only goal area (6 m), 7-metre throw, 9-metre free throw; 7 on court (6 + GK), free substitution; 2 × 30 min at senior level; 3 steps and 3 seconds with the ball; progressive sanctions (free throw, 7 m, 2-minute suspension, disqualification).
- 2016: the goalkeeper may be replaced by a field player → the empty-goal 7v6 (see Tactics).
- 2019–2022: resin-free ball specifications and first use at a youth World Championship.
- 1 July 2026: new beach handball and wheelchair handball rules take effect (approved June 2025).
The handball court
40 m × 20 m. Goal area at 6 m, free-throw line at 9 m, 7-metre mark.
Sources
IHF playing rules and ball regulations (resin / resin-free) · Molten d60 PRO documentation · IHF mini-handball materials. National federation specs may differ — check your federation's rulebook. Verified July 2026; re-verify each season.
help.handball.equipment-and-rules