Handball, non-contact court or field game which has features in common with basketball and football
As a field game it is played 11-a-side; as an indoor court game (this is by far the commonest) it is 5- or 7-a-side. The ball has a circumference of 58 to 60 cm (23 to 24 in) and weighs 425 to 480 g (15 to 17 oz).

A game lasts an hour and has two 30-minute halves. There are a scorer and time-keeper and two referees, one in each half of the court or field. It begins with a throw-off from the centre and play proceeds by throwing, passing, and dribbling the ball. Players may stop, throw, catch, bounce, or strike the ball with their hands, arms, head, body, thighs, or knees. The goalkeeper is allowed to use his feet but only to stop the ball travelling goalwards. The only person who can use the goal area is the goalkeeper. Players may hold the ball for a maximum of three seconds and may take a maximum three steps while holding it. These restrictions do not apply to the goalkeeper. The ball can be passed in any direction and also rolled along the ground. A player may fist the ball but may not throw it up and then fist it. There is no offside rule and this helps to make it a very fluid and fast game with the ball moving from one end of the court or field to the other with great speed. There is not much midfield or midcourt play and most of the action is concentrated round the goal areas.