Handball

Handball is one of the simplest games in the world - all you need to start playing is a ball and a wall to hit it off! It's a competitive game in which either hand or either fist may be used to serve and return the ball.

There are four main kinds of handball in Ireland, determined by the size and type of court they are played in, 40x20, 60x30, One Wall and Hardball. In each form of the game there is a different ball used.

Four-wall handball is a game similar to racquetball and squash, except that the players hit the ball with a gloved hand instead of using a racquet. Both the left and right hands are used, depending on where the ball is hit. The objective in the game is to score 21 points before your opponent does. Points can only be scored by the person serving the ball.

The game can be played as singles or doubles, and a high level of hand-eye coordination is required along with balance, flexibility, speed and no small amount of skill. It is the perfect game. Few other games reach the same scope of fitness levels, due to both hands being used. There are a number of different forms of handball in Ireland, which are described below.

The Four Handball Codes

Handball is played widely in Ireland. There are four codes of Handball in Ireland, they are: 40x20, 60x30, One Wall and Hardball

40x20
The 40x20 code refers to the dimensions of the court (40 ft by 20ft) and was introduced from America during the 1960's and is now the International standard court. The ball is hard, and gloves are worn by the players. It is known as Four Wall in the US, as all four walls and the roof can be hit during play.

In the 40x20 court a small solid blue rubber ball is used. Similar in size to a golf ball, this ball is extremely lively and can reach speeds up to and including 100 mph.

It is compulsory to wear gloves and eyeguards in the 40x20 court for different reason, the gloves to keep the ball dry, providing little protection and eyeguards for safety reasons respectively.

The 40x20 game is the international code of the game and is played in over ten countries worldwide.

60x30
Handball in the "big alley" is indigenous to Ireland, and is the more traditional code of the game. The 60x30 ball is red, and bigger than the 40x20 ball. It is also, only half solid, and will not skid badly if it gets wet, which means that the wearing of gloves is not compulsory.

This was traditionally an outdoor game, only moving indoors as the old alleys were roofed and new indoor alleys erected, during the latter half of the 20th century. As a result of this, the All Ireland Championships take place during the summer because in older times, bad weather made it almost impossible to play in the heart of winter.

The rules are similar to the small court. Due to the size of the court, speed of the ball and differences in the ball the game is unlike its small court cousin. The serve is more important, and volleying is key to success. With the ball being heavier, this leads to the natural underhand stroke as more power is needed to move the ball around the court. Doubles in the 'Big Alley' is probably as close to perfect handball as you can get with the game being played at a fast and furious pace.

One-Wall
One Wall is the most basic of the handball codes. Played using only a front wall 20ft by 16ft and a floor area 20ft by 34ft, it is a much more physical game, with blocking of the opponent allowed. Again it is a popular outdoor game during the summer. The ball used in Ireland is similar to a racquetball.

Hardball
Hardball is the most ancient of our games in Ireland. Using the large traditional 60x30 courts the ball used is made of Cork and Leather and travels at a much higher speed than other balls. Padding is required on the hands due to the hardness of the ball.

More Information: Handball Official Website

Gaelic Games