User:Niangball/sandbox

Thames H.C. has again been crowned winners of the London Cup 2011, after first claiming the trophy in 2009. The womens' team participate in the 1st Division of the England Handball National League; the Mens' team plays in Division 2 of the England Handball League.

The club's mixed team also won the Brentwood tournament in June 2011 and again in 2012.

Handball (also known as team handball, Olympic handball or European handball) is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each (six outfield players and a goalkeeper) pass and bounce a ball to throw it into the goal of the opposing team. The team with the most goals after two periods of 30 minutes wins.

Modern handball is usually played indoors, but outdoors variants exist in the form of field handball and beach handball.

The game is quite fast and includes body contact as the defenders try to stop the attackers from approaching the goal. Contact is only allowed when the defensive player is completely in front of the offensive player, i.e. between the offensive player and the goal. Any contact from the side or especially from behind is considered dangerous and is usually met with penalties. When a defender successfully stops an attacking player, the play is stopped and restarted by the attacking team from the spot of the infraction or on the nine meter line.

Goals are scored quite frequently in handball; usually both teams score at least 20 goals each, and it is not uncommon to have a match end 33-31.

The best way to learn about handball is to come over and give it a go. We always welcome new faces :)

Category:Sports