How Is Handball Scored?
A Complete Guide to Goals, 7-Metre Penalties, Fast Breaks & Overtime Rules
Last updated: April 6, 2026
Handball is scored by throwing the ball into the opponent's goal (3 m wide × 2 m tall). Every goal counts as 1 point, regardless of how or where it was scored. Goals can come from open play, fast breaks, or 7-metre penalties (awarded for fouls that destroy clear scoring chances). A standard match consists of 2 halves × 30 minutes with a running clock. The team with the most goals at the end wins. If a knockout match is tied, 2 × 5-minute extra time halves are played, followed by a 7-metre shootout if still level.
Basic Scoring: Every Goal Counts as One
Unlike basketball or football (American), handball has a simple scoring system: every goal is worth exactly 1 point. There are no bonus points for distance, difficulty, or method of scoring. Whether a player scores from the 9-metre line with a powerful jump shot, taps the ball in from close range as a pivot, or converts a 7-metre penalty — the result is the same: one goal added to the team's total.
A goal is scored when the entire ball crosses the goal line between the posts and under the crossbar. The goal must be scored legally — the shooter cannot be standing in the 6-metre goal area (only the goalkeeper is allowed there), and the ball must be released before the shooter lands in the goal area after a jump shot.
What Makes Handball Unique
With matches routinely producing 50 to 70 combined goals, handball is one of the highest-scoring team sports in the world. The high goal count means that momentum shifts rapidly, comebacks are common, and no lead is truly safe until the final whistle. This constant scoring action is what makes handball thrilling to watch and demanding to track — every few seconds, the score can change.
How Goals Are Scored: Methods and Positions
Handball goals come from a variety of attacking situations, each requiring different skills:
Jump Shot (Backcourt Players)
The most iconic handball shot. The backcourt player (left back, centre back, or right back) jumps from behind the 9-metre free-throw line, rises above the defence, and throws the ball at speeds up to 130 km/h. The shooter releases the ball while airborne, aiming for the corners of the goal. Jump shots are the primary scoring method for backcourt players and account for a large proportion of goals in any match.
Wing Shot
Wing players (left wing and right wing) score from tight angles near the sideline, close to the 6-metre line. These shots require extreme accuracy because the shooting angle is narrow and the goalkeeper can cover most of the goal. Wing players often use spin shots — releasing the ball with sidespin to curve it past the goalkeeper — or underarm flicks at close range.
Pivot (Line Player) Goals
The pivot operates in the space between the 6-metre goal area line and the 9-metre free-throw line, with their back to the goal. Pivots receive passes from backcourt players and score by turning quickly to shoot at close range, or by catching the ball while diving into the goal area (the shot must be released before landing). Pivot goals require excellent body control, timing, and courage, as pivots operate in heavy traffic among defenders.
Fast Break
A fast break occurs when a team wins possession (from a save, interception, or steal) and immediately launches a counter-attack before the opposing defence can organize. Fast breaks produce high-percentage scoring opportunities because the attacker often faces only the goalkeeper. Fast-break goals are among the most exciting plays in handball.
Goalkeeper Goals
Yes, goalkeepers can score. After making a save, the goalkeeper can throw the ball the full length of the court into the empty opposing goal — this happens when the opponent has pulled their goalkeeper for a 7-vs-6 attack and loses possession. Goalkeeper goals are rare but legitimate and always spectacular.
The 7-Metre Throw (Penalty)
The 7-metre throw is handball's equivalent of a penalty kick in football. It is a direct shot from the 7-metre line with only the goalkeeper defending.
When Is a 7-Metre Throw Awarded?
A 7-metre throw is awarded when:
- A foul destroys a clear goal-scoring opportunity (e.g., a defender holds, pushes, or trips an attacker who had a clear path to goal)
- A court player enters their own goal area to gain a defensive advantage (e.g., to block a shot)
- The goalkeeper carries the ball back into the goal area from outside it
- A free throw is executed incorrectly by the defending team in a way that prevents a clear scoring chance
Execution Rules
- The shooter stands at the 7-metre line and must throw within 3 seconds of the referee's whistle.
- The shooter may not touch or cross the 7-metre line before or during the throw.
- The goalkeeper must stay behind the 4-metre goalkeeper restraining line until the ball is released.
- All other players must be behind the 9-metre free-throw line and at least 3 metres from the shooter.
Conversion Rate
At the professional level, 7-metre throws are converted at a rate of approximately 70-80%. Elite penalty specialists can achieve even higher rates. The goalkeeper's task is extremely difficult — the ball travels the 7 metres in under half a second, leaving minimal reaction time.
Strategic Importance
7-metre throws can be decisive in close matches. Top teams may score 5-8 goals from 7-metre throws in a single game. Some coaches designate a specific penalty specialist for all 7-metre situations.
Match Time Structure: Halves, Clock & Stoppages
A handball match is divided into two halves of 30 minutes each, separated by a 10-15 minute halftime break.
The Running Clock
Handball uses a running clock that counts up from 0:00 to 30:00 in each half. Unlike basketball or American football, the clock does not stop after every whistle. The clock runs continuously during:
- Regular play
- Free throws
- Throw-ins
- Goalkeeper throws
The clock only stops for:
- Timeouts (each team gets 3 per game: 1 in the first half, 2 in the second half; each lasts 1 minute)
- Injuries (at the referee's discretion)
- Referee consultation or disciplinary actions
Last-Minute Intensity
Because the clock runs continuously, the final minutes of each half are extremely intense. Teams trail by 2-3 goals will play with maximum urgency, and leading teams may slow the pace to consume clock. The referee can award additional time ("buzzer-beater" plays) if the ball was in the air or a penalty was awarded before the half ended.
The Cumulative Clock
In many displays and broadcasts, the match clock is shown cumulatively — counting from 0:00 to 60:00 across both halves. So the start of the second half shows 30:00, not 0:00. JudgeMate's scoreboard uses this cumulative format by default.
Overtime and Shootouts: When Regulation Ends in a Draw
In group stage matches (leagues and tournament group phases), a draw is the final result — there is no overtime. However, in knockout matches (elimination rounds, cup finals, championship brackets), a winner must be determined.
Extra Time
If the score is tied at the end of regulation (60 minutes), the match goes to extra time:
- 2 halves × 5 minutes (10 minutes total)
- A 5-minute break between the end of regulation and extra time
- A 1-minute break between the two extra-time halves
- Halves are played in full — extra time does NOT use golden goal or sudden death
Second Extra Time
If the score is still tied after the first extra time, a second extra time may be played (another 2 × 5 minutes), depending on the competition rules.
7-Metre Shootout
If the match remains tied after extra time, a 7-metre shootout determines the winner:
- Each team selects 5 shooters (from the players on the court at the end of extra time, including eligible substitutes)
- Teams alternate throws from the 7-metre line
- If still tied after 5 throws each, the shootout continues one throw at a time (sudden death) until one team scores and the other misses
The 7-metre shootout is handball's most dramatic moment — enormous pressure on both the shooter and the goalkeeper, with the entire match outcome hinging on a single throw.
The Goal Area and Its Impact on Scoring
The 6-metre goal area is a fundamental element that shapes handball's scoring dynamics. Only the goalkeeper may stand in or move through the goal area. Court players are not allowed to:
- Step on or into the goal area while holding the ball
- Land in the goal area after a shot (though jumping into the area after releasing the ball is legal — the key is that the ball must leave the hand before the player touches the goal area)
- Touch the ball while it is rolling or bouncing on the goal area floor (only the goalkeeper can play the ball there)
Impact on Attacking Play
The goal area rule creates the distinctive "jump shot" culture of handball. Players must either:
- Shoot from outside the 6-metre line (backcourt shots from 7-9+ metres)
- Jump over the goal area line and release the ball while airborne before landing inside the area
- Pass to a player who is in a better shooting position
This rule rewards athleticism (vertical leap, body control, coordination) and creates the spectacular aerial plays that define handball at its best.
Defensive Exploitation
If a defensive player enters their own goal area to gain a defensive advantage — for example, stepping inside the 6-metre line to block a shot — the referee awards a 7-metre throw to the attacking team. This prevents defenders from using the goal area as a shield.
Worked Example: A Typical Handball Match Score Progression
Here is how scoring unfolds in a typical professional handball match between Team A and Team B:
First Half (0:00 – 30:00):
- 2:00 — Team A scores from a left-back jump shot. 1-0
- 3:15 — Team B equalizes with a fast break after a goalkeeper save. 1-1
- 5:40 — Team A's right wing scores from a tight angle. 2-1
- 7:00 — Team B converts a 7-metre penalty after a foul on their centre back. 2-2
- 12:30 — Team A scores 3 goals in 4 minutes (pivot, fast break, jump shot). 5-3
- 20:00 — Score is now 9-7 to Team A after trading goals.
- 28:00 — Team B closes the gap with 2 quick goals. 12-11 at halftime.
Second Half (30:00 – 60:00):
- 35:00 — Team B takes the lead for the first time. 13-14
- 42:00 — Score is 17-17 — teams are trading goals.
- 50:00 — Team A goes on a 3-0 run during a Team B 2-minute suspension. 23-20
- 55:00 — Team B uses their timeout and regroups. 24-23
- 58:30 — Team A scores to go up by 2. 26-24
- 59:45 — Team B scores but runs out of time. Final: 26-25
Total: 51 goals in 60 minutes — a typical scoreline for a competitive handball match.
This example illustrates handball's defining characteristics: rapid scoring, constant lead changes, the impact of suspensions on the scoreline, and the importance of every single goal in a tight game.
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