Wheelchair handball


Wheelchair handball is handball played by people with varying physical disabilities that disqualify them from playing an able-bodied sport. These include spina bifida, birth defects, cerebral palsy, paralysis due to accident, amputations, and many other disabilities. The IHF Wheelchair Handball World Championship is the governing body for this sport. It is recognized by the International Paralympic Committee as the sole competent authority in wheelchair handball worldwide.

History

First initiatives were realised in 2005 resulting in the organisation of European Wheelchair Handball Nations’ Tournament
In 2013 the first World Championship was held organised by Brazil. But not officially recognized by the IHF. Brazil won all categories.
On 26 October 2019 the first Meeting of IHF Wheelchair Handball Working Group was held. They planned the first Wheelchair Handball World Championship for 2021 during the 2021 World Women's Handball Championship.
During the IHF Council Meeting No. 6 on 27 and 28 February 2020 in Cairo the IHF announced that there will be the first IHF Wheelchair Handball World Championship already in 2020. The IHF will add Wheelchair handball for the 2028 Summer Paralympics. But one of the requirement is that there were two world championships until 2022.

Geographic areas the sport is present

There are competitions in Netherlands, Brazil, South American

Competitions

International

The rules are only for the sic players variant. Fro the four players is still in development.
;Number of Players
Only six instate of seven players. Only mixed gender, one female player have to be on the court and minimum three female players has to be part of the roaster.
If no female player is able to play the team has to play with one player less.
;Game time
A half is only 20 minutes and the bracke only 10. And there is only one time out per half.
;Ball
All games are played with the ball size 2 and with no glue.
;Goal
The goal is only 1,7 Meters high instate of two and the catch net has to be removed.
;Playing Kit
The player's number had to be on the front. At the back of the wheelchair there has to be a sticker with the player's number in the color of there class.
;Straps
The legs have to be strapped to the wheelchair. Lifting of a player is punished with a 2-minute suspension. If the goalkeeper is lifting during defending there is additionally a 7m throw.
;Playing the Ball
It's allowed to place the ball maximum of 3 seconds on the lap. It's not allowed to steal the ball from the lap.

Literatur