-
600 BCE
Early Signs of Handball
There are records of handball-style games going back to antiquity. The sport was depicted on a tombstone carving in Athens dated 600BC. -
The Invention of Handball
Handball was invented in the 19th century in Germany to keep soccer players fit during the off season. It was played with 11 man sides on soccer pitches, with soccer rules despite the use of feet. -
Handball in Denmark
In one of the Danish schools, the school doctor advised the school director to prohibit the play of soccer because of the many injuries it caused. Students were not allowed to kick the ball, and because the students liked soccer so much, they started to play the game with their hands. A school teacher, named Holger Nielsen, named the game Haandbold and wrote the first rule book. After the game was introduced at a student sport festival in the 1900's, it became increasingly popular in Denmark. -
First Recorded Match
The first match of the modern era was officially recorded on 29 October 1917 in Berlin, Germany -
International Amateur Handball Federation
The International Amateur Handball Federation (IAHF) was established in 1928. As a result of the federation's consistent work, the National Olympic Committee registered handball in their program and in 1936 handball was played in the Berlin Olympic games in Germany. -
Olympic Games (Outdoor Handball)
Outdoor Handball had its only Olympic Games appearance in the XIth Olympiad (1936 Berlin Games). The first international match recorded was played on 3 September 1925 with Germany defeating Austria, 6:3. -
International World Championship (Indoor Handball)
Indoor handball gained popularity in the 1930s and the rules of indoor handball were also accepted by the international bodies in 1936. The first International World Championship for indoor handball was played in Berlin in 1938. First place went to Germany, second place to Autria, and third to Sweden. -
International Handball Federation (IHF)
During the 2nd World War the development of handball slowed down. After the war, international connections were renewed and the International Handball Federation (IHF) was formed in 1946. -
The End of Outdoor Handball
Playing on the large outdoor field came to a stop by 1969 and indoor handball gained more interest among sport enthusiast. An unimpeded view of the smaller field, the numerous possibilities of shooting for goal, the combination of exciting dives and leaps while attempting to score, spectacular saves by the goalie made this game even more exciting both for players and spectators alike. -
Olympic Games (Indoor Handball)
Handball, as an indoor sport was first presented in the Munich 1972 Olympic Games. A competition involving 16 men's teams was staged with Yugoslavia winning the first Olympic gold medal. (2nd Czechoslovakia, 3rd Romania). -
Olympic Games (Women's)
Women's indoor handball was first introduced at the Olympic Games in Montreal, Canada in 1976. The USSR won the gold medals in the 6-team women's competition. (2nd Germany, 3rd Hungary). -
Cold War
With the conclusion of the cold war and the collapse of the Eastern Bloc alliance, many nations suffered a temporary economic downturn which affected some of the national teams to lose a number of prominent players and coaches migrating to the west. Countries like France, Spain and Germany began to dominate. Some African (Algeria and Egypt) and Asian (South Korea and China) nations started to make an impact on the international competitions (especially the Olympics) -
Beach Handball
Italy began pioneering a new version of Handball in the 1990's. It began to attract new fans. It was to take just 10 years until the young game of beach handball was to become an official EHF sport – with the organisation of the very first EHF Beach Handball European Championship in Gaeta, Italy in 2000. https://youtu.be/MbIUhYIcpR4 -
The birth of EHF Marketing GmbH
Before the EHF Marketing GmbH, the EHF found that club competitions were being run like normal sporting competitions without any strategic marketing or without any promotion at all. Not knowing which clubs would be in the final meant there was no strategic approach possible. The EHF Marketing GmbH aimed to professionally market European club competitions, by securing and developing the product’s identity while keeping the passion and spirit of the game intact. -
One of the saddest days in the history of the EHF
On 19 December 2008, the head of the EHF's Corporate Communication Department passed away at the age of only 33 years, found dead in her flat in Vienna. Siân Rowland joined the EHF in 1999 taking care of and building up the communications department. Her professional qualities and high standards in communication were recognised and trusted on all levels within the EHF, including the president in sports political questions and the secretary general in professional matters. -
First to Win All Major European Trophies
In 2010, the Austrian Viktor Szilagyi completed his cabinet of silverware by lifting the Cup Winners’ Cup after winning Champions League and EHF Cup to become the first player to win all major European Cup trophies - all with different German clubs In 2005, the now 37-year-old former playmaker took his first trophy with Tusem Essen in the EHF Cup, followed by the Champions League title with THW Kiel in 2007. -
Premiere of the Biggest Event in European Club Handball
The 2009/10 season was a launching pad for one of the most spectacular and successful innovations in European club handball since the EHF was founded in 1991.The EHF Executive decided to adapt the playing system of the EHF Champions League to a new format, including a FINAL4 tournament. Three months later, the venue was unveiled, the premiere was to take place in Cologne, Germany. And from that moment on, the LANXESS arena was ready to become a cathedral of handball. https://youtu.be/TShZzidymMc -
New Legal System
At the Congress in Copenhagen, a motion proposing the implementation of a new legal system was adopted. The creation of the EHF Court of Appeal as well as the modification of the competence. Rather than a revolution, the new legal system is regarded as a logical step forward within the on-going evolution of handball. There is a clear need for an efficient, quick and fair administration of justice in a modern organisation such as this. -
New Television Agreement
EHF Marketing GmbH signed a 7 year deal with leading sports rights company, MP & Silva, to market the media rights for Europe’s top club handball competitions including the VELUX EHF Champions League. MP & Silva provide annually over 10,000 hours of programming to over 200 broadcasters in 215 countries ‐ includes Europe's top leagues in football, Grand Slam tennis, motor racing, handball, baseball, volleyball, boxing and many others including the Asian Games. -
Viewer Record
A cumulative audience of more than 1.65 billion people followed the action from the Men’s EHF EURO 2016 in Poland on television. 175 territories by 75 broadcast partners broadcast the event, which was played from 15 to 31 January 2016. The success of the German team in winning the title for the first time since 2004 generated huge interest across the country, 13 million tuning in to public broadcasters ARD for the final against Spain, a market share of 42 per cent. -
Performance Tracking Technology
The European Championship in January was a testing ground for the latest in player tracking technology, with tools trailed that are already in use in competitions including the NBA and the English Premier League from the company, Prozone. Using their system it is possible to follow the movement of both players and the ball and to analyse the distance players have run, how far they have jogged or sprinted during the match. https://youtu.be/NqL3UPFrB38 -
Introduction of Instant Replay
“We could use the technology for the first time and we were happy to have this technical support. Only by watching the instant replay we could make our decision. In general, I think that this device is a good tool,” Geipel commented after the match. Besides the instant replay, two other technologies helped referees at the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in Cologne – goal-light and goal-line technology, which was also used at the Men’s EHF Cup Finals in Nantes. https://youtu.be/AHE_UJDnCB8
