Review of handball rules in formative categories in Spain

• Main Authors: Antonio García-Angulo, José María Giménez-Egido, Francisco Javier García-Angulo, Enrique Ortega-Toro
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Federación Extremeña de Balonmano; University of Extremadura 2019-02-01
• Series: E-balonmano.com: Revista de Ciencias del Deporte
• Subjects: modificaciones reglamentarias; iniciación deportiva; balonmano; deporte para jóvenes; modifications rules; sports initiation; handball; youth sport
• Online Access: http://e-balonmano.com/ojs/index.php/revista/article/view/432

The aim of this study was to analyze the game rules differences in the U-10, U-12 and U-14 categories of the autonomic handball federations in Spain and to identify the modifications rules more applied. For this purpose was analyze: a) type or modality of game; b) number of players called; c) pitch size; d) size of the goal area; e) free throw line; f) time-out; g) ball type; h) number and characteristics of the changes; i) duration of the match; and j) other modifications rules. The most outstanding results showed that: a) there is a lack of consensus on the modifications rules in the U-12 category, where up to three modalities of different handball are disputed; b) there is a certain consensus regarding the modality to be disputed in the U-10 and U-14 categories; and c) there are a large number of specific modifications established, in the different categories, by the regional federations. These data expose a lack of consensus in certain categories and in certain aspects of the game between the different regional federations, this aspects should be specified according to scientific criteria.