Origin and Purpose
Handball has origins in many different countries. By the late 19th century, handball was being played in Germany, Scandinavia, the Czech Republic, and Ukraine. However, games similar to handball were first played by the women of the Roman Empire, which they called expulsim ludere. There were other handball-like games played in Medieval France as well. On 29 October 1917, the first rules of the game of handball were published in Germany by Karl Schelenz, Max Heiser, and Erich Konigh. On 2 December 1917, the first-ever official handball match took place in Berlin. The first international game of handball was played by men in 1925 between Germany and Belgium and by women in 1930 between Germany and Austria.
Handball flourished in Germany where it was hoped that it would attract a wider audience to the game and was the main purpose of handball. The game became easier to play and more entertaining to watch as rules from other sports, like basketball, were introduced. The fact that handball became a winter sport back then added to the interest of the audience being away from the cold, seated in comfort, with more action and excitement and greater scoring than soccer.
The Spread of Handball to Other Countries
In 1928, handball was declared a sport by the International Amateur Handball Federation. In 1936, men's field handball was added to the Olympics. Over the next decades, handball was played in Scandinavian countries. In 1972, indoor handball was first played at the Olympics. The first competition of women's Olympic handball took place in 1976, in Montreal. Adding handball to the Olympics helped in promoting and increasing the popularity of the sport. In 1972, when indoor handball was added to the Summer Olympics, it quickly gained popularity in Eastern Europe. Junior championships were organized by the IF, which encouraged the participation of younger athletes. This was critical for spreading the sport across several countries. By 2009, there were 795,000 teams across the world and more than 19 million players.
Introduction of Handball to the U.S.
In 1959, a group of European immigrants led by Dr. Peter Buehning introduced handball to the United States. The men's U.S. National Team played its first international match in Switzerland in 1963, and men's team handball was brought back to the Olympic Games in 1972. In 1975, the women's U.S. National Team played its first international match in Iceland, and women's team handball made it to the Olympics in 1976.
Popularity of Handball in the U.S.
Handball in the U.S. is represented in international competitions, such as the Summer Olympics and the Pan American Games, by the United States men's national handball team and the United States women's national handball team. Both the men's and women's U.S. teams have had difficulty competing in international competitions against countries where handball is more popular and widely played. In the U.S., handball is a fairly minor sport, and the vast majority of people have no idea that it even exists. The only time handball has received substantial coverage on American television has been during the Olympic Games. Some notable universities, including the University of Virginia, UCLA, Texas A&M University, United States Military Academy, and others are beginning to recognize handball. Those schools and academies along with other amateur teams participate in the Club National Championships and Collegiate National Championships, one for men and the other for women. These colleges and academies along with other nonprofessional teams participate in the Club National Championships and Collegiate National Championships.