- For more information on this topic see Senior Hardball Singles or
Senior Softball Singles.
Gaelic handball (Irish: Liathróid Láimhe) (also known as
handball, Irish handball, court handball or wall handball) is a sport
similar to racquetball and squash in that it is one
of the four Gaelic Games organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association. The game may be played with two, three, or four players. The
important difference between it and racquetball and squash is that the players hit the ball with a gloved hand instead of a racquet. Either the left and right hand can be used,
depending on where the ball is hit. This major difference is what makes handball a much more complex and difficult game.
American handball is essentially identical to Irish handball, except for certain minor
rule differences.
Rules
Handball is played in a court, or "alley", the most common form of which measures 12.2 m by 6.1 m (40 feet by
20 feet) with a front wall 6.1 m (20 feet) high, off which the ball must be struck.
In Ireland, there is a version of the game which uses a larger court, measuring 18.3 m by 9.15 m (60 feet by
30 feet).
The objective of a game is to score a set total of points before your opponent does.
Points are only scored by the person serving the ball. In other words, if a player wins a rally but did not serve at the start of that rally they only win the right to serve, and thus the chance to score
after a subsequent rally. The serving player has two opportunities to hit the ball, from the "service area" (between the two
parallel lines), off the "front wall" and across the "service line" (which is located exactly half-way down the court from the
front wall).
Players take turns at hitting the ball off the "front wall" before the ball bounces twice following their opponent's previous
shot. Most handball games take place in a four-walled court but there are also three-walled and one-wall versions of the
game.
History
Handball-like games have originated in several places at different times. Hieroglyphs in the temple of Osiris in Egypt portray priests taking part in a game very similar to handball.
Mesoamerican civilizations in South and
Central America had a form of handball-like game, which was a large part of
pre-Columbian culture.
The modern game of handball originated in Ireland and Scotland. The earliest written record of a handball game is in the town statutes of Galway, which in 1527 forbade
the playing of ball games against the walls of the town. On the west coast of Ireland, Galway had many trading links with
Spain, especially the Basque
regions, where the similar game of Pelota is played. It is highly likely that one game is derived
from or influenced by the other.
Irish immigrants brought the game to many countries in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. It is still played in the United States, Canada, Mexico,
Australia, New Zealand, Wales and England.
Handball today
In Ireland, handball is organized by the Irish Handball Council under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association. Its headquarters are just beside the Croke Park stadium.
Handball is now a very competitive game in the countries in which it is played. A world championship takes place every three years with representatives of all ages, both male and female, taking
part. The top player in the 40*20 game today is Paul Brady from Co. Cavan, Ireland. He recently retained his World singles
title.
Eoin Kennedy of the St. Brigids Club in Co. Dublin is the current top player in the 60*30 court. He has won the past four
All-Ireland Championships in the code and on September 1, 2007 was the victor over Micheal 'Ducksy' Walsh in the All-Ireland
final.
Micheal 'Ducksy' Walsh is also a legendary player. He currently has the world record for All Ireland Titles. He plays for
Talbots Inch (60x30). Today, he designs and fits kitchens, and is regarded by many as Ireland's top player of recent times, ahead
of Paul Brady, Tony Healy & Eoin Kennedy
Attempts are also being made to use the one-wall version of the game as a unifying bridge between handball and those sports to
which it bears similarities such as Pelota, Fist Ball,
Eton Fives and jai alai, one of those attempts being played
by many international federations is the International fronton.
See also
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External links
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