AdultHandball

Handball is a sport in which players compete by hitting a ball against a wall with their hands. It is played all over the world.

Different countries have played different versions of the sport for generations, but in recent years these have been standardised to enable international competition as One-Wall and Four-Wall Handball.

In England we have historically called our native version of handball 'Fives'. One-Wall Handball has similarities to Fives, but is far more accessible and inclusive and allows us to compete internationally. The One-Wall Game

A One-Wall court can be marked out on any flat wall, as per the diagram below. Much like in tennis, the ball's first bounce must land within the court area. Unlike squash, there is no line that the ball must be played above, it must simply hit the wall. Both the doubles and singles games are equally popular, with doubles requiring increased reaction speed and singles demanding more fitness.

One-wall is the most accessible sport and can be played anywhere, anytime... all you need is a wall and a ball.

As there is no line to hit the ball above, the aim is to hit the nick where the wall meets the floor. This will cause the ball to roll and is the ultimate kill shot. It is not easy. More advanced players will volley and put spin on the ball, whilst moving their opponent around court to take control of each point.

In England we use the Big Blue, which is the standard ball for all international One-Wall Handball tournaments. Gloves are by no means essential and are a matter of preference, but specialist handball gloves are cheaply available.