Handball vs. Basketball: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Handball is a sport where players use their hands to hit a small ball against a wall, while Basketball is a team sport involving shooting a ball into a hoop.
Key Differences
Handball is played by hitting a small ball with the hand against a wall in various styles, whereas Basketball involves teams aiming to score points by shooting a larger ball into an elevated hoop.
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Nov 25, 2023
In Handball, the ball is smaller and more dense, suitable for striking with hands. In Basketball, the ball is larger, designed for bouncing and shooting with the hands.
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Handball can be played in singles or doubles, focusing on individual skills in striking the ball. Basketball is primarily a team sport, emphasizing teamwork, strategy, and shooting accuracy.
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The playing area in Handball is a wall court, either indoor or outdoor. Basketball is played on a rectangular court with a hoop at each end.
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Handball requires players to serve and return the ball against a wall, while in Basketball, players dribble, pass, and shoot the ball towards a hoop.
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Comparison Chart
Game Objective
Serve and return ball against wall
Dribble, pass, shoot towards hoop
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Handball and Basketball Definitions
Handball
A sport involving hitting a ball with the hand.
Handball requires excellent hand-eye coordination.
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Nov 21, 2023
Basketball
A team sport played with a ball and hoop.
Basketball is popular worldwide.
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Nov 21, 2023
Handball
A game where a small ball is hit against a wall.
They played handball at the gymnasium.
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Nov 21, 2023
Basketball
A game played on a rectangular court.
The basketball court was freshly painted.
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Nov 21, 2023
Handball
A sport with variations in play style and court.
American handball is different from European styles.
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Nov 21, 2023
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Basketball
A game involving shooting a ball into a hoop.
He scored a three-pointer in basketball.
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Nov 21, 2023
Handball
A fast-paced game requiring skillful hand strikes.
Winning in handball demands quick reflexes.
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Nov 21, 2023
Basketball
A sport requiring dribbling, passing, and shooting skills.
Good dribbling is essential in basketball.
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Nov 21, 2023
Handball
A game that is played, often on a four-walled court, by two or more players who alternately hit a small rubber ball against the front wall with the hand, with play stopping if the ball bounces twice on the floor or does not reach the front wall.
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Oct 19, 2023
Basketball
A fast-paced sport emphasizing teamwork.
Their basketball team showed excellent coordination.
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Nov 21, 2023
Basketball
A game played between two teams of five players each, the object being to throw a ball through an elevated basket on the opponent's side of a rectangular court. Players may move the ball by dribbling or passing with the hands.
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Oct 19, 2023
Handball
Often hand ball A violation of the rules in soccer in which a player other than the goalie inside the penalty area carries, strikes, or propels the ball with the hand or arm. A hand ball is usually called when the hand or arm is away from the body and touches the ball.
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Oct 19, 2023
Basketball
A sport in which two opposing teams of five players strive to put a ball through a hoop.
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Handball
(uncountable) A team sport where two teams of seven players each (six players and a goalkeeper) pass and bounce a ball trying to throw it in the goal of the opposing team.
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Basketball
(countable) The particular kind of ball used in the sport of basketball. Basketball
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Oct 19, 2023
Handball
The offence of a player other than the goalkeeper touching the ball with the hand or arm on the field during play.
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Oct 19, 2023
Handball
A sport in which players alternately strike the ball against a wall with their hand. Irish and American variants have slightly different rules.
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Oct 19, 2023
Basketball
A ball game, usually played indoors in an area called the basketball court, in which two opposing teams of five players each contest with each other to toss a large inflated ball (the basketball) into opposite goals (baskets) resembling baskets, each typically a cylindrical mesh suspended from a circular rim which is held ten feet above the court. A goal scored by passing the basketball through the basket may count from one to three points, depending on the situation in which it was thrown.
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Oct 19, 2023
Handball
An act of passing a football by holding it with one hand and hitting it with the other.
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Oct 19, 2023
Basketball
A game played on a court by two opposing teams of 5 players; points are scored by throwing the basketball through an elevated horizontal hoop
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Oct 19, 2023
Handball
A schoolyard game in which a tennis ball is struck with the hand, played on a improvised court on the asphalt or pavement.
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Oct 19, 2023
Handball
To manually load or unload a container, trailer, or to otherwise manually move bulk goods (often on pallets) from one type of transport receptacle to another.
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Handball
(soccer) To illegally touch the ball with the hand or arm.
If the defender handballs in the penalty area, a penalty is awarded.
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Oct 19, 2023
Handball
(Australian rules football) To (legally) pass a football by holding it with one hand and hitting it with the other.
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Oct 19, 2023
Handball
A small ball, usually made of rubber, thrown or struck with the hand in various games.
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Oct 19, 2023
Handball
A game played with such a ball, as by players striking it to and fro between them with the hands, or, when played in a walled court or against a single wall, striking it in turns against a wall, until one side or the other fails to return the ball.
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Oct 19, 2023
Handball
A game played in a walled court or against a single wall by two or four players who strike a rubber ball with their hands
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Oct 19, 2023
Handball
A game played in singles or doubles.
She excels in singles handball.
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Nov 21, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Can handball be played in teams?
Handball is typically played in singles or doubles, not in larger teams.
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Nov 25, 2023
What skills are essential for handball?
Essential skills for handball include hand-eye coordination and quick reflexes.
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Is handball an Olympic sport?
Handball, especially team handball, is recognized as an Olympic sport.
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Nov 25, 2023
What are the key skills in basketball?
Key skills in basketball include dribbling, passing, shooting, and teamwork.
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How is scoring determined in handball?
Scoring in handball is based on successfully hitting the ball against the wall without the opponent returning it.
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Nov 25, 2023
Is basketball an Olympic sport?
Yes, basketball is a well-known Olympic sport.
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How is scoring done in basketball?
Scoring in basketball is achieved through field goals, three-pointers, and free throws.
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Nov 25, 2023
What is the main objective in handball?
The main objective in handball is to hit a small ball against a wall and outmaneuver the opponent.
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Nov 25, 2023
What is the main objective in basketball?
The main objective in basketball is to score points by shooting the ball into the opponent's hoop.
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How many players are on a basketball team?
A standard basketball team consists of five players on the court.
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What is the size of a basketball court?
A standard basketball court is 94 feet long and 50 feet wide.
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How high is a basketball hoop?
A standard basketball hoop is 10 feet above the ground.
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Nov 25, 2023
Can handball be played outdoors?
Handball can be played both indoors and outdoors.
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What is a three-pointer in basketball?
A three-pointer in basketball is a shot made from beyond the three-point line, worth three points.
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Are there variations in basketball rules?
Yes, basketball rules can vary slightly between leagues and levels of play.
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How is handball started in a game?
A handball game starts with a serve, where one player hits the ball against the wall.
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Nov 25, 2023
Can basketball be played indoors and outdoors?
Basketball can be played both indoors and outdoors on appropriate courts.
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Nov 25, 2023
Are there different types of handball?
Yes, there are various forms of handball, including American and European styles.
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Nov 25, 2023
What is the standard court size for handball?
The standard court size for handball varies, but it typically includes a wall and a defined playing area.
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Nov 25, 2023
Are there professional handball leagues?
Yes, there are professional handball leagues in several countries.
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Nov 25, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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