Handball tournament
Handball tournaments are competitions in which more than two handball teams come together in one place or in a country in order to play off a tournament winner (in a comparatively short time). They are to be distinguished from handball competitions that are held locally and over a longer period of time (e.g. league rounds as part of national championships).
National, regional, continental and global tournaments can be differentiated according to the origin of the participating teams. A distinction is also possible according to whether club, national or other teams or men's or women's teams participate in a tournament. There are also special tournaments for teams whose players have not yet reached a certain age (U ... selections) and for amateur teams.
With a few exceptions, international handball tournaments organized by handball associations are mostly organized for national teams. An example of a global club tournament is the Super Globe .
In the majority of cases handball tournaments are held repeatedly.
Formats of handball tournaments
Handball tournaments are held in formats that are also common in other sports. For example, according to the knockout system, which provides for the elimination of losing teams. Or according to a league system according to which each team involved has to compete once against each other team (e.g. a group). A combination of a phase carried out according to the league system and a subsequent knockout phase is common, especially with larger fields of participants.
In many cases the tournament is preceded by a qualification phase in which the right to participate in the tournament is played out. According to the language used by the organizer, the terms preliminary round (qualification phase) and final round (tournament) are often used in this context. Different tournaments at the continental level serve several purposes. For example, at the European handball championship, not only is the European champion determined, but this tournament also functions as a qualifying tournament for the Olympic Games .
Major tournaments for national teams
The most famous and important handball tournaments for national teams are:
Worldwide
- Handball World Championship (since 1938)
- Olympic handball tournament (since 1928)
- Handball World Championship for women (since 1957)
- Olympic handball tournament for women (since 1996)
Europe
- European men's handball championship (since 1994)
- European Women's Handball Championship (since 1994)
Africa
- African men's handball championship (since 1974)
- African Women's Handball Championship (since 1974)
Asia
- Men's Handball Asian Championship (since 1977)
- Women's Handball Asian Championship (since 1987)
Australia and Oceania
- Men's Handball Oceania Championship (since 1994)
- Oceania Women's Handball Championship (since 1997)
America
- Men's Handball Pan American Championship (since 1979)
- Women's Handball Pan American Championship (since 1986)
