Australian handball facts for kids
| Years active | 1847 to present |
|---|---|
| Players | One player vs another, or is in doubles – as in 2 on 2 |
| Setup time | Minimal, if any |
| Random chance | None |
| Skill(s) required | Manual dexterity Social skills Walking Gross motor skill Running |
Australian handball is a sport in which players hit a ball against one or more walls.
Play
Australian handball is similar to squash played without a racquet. The ball is served such that it makes direct contact with the front wall without having bounced on the ground. It must then be returned similarly by the opponent to the front wall before the ball bounces on the ground twice. It may also contact side walls to or from the front wall, but once a player has struck the ball with hand, it must make contact with the front before touching the ground.
The game is played in singles or doubles format. There are 1, 3 or 4 wall versions of this game. The typical Australian version is the three wall version, as most courts in Australia are set for this version. Perhaps the bulk of these playing venues are set in various private Catholic Colleges.
Notable players
A few highly respected names in the game's history include multi-national champions, The Legendary Jmaz, Tim Tucker and George Macris in the first half of the 20th Century, and John Hughes of Victoria, Paul Fallon, NSW, Lou Ravesi, SA and Vic DeLuzio and Geoff Walsh of Victoria, in the 2nd half.
See also
In Spanish: Handball australiano para niños
