Definition
Handball in Spain refers to the practice, organization, and competitive structure of the sport of handball (known in Spanish as balonmano) within the Kingdom of Spain, encompassing both men's and women's disciplines at amateur, professional, and international levels.
Overview
Handball is one of the most popular indoor team sports in Spain. The sport is overseen by the Royal Spanish Handball Federation (Real Federación Española de Balonmano, RFEBM), which was founded in 1941 and affiliated with the International Handball Federation (IHF) and the European Handball Federation (EHF). The premier men’s professional competition is the Liga ASOBAL, established in 1990, while the top women’s league is the División de Honor Femenina (Liga Guerreras). Spanish clubs have achieved considerable success in European club competitions, most notably FC Barcelona Handbol, which has won multiple EHF Champions League titles.
The Spanish national men’s team is among the strongest globally, having won the World Championship in 2005 and 2013, the European Championship in 2018, and the Olympic gold medal in 1992 (Barcelona). The women’s national team has also earned a prominent place on the world stage, securing the World Championship in 2018 and multiple European Championship medals.
Etymology/Origin
The English term “handball” derives from the combination of “hand” and “ball,” describing a sport in which the ball is principally handled by the hands. In Spain, the sport is known as balonmano, a direct translation from the French “ballon mano” (ball‑hand), reflecting early adoption of the sport from Central Europe in the early 20th century. Handball was introduced to Spain through educational institutions and military clubs in the 1920s, with formal competitions organized by regional federations before the national RFEBM was created.
Characteristics
- Governing Body: Royal Spanish Handball Federation (RFEBM) – responsible for national teams, league organization, refereeing standards, and development programs.
- League Structure:
- Men: Liga ASOBAL (top tier), followed by División de Honor Plata and regional divisions.
- Women: División de Honor Femenina (top tier), followed by División de Honor Plata and regional leagues.
- Promotion and relegation operate annually based on league standings.
- Rules: Spanish handball follows the standard IHF rules: two 30‑minute halves, seven players per side (including goalkeeper), a 40 × 20 m indoor court, and a 7‑meter free‑throw line.
- Popularity: Handball enjoys significant media coverage, especially during national team tournaments and the Liga ASOBAL season. Attendance figures for major clubs such as FC Barcelona routinely exceed 5,000 spectators per match.
- Youth Development: The RFEBM operates certification programs for coaches, school‑based competitions, and talent identification pathways that feed into professional clubs and national youth squads.
- International Success: Spanish clubs have amassed numerous EHF Cup, EHF Champions League, and Cup Winners’ Cup titles. The national teams are regularly ranked in the top five worldwide by the IHF.
Related Topics
- Royal Spanish Handball Federation (RFEBM)
- Liga ASOBAL (Spanish men’s handball league)
- División de Honor Femenina (Spanish women’s handball league)
- Spain men’s national handball team
- Spain women’s national handball team
- Handball at the Summer Olympic Games
- European Handball Federation (EHF)
- Sports culture in Spain, including football, basketball, and futsal.