Other / Richard Douglas / 03 April 2009 /

Like federalism, David Hasselhoff and white socks with slip-on shoes, Europe seems to understand handball in a way that Britain does not, says Richard Douglas. But where does our man for all sports think the value is?

It has been labelled as the Continent's second biggest sport after football but, on these shores, handball ranks alongside bog-snorkling and midget-throwing in the public's consciousness.

The Scandinavians, however, seem to love it and their top Champions League ties can pull in up to 20,000 spectators. However it must be said that standard group games hover around the more modest 3,000 to 5,000 mark.

The mechanics of the game are pretty simple. Two teams of seven players - six outfielders and a goalkeeper - try to score goals in each other's net. A game lasts an hour, split into two 30-minute periods. It is almost always played indoors on a court roughly 40m x 20m.

Each team consists of three defenders and three attackers. Very often the game-play sees six defending players ringed around the outside of the keeper's area face-to-face with six attacking players.

The forwards move at speed to drag their markers out of position and prise open the defence in order the allow an attack. They are allowed three steps with the ball before passing and to dribble they must keep bouncing it.

Once a dribble is over, a player has three seconds to get rid of the ball. Often this involves a leap to gain position or fire off a shot on goal. Whatever the action, it must be completed before the player's feet touch the floor.

They are attempting to find a goal measuring 2m x 3m. It is protected by keeper who pretty much flies out in a starfish position, spreading himself as widely as possible to block. He is the only player allowed to touch the ball with his feet.

The keeper's area is a semi-circle six yards from goal - player are not allowed to enter the area. Three yards further out is a dashed 'free-throw' line. All the players must stand behind this when one team incur a penalty and the other take it against the keeper from seven yards out.

The men's Champions League is at the Quarter-Final second leg stage right now. THW Kiel, BM Ciudad Real and HSV Hamburg [2.0] are well-placed to repeat last season's spot in the final four having each gained significant advantage from their first leg.

The women's version is already looking forward to the final four. Here, Viborg [1.02] are the pick given they have outscored every other team in both of the preceding groups. But they recently suffered a surprise defeat in the Danish Cup to Arhus, who are third in their domestic League.

Understandably BM Ciudad Real [1.03] are very short for the Spanish League, called La Liga Asobal. Though Barcelona Borges are only points behind with a game in hand and, at [2.5], may be worth a tickle. However Pevafersa Valladolid [1.54] and Portland San Antonio [1.52] seem a little too far adrift in third and fourth respectively.

The Swedish men's Eliteserien is perhaps the most interesting League for punters right now. Alingsas HK seem top value at [4.1] given that they are in second-place to IK Savehof [1.01] by just four points. Guif are hardly underpriced at [3.5] as they are only one point further adrift.

The Norwegian women's League, aka the Postenligaen, seems to be a straight fight between Larvik HK [1.03] and Byasen IL [1.03]. The pair are tied at the top of the table with identical records. They are 13 points clear of the third place side, Tertnes [1.03].

In Germany, Kiel [1.01] seemed to have the League sown up with 25 wins and one draw in 26 games. That represents a 14-point advantage on second place Hamburg [1.05].

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