Handball

Handball is a sport with similar rules to soccer, the same sized ball and, while official history suggests that it may have been created based on simple hand and ball games, and it actually had its official rules created before soccer had official rules, there is little doubt that it is in fact based on soccer.

Handball, like soccer, uses a large round ball, but in opposition to soccer it can only be thrown with the hands, with it being illegal to kick the ball or for it to touch any part of the feet or legs. A fairly small court is used, such that attempts for a goal can be shot from virtually any part of the court. Like in soccer, a goal keeper is used, with a net of a similar size to soccer and other goal keeper team sports.

Unlike soccer, scores are frequent and easy to make, with the sheer ferocity and speed of the shots making most shots next to impossible for the goal keeper to block. It is common for a game to have 20-30 goals per team by the end of the match.

It is most popular in Russia and Eastern Europe, though China and parts of Asia are also quite competitive, as is the United States.