The handball equipment fundamentally differs between the goalkeeper and the field player. But there are also rules that all players must adhere to. In this article we will explain to you which clothing and equipment is best.

What do you wear for handball?

First things first – your must-have handball equipment:

breathable jersey and short shorts
short functional trousers or undershirt (if necessary)
Protectors without hard parts for elbows or knees (if necessary)
The BetterGuard as an effective ankle support

Handball equipment from Kevin Struck during the jump shot

Clothing in team sports

In team sports there is generally clear clothing so that the assignment of the teams is clear to everyone. Jersey and pants are usually shown in the club color. There are usually home and away clothes to differentiate between.

To distinguish between the individual players, everyone has a number on their back that is at least 20cm high. The number on the front is at least 10cm high. The color of the number must clearly stand out from the jersey color.

What are the rules for clothing and equipment in handball?

According to the German Handball Federation (DHB), there are specific equipment rules in addition to the rules . The International Handball Federation has kept these at the same level since 2018. The official rules for handball equipment ( IHF Equipment Regulations ) are divided into sports clothing and protective equipment (Rules 4:7 and 4:9). For national championships, the respective implementation regulations may differ.

In principle, long-sleeved undershirts and short underpants or functional trousers are permitted. At IHF events they must match the main color of the jersey or shorts. Long trousers are not permitted - with the exception of the goalkeepers.

Field players' socks must be the same color and length at IHF events. Knee socks must not cover the knee.

Everyone on the field must wear athletic shoes. Apart from that, no dangerous items may be worn. These include, for example: b.

protruding rings
bracelet
Clocks
Earrings or piercings

Flat rings or covered piercings are permitted. However, most players remove these before the game.

Alexander Coßmann with The BetterGuard as handball equipment

The goalkeeper position is an exception

The goalkeeper is the only exception when it comes to clothing. His clothing differs in both color and design from that of his team's field players and also the opposing goalkeeper. This makes him clearly recognizable as the goalkeeper for team A or B, which is important because he has different tasks in the game than the field players.

The goalkeeper is the only one allowed to wear long trousers. Most goalkeepers also wear a groin guard.

Since 2016 it has been forbidden to wear gloves as a goalkeeper. Face masks are also prohibited. This applies to all players.

Specific rules for handball protective equipment

The IHF equipment regulations are divided into:

Head and face protection
Headbands
safety goggles
Mouthguard
Shoulder protection
Compression bandages
Elbow protection
Knee protection
Compression sleeve
Ankle protection

You can find out more about the individual areas in detail in the official IHF equipment regulations . This way you can find out exactly which protective parts are prohibited and which are permitted.

In general, protection with hard parts must be fully padded. Without such padding, the player is not allowed on the field. There must be no danger to opponents.

Field player without good handball equipment injured his knee

Common protective equipment in handball sports

Knee pads and ankle supports are particularly frequently used. As you can find out in the VBG Sport Report 2021 , 13.7% of all handball injuries affect the knee joint. Only the ankle joint is ahead of it at 14.6%.

Many players only wear protective equipment as a preventive measure after they have already suffered an injury.

Knee pads and knee protection

In order to prevent injuries or to play more safely after one, many players use knee protection. These are allowed with pads and foam. Hard parts are not permitted. Freedom of movement of the elbow must be guaranteed.

Ankle bandages

According to the IHF, ankle joint protectors and hard stabilizers are only permitted as long as all hard parts are “fully padded with foam bandages or similar materials”.

Ankle supports with or without straps are permitted. For IHF events these must match the color of the sock. Although these bandages offer good freedom of movement, they do not provide sufficient protection if you actually twist your ankle.

Hard protectors or orthoses can offer this protection, but may only be worn with sufficient padding.

Excerpt from the IHF handball equipment regulations on ankle supports

The BetterGuard as the perfect solution for your handball equipment

In a fast and robust game like handball, it often happens that a field player twists his ankle. We find frightening numbers from the VBG sports report from 2021:

31.2% of all ankle injuries occur when landing after a jump.
60.4% of all ankle injuries occur through contact with an opponent.

We developed The BetterGuard so that you can reduce the risk of ankle injuries. Our unique, innovative technology only triggers in critical situations and stabilizes your ankle three times faster than your body.

The BetterGuard offers you as much freedom of movement as a normal bandage. Look forward to a completely new gaming experience, especially thanks to mental stability and control. It fits snugly, but not too tight, over your sock in your regular handball shoe.

Many current or former handball professionals use or promote The BetterGuard. These include, for example: B. Martin Strobel, Nils Lichtlein or Kevin Struck.

Please also take a look at our comparison studies in our sports medicine blog section .

Preventive or for returning to sport

If you've ever had an injured ankle, you know how difficult it can be to get back to sports. We want to revolutionize (professional) sport so that injury prevention is rethought and The BetterGuard is part of the standard handball equipment.

Train without discomfort and no negative influence from your thoughts: focus solely on playing. This is possible with The BetterGuard!

Nils Lichtlein with The BetterGuard as handball equipment

FAQ about handball equipment

The most frequently asked questions about equipment for handball sports:

What do I wear for handball?

Ideally, you should wear a short jersey and shorts made of breathable material. If necessary, you can wear pads or something similar.

What am I not allowed to wear when playing handball?

The official IHF equipment regulations contain everything that is not allowed to be worn. These include, for example: B. dangerous objects such as jewelry, but also joint protectors with hard parts.

What does handball equipment include?

It doesn't matter whether you have already had an injury or want to avoid one. Find out in advance and decide on sufficient protection. We recommend wearing the BetterGuard so that you can play handball more safely!