Welcome to our comprehensive guide on the Asian Handball Federation (AHF), the governing body responsible for uniting handball enthusiasts across Asia. Whether you’re a seasoned player or a curious fan, this guide provides an in-depth look at the AHF’s history, purpose, member countries, and their role in promoting handball in Asia.
Stay tuned as we explore exciting tournaments such as Asian Men’s and Women’s Championships, beach handball competitions, and youth events organised by the federation.
Key Takeaways
- The Asian Handball Federation (AHF) is the governing body responsible for promoting and organizing handball and beach handball in Asia. It was established in 1974, and has a membership of 44 countries.
- The AHF organizes major tournaments such as the Asian Men’s and Women’s Handball Championships, the Asian Youth Handball Championship, and the Asian Beach Handball Championship. It also supports regional leagues and competitions throughout Asia.
- Through its initiatives to increase participation rates among youth and women, improve infrastructure development plans, coach clinics, outreach programs, etc., the AHF is working towards popularizing handball throughout Asia.
- By supporting national teams through funding travel expenses for international tournaments like Olympic Games or Commonwealth games; organising training camps/workshops for players’ skills improvement techniques; investing in infrastructure development & creating accessible facilities – the AHF aims to develop future generations of players who can represent their nations at international events.
Overview Of The Asian Handball Federation (AHF)
Welcome to our guide on the Asian Handball Federation, the governing body for handball and beach handball in Asia. With 44 member countries, the AHF has a unique history of bringing people together through sport. In this article, we will examine its role in promoting and organising various tournaments and leagues across Asia while also exploring its efforts to increase participation and awareness of handball in the region. Join us as we dive deep into everything you need to know about the AHF!
Key Takeaways
- The Asian Handball Federation (AHF) is the governing body responsible for promoting and organizing handball and beach handball in Asia. It was established in 1974, and has a membership of 44 countries.
- The AHF organises major tournaments such as the Asian Men’s and Women’s Handball Championships, the Asian Youth Handball Championship, and the Asian Beach Handball Championship. It also supports regional leagues and competitions throughout Asia.
- Through its initiatives to increase participation rates among youth and women, improve infrastructure development plans, coach clinics, outreach programs, etc., the AHF is working towards popularizing handball throughout Asia.
- By supporting national teams through funding travel expenses for international tournaments like Olympic Games or Commonwealth games; organizing training camps/workshops for players’ skills improvement techniques; investing in infrastructure development & creating accessible facilities – the AHF aims to develop future generations of players who can represent their nations at international events.
History And Purpose Of The AHF
Established in 1974, the Asian Handball Federation (AHF) has played an instrumental role in promoting and governing handball as well as beach handball across Asia.
One of the key milestones achieved by AHF was their affiliation with the International Handball Federation (IHF), which took place shortly after its inception. This partnership allowed them to integrate their activities on a global scale while maintaining focus on regional development.
As a result, many countries have witnessed substantial growth within their local handball communities over the years. Examples of such achievements include Qatar’s success at winning six titles at men’s Asian Beach Handball Championship and Denmark’s defence of their title during the 27th IHF World Men’s Handball Championship held in Egypt.
Member Countries And Organizational Structure Of The AHF
The Asian Handball Federation (AHF) currently has 44 member countries, mostly located on the Asian continent. The AHF is structured with a President, Vice President, Secretary-General and Treasurer at the top of its organisational chart.
Below them are committees for competitions, development, finance & marketing and legal affairs.
In addition to these committees, the AHF also has regional sub-zones that organize their own events like tournaments or training programs to promote handball among youth players in their respective areas.
Role Of The AHF In Governing Handball And Beach Handball In Asia
The Asian Handball Federation (AHF) plays a crucial role in governing handball and beach handball in Asia. As the governing body for the sport, it oversees all aspects of organizing and promoting these disciplines throughout its 44 member countries.
In addition to regulatory functions, the AHF organizes major tournaments like the Asian Women’s Handball Championship, Asian Men’s Handball Championship as well as league competitions such as The Perfect Start Beach Handball League and Extratime Men’s Club League who bring together top teams from across Asia.
Major Tournaments And Leagues By The AHF
The AHF organises several key handball tournaments and leagues, including the Asian Women’s Handball Championship, Asian Men’s Handball Championship, Asian Youth Handball Championship, and the popular Asian Beach Handball Championship.
Asian Women’s Handball Championship
The Asian Women’s Handball Championship is a prestigious tournament organized by the AHF that brings together some of the best female handball players from around Asia. The competition has been held since 1987, with South Korea winning the most titles (12) as of 2021.
Other successful countries include Japan and China, who share nine titles between them. The championship also serves as a qualifying event for teams to compete in international tournaments such as the Olympics and World Championships.
Asian Men’s Handball Championship
The Asian Men’s Handball Championship is a major tournament organized by the Asian Handball Federation for men’s handball teams from Asia. The championship consists of 16 teams competing in a round-robin format, followed by knockout matches.
The most successful team in the championship is South Korea with eight titles, while Japan and Qatar have won it five times each.
Asian Youth Handball Championship
The Asian Youth Handball Championship is one of the many tournaments organized by the AHF to promote handball among young players in Asia. The championship showcases some of the most promising talents in the region, with teams from various countries competing against each other.
At the recent 2021 edition held in Bahrain, South Korea emerged as champions after defeating Japan in a thrilling final. Australia secured third place after defeating Saudi Arabia.
The AHF continues to organise such events to encourage more youth across Asia to take up handball as a sport.
Asian Beach Handball Championship
The Asian Beach Handball Championship is one of the premier handball tournaments in Asia, organised by the Asian Handball Federation. The tournament brings together top beach handball teams from across the continent to compete against each other for the title.
Teams from countries like Qatar, Japan, and Australia have dominated this tournament over the years. The 2023 edition of the championship was won by Qatar’s men’s team for their sixth title in a row, showcasing their dominance on sand pitches.
Regional And International Leagues And Competitions
There are several regional and international leagues and competitions organized by the Asian Handball Federation (AHF) that keep handball fans entertained throughout the year. Here are some of them:
Asian Women’s Handball Championship: This is a biennial tournament organised by AHF for women’s handball teams from Asia. The top teams from this tournament qualify for the World Championships.
Asian Men’s Handball Championship: Like its female counterpart, the men’s edition is also held every two years to determine the best men’s handball team in Asia. The top teams from this tournament qualify for the World Championships too.
Asian Youth Handball Championship: This is typically an annual competition for younger players aged between 18 and 21 years old.
Asian Beach Handball Championship: This is an exciting variation of handball played on sand, usually with four players per team. Teams from across Asia compete in this tournament.
Regional and international leagues and competitions: In addition to these major tournaments, AHF also organises regional leagues such as the West Asia Handball League and East Asia Handball League, as well as international competitions like the IHF Super Globe.
With all these tournaments and leagues, it’s safe to say that there is always something happening in the world of handball in Asia!
Promoting Handball In Asia
The AHF aims to increase participation and awareness of handball in Asia by providing support for national teams, improving infrastructure and facilities, and implementing future plans and initiatives.
Increasing Participation And Awareness
The Asian Handball Federation is working to increase participation and awareness of handball throughout Asia. By supporting national teams, improving infrastructure and facilities, and promoting the sport among youth and women, the AHF is making strides towards popularizing handball in the region.
Additionally, initiatives such as coaching clinics and outreach programs have been implemented to encourage more people to get involved in this exciting sport.
Supporting National Teams
The Asian Handball Federation (AHF) plays a crucial role in supporting national teams across Asia. The organization works closely with its member countries to provide training, coaching, and financial assistance to help their teams succeed at international competitions.
For example, the AHF provides funding for travel and accommodation expenses for national teams participating in tournaments such as the Asian Women’s Handball Championship or the Asian Men’s Handball Championship.
Furthermore, through its initiatives promoting handball among youth and women, the AHF aims to develop future generations of players who can represent their nations at international events.
By investing in infrastructure development and creating accessible facilities throughout Asia, the AHF hopes to cultivate more interest in handball and encourage participation from all sectors of society.
Infrastructure And Facilities
The AHF is committed to developing handball infrastructure and facilities across Asia. The Sports Ministry of Thailand opened the country’s first indoor beach handball court in Bangkok, which was supported by the AHF.
Similarly, South Korea invested heavily in renovating its national training facilities for both men’s and women’s teams ahead of the Olympic Games. Australia has also been actively building its capacity to host international tournaments such as the Asian Women’s Handball Championship that it successfully hosted in 2017.
Future Plans And Initiatives
The Asian Handball Federation (AHF) has several future plans and initiatives aimed at promoting handball in Asia. These include increasing participation and awareness of the sport, supporting national teams, improving infrastructure and facilities for players, and launching new initiatives to promote handball among youth and women.
One such initiative is the AHF’s “Beach Handball Development Program,” aimed at developing beach handball among member countries that lack proper coaching or facilities for players.
Additionally, the AHF has launched a “Youth Development Strategy” which aims to promote the sport among young people in Asia through school programs that provide opportunities for them to learn about handball.
While these programs are still in their early stages of development, they represent a significant step forward towards making handball more accessible throughout Asia.
Resources For Handball Enthusiasts
For those looking to improve their handball skills or learn more about the sport, the AHF provides a range of resources including guides to the rules of handball, information on handball clubs and tournaments in Asia, and initiatives for promoting handball among youth and women.
Guide To The Rules Of Handball
Here’s a guide to the rules of handball that every handball fan should know:
- The game is played with seven players on each team, including a goalkeeper.
- The objective of the game is to score more goals than the opposing team within two 30 – minute halves.
- Players are not allowed to touch the ball with their feet or lower leg, except for the goalkeeper who can use any part of their body within their own penalty area.
- Players can pass, dribble or shoot the ball using any part of their body above and including the knee.
- A player can hold onto the ball for a maximum of three seconds before needing to pass or shoot it.
- Players can take up to three steps before dribbling or passing the ball.
- If a player commits a foul, they will receive a warning, suspension or expulsion depending on its severity.
- Goals scored by throwing the ball into your opponent’s net count as one point – and if there is more than one goal difference between teams at full-time, then an overtime period may be played.
Handball rules may seem a bit complicated at first glance – but once you start playing and watching this exciting sport, you’ll soon find yourself getting used to them!
Tips For Improving Handball Skills
Improving your handball skills takes time and effort, but with dedication, you can become a better player. Here are some tips to help you improve:
- Practice regularly – Consistency is key when it comes to improving your skills. Make time for practicing and stick to a schedule.
- Strengthen your core muscles – Handball requires strong core muscles for the quick movements and changes in direction. Include exercises like planks, sit-ups, and squats into your routine.
- Focus on footwork – Good footwork can make all the difference in the game of handball. Practice drills that involve agility, change of direction, and lateral movement.
- Work on passing accuracy – Passing is an essential part of handball that requires accuracy and precision. Practice different types of passes, such as overhead, bounce passes, and sidearm throws.
- Improve shooting techniques – Scoring goals is crucial in handball games. To improve shooting techniques, practice different types of shots like jump shots, pivoting shots or line shots.
- Enhance defensive skills – A strong defense can win games too! Work on your defensive skills by practicing blocking shots and marking opponents closely.
By following these tips consistently over time along with proper conditioning before a game can help you enhance your playing abilities and dominate the court like a pro!
Information On Handball Clubs And Leagues In Asia
Handball clubs and leagues are instrumental in developing the skills and techniques of players. Here is some information on handball clubs and leagues in Asia:
Asian Handball Club League Championship: Organised by the AHF, this championship brings together clubs from different Asian countries to compete against each other.
Qatar Handball League: A professional handball league in Qatar that features both men’s and women’s teams.
Korea Handball League: The premier handball league in South Korea, featuring top men’s and women’s teams from across the country.
Japan Handball League: One of the oldest handball leagues in Asia that has been running since 1966 and features both men’s and women’s club teams from across Japan.
Australian Handball Club Championships: A national tournament for all age levels in Australia that features both indoor and beach handball competitions.
Hong Kong-International Beach Handball Tournament: An annual international beach handball tournament held in Hong Kong which attracts teams from all over Asia as well as Europe.
Bangkok International Youth Handball Invitational Tournament: An annual youth tournament held in Bangkok, Thailand which aims to promote youth development through handball.
These leagues provide an exciting platform for fans to watch their favourite players compete at a professional level, while also fostering youth development throughout Asia’s diverse communities.
AHF’s Initiatives For Promoting Handball Among Youth And Women
The AHF is committed to promoting handball among the youth and women of Asia. They regularly organize tournaments and events with the sole aim of encouraging more participation from these groups.
To further promote handball among young people, the AHF has also initiated programs aimed at introducing the sport to schools. Through these programs, children get an opportunity to learn about the rules and techniques involved in playing handball.
In a bid to encourage greater female participation in sports generally, not just handball alone, member countries are encouraged by AHF’s Sports Ministry to dedicate resources towards developing their women’s national teams.
Overall there is no doubt that initiatives put in place by AHF have played a significant role in promoting widespread interest in handball throughout Asia especially amongst young people and women alike.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Asian Handball Federation plays a crucial role in developing and promoting handball throughout Asia. With its diverse member countries, the AHF has brought together a global community of passionate handball enthusiasts.
Through organizing major tournaments and leagues such as the Asian Women’s Handball Championship and the Asian Men’s Club League Handball Championship, the AHF continues to grow interest and participation in this exciting sport.
For those looking to learn more about handball or get involved with local teams, resources such as player profiles, rules guides, and information on clubs are readily available through the AHF website.
