Rules of handball

General
Frisian Handball (kaatsen) is played on a rather large playing field of 32 m x 61 m. The two teams (parturen) that compete against each other consist of three players each. The scoring can be compared with tennis, that has been derived from a variety of handball in the 18th century. The team that scores 6 games has won the match. In dutch a game is called ‘eerst’.: 0, 2, 4, 6, Eerst (tennis: 0, 15, 30, 40, Game).

Examples
a. Kaatsen 3–2 4–6; Tennis 3–2 30–40
b. Kaatsen 4–1 0–2; Tennis 4–1 0–15

The game
Direct scoring is accomplished bij (a) an ace by the server (b) because ons of the the players in the service court (‘perk’) hits the ball over the backline (‘bovenlijn’). The examples below show situation a and b.

When the players in the ‘perk’ return the ball (only valid after no ore after one bounce) futher than the frontline (‘voorlijn’) of the service court, but not accross the backline, no point are scored yet (see figure c). In fact there is an undecided ball. On the spot where the ball is stopped or stands still in the with bold lines marked field, a cube is placed. An undecided ball is mentioned a ‘kaats’ (the first ‘kaats’ is marked by a white cube, the second with a red cube).

How will the game be continued and will there be scored yet? Answer: by passing the ‘kaats’. How?:
1. When 2 ‘kaatsen’ the teams change place.
2. If a ‘perk’ player passes a kaats his team scores, if not the serving team scores. At first the white cube must be passed and in the next hit the red cube.

Tactics

Since the playing field is large for just 3 players the positions of the players are tuned before each stroke. In the figuur left team 1 is serving and the two players of team 1 that are not serving take their positioned in such a way, that the chance of stopping the returned ball by team 2 or, even better, return the ball after the ‘voorlijn’ (in that case team 1 is scoring) is at a maximum.

When a ‘kaats’ must be defended by team 1 (that made this ‘kaats’ before changing from ‘perk’ to the serving place) in such a way that team 2 will not be able to pass this ‘kaats’ one or two of the player of team 1 that are not serving will be positioned on one line with the ‘kaats’.