Beach rules

RULES

The beach handball matches follow international elite rules with some special adjustments:

Team Size: 4 players on the court (3 players + 1 keeper) with unlimited substitutions.

Maximum Players: 16 players per match, but prizes are limited to 8 players per team.

Suspensions:

• First suspension: Until the opposing team regains possession.
• Second suspension: Results in a disqualification/red card.

Scoring:

• Regular goals: 1 point.
• 2-point goals include:
  • Keeper goals.
  • Free throw goals.
  • Spectacular goals (e.g., behind-the-back or between-the-legs shots).
  • In U-11 and U-13, spectacular goals are specifically encouraged.

Playing Style: Barefoot or with soft socks.

No-Show: Teams have 5 minutes from the scheduled match start to appear. Failure to do so will result in a forfeit, and the match will be awarded to the opposing team with a score of 50–0.

MATCH FORMAT AND WINNERS

U-11, U-13, U-15:

• Matches are decided by the total points scored.
• In finals, points are awarded per half-time win, with the winner determined by golden goal if needed.

U-17, U-20:

• Points are awarded per half-time win.
• If the match ends 1-1, the winner is determined via a shoot-out.

SHOOT-OUT RULES

• Each team gets 3 shots.
• If tied after 3 shots, single rounds continue until a winner is found.
• Goals scored during the shoot-out count toward the total score.
• Starting Point:
  • U-11, U-13: Players run from the middle of the court. Goalkeeper start with one foot on the edge of the goal area.
  • U-15, U-17, U-20: Players run from the edge of the goal field.
• The keeper starts in the goal field.

TOURNAMENT STRUCTURE

• The beach tournament uses a group stage format, with 1st place teams advancing to playoffs.
  • If there’s only one group, 1st and 2nd place teams advance to the final.
  Match Durations:
  • U-11, U-13, U-15:
    • Group matches and playoff games: 1 x 10 minutes with golden goal if tied.
    • Finals: 2 x 10 minutes.
  • U-17, U-20:
    • All matches: 2 x 10 minutes with a shoot-out if tied.

OTHER INFORMATION

Results and Playoff Progression

The first-listed team is responsible for keeping score at the scorer’s table. Immediately after the match, the same team must report the final score to the Beach Tournament Information Desk.

Results and playoff brackets can be viewed in the Generation Handball App:
Matches -> Beach Handball.

Team Lists

• 2026: No team lists required (trust-based system).
• Players may only play for one team during the tournament.

Exemption Players

• Maximum 4 exemption players on the team list; only 2 may play per match.
• Exemption players can be a maximum of 1 year older than the age group.
• Exemption players must be approved before the first match.

Shirts and Colors

Teams can wear different shirt colors or use vests.

• If teams have the same color, the last-mentioned team must change shirts or wear vests.

Referees

• Finals for U-17 and U-20 have two referees.
• All other matches are officiated by one referee.

Beach Courts

The courts are uniquely named:

• McChicken 1
• McFeast 2
• BigMac 3
• McBacon 4