No footwear, a lighter ball, sun gear instead of shin guards: the complete beach handball kit - plus the 2021 dress-code story behind it.
For your first beach handball session, you need less than you think - but two things are completely different from indoors: you play barefoot, and the ball is noticeably lighter. Shoes of any kind are banned; only socks or bandages are allowed. The men's ball weighs just 350 to 370 grams with a circumference of 54 to 56 centimetres - the indoor ball weighs 425 to 475 grams. That is a good 75 to 100 grams difference - roughly the weight of a full smartphone you are no longer holding.
For women it is similar: 280 to 300 grams in the sand versus 325 to 375 grams indoors. The ball is also made from grippy, non-slip rubber rather than the smoother indoor-ball surface - nobody uses grip resin in the sand, so the grip has to come straight from the material.
### 1. Barefoot is mandatory, not a recommendation The official rulebook bans all footwear - trainers, sandals, even neoprene socks with a sole. Only regular sports socks or medical bandages are permitted. Get your feet used to sand before your first session: short barefoot jogs on the beach or a sandy playground help.
### 2. Choose the right ball Do not bring an indoor ball to the sand - it is too heavy, too big and too smooth for wet hands and soft ground. The beach handball is built for grip rather than roll, because dribbling barely happens in sand anyway.
### 3. Build a sun-protection kit A cap with the brim turned backwards (so it does not interfere with heading or jumping), sunglasses with a restraining band, and a sweat headband are all officially permitted accessories. For casual play, water-resistant sunscreen with a high SPF is enough.
### 4. The dress code - and its history Until 2021, female players had to wear tight bikini bottoms while men wore loose shorts. When Norway's women's national team wore tight shorts instead during the bronze medal match against Spain in July 2021, the team was fined a total of 1,500 euros - 150 euros per player. The fine sparked worldwide outrage. In November 2021, the world federation changed the rule: since January 2022, women may wear the same tight-fitting shorts as men.
Official courts must be free of rocks, shells and sharp debris - on informal courts, a quick hand-check of the sand before sprinting barefoot is worth it. In strong wind or low sun, referees are allowed to adapt the game - take such calls seriously, they exist for your safety.
Wear your sunglasses in training, not just at your first tournament. Many beginners only notice at their first event how much low sun and sand glare disturb their vision when catching high balls - practise the combination of glasses, viewing angle and catching beforehand instead.
### What ball do I need for beach handball? An official beach handball in your size class - 350 to 370 grams for men, 280 to 300 grams for women, both made of non-slip rubber. A regular indoor ball is heavier, bigger and not built for sand.
### Why is footwear completely banned? The rules allow only socks or bandages, no footwear of any kind. Playing barefoot is part of the sport's DNA and gives you direct contact with the soft, yielding sand.
### What was the 2021 dress-code controversy about? In 2021, Norway's women's team was fined 1,500 euros for wearing shorts instead of bikini bottoms. Public outrage led the world federation to change the rule that same year - since 2022, women can wear the same shorts as men.
### Do I need special sunglasses? Plastic sunglasses with a restraining band are permitted, so they do not fall off during jumps and duels. For casual play, any sturdy sports sunglasses with UV protection will do.
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