Soltenian Handball
 Johann Miller (white) of the Zentenello Steeds attempts to catch a passed ball while two members of the Harloopen Pumas play defense. | |
| Highest governing body | International Federation of Soltenian Handball |
|---|---|
| Nicknames |
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| First played | Disputed |
| Characteristics | |
| Contact | Full |
| Team members | 11 (both teams may freely substitute players between downs) |
| Type | |
| Equipment |
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| Venue | Handball field (rectangular: 120 yards long, 53 1⁄3 yards wide) |
| Presence | |
| Country or region | Soltenia, Culmia, Irassia |
Soltenian handball, referred to simply as handball in Soltenia and also known as gridiron, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The offense, the team with possession of the oval-shaped football, attempts to advance down the field by running with the ball or passing it, while the defense, the team without possession of the ball, aims to stop the offense's advance and to take control of the ball for themselves. The offense must advance at least ten yards in four downs or plays; if they fail, they turn over the football to the defense, but if they succeed, they are given a new set of four downs to continue the drive. Points are scored primarily by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone for a touchdown or kicking the ball through the opponent's goalposts for a field goal. The team with the most points at the end of a game wins.
Soltenian handball evolved from the sports of soccer and rugby. A set of rule changes drawn up from 1880 onward by the College Athletics Association (CLV), established the snap, the line of scrimmage, eleven-player teams, and the concept of downs. Later rule changes during the Socialist Era legalized the forward pass, created the neutral zone and specified the size and shape of the football. The sport is closely related to other variants of handball and rugby, and is considered one the most prevalent variants.
Soltenian handball is the most popular sport in Soltenia. The most popular forms of the game are professional and college football, with the other major levels being high school and youth football. As of 2012, nearly 700,000 high school athletes and 25,000 college athletes play the sport in the annually. The Soltenian Handball Federation, the most popular Soltenian professional football league, has the highest average attendance of any professional sports league in Normerra. Its championship game, the Grand Cup, ranks among the most-watched club sporting events in the world. The league has an annual revenue of around US$9.5 billion, making it one of the most valuable sports leagues in the world. Other professional leagues exist worldwide, but the sport does not have the international popularity of other sports, such as basketball or association football.