The modern game of handball was first played towards the end of the 19th century in Denmark, Germany and Sweden.The sport evolved and grew in popularity early in the 20th century. Ironically1, it was the secretary general2 of the Association Internationale de Football3, a Dutchman called Hirschmann, who encouraged the spread of field handball in 1912. The first set of rules for field handball were drawn up4 in 1917 by Max Heiser, and in 1919 Berlin sports teacher Karl Schelenz launched this form of handball played on a full size outdoor football pitch5. Later on he improved the rules and he is now generally regarded as one of the founding fathers of handball.