Handball teams are usually organized as clubs. On a national level, the clubs are associated in federations which organize matches in leagues and tournaments.
[edit]International bodiesThe administrative and controlling body for international Handball is the International Handball Federation (IHF). The federation organizes world championships, separate for men and women, held in uneven years.[5] The final round is hosted in one of its member states. Current title holders are France (men)[6] and Russia (women).[7]
The IHF is composed of five continental federations which organize continental championships held every other second year. In addition to these competitions between national teams, the federations arrange international tournaments between club teams.[8] The federations and their corresponding tournaments and members are summarized in the following table: