The game is similar to standard handball, but it is played on sand instead of on a solid floor.

Because the ball loses most of its bounce on sand, there is little to no dribbling, and players instead perform more passing as the rules of travelling still apply.

Creative or spectacular goals, such as 360-degree jumps and alley-oops, are awarded with two points, as well as in-flights and 6-meter throws.

[1] In 2021, the Norway women's national beach handball team was fined €1500 for being improperly dressed after the women wore bike shorts instead of bikini bottoms at a European championship match in Bulgaria.

[3] Later, in November 2021, the International Handball Federation changed their dress rules to allow female players to wear some kinds of shorts, specifying "Female athletes must wear short tight pants with a close fit".