The Premier Handball League is the highest level of men's club handball in England. It is organised by the England Handball Association.
Contents
History
The Premier Handball League was formerly known as the Super 8, and was re-branded for the 2017/18 season
Data sources: 1972-2019; 1975-1976 Wirral Handball Club Clubs and Honours; 1977-1982 Midlands Handball Association (1982) Handball Directory. page 12.; 1983 British Handball Association Word is ... No.5 page 3;
Format
The league consists of 8 teams which play each other two times in a season, once at each team's home venue. 3 points are awarded for each win, 2 points for a draw, and 1 point for a loss. Should the situation occur that two or more clubs finish with the same number of points, their final positions shall be determined by (and in the following order): (A) goal difference; (B) taking into account the results of the head to head Super 8 matches between the clubs concerned; (C) goals scored; (D) further matches played at a neutral venue.
The team that gets 8th place in Men's Premier Handball League will be relegated directly to their nearest Championship League (North or South). Following the final matches of the Championship, a group of playoff matches will take place to figure out the team who will be promoted to the following season's Super 8. The top 2 teams from each championship League will play 2 semifinals as follows:
North 1 vs South 2
South 1 vs North 2
The winners of the above semifinals will then play one match to figure out the promotion spot.
European competitions
The Premier Handball League contributes teams to European Handball Federation club competitions. The England Handball Association is awarded places in European competition based on its EHF coefficient rank. Currently the Premier Handball League provides 1 team to the EHF Cup and 3 teams to the EHF Challenge Cup.