Federation
ix
Rules
of the Game
IHF hand signals
Clarifications to the
rules of the game
Updated 26.03.2001, by CA/KKS
IX - VIII/2001
2 IX - VIII/01
Table of contents Page
Playing Rules, IHF Hand Signals, Clarifications and
Substitution Area Regulations 3 – 82
Foreword 3
Rule 1 - Playing Court 4 – 8
Rule 2 - Playing Time, Final Signal and Time-Out 9 – 11
Rule 3 - The Ball 12
Rule 4 - The Team, Substitutions, Equipment 13 – 16
Rule 5 - The Goalkeeper 17 – 18
Rule 6 - The Goal Area 19 – 20
Rule 7 - Playing the Ball, Passive Play 21 – 23
Rule 8 - Fouls and Unsportsmanlike Conduct 24 – 26
Rule 9 - Scoring 27 – 28
Rule 10 - The Throw-Off 29
Rule 11 - The Throw-In 30
Rule 12 - The Goalkeeper-Throw 31
Rule 13 - The Free-Throw 32 – 35
Rule 14 - The 7-Meter-Throw 36 – 37
Rule 15 - General Instructions for the Execution of the
Throws (Throw-Off, Throw-In, Goalkeeper-
Throw, Free-Throw and 7-Meter-Throw) 38 – 39
Rule 16 - The Punishments 40 – 46
Rule 17 - The Referees 47 – 49
Rule 18 - The Timekeeper and the Scorekeeper 50
The IHF Hand Signals 51 – 60
Clarifications to the rules of the game 61 – 74
Substitution Area Regulations 75 – 78
Guidelines for Playing Courts and Goals 79 – 82
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FOREWORD
These Rules of the Game will take effect on August 1, 2001.
The Rules Text, the Comments, the IHF Hand Signals, the Clarifications
to the Rules of the Game, and the Substitution Area Regulations are all
Components of the overall Rules. This does not apply to the ‘Guidelines
for Playing Courts and Goals’, which are simply included in the rule book
for the convenience of the users of that text.
Remark
For the sake of simplicity, this rule book generally uses the male form
of words with respect to players, officials, referees and other persons.
However, the rules apply equally to male and female participants,
except as regards the rules for the size of the balls to be used (see
Rule 3).
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1:1 The playing court (see Diagram 1) is a 40 meters long and 20
meters wide rectangle, consisting of two goal areas (see Rule
1:4 and Rule 6) and a playing area. The longer boundary lines
are called side lines, and the shorter ones are called goal lines
(between the goal posts) or outer goal lines (on either side of the
goal).
There should be a safety zone surrounding the playing court,
with a width of at least 1 meter along the side lines and 2 meters
behind the outer goal lines.
The characteristics of the playing court must not be altered
during the game in such a way that one team gains an
advantage.
1:2 A goal (see Diagrams 2a and 2b) is placed in the center of each
outer goal line. The goals must be firmly attached to the floor or
to the walls behind them. They have an interior height of 2
meters and a width of 3 meters.
The goal posts are joined by a horizontal crossbar. The rear side
of the goal posts shall be in line with the rear edge of the goal
line. The goal posts and the crossbar must have an 8 cm square
cross-section. On the three sides which are visible from the
court they must be painted in bands of two contrasting colors,
which also contrast clearly with the background.
The goals must have a net, that should be attached in such a
way that a ball thrown into the goal normally remains in the goal.
1:3 All lines on the court are fully part of the area that they enclose.
The goal lines shall be 8 cm wide between the goal posts (see
Diagram 2a), whereas all other lines shall be 5 cm wide.
Lines between two adjacent areas may be replaced with a
difference in colors between the adjacent areas of the floor.
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1:4 In front of each goal there is a goal area (see Rule 6). The goal
area is defined by the goal-area line (6-meter line), which is
drawn as follows: (i) a 3 meters long line directly in front of the
goal; this line is parallel to the goal line and 6 meters away from it
(measured from the rear edge of the goal line to the front edge
of the goal-area line); and (ii) two quarter-circles, each with a
radius of 6 meters (measured from the rear inner corner of the
goal posts), connecting the 3 meters long line with the outer goal
line (see Diagrams 1 and 2a).
1:5 The free-throw line (9-meter line) is a broken line, drawn 3
meters outside the goal-area line. Both the segments of the line
and the spaces between them measure 15 cm (see Diagram 1).
1:6 The 7-meter line is a 1 meter long line, directly in front of the
goal. It is parallel to the goal line and 7 meters away from it
(measured from the rear edge of the goal line to the front edge
of the 7-meter line); (see Diagram 1).
1:7 The goalkeeper’s restraining line (the 4-meter line) is a 15 cm
long line, directly in front of the goal. It is parallel to the goal line
and 4 meters away from it (measured from the rear edge of the
goal line to the front edge of the 4-meter line); (see Diagram 1).
1:8 The center line connects the midpoints of the two side lines (see
Diagrams 1 and 3).
1:9 The substitution line (a segment of the side line) for each team
extends from the center line to a point at a distance of 4.5 meters
from the center line. This end point of the substitution line is
enhanced by a line which is parallel to the center line, extending
15 cm inside the side line and 15 cm outside the side line (see
Diagrams 1 and 3).
N.B. More detailed technical requirements for the playing court and
the goals can be found in the ‘Guidelines for Playing Courts and
Goals’, starting on page 79.
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Diagram 1: The Playing Court
Playing Court: See also Diagram 5 (page 82)
Dimensions indicated in cm
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Diagram 2a: The Goal
Center of quarter-circle
Goal line
Direction towards playing court
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Diagram 2b: The Goal –
seen from the side
Diagram 3: Substitution lines and substitution area
Substitution lines Side line
Substitute and suspended players and 4 officials
Table for timekeeper and scorekeeper
Substitute and suspended players and 4 officials
The table for timekeeper and scorekeeper and the benches for substitutes have to be
placed in such a way that the scorekeeper/timekeeper can see the substitution lines. The
table should be placed closer to the side line than the benches, but at least 50 cm outside
the side line.
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Rule 2 Playing Time, Final Signal and Time-Out
Playing Time
2:1 The normal playing time for all teams with players of age 16 and
above is 2 halves of 30 minutes. The half-time break is normally
10 minutes.
The normal playing time for youth teams is 2 x 25 minutes in the
age group 12-16 and 2 x 20 minutes in the age group 8-12. In
both cases the half-time break is normally 10 minutes.
2:2 Overtime is played, following a 5-minute break, if a game is tied
at the end of the regular playing time and a winner has to be
determined. The overtime period consists of 2 halves of
5 minutes, with a 1-minute half-time break.
If the game is again tied after a first overtime period, a second
period is played after a 5-minute break. This overtime period
also has 2 halves of 5 minutes, with a 1-minute half-time break.
If the game is still tied, the winner will be determined in
accordance with the rules for the particular competition.
Final Signal
2:3 The playing time begins with the referee’s whistle for the initial
throw-off. It ends with the automatic final signal from the public
clock or from the timekeeper. If no such signal comes, the
referee whistles to indicate that the playing time is over (17:10).
n Comment:
If a public clock with an automatic final signal is not available, the
timekeeper shall use a table clock or a stopwatch and end the
game with a final signal (18:2, 2 nd paragraph).
If a public clock is used, it should, if possible, be set to run from
0 to 30 minutes.
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2:4 Infractions and unsportsmanlike conduct that take place before,
or simultaneously with, the final signal (for half-time or end of
game) are to be punished, also if this cannot be done until after
the signal. The referees end the game only after the necessary
free-throw (except free-throws under Rule 13:4) or 7-meter throw
has been taken and its immediate result has been established.
(See also Clarification No. 1).
2:5 The throw must be retaken, if the final signal (for half-time or end
of game) sounds precisely when a free-throw or a 7-meter throw
is being executed or when the ball is already in the air. The
immediate result of the retaken throw is to be established before
the referees end the game.
2:6 Players and team officials remain subject to personal punishment
for infractions or unsportsmanlike conduct which take place
during the execution of a free-throw or 7-meter throw in the
circumstances described in Rules 2:4-5. An infraction during the
execution of such a throw cannot, however, lead to a free-throw in
the opposite direction.
2:7 If the referees determine that the timekeeper has given the final
signal (for half-time or end of game) too early, they must keep
the players on the court and play the remaining time.
The team that was in possession of the ball at the time of the
premature signal will remain in possession when the game
resumes. If the ball was out of play, then the game is restarted
with the throw that corresponds to the situation. If the ball was in
play, then the game is restarted with a free-throw in accordance
with Rule 13:4a-b.
If the first half of a game (or an overtime period) has been
terminated too late, the second half must be shortened
correspondingly. If the second half of a game (or an overtime
period) has been terminated too late, then the referees are no
longer in a position to change anything.
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Time-Out
2:8 The referees decide when and for how long the playing time is to
be interrupted (‘time-out’).
A time-out is obligatory when:
a) a 2-minute suspension, disqualification, or exclusion is
given;
b) a 7-meter throw is awarded;
c) a team time-out is granted;
d) there is a faulty substitution or an ‘extra’ player enters the
court;
e) there is a whistle signal from the timekeeper or the Technical
Delegate;
f) consultations between the referees are necessary in
accordance with Rule 17:8.
A time-out is normally also given in certain other situations,
depending on the circumstances (see Clarification No. 2).
Infractions during a time-out have the same consequences as
infractions during the playing time (16:13, 1 st paragraph).
2:9 The referees give the timekeeper a signal when the clock is to be
stopped and restarted in connection with a time-out.
The interruption of the playing time is to be indicated to the
timekeeper through three short blasts on the whistle and Hand
signal No. 16.
The whistle must always be blown to indicate the restart of the
game after a time-out (15:3b).
2:10 Each team has the right to receive one 1-minute team time-out in
each half of the regular playing time (Clarification No. 3).
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Rule 3 The Ball
3:1 The ball is made of leather or a synthetic material. It must be
spherical. The surface must not be shiny or slippery (17:3).
3:2 The ball sizes, i.e., the circumference and weight, to be used by
different categories of teams are as follows:
- 58-60 cm and 425-475 g (IHF Size 3) for Men and for male
youth (over age 16);
- 54-56 cm and 325-375 g (IHF Size 2) for Women, female
youth (over age 14), and male youth (age 12 to 16);
- 50-52 cm and 290-330 g (IHF Size 1) for female youth (age 8
to 14) and male youth (age 8 to 12).
§ Comments:
The technical requirements for the balls to be used in all official
international games are contained in the ‘IHF Ball Regulations’.
The size and weight of balls to be used for ‘Mini-Handball’ are
not regulated in the normal playing rules.
3:3 For every game, there must be at least two balls available. The
reserve balls must be immediately available at the timekeeper’s
table during the game. The balls must meet the requirements of
Rules 3:1-2.
3:4 The referees decide when to use a reserve ball. In such cases,
the referees should get the reserve ball into play quickly, in order
to minimize interruptions and avoid time-outs.
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Rule 4 The Team, Substitutions, Equipment
The Team
4:1 A team consists of up to 12 players.
No more than 7 players may be present on the court at the same
time. The remaining players are substitutes.
At all times during the game, the team must have one of the
players on the court designated as a goalkeeper. A player who is
recognized as a goalkeeper may become a court player at any
time. Similarly, a court player may become a goalkeeper at any
time (see, however, Rules 4:4 and 4:7).
A team must have at least 5 players on the court at the start of
the game.
The number of players on a team can be increased up to 12, at
any time during the game, including overtime. (For IHF and
Continental events, this is handled in accordance with applicable
regulations.)
The game may continue, even if a team is reduced to less than 5
players on the court. It is for the referees to judge whether and
when the game should be permanently abandoned (17:13).
4:2 A team is allowed to use a maximum of 4 team officials during
the game. These team officials may not be replaced during the
course of the game. One of them must be designated as “the
responsible team official.” Only this official is allowed to address
the timekeeper/scorekeeper and, possibly, the referees (see,
however, Clarification no. 3: Team time-out).
A team official is generally not allowed to enter the court during
the game. A violation of this rule is to be penalized as
Unsportsmanlike conduct (see Rules 8:4, 16:1d, 16:3d and
16:6b). The game is restarted with a free-throw for the
Opponents (13:1a-b; see, however, Clarification No. 9).
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4:3 A player or team official is entitled to participate if he is present
at the start of the game and is included in the score sheet.
Players and team officials who arrive after the game has started
must obtain their entitlement to participate from the
timekeeper/scorekeeper and must be entered into the
score sheet.
A player who is entitled to participate may, in principle, enter the
court through the team’s own substitution line at any time (see,
however, Rules 4:4 and 4:6).
A player who is not entitled to participate shall be disqualified if
he enters the court (16:6a). The game is restarted with a free-throw
for the opponents (13:1a-b; see, however, Clarification No.
9).
Player Substitutions
4:4 Substitutes may enter the game, at any time and repeatedly,
without notifying the timekeeper/scorekeeper, as long as the
players they are replacing have already left the court (4:5).
The players shall always leave and enter the court over their own
team’s substitution line (4:5). These requirements also apply to
the substitution of goalkeepers (see also 4:7 and 14:10).
The substitution rules apply also during a time-out (except during
a team time-out).
4:5 A faulty substitution shall be penalized with a 2-minute
suspension for the guilty player. If more than one player from
the same team is guilty of faulty substitution in the same
situation, only the first player committing an infraction is to be
penalized.
The game is restarted with a free-throw for the opponents
(13:1a-b; see, however, Clarification No. 9).
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4:6 If an additional player enters the court without a substitution, or if
a player illegally interferes with the game from the substitution
area, there shall be a 2-minute suspension for the player. Thus,
the team must be reduced by one player on the court for the next
2 minutes (apart from the fact that the entering additional player
must leave the court).
If a player enters the court while serving a 2-minute suspension,
he shall be given an additional 2-minute suspension. This
suspension shall begin immediately, so the team must be further
reduced on the court during the overlap between the first and the
second suspension.
The game is in both cases restarted with a free-throw for the
opponents (13:1a-b; see, however, Clarification No. 9).
Equipment
4:7 All the court players on a team must wear identical uniforms. The
combinations of colors and design for the two teams must be
clearly distinguishable from each other. A player who is being
used as goalkeeper must wear colors that distinguish him from
the court players of both teams and the goalkeeper of the
opposing team (17:3).
4:8 The players must wear numbers that are at least 20 cm high in
the back of the shirt and at least 10 cm in the front. The
numbers used should be from 1 to 20.
The color of the numbers must contrast clearly with the colors
and design of the shirt.
The captain of each team must wear an armlet around the upper
arm. It should be about 4 cm wide and its color must contrast
with those of the shirt.
4:9 The players must wear sports shoes.
It is not permitted to wear objects that could be dangerous to the
players. This includes, for instance, head protection, face
masks, bracelets, watches, rings, necklaces or chains, ear-rings,
glasses without restraining bands or with solid frames, or
16 IX - VIII/01
any other objects which could be dangerous (17:3). Headbands
are allowed, as long as they are made of soft, elastic material.
Players who do not meet this requirement will not be allowed to
take part until they have corrected the problem.
4:10 If a player is bleeding or has blood on the body or uniform, the
player must leave the court immediately and voluntarily (through
a normal substitution), in order to have the bleeding stopped, the
wound covered, and the body and uniform cleaned off. The
player must not return to the court until this has been done.
A player who does not follow the instructions of the referees in
connection with this provision is deemed guilty of
unsportsmanlike conduct (8:4, 16:1d and 16:3c).
4:11 In the case of an injury, the referees may give permission
(through Hand signals No. 16 and 17) for two of the persons who
are ‘entitled to participate’ (see 4:3) to enter the court during a
time-out, for the specific purpose of assisting an injured player
from their team (4:2, 16:1d, 16:3d, 16:6b).
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Rule 5 The Goalkeeper
The goalkeeper is allowed to:
5:1 touch the ball with any part of his body while in the act of
defense inside the goal area;
5:2 move with the ball inside the goal area, without being subject to
the restrictions applying to court players (Rules 7:2-4, 7:7); the
goalkeeper is not allowed, however, to delay the execution of the
goalkeeper-throw (Rules 6:5, 12:2 and 15:3b);
5:3 leave the goal area without the ball and participate in the game in
the playing area; when doing so, the goalkeeper becomes
subject to the rules applying to players in the playing area.
The goalkeeper is considered to have left the goal area as soon
as any part of the body touches the floor outside the goal-area
line;
5:4 to leave the goal area with the ball and play it again in the playing
area, if he has not managed to control it.
The goalkeeper is not allowed to:
5:5 endanger the opponent while in the act of defense (8:2, 8:5);
5:6 leave the goal area with the ball under control (13:1a);
5:7 touch the ball again outside the goal area following a goalkeeper-throw,
until after it has touched another player (13:1a);
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5:8 touch the ball when it is stationary or rolling on the floor outside
the goal area, while he is inside the goal area (13:1a);
5:9 take the ball into the goal area when it is stationary or rolling
on the floor outside the goal area (13:1a);
5:10 re-enter the goal area from the playing area with the ball (13:1a);
5:11 touch the ball with the foot or the leg below the knee, when it is
stationary on the floor in the goal area or moving out towards the
playing area (13:1a);
5:12 cross the goalkeeper’s restraining line (4-meter line) or its
projection on either side, before the ball has left the hand of the
opponent who is executing a 7-meter throw (14:9).
n Comment:
As long as the goalkeeper keeps one foot on the floor on or
behind the restraining line (4-meter line), he is permitted to move
the other foot or any other part of his body out over the line in
the air.
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Rule 6 The Goal Area
6:1 Only the goalkeeper is allowed to enter the goal area (see,
however, 6:3). The goal area, which includes the goal area line,
is considered entered when a court player touches it with any
part of the body.
6:2 When a court player enters the goal area, the decisions shall be
as follows:
a) free-throw, when a court player enters the goal area in
possession of the ball (13:1a);
b) free-throw, when a court player enters the goal area without
the ball but gains an advantage by doing so (13:1a-b; see,
however, 6:2c);
c) 7-meter throw, when a defending player enters the goal area
and because of this destroys a clear chance of scoring
(14:1a).
6:3 Entering the goal area is not penalized when:
a) a player enters the goal area after playing the ball, as long as
this does not create a disadvantage for the opponents;
b) a player enters the goal area without the ball and does
not gain an advantage by doing so;
c) a defending player enters the goal area during or after an
attempt to defend, without causing a disadvantage for
the opponents.
6:4 The ball belongs to the goalkeeper when it is in the goal area.
A court player is not permitted to touch the ball when it is
stationary or rolling in the goal area, or when it is held by the
goalkeeper (13:1a-b). It is permitted, however, to play the ball
when it is in the air above the goal area, except when a
goalkeeper-throw is being executed (12:2).
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6:5 The goalkeeper shall put the ball back into play through a
goalkeeper-throw (Rule 12), when it ends up in the goal area.
6:6 Play shall continue (through a goalkeeper-throw under rule 6:5)
if a player of the defending team touches the ball when in the act
of defense, and the ball is caught by the goalkeeper or comes to
rest in the goal area.
6:7 If a player plays the ball into his own goal area, the decisions
shall be as follows:
a) goal, if the ball enters the goal;
b) free-throw, if the ball comes to a rest in the goal area, or if the
goalkeeper touches the ball and it does not enter the goal
(13:1b);
c) throw-in, if the ball goes out over the outer goal line (11:1);
d) play continues, if the ball passes through the goal area back
into the playing area, without being touched by the
goalkeeper.
6:8 A ball that returns from the goal area out into the playing area
remains in play.
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Rule 7 Playing the Ball, Passive Play
Playing the Ball
It is permitted to:
7:1 throw, catch, stop, push or hit the ball, by using hands (open or
closed), arms, head, torso, thighs and knees;
7:2 hold the ball for a maximum of 3 seconds, also when it is Iying
on the floor (13:1a);
7:3 take a maximum of 3 steps with the ball (13:1a); one step is
considered taken when:
a) a player who is standing with both feet on the floor lifts
one foot and puts it down again, or moves one foot from one
place to another;
b) a player is touching the floor with one foot only, catches
the ball and then touches the floor with the other foot;
c) a player after a jump touches the floor with one foot only, and
then hops on the same foot or touches the floor with the other
foot;
d) a player after a jump touches the floor with both feet
simultaneously, and then lifts one foot and puts it down again,
or moves one foot from one place to another.
n Comment:
It counts as only one step, if one foot is moved from one place to
another, and then the other foot is dragged next to the first one.
22 IX - VIII/01
7:4 while standing or running:
a) bounce the ball once and catch it again with one or both
hands;
b) bounce the ball repeatedly with one hand (dribble), or roll the
ball on the floor repeatedly with one hand, and then catch it or
pick it up again with one or both hands.
As soon as the ball thereafter is held in one or both hands, it
must be played within 3 seconds or after no more than 3 steps
(13:1a).
The bouncing or dribbling is considered to have started when the
player touches the ball with any part of his body and directs it
towards the floor.
After the ball has touched another player or the goal, the player
is allowed to tap the ball or bounce it and catch it again.
7:5 move the ball from one hand into the other one.
7:6 play the ball while kneeling, sitting or lying on the floor.
It is not permitted to:
7:7 touch the ball more than once, unless it has touched the floor,
another player, or the goal in the meantime (13:1a).
Fumbling the ball is not penalized.
n Comment:
Fumbling means that a player fails to control the ball when trying
to catch it or stop it.
If the ball has already been controlled, then the player may not
touch it more than once after tapping or bouncing it.
IX - VIII/01 23
7:8 touch the ball with a foot or leg below the knee, except when the
ball has been thrown at the player by an opponent (13:1a-b);
7:9 Play continues if the ball touches a referee on the court.
Passive play
7:10 It is not permitted to keep the ball in the team’s possession
without making any recognizable attempt to attack or to shoot on
goal (see Clarification No. 4). This is regarded as passive play,
which is to be penalized with a free-throw against the team in
possession of the ball (13:1a).
The free-throw is taken from the spot where the ball was when
play was interrupted.
7:11 When a possible tendency to passive play is recognized, the
forewarning signal (Hand signal No. 18) is shown. This gives the
team in possession of the ball the opportunity to change its way
of attacking in order to avoid losing possession. If the way of
attacking does not change after the forewarning signal has been
shown, or no shot on goal is taken, then a free-throw is called
against the team in possession (see Clarification No. 4).
In certain situations the referees can call a free-throw against
the team in possession also without any prior forewarning signal,
e.g., when a player intentionally refrains from trying to utilize a
clear scoring chance.
24 IX - VIII/01
Rule 8 Fouls and Unsportsmanlike Conduct
It is permitted to:
8:1 a) use arms and hands to block or gain possession of the ball;
b) use an open hand to play the ball away from the
opponent from any direction;
c) use the body to obstruct an opponent, even when the
opponent is not in possession of the ball;
d) make body contact with an opponent, when facing him
and with bent arms, and maintain this contact in order to
monitor and follow the opponent.
It is not permitted to:
8:2 a) pull or hit the ball out of the hands of an opponent;
b) block or force away an opponent with arms, hands or legs;
c) restrain, hold, push, run or jump into an opponent;
d) interfere with, impede or endanger an opponent (with or
without the ball) in contravention of the rules.