Handball rules
The handball rules are adjusted by the handball rules committee of the International Handball Federation (IHF) every few years; the current ones have been in effect since July 2016. The rules relate to the behavior of all those involved (players, officials, timekeepers and secretaries as well as referees ) during the game (including the breaks) on the field and the basic technical requirements for playing a game.
History of the handball rules
Basic rules were first summarized in Denmark in 1898 by Holger Nielsen and published in 1906. In Germany in 1917 Karl Schelenz took a slightly different view and refined it in 1919 with other sports officials.
From 1925 onwards, international games were held in Europe according to German rules. In 1926 the International Association of Athletics Federations nominated a committee to revise it, after which Berlin organized the Olympic Games in 1936 and the International Handball Federation organized the World Cup in 1938, which then took place every three to four years. From 1940 handball was not an Olympic discipline, but was reintroduced as team handball in 1972 (Munich) at the instigation of Scandinavia and the Eastern Bloc .
In particular, rules 8 and 16, which deal with penalties, have changed over time. This was mainly due to the rule changes in 2010, when the exclusion was abolished and the disqualification with report was introduced in its place. From July 2016, further regulations will come into force, including the regulations for the last 30 game seconds.
Set of rules
The set of rules consists of:
- Rule 1 to 18
- IHF hand sign
- Explanation of the rules
- Substitution area regulations
- Guidelines and Interpretations
- Rules for playing area and goals
The national associations may only issue deviations from the rules at specially marked places, which then become part of the rules. In addition, the national associations can stipulate further provisions for the implementation of gaming operations. In the area of the DHB , for example:
- Game rules (SpO)
- Determination of leagues, match adjustments, regulation of special cases (absence of referees)
- Referee Rules (SrO)
- Training as well as rights and duties of the arbitrators
- Legal system (RO)
- Determination of the legal instances and sanction options beyond the past game
- Youth regulations
- Supplementary provisions for the organization of the German handball youth as a community of all young people in the DHB
- Trainer Regulations (TO)
- Defining licenses and their scope
- Finance / Fee Regulations (FGO)
- Determination of costs for certain services of the association
- Implementing Regulations
- Regulation of ascent, descent and additional provisions. For each sub-association (regional association, state association, district) there is a corresponding regulation, as the local conditions require an adjustment.
Each sub-association has the right to make deviating regulations from the DHB specification in certain areas.
Basics
Two teams play against each other, consisting of a maximum of 14 players. 7 players from each team compete against each other on the field, 6 of whom are field players and one player is goalkeeper. The aim of the game is to get the ball over the opponent's goal line, between the goal posts and under the crossbar. For the goal to be valid, the ball must have completely crossed the goal line. And the attacking teams must not have violated the rules immediately beforehand. The team that scores the most goals during the game wins.
Field players may play the ball with the whole body, except with the lower leg and foot (foot game). If the ball is deliberately touched with the foot or lower leg, a progressive penalty will be imposed. If it is done without intent, that is, the foot does not actively go to the ball, there is only one free throw for the opposing team. Throwing on the defender without his active participation is not punishable.
Each team has a goalkeeper who is allowed to touch the ball within their own goal area with their foot or leg as long as they do this for defense, i.e. when the ball does not move towards the playing field. However, if the ball moves in the direction of the side or center line and thus in the direction of the playing field, a defense with the foot and lower leg is not permitted. This offense is only sanctioned with a free throw for the attacking team, but not with a progressive punishment for the goalkeeper. Outside the goal area he must behave like a normal field player.
When the ball leaves the field of play, the team that did not touch the ball last receives the ball. How the ball is put back into play depends on which line it crossed:
- Sideline: throw-in
- Outer goal line, but no goal: If a player from the attacking team or the goalkeeper touches the ball last, a goalkeeper-throw takes place.
If the goal is valid, the team against which the goal was scored receives a throw-off.
Play areas
The playing area has the shape of a rectangle (40 m × 20 m) and is divided into two halves by the center line. In the middle of the narrow sides are the gates, in front of them the respective goal areas. The space inside the playing area but outside the goal areas is the playing field .
Basically, all lines belong to the space that they delimit. For the center line, this means that it belongs to both halves of the pitch.
In exceptional cases, a smaller playing area can also be permitted in a national association.
The characteristics of the playing area and goals are specified by the IHF in the “Guidelines for playing areas and goals”.
Gates
The gates are usually three meters wide and two meters high in the clear. They must be firmly anchored to the floor or to the wall behind. The goal frame must be a rectangle.
The goal posts and the crossbar that connects them must be made of the same material (e.g. wood or light metal ) and have a square profile with an edge length of 8 cm. The edges must be rounded and have a radius of 4 ± 1 mm. The goal posts and the crossbar must be painted in two clearly contrasting colors on the three sides that can be seen from the playing area, which also stand out clearly against the background.
In the corner between the post and the crossbar, the goal stripes measure 28 cm in each direction and are the same color. All other strips must be 20 cm long. Every goal must have a net, the so-called goal net. This must be fixed in such a way that a ball thrown into the goal normally remains in the goal or cannot fly through the goal. If necessary, another net can be attached in the goal behind the goal line. The distance between the goal line and this additional net should be approx. 70 cm, but at least 60 cm.
Goal area
Outside the gates there is the goal area . It is formed from two quarter circles with a radius of six meters around the inner rear corner of the goal post and a line parallel to the goal line at a distance of 6 m. Field players are not allowed to enter the goal area. However, the ball may be played in the air space above the goal area, i.e. an attacker may jump off in front of the goal area line and throw it at the goal from a short distance, whereby the ball must have left the hand before this player touches the ground. Entering the goal area without the ball to gain an advantage (e.g. a better face-off position) will result in loss of the ball for the player's team. The game continues with a release.
Entering the circle by a defender is usually only punished if he gains an advantage for the purpose of defense . If he prevents a clear chance of scoring, the game is restarted with a seven-meter throw (restoration of the clear chance of scoring ).
The 4-meter line is in the goal area. This is only important for a seven-meter throw. In this case, the goalkeeper may not come out of the goal further than this mark, and individual parts of the body may protrude beyond it in the air.
Substitution area
On one long side of the playing area, on both sides of the center line, outside the playing area, there is a substitution area for each team, in which the officials, the substitute players and any players who have been suspended are located. A change between the substitution area and the field of play may only take place via the substitution line, which is 4.50 m long from the center line.
Playtime
The normal playing time for all teams from 16 years of age (A-youth, adults) is 2 × 30 minutes with a break of usually 10 minutes. For youth teams the playing time is reduced as follows:
- 2 × 25 minutes for ages 12 to 16 years (C and B youth)
- 2 × 20 minutes for ages 8 to 12 years (up to and including D-youth)
In games where a decision has to be made (for example tournaments or DHB Cup), there is an extension of 2 × 5 minutes with a half-time break of 1 minute after a break of 5 minutes. If there is still a tie after the 1st extension, a second extension will be carried out after a further break of 5 minutes with the same procedure as the 1st extension. If a decision has not yet been made, it will be brought about with a seven-meter throw, here the best-of-5 rule applies . If there is still no winner, it is alternately thrown until a decision is made. Only players who have not been postponed after the end of the second extra time or who have been disqualified during the game are allowed to take part in the seven-meter throw.
Passive play
The rule of passive play aims to prevent unattractive ways of playing such as deliberate delaying and to keep the game flowing. The referee has the right to give possession of the ball to the defending team if he gets the impression that the attacking team is not clearly trying to score.
If a referee (field referee or goal referee) recognizes a development to passive play, he raises his arm to indicate that a targeted playing of a goal throw opportunity is not recognizable. The attacking team then has some time to finish the goal; if they fail to do so within the time, one of the two referees decides on passive play and the defending team receives the ball. The referees cannot withdraw the indication of passive play this remains even after a throw-in or free throw.
This rule often causes discussions during a game because, unlike, for example, basketball, where the duration of a play is specified by the 24-second clock, it is solely the subjective feeling of the referee who decides when a team plays passively. A rule change that has been in force since June 1, 2016 provides some relief: after the warning sign is displayed, only six passes are allowed - at least the last and critical phase of the passive game is comprehensible for the players and the audience.
Throwing seven meters to make a decision
Each team names five players who alternately throw at one of the goals. The goal is chosen by the referees before the seven-meter throw. Before the start of the seven-meter throw, it is decided by drawing lots who will throw first.
If there is still a tie after the first round, the seven-meter throw is continued as follows:
- The team that did not start the first seven-meter throw begins.
- Each team can name different throwers.
- The seven-meter throw is over when a team is in the lead after a throw.
The goalkeepers may be changed at any time during the seven-meter throw. In contrast to the seven-meter throw in regular time (including extra time), there is no re-throw in the seven-meter throw. However, if the ball rebounds from the post or crossbar on the goalkeeper and then goes into the goal, the goal counts.
Time-out and team time-out
According to Rule 2: 8, the referees have to decide on time-out if:
- A suspension or disqualification is imposed
- When the timekeeper or the delegate whistles
- When the referees must consult according to Rule 17: 7 and
- When a team time-out request is confirmed.
The referees can interrupt the playing time at their own discretion. In the case of a special delay, for example a goalkeeper change, a time-out should be decided on the seven-meter-long game.
Each team has once for each half of the regular season, the right to a team time-out (TTO) ( dt. "Break") lasting one minute. She can only use this right if she is in possession of the ball. The TTO is requested by the team official by handing a green card with a black “T” to the timekeeper or by placing it in front of him on the table of the timekeeper and secretary .
According to the note in rule 2:10, the IHF , the continental and national federations can also issue deviations and allow a third team time-out. A team time-out may be requested a maximum of two times in one half. In the 2012/13 season this regulation was introduced in competitions at the European level and in the two national handball leagues.
The timekeeper immediately interrupts the game with an acoustic signal (horn, siren or whistle) - if the team requesting the TTO is in possession of the ball - and stops the time. After 50 seconds, the timekeeper gives an acoustic signal to indicate that the game must be resumed in ten seconds with the throw corresponding to the situation at the time of the interruption.
If the referees do not hear the timekeeper's whistle, the time will stop anyway. The entire course of the game from the whistle is invalid, no goals are counted, only personal penalties remain. Play continues from the point where the ball was at the time of the whistle.
In team time-out, game tactics are usually discussed. However, the TTO is often only used for purely tactical reasons, in order to interrupt the flow of play for the opposing team. There are also divisions in lower associations in which the TTO is prohibited.
Cue ball
The game ball consists of an air-filled leather or plastic cover. Three sizes are used:
| size | Teams | Circumference [cm] | Weight [g] |
| III | Men and male youth from U16 (mA-Jgd.) | 58-60 | 425-475 |
|---|---|---|---|
| II | Women, male youth from U13 (male and female) and female Youth from 14 (wB + wA-Jgd.) | 54-56 | 325-375 |
| I. | Youth from U11 (mE, mD, wE, wD, wC - youth) | 50-52 | 290-330 |
The size and weight of balls in “mini handball” are not specified in the IHF rules. The unofficial size of the mini handball is 48 cm in circumference (IHF size 0).
Direction of the game
see main article handball referee
Each game is usually presided over by two referees who monitor compliance with the rules. Games in the lower age groups (mini to C-youth), as well as in the lower divisions of the upper age groups (B-, A-youth and active players) are usually only led by one referee. You have the right to interrupt the game at any time if a rule violation has occurred. Your decisions about game situations are binding for both teams (so-called "factual decision"). One of them acts as a goal referee , the other as field referee , each with his own area of responsibility depending on the line-up of the teams and the game situation.
The referees count the goals, penalties and are the last resort in the event of uncertainty about the playing time.
Jury
The referees are supported by a jury made up of a timekeeper and secretary. In higher-class games, technical delegates from the associations are deployed, who check the work of the jury and are allowed to intervene in the game if the “bank” has committed a crime.
The secretary keeps the game record in which goal sequences and penalties are noted. Changes to the player list are made by him if necessary.
The timekeeper checks the playing time and ensures that the public timing system is stopped or continued on request. He is also responsible for compliance with the penalty times and the duration of the team time-out.
The referees jointly check the number of players and watch out for errors in substitutions and substitutions. You have to inform the referees, who then have sanctions.
Advantage idea
When it comes to directing the game, the focus is always on the flow of the game. This means that if the defending team violates the rules, it is not immediately interrupted, but it is waited to see whether the attacker has an opportunity to score. Penalties can and should be given retrospectively, and misconduct on the part of the attacker leads to an immediate expiry of the advantage, but not to the forfeiture of the penalties.
For example, when throwing in a player does not keep the distance to the person throwing in, but the referee recognizes that an attacker is in a good position and is being played. This scores a goal. Before the throw-off, the defender's guilty player is punished with a yellow card (or one of the following).
Rule violations
Punish
In principle, referees should build a progressive line , i.e. let the penalties build on one another. First a yellow card should be shown or a team should be given a one-off warning, then the harder penalties up to disqualification follow. Multiple violations in the same situation result in the severest penalty.
The progression does not have to be adhered to at all costs; for corresponding offenses, more severe penalties can be resorted to.
Offenses can be punished during the actual playing time, during the break and before the game, whereby penalties pronounced before the game extend to disqualification, but have no effect on the game: The punished team may complete itself and must not start outnumbered. For offenses after the game, only a written report to the appropriate authority is possible.
warning
The warning is indicated by a yellow card for the timekeeper / secretary and the player concerned and in principle has no effect on the current game, except that the next throw must be started. Each player should only be cautioned once, after which there is a suspension even for a similar offense. No more than three warnings should be issued against a team and no more than one warning against officials.
Offenses that can be punished with a warning are
- Snatching or knocking the ball out of your hands
- Blocking or pushing away with arms, hands or legs
- Clinging or holding onto the body or playing clothes
- Toast, run or jump
Actions that are primarily against the body and not against the ball are to be punished with a warning. However, since physical effort against the opponent is part of the normal handball game, a physical offense with a certain intensity must have taken place in order to be punishable.
Punishing with a warning is unsportsmanlike conduct, for example:
- Protest against a referee's decision
- verbal and non-verbal attempts to influence the referee
- bothering or hindering another player verbally or non-verbally (e.g. yelling at to distract him)
- Delay in execution of a throw by the opposing team (failure to keep the 3 m distance, etc.)
- Acting to fake an offense, interrupt play, or provoke a punishment
- active defense against throws or passes with feet or lower legs (closing the legs as a reflex is not punished)
- repeatedly entering the goal area for tactical reasons
Suspension
The above offenses that are repeated after a warning (or the card quota has been used up) will be punished with the next level of progression. This leads to a reduction in the number of players of the team concerned on the playing field for two minutes.
Furthermore, suspensions are issued immediately in the following situations if a player accepts the endangerment of an opponent:
- Passing away at high speed or with high intensity
- Hold the opponent for a long time or pull him to the ground
- Offenses against the head, neck or neck
- strong blow to the body or limb
- the attempt to bring the opponent out of body control
- run or jump into the opponent at high speed
A suspension is also given in the following situations:
- in the event of a faulty change
- after a disqualification
- unsportsmanlike conduct, such as
- Loud protest, intense gesturing and provocative behavior
- if a decision is made against your own team, do not put the ball down immediately
- when blocking the ball in the substitution area
A suspension is indicated to the player or official and the timekeeper / secretary by holding up their outstretched arm with two raised fingers.
If a player is postponed for the third time, the player concerned is also disqualified without a report by showing the red card.
A suspension may only be recognized once against the officials of a team. The team must be reduced by one player for a period of 2 minutes. The punished official is entitled to participate in spite of the suspension and is allowed to continue his work.
disqualification
Since the rule change in 2016 there are three types of disqualification:
- Disqualification without a written report
- Disqualification with a written report
- Disqualification and seven meters (in most cases without a report, but also possible with a report)
A disqualification is indicated to the referee and the guilty player / official by a red card. If the referee decides on disqualification with a report, this has been indicated with the blue card since July 1, 2016 after showing the red card and no longer has to be declared orally as before. The disqualification applies for the remainder of the season. The player / official must leave the playing area and the substitution area immediately. He is not allowed to have any more contact with the team. The team is reduced by one player on the playing area, but may replenish with one player after two minutes. A disqualification without a written report has no further consequences.
A disqualification without a written report will be given if:
- harmful attacks:
- an action against the opponent which causes his loss of body control while running, jumping or while executing a throw
- an aggressive action against a part of the body of the opponent, especially the face, neck, neck
- reckless behavior in offense
- grossly unsportsmanlike conduct:
- demonstrative throwing away or hitting the ball after a referee decision
- ostentatious refusal of the goalkeeper to keep a seven-meter throw
- Intentionally throwing the ball at an opponent when the game is interrupted (can also be considered particularly grossly unsportsmanlike)
- hitting the head of the goalkeeper at the seven-meter throw if he did not move his head towards the ball
- Hitting a defender in the head during a free throw if he did not move his head towards the ball
Since the rule change in 2010, a goalkeeper who wants to intercept the ball in a counter-attack and causes a collision between himself and the attacking player has also been disqualified. There is no forward foul in this situation, unless the referee clearly recognizes that the attacker provoked a disqualification with this collision.
A disqualification with a written report will be given if:
- particularly reckless or particularly dangerous offense
- intentional or fraudulent action without any reference to the plot of the game
- particularly grossly unsportsmanlike conduct, including, for example:
- verbal or non-verbal insult or threat to another person (player, official, referee, timekeeper, secretary, spectator etc.)
- the intervention of an official in the game
- the thwarting of a clear scoring opportunity by a player entering the field of play without permission
The reasons for a disqualification are set out in the match report.
A seven-meter disqualification is given if:
- the last 30 seconds of the second half (and / or in the extension phase of the second half) are running and
- if the playing time has not been interrupted and
- the defending team commits an offense which would have led directly to disqualification (foul or unsporting behavior) in the rest of the playing time, or
- the defending team, if the ball is not in play, prevents the execution of the throw by an unsportsmanlike offense which leads to a suspension for the rest of the season.
The penalty can be combined with the normal provisions with a written report. If a goal has already been scored before the referee's whistle, the seven-meter penalty is waived.
Execution of throws
All throws that are to be carried out after the game has been interrupted have the following in common:
- The throw must be taken from the right place, but depending on the distance to the goal there is a tolerance of up to three meters (in your own goal area)
- The ball must be in the hand of the thrower
- One foot must permanently touch the ground (except when thrown)
- As soon as the ball has left the hand, the throw is taken (except when throwing it)
- Every throw can lead to a goal (The goalkeeper throw cannot lead to an own goal.)
- Other players must maintain their correct position until the throw is taken (except for the throw-off)
- The throw must be kicked off, if
- Player positions have been corrected
- a penalty or warning has been issued
- the time has stopped
- always with throw-off and 7-meter throw
- After a whistle, mistakes are no longer corrected, but lead to
- a free throw if the team in possession commits a mistake
- A free throw if the team not in possession of the ball commits a mistake and the ball in possession is at a disadvantage
Throwing off
A throw-off must be taken at the beginning of each half and after the goal has been won After the whistle, the throw-off is to be carried out in any direction from the middle of the playing area (with a 1.5 m tolerance on both sides) The thrower must have at least one foot in contact with the center line, the other foot must not cross the center line, and the thrower must not leave the place of execution until the ball is played. Opponents must keep a distance of three meters from the thrower, the teammates may run into the opposing half immediately after the whistle; the thrower has three seconds after the whistle to take the throw-off.
Throw-in
A throw-in is awarded when the ball has completely crossed the sideline or when a field player of the defending team last touched the ball before it crossed the goal line of his team. This is often incorrectly referred to as a "corner". The set of rules defines both cases as an objection; there is no throw corner in handball. If the goalkeeper in his goal area last touched the ball before crossing the goal line, then a goalkeeper- throw must be decided. If the ball touches the ceiling or fixtures attached above the playing surface, a throw-in must also be decided. When throwing in, one foot must be on the line, the other may be placed inside or outside the field. A distance of three meters applies here, unless the opponents are on their goal-area line, the teammates of the thrower are allowed to be on the entire field.
Release
No own goal can be scored when the goalkeeper-throw is taken and it is only considered taken when the ball has crossed the goal-area line; the opponents do not have to keep the mandatory 3-meter distance.
Free throw
An infraction that leads to a free throw closer than nine meters from the opponent's goal is carried out on the broken 9-meter line, otherwise at the place of the offense. During the execution, the thrower and all his teammates must stand outside the 9-meter area and remain there until the ball has left the thrower's hand.
A special feature is a free throw, which is carried out after the final or half-time signal (irregularity shortly before the end of the game / half-time). The defending team may no longer change, the attackers exactly one player. When executing, only the thrower may stand at the throwing place, his teammates must keep a distance of three meters from him.
Seven meters
This throw re-establishes an illegally taken clear opportunity to score: If the thrower came to the throw unhindered and was prevented from success by a foul or entering the goal area, the referees must restore equal opportunities. The thrower stands in front of the 7-meter marker (he can stand up to one meter in front of it) and takes the throw after the whistle. The goalkeeper is allowed to go up to the 4 meter mark and hold limbs in the air above it. All other players position themselves outside the 9-meter line, at least 3 meters away from the shooter and are only allowed to enter this area after the ball has left the shooter's hand. If a player breaks this rule, there are several options:
- Attacker, ball passed or held
- Game continues with a throw
- Attacker, ball goes into the goal
- Free throw for the defending team
- Defender, ball passed or held
- Repeat the 7-meter throw
- Defender, ball goes into the goal
- Goal counts, game continues with throw-off
IHF hand sign
There are 17 official hand signals in handball. When a whistle blows, the referee shows with his hands which violation has just been punished or which rule has been applied. A distinction is made between the following hand signals:
(1) Entering the goal area - Left hand points to goal line.
(2) Snap, bounce or typo - both hands move up and down in opposite directions.
(3) Step or timing errors - Both hands circling each other.
(4) Clutching, holding, or pushing - fists touch.
(5) Hit - Right hand hits the outstretched left.
(6) Striker foul - right hand fist hits left.
(7) Throw-in direction - Both arms point outstretched in the direction of the throw-in.
(8) Throwing - Right arm is stretched out; right hand points to the ground.
(9) Free-Throw Direction - One arm points straight in the direction of the free-throw.
(10) Failure to observe the 3 meter distance - both arms are outstretched, both hands are pointing up.
(11) Passive play - right arm is stretched out, left hand grabs right arm.
(12) Goal Winning - Left arm points straight up.
(13) Warning (yellow) - Disqualification (red) - Right hand raises yellow or red card, left hand points to the player / official concerned.
(14) 2- minute suspension - two fingers of the right hand point upwards, the left hand points to the player / official concerned.
(15) Time-out - hands form T
(16) Permission for two authorized persons to enter the playing area during time-out
(17) Warning sign for passive play - left arm is raised.
(Pictures of the hand signals: see under web links, PDF document of the official text of the rules.)
There are no mandatory whistle signals for the referees in the rules. The following are common:
Simple whistle: kick-off and game interruption
Double whistle: goal win
Triple whistle: time-out and if no final horn sounds at half-time and the end of the game.
See also
literature
- Christer Ahl, Dietrich Späte, Manfred Prause: The handball referee . Philippka-Sportverlag , Münster 2005, ISBN 3-89417-144-8 .
- Philippka-Sportverlag (Hrsg.): The handball referee . quarterly magazine
Individual evidence
- ↑ Question 58 of the IHF standard questionnaire as amended in August 2005 (PDF; 717 kB)
- ↑ Guidelines for playing areas and goals. Retrieved April 30, 2010
- ↑ www.handballregel.de: Explanations on the team time-out. Retrieved December 29, 2007
- ↑ HBL: Disciplinary Committee and 3rd time-out, but still with 14 players handball-world.com, July 8, 2012, accessed on April 16, 2014.
- ↑ Guidelines for timekeepers / secretaries JBLH season 2016/2017 (PDF)
- ↑ International handball rules 2016 with the DHB additional provisions: Rule 16 The Penalties , Section 1 Warning , Comment. (Page 39.) Online: PDF , 2 MB, page 42.
- ^ Information from the Swiss Handball Federation ( memento of March 9, 2016 in the Internet Archive ): “The new handball rules from July 1, 2016” Published on March 8, 2016, accessed on March 9, 2016