RULES TO BE ATTENDED

RULE 2 : PLAYING TIME, FINAL SIGNAL AND TIME-OUT

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 from the timekeeper.
If no such signal comes, the referee whistles to indicate that the playing time
is over.
2.4 Infractions and unsportsmanlike conduct that take place before, or
simultaneously with, the final signal (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 a 7 meter throw in the circumstances described in Rule 2:4-
5. An infraction during the execution of a throw cannot, however, lead to a free
throw in the opposite direction.
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).
RULE 4 : THE TEAMS, SUBSTITUTIONS, EQUIPMENTS

4.1 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) – 6th paragraph.

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 officials’. Only this
official is allowed to address the timekeeper / scorekeeper and, possibly, the
referees (see, however, clarification No. 3: Team time-out).
4.3 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, Rule 4:4 and 4:6)
3rd paragraph.
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)
4.5 A faulty substitution shall be penalized with a 2 minute suspension for the guilt
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.
4.5 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 second suspension.
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).
RULE 5 : GOALKEEPER

The goalkeeper is allowed to:

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).
5.4 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).
5.11 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).

RULE 6 : THE GOAL AREA

6.2 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 enter 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.

RULE 7 : PLAYING THE BALL, 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 layer
intentionally refrains from trying to utilize a clear scoring chance.

RULE 8 : FOUL AND UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT

8.3 Violations of Rule 8:2 where the action is mainly or exclusively directed at the
opponent and not at the ball, are to be punished progressively. Progressive
punishment means that it is not sufficient to penalize a particular foul solely
with a free throw or 7 meter throw, because the foul goes beyond the type of
infraction which normally occurs in the struggle for the ball.
Each infraction that meets the definition for progressive punishment requires a
personal punishment, beginning with a warning (16:1b), and with a trend of
increasingly severe punishment (16:3b and 16:6g).
Warnings and suspensions given for other violations are also to be taken into
account progressively.
8.4 Physical and verbal expressions that are incompatible with the spirit of good
sportsmanship are regarded as constituting unsportsmanlike conduct. (For
example, see Clarification No.5). This applies to both players and team
officials, on or outside the playing court. Progressive punishment also applies
in the case of unsportsmanlike conduct (16:1d, 16:3c-d and 16:6b,g,h).
8.5 A player who endangers the opponent’s health when attacking him, shall be
disqualified (16:6c) particular if he:
a) from the side or from behind, either strikes or pulls back the throwing
arm of a player who is in the progress of throwing or passing the ball;
b) takes any action resulting in the opponent being struck on the head or
neck;
 c) deliberately hits the body of an opponent with his foot or knee or in
other way; this includes tripping;
d) pushes an opponent who is running or jumping, or attacks him in such
way that the opponent loses control of his body; this also applies when
a goalkeeper leaves his goal area in connection with a counterattack
from the opponents;
e) hits a defending player in the head with a free throw taken as a direct
shot on goal, assuming that the defending player was not moving; or
similarly, hits the goalkeeper in the head with a 7 meter throw,
assuming that the goalkeeper was not moving.

RULE 9 : SCORING

9.1 A goal shall be awarded to the opponents, if a player plays the ball into his
own goal, except in the situation where a goalkeeper is executing a
goalkeeper throw (12.2, 2nd paragraph) 4th paragraph.
9.2 The referees must make clear (without a throw off) that they have allowed a
goal, if the signal for the end of half sounds immediately after a goal is scored
and before a throw off can be taken.

RULE 10 : THE THROW OFF

10.4 For the throw off at the start of each half (including any period of overtime), all
players must be in their own half of the court.
However, for the throw off after a goal has been scored, the opponents of the
shower are allowed to be in both halves of the court.
In both cases, however, the opponents must be at least 3 meters away from
the player taking the throw off. (15:7).

RULE 11 : THE THROW IN

11.4 The thrower must stand with a foot on the side line until the ball has left his
hand. The player is not allowed to put the ball down on the floor and then pick
it up himself, or to bounce the ball and then catch it again himself (13:1a).
RULE 12 : THE GOALKEEPER THROW

12.2 The goalkeeper throw is considered to have been taken, when the ball thrown
by the goalkeeper has crossed the goalkeeper line. (2 nd paragraph).
The players of the other team are allowed to be immediately outside the goal
area line, but they are allowed to touch the ball until it has crossed the line.

RULE 13 : THE FREE THROW

13.2 The referees should allow continuity in the game by refraining from
interrupting the game prematurely with a free throw decision.
This means that, under Rule 13:1a, the referees should not call a free throw if
the defending team gains possession of the ball immediately after the
violation committed by the attacking team.
Similarly, under Rule 13:1b, the referees should not intervene until and unless
it is clear that the attacking team has lost possession of the ball or is unable to
continue their attack, due to the violation committed by the defending team.
If a personal punishment is to be given because of the rules violation, then the
referees may decide to interrupt the game immediately, if this does not cause
a disadvantage for the opponents of the team committing the violation.
Otherwise the punishment should be delayed until the existing situation is
over.
Rule 13:2 doest not apply in the case of infringements against rules 4:2-3 or
4:5-6 where the game shall be interrupted immediately, normally through the
intervention of the timekeeper.
13.6 If a referee or technical delegate (from IHF or a continental / national
federation) interrupts the game because of an infringement on the part of a
player or team official of the defending team, and this results in a verbal
caution or a personal punishment, then the free throw should be taken from
the place where the ball was when the game was interrupted, if this is a more
favorable location than the position where the infringement took place.
13.7 Once a player from the team that received the free throw is in the correct
position for taking the throw, with the ball in hand, he must not put it down on
the floor and pick it up again, or bounce it and catch it again. (13:1a)
13.8 Players of the attacking team must not touch or cross the free throw line of the
opponents before the free throw has been taken. (15:1).
The referees must correct the positions of attacking players who are between
the free throw, if the incorrect positions have influence on the game (15:1).
The free throw shall then be taken following a whistle signal (15:3b).
If the case where the execution of a free throw has been authorized through a
whistle signal, if players from the attacking team touch or cross the free throw
line before the ball has left the hand of the thrower, there shall be a free throw
awarded to the defending team.

RULE 15 : GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE EXECUTION OF THE

THROWS

15.3 The referees must blow the whistle for restart:

a) always in the case of a throw off (10:3) or 7 meter throw (14:4)
b) in case of a throw in, a goalkeeper throw or free throw:
 for a restart after a time out
 for a restart with a free throw under Rule 13:4
 when there has been a delay in the execution
 after a correction of the player positions
 after a verbal caution or a warning
After the whistle signal, the thrower must play the ball within 3 seconds
(13:1a).
15.7 Incorrect positions on the part of the defending players in connection with the
execution of a throw off, throw in, or free throw must not be corrected by the
referees, if the attacking players are not at a disadvantage by taking the throw
immediately. If there is a disadvantage, then the positions are to be corrected
(15:3b).
 A player is to be warned if he delays or interferes with the execution of a throw
by the opponents, by standing too close or through other infractions. He is to
be suspended if he repeats it (16:1c and 16:3f).

RULE 16 : THE PUNISHMENTS

WARNING
16.1 Comment:
An individual player should not be given more than ONE warning, and a team
should not be given more than THREE warnings.
A player who has already had a 2 minute suspension should not subsequently
be given a warning.
No more than ONE warning in total should be given to the officials of the
team.

SUSPENSION (2 MINUTES)
16.3 a) for repeated fouls of the type that they are to be punished progressively
(8:3).
b) for repeated unsportsmanlike conduct by a player, on the court or
outside the court (8:4).
c) for the second occasion of unsportsmanlike conduct by any one of the
officials of a team, after one of them has previously received a warning under
Rule 16:1d (8:4).
d) for repeated infractions when the opponents are executing formal throw
(15:7).
e) as a consequence of a disqualification of a player or team official
during the playing time (16:8 2nd paragraph)
f) for unsportsmanlike conduct by a player, before the game has been
restarted, after he has just given a 2 minute suspension (16:12)
Comments:
When a 2 minute suspension is called against a team official in accordance
with 16:3b, the official is allowed to remain in the substitution area and carry
out his functions, however, the team’s strength on the court is reduced for 2
minutes.
16.5 The suspension period begins when play is restarted with a whistle signal (3 rd
paragraph).
16.8 A disqualification applies, in principle, only to the remainder of the game in
which it is given. It is regarded as a decision by the referees on the basis of
their observation of facts. There shall be no further consequences of a
disqualification beyond the game, except in the case of disqualification due to
assault (16:6e-f) or when seriously unsportsmanlike conduct by a player or
team official (16:6d) falls under category a) or d) in Clarification No. 6 such
disqualification shall be explained in the match report (17:11).
MORE THAN ONE VIOLATION IN THE SAME SITUATION
16.12 If a player or team official is guilty of more than one violation simultaneously
or in direct sequence, before the game has been restarted, and these
violations warrant different punishments, then in principle, only the most
severe one of these punishments shall be given. This is always the case
when one of the violations is an assault.
There are however the following specific exceptions, where in all cases the
team must play at reduced strength on the court for 4 minutes:
a) if a player who has just given a 2 minute suspension is guilty of
unsportsmanlike conduct before the game restarted, then the player is
given an additional 2 minute suspension (16:3h). If the additional
suspension is the player’s third one, then the player is disqualified;
b) If a player who has just been given a disqualification (directly or because
of a third suspension) is guilty of unsportsmanlike conduct before the
game is restarted, then the team is given a further punishment, so that the
reduction will be for 4 minutes;
c) If a player who has just been given a minute suspension is guilty of
seriously unsportsmanlike conduct before the game is restarted, then the
player is furthermore disqualified (16:6d); these punishments combined
lead to a 4 minute reduction (16:8, 2nd paragraph).
d) If a player who has just been given a disqualification (directly or because
of a third suspension) is guilty of seriously unsportsmanlike conduct before
the game is restarted, then the team is given a further punishment, so that
the reduction will be for 4 minutes.
RULE 17 : THE REFEREES

17.7 If both referees whistle for an infraction and agree about which team should
be penalized but have different opinions as to the severity of the punishment,
then the most severe of the two punishments shall be given.
17.8 If both referees whistle for an infraction, or the ball has left the court, and the
two referees show different opinions as to which team should have
possession, then the joint decision that the referees reach after consulting
with each other will apply. If they do not manage to reach a joint decision, then
the opinion of the court referee will prevail.
17.11 Exclusions (16:11) and disqualifications of the type indicated in rule 16:8, 4 th
paragraph, must be explained in the match report.