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Referees Guidelines
Issued by Director of Refereeing

No one goes to a Sports Event to see the Referees. We are the people without fans But we have a commitment with the sport; we are the warrantors that the spectacle will take place. We need to be absolutely, 100% sure. That teams, spectators, everyone enjoys a good handball match, thats our final goal 1. Pre match tasks Check score sheet - ID's Check uniforms they should be identical, so goalkeepers should be wearing the same colour. We need Competition Committee to set this for us. Responsible Team Officials to sign before start of the match (can be done when the toss take place) Toss before warm up, we can set there the "actual" starting time for the match, bearing in mind some team travelling delays or weather conditions. Check goal sets before the start of the game Team Presentation and players salute Referees Task Distribution The Court Referee will take care of: All situations in or around 9 meter line. Normally will start the Passive Play Forewarning (but not always) The side line nearer to him/her Normally will stop the time doing the signal and looking to the Table Officials. Will show and correct the position in any throw, specially in free throws. Normally will blow his/her whistle when the match need to restart with a whistle
England Handball Association Unit G3, Barton Hall Estate, Hardy Street, Eccles Manchester M30 7NB 0161 707 8983 handball@englandhandball.com

2.

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When the ball changes side, he/she needs to move fast out of the way of the players and be on the opposite 6 meter area as soon as possible. The Goal Referee will take care of: All situation around the 6 meter Conceding penalties when is the case. The player/s in between the defenders (Line or Pivot) And in some cases can take care of the Wing near his/her side The side line nearer to him/her If the team in defensive actions has a Free Throw, he/she needs to run to the exact spot where the free throw needs to be taken. Correcting when taken from the wrong spot (remember also 3 mts. Allowance) 3. Penalties Penalties as a concept are the destruction of a clear goal situation with an action against the rules. Normally penalties occur when a player breaks through and is ready to shoot, here the defender action can come from the side or behind so a penalty is not enough, the defender should be also be given a Progressive Punishment. Off course there is no need to give a progressive punishment if the defender is inside the 6mts area in an involuntary defensive action. In counter attacks or fast break even a Red card can be considered. Another point to consider is not to give a Double Advantage Play it can be a penalty if the shoot has power and direction and the Goalkeeper make a good save. 4. Passive Play: Act consistently throughout the match. Ideas to find your guideline for the match: 1. Watch the tactics of the team: - They try to play fast (fast breaks, including fast throw off after goals) - See the defence tactic 6:0, 5:1, 3:2:1. - They try to play controlled using the set play 2. Watch the team if they start their next attack from their own goal. See if they want to buy time. Watch if they only want to win space and are not getting speed for their attack. 3. Watch if they exchange players late (after starting their set play). 4. A team who plays a fast break is allowed to exchange their players while they want to start a set play. All this helps the referee to find a level for the game. The aim is not to punish the defending team for a good defence. It is important to remember should not be any difference between the first minutes and the last minutes in a game i.e. that the referee behaves consistently.
England Handball Association Unit G3, Barton Hall Estate, Hardy Street, Eccles Manchester M30 7NB 0161 707 8983 handball@englandhandball.com

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We need to be quicker with the forewarning throughout the whole game to speed up the pace, not just in the last 5 minutes! 5. Foul in attack A free throw should be given against the ball carrier if the makes contact with a defender that is Standing Still or in the Air (not moving forwards), even if the defender is holding the attacker, please bear in mind that defenders are allowed to 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. 6. Last minute rule Rule introduced to stop cynical and unsportsmanlike actions to be done in the last minute of a tight game. (or when goal difference is important). Please see the IHF Interpretation 2007 attached. 7. Communication Always maintain visual contact and communication with your partner and the table officials. Table official should correspond any of the signal from the referees, especially for the progressive punishments. Also be clear when a Team Time Out is given (showing the green card) or when calling a Ref. for some incident in a Substitution or with a Coach/bench behavior. 8. Team Time Out Should be requested giving the Green Card to one of the Table Officials and only when the team is in possession of the ball. The Table Officials should stop the game immediately and show the Green Card; so everyone understands that is a Team Time Out, is good practice to point which team has asked for the Time Out. If the team is not in possession of the ball or in the rare event that loses the ball before the whistle is blown. The Green Card should be return to the Team Official. The Green Card can NOT stay with the Table Officials under any circumstances waiting for the Team to recover the ball and then give the Time Out. 9. Bench/Coach Behavior Bench/coach behavior. Set a limit on what's allowed. The Coach (the Responsible Team Official) is allowed to talk to the Table Officials and occasionally with the Referees; but players and other officials are not. Please note that there is no longer a Team Captain in Handball. The Responsible Team Official will sign the score sheet. We can give a signal warning to the bench or even talk to them when passing by. But when that behavior has gone too far, go to bench only to show the yellow card. If possible do not speak with anybody in the bench, and quickly resume the game.
England Handball Association Unit G3, Barton Hall Estate, Hardy Street, Eccles Manchester M30 7NB 0161 707 8983 handball@englandhandball.com

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The team who has been progressive punished should loose the ball if in possession and the game is interrupted by their action (not the case if the match is not in play. i.e. a throw is to be made) Also the Substitution Area Regulation states that the substitute players should sit in the team bench and any "warm up" should be done just behind the bench. Only one Official can move around within the substitution area (bench length) 10. Execution of the Throws Correct place and execution of the "throws" Specially free throws in 9 meter Quick throw off after a goal (step over the line and stop for the whistle). Referees must be ready to whistle as soon as the executer its in the right position, to allow the game to flow and be fast. At the same time teams needs to be aware of the correct position of all players. Distance allowance to do it "near" the right place in defensive position it's 3 meters. By centre line is 1.5 meters. In attack (9meters) it's none 11. Whistle blows Referees: differentiate the intensity of the blow. Normal for normal fouls, louder for more intense fouls. And even louder for change of possession of the ball. Use body language to make it clear. Table Officials: as loud as possible always.

England Handball Association Unit G3, Barton Hall Estate, Hardy Street, Eccles Manchester M30 7NB 0161 707 8983 handball@englandhandball.com

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Clarifications Few clarifications on the rules: Feet outside of the court whilst ball is inside free throw That is an interpretation, the rule clearly says that an advantage needs to be gained...... Anyway we need to get one unified criteria and apply it. player outside of court: Same rule.... ref ask to come back once, then will it be a free throw against the team, does not lead to a progressive punishment Balls hits the ceiling? What next? Throw in from the side, at the point where the ball hit the ceiling from "the other team" and needs a ref whistle to be executed..... Picking up the ball inside the area, keepers ball. Above the area is ok. Distance on free throws systematic progressive punishment. Something that we need to work from minute 1.... The same rule applies for the whole match.... If we start early in the game to make the 3 meters respected, when the match is reaching the closing stages, players are more willing to respect the distance.... And obviously have been warned during the entire match not in the last 3 minutes in a "close" match..... Penalties referee on side of throwing arm, other referee outside the area watching the line. Just needs a quick adjustment in the position Frequent changing of sides for referees change end every 5 to 8 minutes, and changing sides even more often 2 - 3 attacks Line referees opposite side to court referee yep Discuss ways to rotate Court referees at all time only a maximum of 5 meters behind the last attacking player treacky situation in a counter attack.... Leaving player behind or not???? But surely close to where the ball is...... Duties of line referee & Duties of court referee. Emphasis on team work, not accuracy: If a line referee does not see a player stepping on the line, but the court referee does, he should not blow the whistle as he would undermine his partner. It is best that they talk about it together later on.
England Handball Association Unit G3, Barton Hall Estate, Hardy Street, Eccles Manchester M30 7NB 0161 707 8983 handball@englandhandball.com

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OK for match officials to fill in match sheet but referees must check match sheet, and authorize participation of all players. This is an IHF requirement Make decision on intention of DEFENDER Focus on the defender's intention, BODY or BALL? Also bear in mind what is permitted and what is not permitted the defensive "work" need not to be only body orientated.... Ball and Body ideally Rule 8.5, 6 and 7 to be read out. Same again, can be read as part of pre meeting requirements..... Here will be key the Passive Play Avoid blowing the whistle too early. If a team loses the ball in doing steps and is intercepted by a defender, then let the play carry on, dont go back to the foul. Try to be consistent in the concept of the advantage play..... No need to go back to the free throw if the non offender team recovers the ball...... At the same time, if you receive a foul and make a "decent" pass or shoot, and then that not succeed, don't go back to the free throw either.... e.g. the other player doesn't catch the ball, of make a technical infraction in the reception..... The same if shooting to goal after a foul, if the shot has direction and power don't give always a penalty if the keeper makes a good save..... That doesn't stop to give a progressive sanction Read 14:2 (penalties and holding back before awarding it) not awarding always penalties after a fine save..... Individual sanction on player (yellow card, 2 min) can be given even if his team keeps possession then after. Give an example. Free throw: EXACTLY on the spot for 9m throws Tolerate up to 3 meters the further back we are. (I.e. outside the attacking teams' own area) 14:8 + 14:7 and 14:9. Penalty correct positions: team mates, opponents and keeper in the right position, and also 14:10 change of goalkeeper.... 15:5 Whistle blow to restart the game. Sometimes we don't whistle when is needed...... Read the whole of Rule 17, referees Can take long and will be part of the "Distribution" explanation, although can be a pre meeting task Read the whole of Rule 18, Timekeeper and Secretary Same than before......

England Handball Association Unit G3, Barton Hall Estate, Hardy Street, Eccles Manchester M30 7NB 0161 707 8983 handball@englandhandball.com