Handball has always been designed to be a fast-paced, entertaining and dynamic sport and its rules have evolved over the past decades, thanks to a sustainable growth of the sport and an improvement in its level of adoption throughout the world.

However, everything can still be perfected, and the rules of the game make no exception, as the International Handball Federation (IHF) is in constant contact with its main stakeholders to review the game. With teams at all levels improving and constantly dictating the pace of the sport’s evolution, it is also high time that the IHF Rules of the Game keep that said pace.

Therefore, 1 July 2025 will see some amendments in key areas that aim to make handball a better sport for all the shareholders, including coaches, players and, last but not least, the fans.

The main changes were highlighted in an amended Rules of the Game edition after being discussed with top coaches over the last years, as fine print amendments were made to several points of the IHF Rules of the Game (Indoor Handball), in order to facilitate a better understanding.

Penalty headshot leads to suspension, not red card 

One of the main rule amendments which will be enforced from 1 July 2025 are 8:8d and 8:8e, which previously stipulated that a red card will be shown for a player who hits the goalkeeper’s head in when executing a 7-metre throw or a free throw after the final signal. The rules have been amended for the punishment to be a two-minutes suspension: 

“[…] This includes: […]
d. when the shot of a player, who is unhindered and throwing in an open play situation, hits the goalkeeper’s head; or when a 7m shooter hits the goalkeeper’s head, if the goalkeeper is not moving his head in the direction of the ball with the purpose of blocking the shot;
e. when a free throw shooter hits a defender’s head during the execution of a free throw after the final signal according to Rule 2:4, if the defender is not moving his head in the direction of the ball with the purpose of blocking the shot;”

The idea behind the rule change is that stakeholders proposed to include all situations in the same rule regarding the headshots. Shots in open play situations are often harder or are coming from a shorter distance. However, even if the body balance might be different, the danger is the same. Therefore, all the headshots should be equally punished with a two-minute suspension.

Amendments made to the throw-off rule

Another amended rule is rule 10:3b, which refers to the throw-off. Prior to 1 July 2025, this rule stated that “The whistle signal by the referees can be given when the ball is inside the throw-off area and the thrower has at least one foot inside the throw-off area.” 

This rule has now been amended to “The whistle signal by the referees can only be given when the ball and the thrower are completely inside the throw-off area.” 

This modification has been enforced to make the rule clearer while avoiding situations where the referees whistle for the throw, but must whistle free throw against the thrower, even if he is in the same position as when they whistled for the execution.   

Broader definition enforced for to the steps rule

Rule 7:3 has also been amended, with a broader definition of the maximum of three steps allowed: “It is permitted to […] take a maximum of 3 steps with the ball after receiving the ball from another player or catching the ball after bouncing. If a player receives or catches the ball while his feet have no contact with the floor, putting one foot or both feet simultaneously down on the floor is not counted as a step.”

This amendment, which does not have any influence on the game structure, aims to simplify the understanding for all stakeholders. It also removes different interpretations of counting steps in connection with playing situations where the player touches the floor with his foot/feet for the first time after receiving a pass from a teammate and catching the ball after bouncing.

Rule 7:10 has also been modified for clarification and removing interpretations: “It is not allowed to touch the ball if any part of the body touches the floor outside of the court at the same time. This shall lead to a free throw for the opponents”.

The updated rules of the game can be accessed via this LINK.

All documents related to the Rules of the Game can be found in English, French and German HERE.