Ball Regulations

These regulations are part of the IHF Technical Regulations and define the IHF criteria for handballs which have to be met. In addition, the criteria concerned apply for the handball to be provided with the IHF seal of approval.

Goal Regulations

These regulations are part of the IHF Technical Regulations and define the IHF criteria which have to be met for handball goals to be provided with the IHF Seal of Approval.

Floor Regulations

These Regulations are to define the IHF criteria for handball floors which have to be met. In addition, the criteria concerned apply for the handball floor to be provided with the IHF seal of approval.

Duties of IHF Permanent Commissions

Duties of IHF Permanent Commissions

Regulations for IHF Athletes' Commission

The mission of the IHF Athletes’ Commission (hereafter referred to as “Commission”) is to represent the views of the athletes and make their voice heard within the IHF.

IHF Coaching Education Regulations

The IHF has developed its online education platform http://ihfeducation.ihf.info/ with the goal of regularly providing updates to the various target groups (referees, coaches, players, school teachers, delegates, etc.). These updates will support the completion of the education cycle. The IHF Coaching Education Structure details the four main levels as well as the required hours and years needed to complete each level.

Regulations for Players’ Agents

These regulations govern the occupation of players’ agents who introduce players to clubs with the objective of negotiating or renegotiating an employment contract or introduce two clubs to each other with the objective of concluding a transfer agreement within one National Federation or from one National Federation to another. 

Financial Regulations

Annual membership fee including fees for international matches - According to Article 18.1 of the IHF Statutes, all Member Federations must pay the annual fee fixed by the Congress, without being requested, latest by 31 March each year

Regulations for Awards

The IHF issues awards to organisations and individuals in recognition of their particular contribution to developing the sport of handball and the International Handball Federation.

Regulations for IHF Symposia

The Commissions of the International Handball Federation are, individually or together with other commissions, organising symposiums, the content of which lies within their field of responsibility (see Bylaws, article 17).

Standing Orders for the Head Office

General - The work of the Head Office shall be carried out in accordance with the Bylaws (see article 19) and the Regulations, and in accordance with the resolutions of the Congress, the Council and the Executive Committee
 

Standing Orders for the Council and Commissions

General - The binding principles for these Standing Orders are the Bylaws of the IHF, particularly articles 15 to 17. The Standing Orders stipulate the working methods of the Council – including the Executive Committee – and the Commissions...

Regulations on Advertising

Advertising on sportswear - These regulations are a binding guideline for the appearance of sportswear worn by players and officials of all teams and by referees and IHF representatives within the sphere of the International Handball Federation...
 

Media Regulations

Principles - Working with the media is one of the key tasks for the Organising Committee staging a major IHF event. The aim of liaising with the media is to: – publicise the event – provide the public with information about the event – ensure the smooth flow of information – make handball a more popular sport – follow up and support the IHF's strategy and objectives – present the aims of the event's host, in coordination with the IHF – provide a platform for patrons and sponsors ... 
 

Ethics Code

The Ethics Commission is an independent adjudicating body of the IHF, established by the Congress in accordance with Article 22 of the Statutes and Article 6 of the Legal Provisions. The Member National Handball Federations and Continental Confederations shall adopt and implement a code of ethics based on the principles and rules of the Code or adopt the Code by reference (Article 8.3 of the Statutes).

Regulations Concerning Penalties and Fines

These regulations describe infractions of the IHF Statutes and Regulations and determine the sanctions incurred. These regulations apply to every match and competition organised and supervised by IHF. These regulations also apply if a match official is harmed and, more generally, if the statutory objectives of IHF are breached, especially with regard to forgery, corruption, betting and doping. 

Regulations for International and Continental Referees

Close collaboration between the IHF, the Continental Confederations and the National Federations is a prerequisite for the smooth functioning of the referee system worldwide. Invitations of referees from one continent to another shall go through the IHF PRC, with the acceptance and cooperation of the Continental Confederation concerned.
 

Regulations for Official IHF Referee Courses

All examinations and promotions of referees for the ‘International Referee’ status shall take place within the context of the IHF Global Referee Training Programme (GRTP), an observation in the candidates’ own country or during a Junior or Youth World Championship. The examinations of referees for the International Referee status may take place during the regular training and testing events or through a specifically scheduled examination event. No promotions to the IHF level may take place outside the events mentioned in Article 1.

Player Eligibility Code

All handball players shall be subject to the Player Eligibility Code of the International Handball Federation. The Player Eligibility Code is valid for indoor handball, beach handball and wheelchair handball players alike as well as for players crossing from one of the aforementioned forms of handball to another.

Regulations for Transfer between Federations

1. All handball players are subject to the Regulations for Transfer between Federations of the International Handball Federation (IHF) as well as those of the Continental Confederation concerned. 2. Every National Federation shall organise its internal transfer procedures by issuing regulations. A federation's internal transfer regulations shall, however, not stand in contradiction to the IHF Regulations for Transfer between Federations and supplementary regulations issued by Continental Confederations.

Specimen Contract

Specimen Contract

Rules of the Game (Indoor Handball)

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. The integrated “Guidelines and Interpretations” give additional guidance on the application of certain rules. The “Guidelines for Playing Courts and Goals”, which are simply included in the rule book for the convenience of the users of that text, are not an integral part of the rules.

Rules of the Game (Indoor Handball) – coming into force on 1 July 2025

This version of the Rules of the Game includes several amendments approved by the IHF Council. The provisions concerned are highlighted in yellow and will come into force on 1 July 2025.

Regulations on Protective Equipment & Accessories

These regulations provide additional explanations to the IHF Rules of the Game and include a comprehensive list of protective equipment and accessories that athletes are or are not allowed to use in official indoor handball matches.

Electronic Team Time-Out Regulations

A team may request the Team Time-Out directly through pushing a button (buzzer) on an electronic device instead of using green cards. The buzzer is directly connected to the official scoreboard system. Once the buzzer has been pushed, the time will be directly stopped. In order to make all parties aware of the Team Time-Out, it is also indicated by an audio signal.

Video Replay Regulations

Video replay offers the possibility to the referees to immediately watch a situation on a TV screen if they were not able to see the complete action on the court and if they wish to check again before reaching a decision. This specifically refers to key-match situations where the referees decide to consult the TV picture in addition to their view on the court.

Rules of the Game (Beach Handball)

The provisions related to the uniform for female athletes will come into force on 1 January 2022. Please also note the appendices Referee Hand Signals, Clarifications to the Rules of the Game, Substitution Area Regulations, Athlete Uniform Regulations, and Sand Quality and Lighting Regulations.

Rules of the Game (Wheelchair Handball Four-a-Side)

The IHF Rules of the Game for Wheelchair Handball Four-a-Side basically follow the IHF Rules of the Game for Wheelchair Handball Six-a-Side, nevertheless with strong influence of beach handball especially concerning the number of players and counting the goals (points). A reduced number of players provides for better individual use of space, increases the dynamics of the game, gives better preconditions for possible separate men’s and women’s competitions, and creates distinctly better possibilities to recruit players and reduce economic costs.

Rules of the Game (Wheelchair Handball Six-a-Side)

The IHF Rules of the Game for Wheelchair Handball Six-a-Side basically follow the IHF Rules of the Game for Indoor Handball. No special rules shall apply despite having mixed teams. However, due to the different capabilities of players, the amendments listed shall be implemented and will be used for the upcoming IHF Wheelchair Handball events.

Wheelchair Handball Classification Rules & Regulations Six-a-Side and Four-a-Side

The IHF Classification Rules and Regulations have been prepared by the International Handball Federation (IHF) to implement the requirements of the 2015 IPC Athlete Classification Code and International Standards. These IHF Classification Rules and Regulations form part of the IHF Rules (Wheelchair Handball) and the Competition Manual for IHF Wheelchair Handball World Championships. 

List of Duties for Official IHF Competitions

In principle, according to the IHF Statutes, a competition is an event of the International Handball Federation and not of the organiser. All matters concerning organisation shall be discussed with and approved by the IHF.

Competition Manual for IHF Wheelchair Handball World Championships

The present regulations govern the rights, duties and responsibilities of all parties participating and involved in the preparation and organisation of IHF Wheelchair Handball World Championships and shall apply in connection with all other pertinent regulations.

Match Reports

a) Indoor handball B) Beach handball 
 

Standard Contract for IHF Competitions

Event holder and Organiser 1.1. The IHF has the exclusive right to stage official IHF competitions and to transfer the staging of such competitions to a member federation (see Bylaws, Article 27[1])...
 

Guidelines for the Work of IHF Nominees at IHF Competitions

As a rule, the IHF engages one official and two technical delegates at each match in its competitions. The IHF official bears overall responsibility that the match is held in an orderly way. He supervises the technical delegates, gives them support when applying the Substitution Area Regulations, intervenes in the case of unforeseeable occurrences (power failure, spectator interference, act of God or similar) and with his signature confirms that the entries in the match report are correct... 
 

Regulations for IHF Competitions (Indoor Handball)

According to Art. 3 of the IHF Statutes, the International Handball Federation (IHF) shall ensure the organisation of all IHF competitions. Further, it shall also hold, on behalf of the IOC, the Olympic Handball Tournaments for men and women. This regulation is applicable with its principles for all IHF competitions, but especially for the following competitions: World Championships for men, women, men’s juniors (U21), women’s juniors (U20), men’s youth (U19), women’s youth (U18), men’s U17, women’s U16, qualifying rounds for World Championships and Olympic Games, Intercontinental Championships and Club World Championships.

List of Duties for Official IHF Competitions

Planning - 1.1. According to the Bylaws, the IHF will normally offer the organisation of an official competition to member federations at a Congress. 1.2. The IHF shall announce the competition to member federations, stating the application deadline and the financial conditions...
 

Anti-Doping Regulations

These Anti-Doping Regulations shall apply to the IHF and to each of its National and Continental Federations, Players, Player Support Personnel and other Persons, each of whom is deemed, as a condition of his/her membership, accreditation and/or participation in the sport, to have agreed to be bound by the present Anti-Doping Regulations and to the jurisdiction of the hearing panels specified in Article 8 and Article 13 to hear and determine cases and appeals brought under these Anti-Doping Regulations.

Legal Provisions

These provisions shall apply in conjunction with the IHF Statutes, upon which they are based. They shall be binding on all Continental Confederations, Member Federations and their affiliated groups and members. Under the terms of these provisions, Continental Confederations and Member Federations shall undertake to introduce legal regulations comprising detailed rules and procedures for their own area of jurisdiction and complying with the IHF stipulations.

Statutes

The International Handball Federation (IHF) founded in 1946, with its headquarters in Basel, is a non-profit federation as described in art. 60 ff of the Swiss Civil Code (ZGB) and the present Statutes legally constituted ...