The new rules are to be implemented on July 1, 2022 and will therefore apply from the 2022/23 season. The International Handball Federation IHF last made changes to its rules six years ago.
A total of four changes were approved. Only three of them are initially relevant for German handball. Experts see a slight impact on game culture. The tactical game will also have to change in individual points. The rules in detail.
Rule change 1: Reduced number of passes in passive play
In passive play, also known as time play, the attacking team was previously allowed to play six passes before the referee gave the warning signal (raised arm) before the goal had to be thrown. This number of passes is reduced to four. The fifth pass is already blown by the referee and the defending team gets the free throw.
A sensible decision, says Olympic referee Robert Schulze. “We’ve seen that six passes can be extremely long,” Schulze said in an interview with the magazine “Handballwoche”. Furthermore, it remains the highest priority for the referees to set the early warning signs correctly.
Rule change 2: The throw-off zone is expanded
The second change concerns the middle impact, i.e. the throw-off. Previously, the executing player had to stand with one foot on the center line. From July 1st, the throw-off will be performed from the new throw-off circle, which should have a diameter of four meters and is placed in the middle of the center line. In the future, the throw may therefore be made from the movement. This will create new situations in the so-called “fast center”.
The IHF prescribes the throw circle for all IHF events and professional leagues. Whether the throw-on circle should also be implemented in Germany below the federal leagues and whether the playing fields in the halls have to be adapted throughout Germany is a matter for the German Handball Association to decide.
While in the federal leagues there is often a circle on the center line for advertising purposes, the change poses a challenge for amateurs, because the handball fields in the gymnasium and sports halls often do not have their own center circle, but only a line. However, it should be possible to indicate the center circle with adhesive tape or to use an existing center circle of a basketball field, even if the dimensions are not 100 percent correct.
Rule Change 3: Headshot punished with 2-minute suspension
If the goalkeeper is hit in the head from a free play or throwing situation, the thrower may be given a two-minute time penalty. “We want to protect the health of the keepers more, so we welcome the IHF’s decision,” says Kay Holm, referee instructor of the German Handball Association. Another way to stop unsportsmanlike behavior.
This rule change, which will also be introduced in all handball divisions from seniors to juniors, remains unaffected for seven-meter throws and direct free throws. In these two cases, a head hit against the goalkeeper was already punished with a 2-minute suspension.
Rule Change 4: Different norms for resin-free balls
The IHF has set new sizes for self-adhesive, i.e. resin-free balls. These are slightly smaller than the balls played with resin. For the time being, however, this change will not take effect for German handball. “The official decision of the responsible bodies is still pending, but according to the current status, this will not become a standard for Germany.”said instructor Kay Holm of the “Handball Week”.
Time-out buzzer replaces green card
In addition to the changes in the rules mentioned, technical innovations are being made. A so-called time-out buzzer is intended to replace the green card. In future, if the coach wants to take a time-out, he will press a buzzer instead of taking the green card out of his pocket and placing it on the timekeeper’s table. The change initially only affects the handball Bundesliga, the 2nd division will follow suit in winter. For the time being, this change does not apply to the women’s Bundesliga.