Intramural Team Handball Rules
1. Game Duration: The game will consist of two ten-minute halves with a running clock
except for injuries and time outs. Each team will receive a single thirty second time out
per half. If the game ends in a tie a five-minute sudden death overtime period will be
played.
2. Players: Teams will consist of seven players. Six on the court and one goalie.
3. Substitutions: On the fly substitutions are legal as long as the player leaving the court
is off prior to the substitute entering. Goalies are only allowed to substitute during dead
ball stoppages.
4. Throw-Off: A throw-off is taken by the team that wins the coin toss and chooses to start
the game with the ball. Each team must be in its own half of the court with the defense 3
meters away from the ball. Following a whistle, the ball is passed from center court to a
teammate and play begins. Throw-off is repeated after every goal scored and after halftime.
5. Scoring: A goal is scored when the entire ball crosses the goal line inside the goal. A
goal may be scored from any throw (free-throw, throw-in, throw-off, goal-throw).
6. Playing the Ball:
Players are allowed to:
I.
II.
III.
IV.
Push, catch, throw, stop, roll, hit and bounce / dribble the ball in any manner and they
are allowed to use their hands, arms, fists, body, head, thighs or knees. Players can
attempt to use their hands to gain possession of the ball but they can't pull or hit the ball
out of an opposing player's hands. They can use their torso to block an opponent
whether they have the ball or not.
They are allowed to move the ball from one hand to the other.
They are allowed to pass the ball when they are standing, kneeling, sitting or lying on the
ground.
Players are allowed to stop the ball with both hands and then grab or catch it as long as
they don't move.
Players are not allowed to: (If any of the following occur, the result will be a turnover and free
throw for the opposing team.)
I.
II.
III.
Players can't hold the ball for more than 3-seconds or take more than 3 steps without
dribbling.
Touch the ball with part of the leg below the knee including their feet, unless the ball has
been deliberately thrown at them.
They are not allowed to touch the ball more than once unless the ball touches the
ground, touches another player, touches the goal or is fumbled.
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IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
IX.
X.
Players are not allowed to intentionally play the ball over the sideline or goal line but the
goalie can block a shot out of bounds.
Field players are not allowed to dive for a ball that is on the ground. Only the Goalie is
allowed to dive for the ball and they must be in their goal area.
"Passive Play" is not allowed. Passive Play is when a team tries to stall the game and
does not try and move the ball to score. The opposing team is given a free throw from
where the ball was when the referee called Passive Play.
Players are not allowed to impede the progress of an opposing player by using their
hands, arms or legs. They are not allowed to trip, run into, hold, hit or jump on an
opposing player.
Players on offense, attacking players, are not allowed to charge into a defender.
Attacking players are allowed to shoot while in the air above the goal area, but they must
throw the ball before they land.
Field players are not allowed to go through the goal area to get into a better scoring or
defensive position.
7. Defending the Opponent: A player is allowed to use the torso of the body to obstruct
an opponent with or without the ball. However, using the outstretched arms or legs to
obstruct, push, hold, trip or hit is NOT allowed. The attacking player is not allowed to
charge into a defensive player.
8. Throw-In: A throw-in is awarded when ball goes out of bounds on the sideline or when
the ball is last touched by a defensive player (excluding the goalie) and goes out of
bounds over the endline. The throw-in is taken from the spot where the ball crossed the
sideline, or if it crossed the endline, from the nearest corner. The thrower must place one
foot on the sideline to execute the throw. All opposing players must stay 3 feet away
from the ball.
9. Free-Throw: For a minor foul or violation, a free-throw is awarded to the opponent at the
exact spot it took place.
10. Penalty Throw: Occurs when…
I.
A foul destroys a clear chance to score
II.
The goalie carries the ball back into his or her own goal area
III.
A court player intentionally plays the ball to his or her own goalie in the goal area
and the goalie touches the ball
IV.
A defensive player enters his or her goal area to gain an advantage over an
attacking player in possession of the ball.
11. Goal-Throw: A goal-throw is awarded when . . . The ball rebounds off the goalkeeper
over the endline or the ball is thrown over the endline by the attacking team.
12. Goal Area: This is the area inside the three-point line on the basketball court that only
the goalie is allowed to be inside. The only exceptions to this rule are when an attacking
player leaves their feet while shooting the ball outside of the area and lands within the
area as long as the ball was released prior to them landing. Also entering the area
temporarily and gaining no advantage by doing so is acceptable by either team.
13. Referee Throw: A Referee throw happens when
I. When the ball touches a fixture or the ceiling above the court.
II. When simultaneous infraction of the rules by a member of each team occurs.
III. The game is interrupted and neither team had possession of the ball before the
interruption occurred.
14. Fouls, Violations, and Penalties
I. Offensive fouls (charging) are called like basketball. If defender had established
a legal guarding position in the shooter's path, the shooter is required to stop or
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change direction. If contact occurs on the defender's front torso, it's a charge,
and a free throw is awarded to opponent.
II. Knocking the ball from an opponent's hand results in a free throw.
15. Personal penalties
I. Unsportsmanlike conduct or fouls such as pushing, tripping, and holding result
not just in a free throw or penalty throw for the opposing team, but also in a
warning or 2minute suspension to the player by the referee. This includes
arguing with officials by players, coaches, and team followers.
II. If the conduct or foul is repeated, or particularly blatant (i.e. using an open arm or
leg to stop the opponent), the player is suspended for 2 minutes from the game
and the team must play shorthanded. The player is not released from the penalty
even if the opponent scores a goal(s).
III. Improper substitutions may result in the outgoing player serving a 2minute
suspension and the team must play shorthanded.
IV. A third suspension of the same player results in an ejection from the game (the
player may be replaced after another player serves a 2minute penalty).
V. If a goalie receives a 2minute penalty, an onfield player must be selected by the
offending team to serve the penalty, while they play one player short.
*For all information regarding UCCS Intramurals visit http://www.uccs.edu/campusrec