New handball regulation: These changes also affect Germany!

New handball regulation: These changes also affect Germany!

The international handball world faces exciting changes: From July 1, 2025, the International Handball Federation (IHF) introduces a number of adjustments to the regulations that will also affect the league in Germany. These changes, which have been in force since July 13, 2025, aim to improve the understanding of the rules of the game and to facilitate decision -making in sport. According to the information from scm-handball.de , many of the changes in the wording of the wording are rather minor rules.

One of the key points concerns the Rule 7 . The so-called zero step rule has been revised: a player can now put his feet on the floor without it being considered a step if he has long since maintained or caught the ball while his feet are not yet on the floor. This simply makes the game more fluid and leaves the athlete more space to maneuver. Interestingly, players can also run a zero step at their own plumps if both feet touch the floor at the same time. These changes make the pace and dynamics of the game easier, which is always an advantage for the audience.

The Rule 8 also brings relief: a head goal of the goalkeeper during a seven meter no longer automatically leads to a red card, but can also be punished with a time penalty. This means that the referees have more scope in such situations to adequately assess the events on the pitch. There is also supplementary information on the criminal announcement for officials: Anyone who intervenes outside the field will have to expect a time penalty in the future, which should increase fairness and respect on and off.

other significant changes in the rules

Not only the rules mentioned have it all! A clear definition of the coaching zone is also anchored in the rules, which begins from the center line and must be well marked. This ensures that coaches are not too close to the action during the game, which should provide additional order.

Another interesting point: In seven -meter throwing, no longer all litters have to be carried out if a winner is already certain. In addition, the goalkeeper can leave the goal area with the ball without having control over what extends its tactical possibilities.

The importance of compliance with the rules is underlined by the clarification that a player must not touch the ball as long as any part of the body touches the floor outside the playing area. Anyone who whistles unjustifiably will be punished with a penalty throw to guarantee fairness during a clear goal.

For the amateur teams, the team size is increased to up to 16 players, which ensures more flexibility in the squad. The number of officials also increases from four to five, which should professionalize the supervising possibilities. All of this will be checked by the German Handball Association in the coming months, whose possible additional regulations will be determined in May 2025, such as reported.

These changes are rounded off by additional provisions on unsportsmanlike behavior. The examples are to prevent littering, deceiving and regulating the change errors, which are now more clearly defined. Here the handball becomes even more dynamic and transparent, and last but not least, the new regulations are an invitation to all clubs to face these challenges and to develop, as well as handball.ch .

The coming seasons promise to become more exciting than ever. Let's be curious how the players, teams and referees will adapt to the innovations!