Source: https://ushandball.org/index.php/rules-development/four-wall-rulebook
Timestamp: 2018-04-26 06:00:06
Document Index: 647536177

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 1', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 4', 'art 2', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4']

These are the official published USHA handball rules, as of January 22, 2017. Any changes in these rules will be maintained by the USHA and are available at www.ushandball.org.
3.5 Players’ Code
4.75 Hinder Fault (one-wall only)
One-Wall Addendum
Part 1, Rule 1.1: Interpretation No. 1: “Cutthroat” is not an official tournament game. It is a game devised for use in practice with three players. There are a number of ways to play cutthroat, and the rules for singles should apply to the player playing without a partner, just as the rules for doubles should apply to two players playing as a team.
4) Weight. The ball shall be 61 grams, with a variation of 3 grams, plus or minus. White label and big balls can weigh less.
B. Style. The usual hitting surfaces of the glove must be light in color and made of a soft material or leather with wetness easily detected by visual inspection. The fingers may not be webbed, connected or removed. Any gloves which provide an unfair advantage are not allowed, and must be replaced at the referee’s direction.
Part 2, Rule 2.3.C: Interpretation No. 2: A player should be allowed to protect a bone bruise on the hand. If some kind of thin bandaging material is not sufficient, the player should be allowed to use a coin or some other type of hard material, so long as the referee does not believe it creates an unfair advantage, in which case the material would be disallowed. Any such protection must be worn under the glove and must be approved by the referee before play begins.
A. General. Recognizing that protective eye wear cannot guarantee 100% safety from eye injuries resulting from playing handball, protective eye wear designed for court sports must properly worn at all times on the court. The USHA recommends that players select unaltered lensed eye wear, with specifications that meet or exceed either ASTM, ANSI or Snell standards.
Part 2, Rule 2.5.B: Interpretation No. 3: If the referee is doing a proper job, there should never be a technical called for failure to wear eye protection properly. If the referee sees that a player is about to serve and is not wearing eye protection, the referee should immediately stop the game and inform the player who is about to create the violation. The referee should not let a player play without eye protection in place. If the player refuses to abide by this rule, the match shall be forfeited. Sometimes, however, the referee may not notice the eye protection infraction until after a rally has begun. If this occurs, the referee should stop play immediately and call a technical against the player in violation. The referee should also inform the player that a second violation will result in the match being defaulted.
A. Pre-match duties. The principal official for every match shall be the referee. The referee’s authority regarding a match begins once the players are called to the court. Before each match begins, it shall be the duty of the referee to:
B. Decisions. The referee shall make all decisions with regard to the rules and the referee has the authority to change his/her call. Where line judges are used, the referee shall announce all final judgments. In the absence of line judges, if both players in singles or three out of four in a doubles match disagree with a call made by the referee, the referee should consider reversing his/her call. The Chief of Referees and/or Tournament Director who has witnessed a violation of Rule 4.9 Technicals may enforce the application of the Technical (See Rule. 4.9 Technicals).
E. Forfeitures. A player or team may be forfeited by the tournament director or official in charge for failure to comply with the tournament or host facility’s rules while on the tournament premises, for failure to referee or for any other improper conduct on the tournament premises.
E. Time. A serve may not be made until the referee has announced the score (See Rule 3.4.A.9). The referee shall call “point” or “side out” as soon as a rally ends. The receiver then has up to 10 seconds to assume a receiving position. When the receiver has assumed a receiving position or 10 seconds have elapsed, whichever occurs first, and the server has had reasonable time to get to his/her serving position, the referee shall announce the score and the server must serve (hit the ball) within 10 seconds. If the first serve results in a fault or screen, the referee shall give the receiver a reasonable time to take a receiving position and the server reasonable time to get to his/her serving position. The referee shall then announce “second serve” if the serve was a fault, or “first/second serve, one screen” if a screen, after which the server must serve within 10 seconds.
Part 4, Rule 4.1.E: Interpretation No. 4: After the rally is over, the referee should immediately call “point” or “sideout.” The receiver then has 10 seconds to assume his/her ready position, but the server should only have “reasonable time” to get set. The server should not be allowed to stall by slowly retrieving the ball. As soon as the receiver is “ready” and the server has had reasonable time to retrieve the ball, the referee should call the score, at which time the server has 10 seconds in which to hit the ball. If the receiver is in his/her ready position and the referee believes that the server is taking too much time retrieving the ball and assuming the serving position, the referee should call the score. The server will then have 10 seconds in which to serve. If the receiver is not in his/her ready position after 10 seconds have elapsed from the time the referee calls “point” or “sideout,” the referee should call the score and the server may serve immediately or may take up to 10 seconds, whether or not the receiver is ready.
Rule 4.3 Defective serves. There are four types of defective serves which result in the following:
2) Broken ball. If the ball is determined to have broken before the serve has become a legal serve, an approved ball must be put into play and the serve shall be replayed. (See Rule 4.6.J)
C. Fault serves. The following serves are fault serves, and any two that are hit consecutively before a legal serve is executed result in an out:
10) Not coming to a complete stop in the service zone before beginning the serve (See Rule 4.1D).
B. Fly return. In making a fly return, or any other legal return, the receiver may hit the ball anytime after it passes completely through the plane of the back edge of the short line; however no part of his/her body may extend on or over the plane of the back edge of the short line until after contacting the ball. In doubles, this also applies to the receiver’s partner. A violation results in a point for the server. After contacting the ball, the receiver and his/her partner may step on or over the short line without penalty.
3) The ball goes off a player’s hand or fist into the gallery, into any opening in a side wall, or ceiling.
1. The referee believes the opposing player is in no danger of stepping on the lost object;
6) Back-swing hinder. A player may not stop play, except on physical contact during his/her back-swing. He/she may immediately say “Contact” if he/she wants a contact hinder. If he/she elects to hit the ball, no contact call will be permitted. The defensive player may not stop play if contact occurs during his/her opponent’s back-swing.
If the ball is judged to be un-retrievable, a hinder should not be called no matter what kind of interference takes place. However, if the referee is in doubt, the benefit of that doubt should go to the player attempting to retrieve the ball and the hinder should be called.
The legal position a player can assume when the opponent is hitting the ball from behind that player is at an angle to the left or right side of the ball being hit, as long as that position is assumed before the opponent begins his/her stroke. A player must move out of the way of the opponent even though it may mean moving to an undesirable court position. It is no excuse that the player claims he/she did not know where the opponent was. He/she must move. This is also the case when a player gives the opponent a back wall setup. It is the obligation of the defensive player to look over his/her shoulder and, if necessary, move out of the way. A player cannot line up directly in front of the opponent’s shot on a straight path to the front wall, parallel to the side walls. If a player assumes such a position and there is a collision, or if the player is struck by the ball, the hinder is avoidable.
Rule 4.9 Technicals. A technical is assessed for unsportsman-like conduct or for improperly wearing eye protection. If a referee issues a technical, one point shall be deducted from the offender’s score. The technical has no effect on service changes or sideouts. If the technical occurs between games or when the offender has no points, the result will be that the offender’s score will be a negative one. Three technicals in a match, or two for eye protection infractions, on a singles player or a doubles team will result in a forfeiture.
1) Too frequent or excessive complaints made against the referee’s judgment.
Rule 5.6 Tournament conduct. In all USHA-sanctioned tournaments, the referee is empowered to default a match if a player conducts himself/herself in a manner detrimental to the tournament or the game of handball. This includes the authority of the referee and/or tournament director to remove disruptive or abusive people, and to default a match if such individuals are not removed. Additionally, in all USHA-sanctioned tournaments, the tournament director is empowered to prohibit further participation, and/or to remove, anyone who conducts himself/herself in a manner detrimental to the event or the game of handball.
Interpretation No. 23. Coaching is allowed, however, only in a manner consistent with the behavior expected of any other spectator. Any coaching is expressly prohibited from the time the referee announces the score to the time the rally ends, and is subject to the removal and default provisions of this rule.
B. Collegiates. The purpose of the USHA-sponsored collegiate competition is to give college players a chance to showcase their talents under ideal conditions, and to assist in the promotion of college handball. The Collegiate Eligibility Rules are printed in Handball magazine each year with the official entry blank.
Under Part 2. Courts and Equipment
Rule 2.1 Courts. The specifications for the standard one-wall handball court are:
A. 1) Wall. The wall shall be 20 feet wide (from the outside edge of one side line to the outside edge of the other side line) and 16 feet high including any top line. Courts should be numbered.
2) Floor. The floor shall be 20 feet wide from the outside edges of the sidelines. It shall be 34 feet from the wall to the back edge of the long line. The side lines should extend at least 6 feet beyond the long line. There also should be a minimum border of at least 6 feet (but ideally 20 feet of floor beyond each side line, as well as 16 feet beyond the long line) to allow for playing space. In addition, to keep from losing the ball, outdoor courts should be surrounded by a 12-16 foot high 1-inch chain link fence.
B. 1) Short line. The short line runs parallel to the wall, between the side lines, with its back edge 16 feet from the wall.
2) Long line. The long line runs parallel to the wall, between the side lines, with its back edge 34 feet from the wall.
3) Top line. The top line runs parallel to the floor, between the side lines, with its top edge 16 feet from the floor (See 2.1B8).
4) Service markers. There shall be service markers, lines of at least 6 inches in length extending inward from the side lines, parallel to the short and long lines and located midway between them. The imaginary extension of these lines across the court indicates the service line (See Rule 4.4A).
5) Service zone. The service zone is the floor inside and including the short, service, and side lines.
6) Receiving zone. The receiving zone is the floor area behind the short line, inside and including the side and long lines.
7) Playing zone. The playing zone is the floor area between the wall and the outside edges of the side and long lines.
8) Wall edge. The top edge of the wall, if any, is not part of the court. A ball striking the top edge is an out.
Under Rule 2.3 Gloves
1) Big Ball One-Wall. Exclusively in big ball, one-wall matches, gloves are optional. However, players must have access to gloves. They will not be required to wear them unless the referee deems it necessary to help keep the floor and/or the ball from getting wet.
Under Rule 2.4 Uniform
A. General. Shirts are not required for outdoor play unless requested by opponent.
Under Rule 3.4 Referee
A. Decisions. The referee will be positioned behind the receiving side and shall make all decisions with regard to the rules and the referee has the authority to change his call. Where line judges are used, the referee shall announce all final judgments.
1) Spectators. The referee shall have jurisdiction over the spectators, as well as the players, while the match is in progress (See Rule 5.6). A ball that hits an official or spectator before hitting the wall shall be judged as if it had hit an opponent (See Rule 4.7A2). If a “non-seated” spectator or official interferes with a player in his attempt to play a ball, it is a hinder. In the interest of safety, when sufficient playing area cannot be provided, the referee may call a dead-ball hinder for interference that prevents a player from having a fair chance to see or return the ball (See Rule 4.7A7).
Under Rule 3.6 Line Judges
A. Line Judges. There should be a line judge, positioned at the most advantageous views, for each of the side lines, the short line and the long line.
B. Duties and responsibilities. Line judge duties shall be to call “out” the balls that hit the floor or the wall off the court and to call faults on their respective lines as they occur. The short line judge may call skip balls, backswing hinders and two bounce returns at the discretion of the referee. If a line judge is uncertain, he/she should abstain from making a call. The referee may substitute his/her decision on a call.
Line judges also are designated to help decide appealed calls. In the event of an appeal, and after a very brief explanation of the appeal by the referee, the line judges must indicate their opinions of the referee’s call.
C. Result of response. The call shall follow the opinion of the majority of participating officials (four line judges and one referee.) If there is no majority, the referee may let the call stand, reverse the call or call for a replay.
Under Rule 3.7 Appeals
A. Number of Appeals. In all one-wall matches, appeals are limited to three unsuccessful (referee’s initial call stands), appeals per player/side per game for the first two games and two unsuccessful appeals per player/side for the tiebreaker.
Under Rule 4.2 Doubles
B. Partner’s position. In doubles, the server’s partner must stand outside the side lines, astraddle the indicated service line, and may not enter the playing zone until the served ball passes him. A violation is called a “foot fault.”
Under Rule 4.3 Defective Serves
A. Dead-ball serves. A dead-ball serve results in no penalty and the server is given another serve without cancelling a prior defective serve or hinder fault.
B. Hinder serves. A hinder serve call stops play, and the server gets another serve. (See Rule 4.3 C.6)
1) Moving on service. The server or his partner moves out of the way of a legally served ball from the wall, a hinder may be called not voiding any previous faults. This call, like any other hinder, is based on interference affecting the play (See Interpretation No. 5). If there is initial interference, but the receiver still has time to get into good position, a hinder should not be called. He/she should watch the reaction of the receiver. The receiver should be given the benefit of any doubt, as long as he/she is properly positioned (See Rule 4.3C6).
Part 4, Rule 4.3 B. (1): Interpretation No. 5
The hinder serve, like any other hinder, is based on interference affecting the play. The referee should not make the call too quickly, but should watch the reaction of the receiver. If the referee feels that the receiver hesitates getting into position, a hinder should be called. If, however, the receiver moves quickly and obviously is going to have time to get into good position for a shot, the hinder should not be called.
If the receiver positions himself/herself to one side of center or anticipates the serve is going to be hit to one side and moves in that direction too quickly, and the serve is hit to the opposite side, a hinder should not be called. It is also important that the referee attempt to position himself/herself so that he/she will have the same angle of view as the receiver. The best answer to this dilemma is: When in doubt, call a hinder serve.
2) Straddle balls. A legally served ball that travels between the legs of the server is an automatic hinder serve.
C. Fault serves.
a) The server’s foot touches the floor outside the service zone before the served ball passes through the plane of the back edge of the short line from the wall.
b) In doubles, when the server’s partner is not outside the side lines, astraddle the indicated service line, or enters the playing zone before the served ball passes him/her (See Rule 4.2B).
2) Short serve. Any serve that first hits the wall and on the rebound hits the floor in front of, or on, the short line on or between the side lines.
3) Long serve. Any serve that first hits the wall and on the rebound hits the floor in back of the long line and on or between the side lines. During tournament play, receiver(s) must not catch a serve that is assumed will be long. The referee shall award a point for failure to return.
4) Bouncing ball outside service zone. Any serve that is struck on a bounce that was made outside the service zone. (See Rule 4.1 D).
5) Not hitting ball on first bounce from a single drop. (See Rule 4.1 D).
6) Two consecutive hinder serves. Two consecutive hinder serves result in a fault. (See Rule 4.3 B.1) This is the only fault call that cannot be appealed. (See Rule 4.8)
D. Out serves.
3) Touched serve. Any served ball on the rebound from the wall that touches the server, or touches the server’s partner. This includes a serve that is intentionally caught. When the partner is hit by the serve, the “out serve” penalty supersedes the partner’s foot fault.
Part 4, Rule 4.3 D (3): Interpretation No. 6
Even though the foot fault occurs before the out serve, the out serve penalty takes precedence and shall be enforced. Another example: A server foot faults when contacting the ball and the ball does not hit the wall first. Again, the out serve penalty should be enforced. For this reason, a referee should wait until after the ball is served to call a foot fault.
4) Wall edge. The top edge of the wall, if any, is not part of the court. A ball striking the top edge is an out.
5) Outside serve. Any serve that, on the rebound from the wall, hits the floor outside of the side lines is an out against the serving side. During tournament play, receivers must not catch serves that they assume to be out. Referee will award point for failure to return.
Under Rule 4.4 Return of Serve.
A. Receiving position. The receiver or receivers must stand in back of the service line until the ball from the wall passes the short line. Any violation of this rule results in a point for the server (See Rule 2.1 B.4).
B. Fly return. In making a fly return or any other legal return, the receiver may hit the ball anytime after it passes completely through the plane of the back edge of the short line and no part of his/her body may extend on or over the plane of the back edge of the short line until after contacting the ball. A violation results in a point for the server. After contacting the ball, the receiver and his/her partner may step on or over the short line without penalty.
C. Legal return. After the ball is legally served, one of the players on the receiving side must strike the ball either on the fly or after the first bounce, and before the ball touches the floor a second time, to return the ball to the wall on or between the lines first and make it rebound into the playing zone.
H. Out ball. Any ball in play, after the service, striking outside the side lines or past the long line, is an out or point. During tournament play, the players must not catch balls that they assume to be out. Referee will award an out or point.
Under Rule 4.7 Dead-ball Hinders.
4) Moving on service. If the server or his/her partner moves out of the way of a legally served ball. (See Rule 4.3B1)
Delete: 5) Straddle ball.
7) Safety holdup.
Add: This does not affect the rules on legal hinders. (See Rule 4.7 B.1)
1) Standing still. If a player attempting to play a ball is interfered with by an opponent, who, after his side has played the ball, was perfectly still in front of or aside the player, it is NOT a hinder. This “legal” hinder is the essence of the one-wall game. However, if a player of the side that has just hit the ball stands perfectly still, but his opponent moves back into him in trying to play the ball, not necessarily making contact, and is thus kept from having a fair chance to play the ball, it is a hinder. It is the duty of the player farther from the wall to get out of the way. (See Interpretation No. 12)
2) Being moved into the ball. If a player on the side that has just hit the ball is moved or pushed unintentionally into the ball, or prevented from getting out of the way of a ball, by an opponent trying to play the ball, it is a dead ball hinder.
Add: Rule 4.75 Hinder Fault. During a rally, if a player on the serving side creates a hinder called by the referee, the serving side starts the ensuing service with a fault, except as stated in Rule 4.3 B.
Under Rule 4.8 Avoidable hinders.
Replace: Avoidable hinders are called when:
With: A player moving as late as possible to avoid being hit by the ball is not creating an avoidable hinder. (See Rule 4.7 B.1) Avoidable hinders, which should not be confused with “legal” hinders (See rule 4.7 B.1), are called when:
A. Failure to move. A player does not move sufficiently to allow his/her opponent his/her shot.
Part 4, Rule 4.8 A: Interpretation No. 13
The player standing further from the wall must move out of the way of his opponent even though it may mean moving to an undesirable court position. If a player assumes such a position and there is a collision, or there is interference with the stroke of the player trying to strike the ball, the hinder is avoidable.
This call is just the opposite of the “failure to move” avoidable hinder. When a player “creates” a hinder by his/her movement, it is also avoidable. Sometimes a player, in the effort to get into a better court position, will cause contact with an opponent who is about to hit the ball, or a player will move in so close to an opponent who is hitting the ball as to cause a possibility of body contact. In either case, an avoidable hinder should be called. It is also an avoidable hinder if one player, just as his/her partner is hitting the ball, moves directly in front of an opponent creating a hinder, not to be confused with a “legal “ hinder.
C. Moving into ball.
This avoidable hinder may occur almost anywhere on the court. A player has an offensive setup; in his/her effort to get into a more favorable position, the defensive player moves into the path of the ball and is hit. This is avoidable. In this case, the referee must use judgment and not call an avoidable if he/she feels the ball was “mis-hit” and that the defensive player was moving into a non-hindering position in which he/she would not have been hit if the ball had been hit truly.
E. View obstruction.
Part 4, Rule 4.8 E: Interpretation No. 17
Generally, this type of avoidable hinder occurs after a player has hit the ball and finds himself/herself out of position. In the effort to move into a better court position, he/she crosses the eventual path of the ball just before the ball reaches the opponent, thereby obstructing the opponent’s view of the ball.
Under Rule 4.10 Rest Periods
E. Postponed by referee. Any games postponed by the referee (due to weather) shall be resumed with the same score.
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