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Toledo Handball Club: One-Wall Rules
Official USHA One-Wall Rules
Prepare for the coming of the Toledo 1-wall courts! Learn the rules today.
These are the official published USHA One-Wall handball rules. Any changes in these rules will be maintained by the USHA and are available at the USHA web site at www.ushandball.org . The rules as posted on the web site shall supercede this publication.
4.75 Hinder Fault
Rule 1.1 Types of games. One-wall handball may be played by two, three or four players. When played by two, it is called singles; when played by three, cutthroat ( See Interpretation No.1 ); and when played by four, doubles.
Rule 1.3 Objective. The objective is to win each rally by serving or returning the ball so the opponent is unable to keep the ball in play. A rally is won when one player is unable to return the opponent's shot legally. (See Rule 4.4C)
Rule 1.5 Game, match, tiebreaker. A match is won by the first side winning two games. The first two games of a match are decided by the first side to reach 21 points. In the event each side wins a game, a tiebreaker is played and decided by the first side to reach 11 points. (See Rule 4.1.A)
A. Dimensions. Drawings of standard one-wall courts and their surroundings are on file with the U.S.H.A. The dimensions of a standard one-wall handball court are:
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.
B. Lines and zones. Handball courts shall be divided and marked on the floors with 2-inch wide lines. Recommended colors are white, yellow, or red. The lines shall be marked as follows:
1) Short line. The short line runs parallel to the wall, between the side lines, with its back edge 16 feet from the wall.
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 nd long lines and located midway between them. The imaginary extension of these lines across the court indicates the service line (See Rule 4.4A).
B. Style. Gloves must be light in color on the usual hitting surfaces and made of a soft material or leather. 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:
D. Wet Gloves. Gloves must be changed when they become sufficiently wet to moisten the ball. This is the referee's decision. Gloves with holes that expose the skin may not be worn. It is
the player's responsibility to have an ample supply of dry gloves.
A. General. All parts of the uniform, consisting of a shirt, shorts, socks and shoes, must be clean at the beginning of a match. Only customary handball attire, in the referee's judgment, can be worn. Shirts must be full length, not cut off in the torso. Shirts are not required for outdoor play unless requested by opponent .
B. Violations. Failure to wear appropriate protective eyewear properly will result in a technical ( see Rule 4.10 ), and the player will be charged a timeout to secure eyewear. The second violation in the same match will result in a forfeit.
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 or receive 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 calledto the court. Before each match begins, it shall be the duty of the referee to:
2.) Equipment. Check on availability and suitability of all materials necessary for the match, such as handballs, towels, scorecard, pencils and a timepiece.
4.) Court hinders. Explain court hinders, if any, to players. ( See Rule 4.3 A and 4.7 A.1).
9.) Scoring. Announce the scores before each rally. ( See Rule 3.8 and 4.1E).
B. 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. 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 call.
1.) Flagrant unsportsmanlike-like conduct. Any player refuses to abide by the referee's decision or engages in flagrant unsportsmanlike-like conduct.
A. Player Code. The USHA rules of handball place a presumptive code of integrity and honesty on each player. It is expected that players will always self-enforce violations not detectable by a referee. (See rule 4.6 E) Such instances would include, but are not limited to, double bounces, wrist balls, and to fairly represent injuries in the application of Rule 4.11.C.
A. Line Judges. There should be a line judge, positioned at the most advantageous viewpoints, 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. The signal to show agreement with the referee is arm extended with thumb up, disagreement is shown by thumb pointing down. The signal to show no opinion or that the line judge is unsure, or his/her view was locked, is arm extended with an open hand and palm down. Line judges shall not signal until the referee acknowledges the appeal and asks for a ruling.
C. Result of response. If all four line judges abstain from giving an opinion, the referee’s call stands. Otherwise the call shall follow the opinion of the majority of participating officials (four line judges and one referee.) Disregarding those who abstain, if the majority of the officials agree with the referee’s call, the call shall stand. If a majority disagree with the referee’s call, the call must be reversed. However, if only one official indicates disagreement with the referee’s call (whereas the other three officials have abstained), then this is a tie, in which case the referee may let the call stand, reverse the call or call for a replay.
A. Appealable calls. Any player may appeal a short or other service fault. Any player may also appeal receiving line violations. If the server appeals a short or other service fault, and the appeal is upheld, the server is awarded the serve over. If the server had one short, the call would cancel the previous fault call, and the server would be awarded two serves, because he/she was judged to have made a legal serve. If, in the opinion of the referee, the ball could not have been returned, a point shall be awarded the server. If the appeal is not upheld, the call would be two shorts, a side out. If, on the first serve, the server appeals a non-call of a short or other service fault, and the appeal is upheld, the server is awarded a second serve. After the rally has ended, either player may appeal on a double-bounce call or non-call, kill shots called good, kill shots called no good and court hinders. The outcome may result in a point being awarded, a side out, or a replay. After the rally has ended, either player may also appeal faults, restraining line violations, and skip serves not called. If the appeal is upheld, the player is awarded the appropriate call. At no time may a player appeal a hinder serve, hinder (other than court hinders), technicals or other discretionary calls.
C. Place . The server may serve from any place in the service zone. No part of either foot may touch the floor beyond the outer edge of either line of the service zone. The server must remain in the service zone until the served ball passes the short line from the wall. Violations are called “foot faults." ( See Rule 4.3 C.1 . ).
D. Manner (Legal Serve). The server must come to a complete stop in the service zone before beginning the serve. The serve is begun by bouncing the ball to the floor in the service zone. The ball must be hit by the server's hand or fist so that it contacts the wall first and on the rebound contacts the floor in the receiving zone, unless played on the fly. Refer to Rule 4.3C and 4.3D.
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 hinder serve, 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 hinder serve” if a hinder serve, 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 "side out." 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 “side out,” 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.
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."
A. Dead-ball serves. A dead-ball serve results in no penalty and the server is given another serve without canceling a prior defective serve or hinder fault. This occurs in the following situations:
1.) Court hinders. If a served ball takes an erratic bounce due to a court obstruction or wetness (before the serve has become a legal serve) a court hinder is called and the serve is replayed. ( See Rule 3.4 A.4 and 4.7 A.1)
1) Moving on service. The server or his partner moves out of the way of a legally served ball from the wall, 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. In such a case the referee should not make the call too quickly. 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).
This is a difficult call because there will be instances in which the receiver will be hindered, but the ball has been hit so high that it is going to result in a setup and the receiver will have time to get into a good position to attempt his/her shot. The hinder serve, like any other hinder, is based on interference affecting the play. In the case just mentioned, there is initial interference, but the receiver still has time to get into good position so that the momentary hinder will not affect the play. In such a case, 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.
The receiver should be given the benefit of any doubt so long as his/her receiving position is in the center of the court. However, 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.
a.) The server begins the service motion with one or both feet touching the floor outside the service zone ( See Rule 4.1.C ).
b.) 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.
c) 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.
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)
2.) Non-front serve. Any served ball that does not strike the wall first.
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.
4.) Two consecutive fault serves. ( See Rule 4.3 C ).
5) Crotch serve. Any serve that hits the crotch of the wall and the floor shall be considered to have hit the floor first.
6.) Out-of-order serve. In doubles, when either partner serves out of order, the points scored by that server since the out of order serving commenced will be subtracted and an out serve will be called. If the second server serves out of order, the out serve will apply to the first server and the second server will resume serving. If the player designated as the first server serves out of order, a side out will be called.
Part 4, Rule 4.3 C (6): Interpretation No. 7
9) 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.
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, 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. A returned ball may not touch the floor before touching the wall. Failure to make a legal return results in a point for the server.
A. Out serve. The server makes an out serve under Rule 4.3 D .
B. Fault serves. The server makes two fault serves before executing a legal serve under Rule 4.3 C.
D. Return failure. The server or his/her partner fails to keep the ball in play by returning it as required by Rule 4.4 C.
E. Avoidable hinder. The server or his/her partner commits an avoidable hinder ( See Rule 4.9).
F. Second out. In doubles, the side is retired when both partners have been put out, except on the first serve of the game as provided in Rule 4.2 A.
Rule 4.6 Rally. A rally is defined aswhen the ball is legally returned and kept in play after a legal serve is executed. Play during rallies must be in accord with the following rules:
2.) After contact, the ball fails to reach the wall and rebound into the playing zone .
3.) The ball goes off a player's hand or fist into the gallery.
4.) A ball that obviously did not have the velocity or direction to be returned legally (See Rule 4.4 C) strikes another player on the court.
6.) Committing an avoidable hinder ( See Rule 4.9 ).
3.) Hinders. In singles or doubles, if a player swings at but misses the ball in play, and, in his/her or his/her partner's continuing attempt to play the ball before it touches the floor a second time, an opponent commits unavoidable interference, a hinder is called ( See Rule 4.7 ).
G. Touching the ball. Except as provided in Rule 4.7 A.2 , any touching of a ball before it touches the floor the second time by a player other than the one making a return is a point or out against the offending player.
J. Broken ball. If there is any suspicion that a ball has broken on the serve or during a rally, play continues until the end of the rally. An official or any player may request that the ball be examined by the referee. If the referee decides the ball is broken, an approved ball must be put into play and the point replayed. Once a succeeding serve is attempted, the previous rally stands.
Part 4, Rule 4.6 J: Interpretation No. 8
K. Play stoppage. If a foreign object enters the court, or any other outside interference occurs, or if a player loses a shoe or other properly worn equipment, the referee shall stop the game if
it interferes with the continuance of play or poses an immediate danger. However, safety permitting, one rally-ending attempt should be allowed ( See Rule 4.9 H).
Part 4, Rule 4.6 K: Interpretation No. 9
Rule 4.7 Dead-ball Hinders. Dead-ball hinders should be called when interference affects the play. ( See Rule 4.6.F.3 ).
1.) Court hinders. If, after the ball has been legally served, in the referee's opinion, an erratic bounce is caused by a court obstruction or irregularity, a court hinder should be called. The player should not stop play at any time in anticipation of a call. Included in court hinders is the ball that hits a wet spot on the floor, causing it to skid. This is the referee's call, not the player's. (See Rule 3.4 A.4 and 4.3 A.1)
Part 4, Rule 4.7 A.(1): Interpretation No. 10
Balls that skid on wet floors are court hinders, assuming that the player was in position to make a return had the ball bounced truly.
2.) Ball hits opponent . When a returned ball touches an opponent on the fly before hitting the wall, and the shot obviously would not have been fair, the player who was hit by the shot will be awarded the rally . If there is any doubt in the official’s mind, a dead ball hinder shall be called.
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)
5.) Back-swing hinder. A player may not stop play, except on physical contact during his/her backswing. 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.
6.) Safety holdup. Any player about to execute a return who believes he/she will strike his/her opponent with his/her hand, arm, or ball may immediately stop play and request a dead-ball hinder. This call must be made immediately and is subject to approval by the referee. The referee must grant the hinder if he/she believes the holdup was reasonable and the player otherwise might have been able to return the shot. The referee might also call an avoidable hinder if warranted. (See Rule 4.9 G) This does not affect the rules on legal hinders. (See Rule 4.7 B.1)
Part 4, Rule 4.7 A.7: Interpretation No. 11
7.) Other interference. Any other unavoidable interference that prevents a player from having a fair chance to see or return the ball.
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)
Part 4, Rule 4.7 B.1&2: Interpretation No. 12
D. Effect. A hinder call stops the play and usually voids any situation that follows, such as the ball hitting a player who stopped playing because of the call. However, if, in the opinion of the referee, his/her call was not responsible for the player being hit by the ball, the referee may overrule the hinder call and declare either a point or out. The only hinders a player may call are specified in Rules 4.7 A. 5., and 4.7 A.6., and are subject to approval by the referee.
Rule 4.8 Avoidable hinders. An avoidable hinder results in an out or a point ( See Rule 4.5.E ), depending on whether the offender was serving or receiving. Player intent has no bearing on an avoidable call. An avoidable hinder should be called only when a hinder could have been avoided with reasonable effort. 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:
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 .
Part 4, Rule 4.8 D: Interpretation No. 16
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.
Part 4, Rule 4.8 F: Interpretation No. 18
1) . Talking During the Rally. Aside from appeals and rally ending calls, there is no need for talking during a rally except in doubles, when the team on the offense is allowed to briefly communicate which partner is to hit, or not to hit, the ball.
Part 4, Rule 4.8 F.1: Interpretation No. 19
Part 4, Rule 4.8 G: Interpretation No. 20
A player hitting the ball is entitled to stroke the ball without being in danger of contacting an opponent during the stroke. The stroke includes the back-swing as well as the follow-through of the arm. If a player is contacted during any part of the stroke by the player hitting the ball, an avoidable hinder should be called, assuming the player who was hit could have avoided the interference with reasonable effort. This interference might not have affected the shot, but it
doesn't matter if the ball reaches the wall or not. This avoidable hinder must be called for safety reasons. Playing too close can cause serious injury, and the referee should forfeit the offending player if
this type of positioning continues. This does not affect the rules on legal hinders.
Part 4, Rule 4.8 H: Interpretation No. 21
Rule 4.9 Technicals. A tec hnical is assessed for unsportsmanlike-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 side outs. 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.
Part 4, Rule 4.9 A (6): Interpretation No. 22
A. Timeouts. Any player may request a timeout, but not after the referee has announced the score, called “second serve” after a fault serve, or called “first/second serve, one hinder serve” after a hinder serve. Timeouts must not exceed one minute. Three timeouts are allowed each side per 21-point game. Two timeouts are allowed during an 11-point game. Timeouts may be called consecutively. Players may leave the court during a timeout.
C. Injury. No timeout shall be charged to a player who is injured during the match. An injured player shall not be allowed more than a cumulative total of 15 minutes of injury timeout during a match. If the injured player is unable to resume play after a period totaling 15 minutes, the match may be awarded to the opponent. Preexisting conditions (including but not limited to injury and illness), fatigue or cramps do not warrant injury timeouts. For any injury, if the referee or tournament director determines the player cannot continue play the match may be terminated at that time, regardless of cumulative injury time out minutes still available. (See Rule 3.5).
1) . Blood Borne Pathogen . When a player is bleeding, or when blood is detected on the court or on a player, play must be stopped, the player must be removed from the court, and play cannot resume until:
d.) andany surface contaminated with blood is cleaned. Cleaning, including disposal, shall be performed by the host facility. The occurrence of bleeding, by itself, shall not constitute an injury for the purpose of application of the injury timeout provisions of this rule.
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 distractive 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.
A.) Age group divisions. In any division designated by a minimum age (Seniors, Masters, etc.), the entrant must reach the proper age on or before December 31 of the calendar year in which he/she participates. For example, a player who is 39 is allowed to enter the Masters (40-plus) if he/she turns 40 on or before December 31 of the year in which the tournament is scheduled. In any division designated by a maximum age (Juniors, Challengers, etc.), the player cannot have passed the age of eligibility until the day after the scheduled end of the tournament. For example, a player entering the 15-and-under division cannot reach his/her 16 th birthday until the day after the tournament is scheduled to end.
(Above rules amended April 1, 2005 )