These Rules of the Game will take effect on August 1, 2005. The Rules Text, the Comments, the IHF Hand Signals, the Clarifications to the Rules of the Game, and the Substitution Area Regulations are all components of the overall Rules.

This does not apply to the Guidelines for Playing Courts and Goals, which are simply included in the rule book for the convenience of the users of that text.

DOWNLOAD THE IHF RULES OF THE GAME by clicking at IHF RULES

Note :

For the sake of simplicity, this rule book generally uses the male form of words with respect to players, officials, referees and other persons.

However, the rules apply equally to male and female participants, except as regards the rules for the size of the balls to be used .