Main Rule Set = LI-Kick Rules below.
LI-Kick has adapted Olympic European Handball rules to our 'gym class' style of play.
(last update 2/13/24)
About Handball
Handball (also known as team handball, European handball or Olympic handball) is a team sport in which two teams pass a ball using their hands with the aim of throwing it into the goal of the opposing team. LI-Kick has adapted the rules so they apply to a social sports league.
1.0 General
1.01. Gameplay is played 5v5 with 4 field players and 1 goalie.
1.01.01. Substitutions are “on the fly”, just like in hockey.
1.02. The sport is gender blind with no male/female rules.
1.03. The game is played on field with 2 goals and a crease area only for the goalie.
1.04. Goals are worth 1 point. There is a 2-point line which is only accessible for the losing team.
1.05. Games will consist of two 20 minute halves, with a short half-time.
1.06. It is a running clock with no timeouts.
1.07. The game is played with a volleyball (if you’ve ever seen a real European Handball, you know why)
2.0 Offense
2.01. Players pass, dribble, and step in an attempt to score a goal.
2.02. Players are allowed to move with the ball for 3 steps. After one dribble, a player may move an additional 3 steps.
2.02.1. A dribble must begin with the player’s hand on top of the ball.
2.03. Players can hold the ball for a maximum of 3 seconds when closely guarded by a defender. Failure to shoot or pass after 3 closely guarded seconds results in a turnover.
2.04. Offensive players are not allowed inside the crease, with the exception of players attempting a shot on goal who begin their leap from outside the crease.
2.05. All shots are live and either team may gain possession of a rebound.
2.06. Stalling occurs when the offensive team is not actively trying to score a goal. If the official judges a team as stalling, he will call out ‘Stall!’. At that point the offensive team has a maximum of 6 passes to shoot the ball or it will be an automatic turnover.
2.06.01 An official will judge a ‘stall’ as excessive passing without an intent to score, or passing into the backfield.
2.07. Offensive players cannot recklessly initiate contact with defending players.
2.08. Offensive players cannot kick the ball.
3.0 Defense
3.01. There is no contact allowed outside of 3 feet of the crease.
3.01.01. Stripping the ball without making contact in the midfield is allowed.
3.02. Physical contact is only allowed when an offensive player, with possession of the ball, is within 3 feet of the crease.
3.03. Physical contact by a defender can only be made within the following parameters:
3.03.1. The defender’s back must be toward his own goal. Contact from the side is not permitted.
3.03.2. The defender can only ward off the offensive player by extending their arms
3.04. If both opponents gain possession of the ball simultaneously, then the ball will be awarded to the defensive team.
4.0 Turnovers
4.01. A turnover can occur when
4.01.01. An offensive player takes more than 1 dribble.
4.01.02. An offensive player takes more than 3 steps.
4.01.03.An offensive player is closely guarded for more than 3 seconds.
4.01.04 An offensive player is in the crease.
4.01.05. The ball touches the ground on an incomplete pass.
4.01.06 An offensive player commits a violation or foul.
4.01.07 The offense is called for stalling.
4.02. There is a ‘live restart’ on turnovers and the team receiving the ball can immediately restart play.
4.02.01. An offensive player who interferes with a live restart will receive a 60-second penalty and the team will play down a player. The suspension ends if the suspended team scores a goal
5.0 Goalies
5.01: Goalie is the only defined position. Goalies are allowed to wear gloves.
5.02: Only the goalkeeper is allowed inside the crease.
5.03: Upon a saved shot, the goalie has 5 seconds to pass the ball from within the crease. Failure results in a restart from midfield for the opposing team.
5.04: Once the goalie has passed the ball out of the crease, teammates cannot pass back to the goalie while in the crease. Goalies must exit the crease to receive a pass.
6.0 Penalties
6.01. If the offense commits a penalty, the ball restarts from the midfield or goalie (depending on the location of the foul).
6.02. If the defense commits a penalty in the midfield, the ball restarts from the midfield.
6.03. If the defense commits a penalty on a shot attempt, the offense will be awarded a penalty shot.
6.03.01. A penalty shot occurs from the crease line.
6.03.02. The goalkeeper's feet must be on the goal line.
6.03.03. The shooter must have one foot planted and is not allowed to lift or rock the plant foot.
6.03.04 The shooter cannot pump fake and can never make a backward motion on the shot.
6.04. A yellow card is awarded for misconduct.
6.04.01. A player who receives a yellow must be subbed off the field for 60 seconds.
6.04.02. Two yellow cards in one game is the equivalent of one red
6.05. A red card is awarded for dangerous play and severe misconduct.
6.05.01. A player who receives a red card is ejected from the game.
7.0 Mercy Rule
7.01. A “Mercy Rule” 6-6-2 shall go into effect when the following conditions are met:
7.01.01. Team is down by 6+ points
7.01.02. Losing team will be allowed 6 players on the court (5 + Goalie)
7.01.03. Losing team will be allowed 2 dribbles rather than 1