Playing Actions

Throw Off

The throw off at the start of the game is taken by the team which wins the coin toss and chooses to start in possession of the ball or the team whose opponents wins the coin toss and opt to choose ends. The throw off at the start of the second half is taken by the other team. The throw off is taken from the center of the court in any directions. After the referee has blown his whistle the throw off must be taken within 3 seconds.

Throw in

A throw in is awarded, if the whole of the ball crosses the side line or if a court player of the defending team last touched the ball before it crossed the goal line outside the goal. The throw in, is taken from the place where the ball crossed the side line of the side of the goal where the ball crossed the goal line. The player taking the throw in must have one foot on the side line until the ball has left his hand. While the throw in is taken, the opponents must stay at least 3m from the thrower.

Goal Throw

 A goal throw will be awarded if -

• the whole of the ball passes over the goal line outside the goal, either in the air or on the ground, having last touched a player, of the attacking team or the goal keeper of the defending team or the goal keeper of the defending team in his goal area

• the ball goes direct into the goal of the opposite team as a result of the throw on, a throw in or a goal throw

The goal throw has been taken by the goal keeper from his goal area, into the court. The goal throw will be considered as taken, the moment ball leaves the hands of the goal keeper and crosses the goal line area.

Free Throw

A free throw will be awarded for -

• entering or leaving the playing ground in a faulty manner

• infringements by the goal keeper

• infringement by court player in the goal area

• playing the ball incorrectly

• deliberate playing of the ball across the side line or the goal line outside the goal

• passive play or wasting time

• infringements of the rules concerning approach to opponents

• interruption of play without an infringement

• ungentlemanly conduct

• incorrect taking of throws

• serious or repeated fouls

• infringements in connection with a throw in, goal throw, free throw, penalty throw and referee's throw

The player of the attacking team shall neither touch nor cross the free throw line of the opposite team until the free throw is taken. When a free throw is taken, the opponents must remain at a distance of at least 3 meters.

Penalty throw

A penalty throw will be awarded when:

• an infringement in any part of the court spoils a clear chance of scoring

• a goal keeper enters his goal area with the ball or takes it into the goal area

• a court player enters his own goal area to gain an advantage over an attacking opponent who is in possession of the ball

• a court player intentionally plays the ball to his own goal keeper in the goal area

The penalty throw is taken as a shot at goal within 3 seconds from the whistle signal from the court referee. The player taking the penalty throw must not touch or cross the penalty throw line before the ball has left his hand. While the penalty throw is being taken all players with the exception of the player taking the throw and the defending goal keeper will be outside the free throw line. If a player of the defending team touches or crosses the free throw line before the ball has left thrower's hand the referees will decide it as a goal, if the ball goes into the goal. While the penalty throw is being taken, the goal keeper crosses the goal keeper line (4m line) before the ball has left, the throw will be retaken if a goal was not scored.

Referee's Throw

The game will be restarted by a referee's throw if:

• the referee has interrupted the game

• the game has been interrupted when no team was in possession of the ball, without any infringements of the rules being committed

• the ball touches the roof or any obstacle fixed on it above the court

• half time is signaled before expiry of the time and the players have already left the court. In this case the referee's throw is taken in the center of the court after whistle signal

The referee's throw will be taken by the court referee bouncing the ball vertically on the point of the ground where the play was interrupted. He must not blow his whistle. While the referee's throw is being taken, no player will be nearer to the referee than 3m, before the ball has touched the ground.

Before any throw is taken the ball must rest in the thrower's hand. Only the thrower will be permitted to touch the ball before the throw is taken. When taking the throw on, the throw in, the corner throw, the free throw and the penalty throw, the thrower will keep his feet stationary on the ground till the ball has left his hand. A throw is considered to be taken when the ball has left the hands of the thrower.