EHF EURO 2012 guidelines for refereeing released

Less than one month out of the 2012 EHF Women's European Championship in Serbia the European Handball Federation has released the guidelines for refereeing for the tournament from 4 to 16 December.

Four topics were specified by the EHF Competitions Commission and will be discussed in detail at the officials' conference in Belgrade prior to to the start of the championship.

These four topics are as follows:

• Definition of progressive fouls
• Criteria for a 7m throw
• Collisions/fouls when shooting from the wing
• Blocking someone's path correctly

Definition of progressive fouls

There is a clear definition of progressive fouls that is described within rule 8 and within rule 16 of the IHF Rules, providing a clear distinction between fouls that shall be punished in the traditional way (beginning with yellow cards etc.) and fouls that go beyond the usual and to be puinished with an immediate

a) 2-minute suspension

• fouls that are committed with high intensity or against an opponent who is running fast (i.e. counter-attack)
• holding on to the opponent for a long time, or pulling her down
• fouls against the head, throat or neck
• hard hitting against the torso or throwing arm
• attempting to make the opponent lose body control (e.g. grabbing the leg/foot of an opponent who
  is jumping) - even a disqualification may be possible
• pushing from the side or from the back an opponent who is running or jumping

b) direct disqualification

• loss of body control while running or jumping, or during a throwing action
• attacking the thrower’s arm from the side or from behind
• aggressive actions against a part of the body, especially face, throat or neck
• goalkeeper leaving goal area for the purpose of catching a pass intended for an opponent

When a foul under Rule 8:5 or 8:8 is committed durign the last minute of a game with the purpose of preventing a goal, then the action is to be seen as "extremely unsportsmanlike conduct" under Rule 8:10c,d.

Criteria for a 7-metre throw

A 7-metre throw is awarded in the following situations

a) When a clear* chance for scoring a goal is prevented by a rule infringement anywhere on the court
b) When a player deliberately enters her own goal area to stop the ball or gain other advantages over an attacking player in possession of the ball

* A clear chance of scoring exists when a player who has already ball & body control is facing the opponent's goal and . . .

• has the chance to score, without any opponent being able to prevent the shot with legal methods
• is running/dribbling alone towards the goalkeeper in a counter-attack, without any opponent being able to come in front of her and stop the counter-attack

Collision, foul when shooting from the wing

Fouls against wing players who are jumping can be very dangerous, even after a very small physical impact such as. . .

• a slight push on the hip or stomach or a slight touch on the shoulder
• catching or trying to catch the leg of the attacker who is jumping
• a displacement with small hip/leg movement
• a player moving inside the goal area to defend

Above-listes actions can lead to severe injuries, due to the fact that players who are already in the air are unable to protect themselves.

In this type of situations, it is the danger to the opponent and not the intensity of the body contact that is the basis for judgement whether a disqualification is warranted or not.

Blocking someone's path correctly

Correct blocking means, preventing someone from moving into open space by using one's trunk to block the opponent in the struggle for a better position.

Setting the block, maintaining the block and moving out of the block must be done in a passive manner in relation to the opponent, and therefore it is not permitted to

• block the opponent with arms, hands, legs, or to use any part of the body to displace her or push her away
• hold an opponent (body or uniform), even if she then remains free to continue the play
• run into or jump into an opponent