the rules

The Rules Of Korfball

1. Field of Play

The dimensions of the pitch are 40x20 m (132 x 66 ft) indoors and 60 x 30 m (197 x98 ft) outdoors, divided into two equal zones. The ratio of length to width is 2:1.

2. Marking

The whole field of play is marked out by clearly visible tapes. They must be fixed flat and straight on the ground.

The penalty spots must be marked at a distance of 2 1/2 m (8 1/5 ft) in front of the posts as seen from the centre of the pitch.

3. Posts

The posts are positioned on the longitudinal axis of the pitch at a distance from the ends equal to 1/6th of the length of the pitch. The posts are rounded and can consist of solid wood or metal tube with an external diameter of 4 1/2 - 8 cm.

They are fixed perpendicularly in or on the ground and may not protrude above the baskets.

4. Baskets

A cylindrical bottomless basket is fitted to each post. The basket must face towards the centre of the pitch and its top edge must be everywhere 3 1/2 m (11 1/2 ft) above the ground. They are 25 cm (10 ins) high and have a inner diameter of 39-41 cm (15 3/8 - 16 1/8 ins). The rim (top edge) of the basket has a width of 2-3 cm (about 1 inch). The basket are made of osier twigs or of rotan. They must be similar and of one colour; preference is given to hard yellow.

5. Ball

Korfball is played with a round ball N0 5 which consists of a rubber pneumatic bladder in an outer casing made from leather or synthetic material.

6. Players

A. Number and position
Each team consists of four male and for female players, of whom two male and two female players are placed in each zone.

B. Incomplete teams
When one or both teams are incomplete, the games can only start or be continued, if a line-up is possible which ensures that no zone has less than three players from each side and that in no zone one female and two male players are opposed by one male and two female players.

C. Substitution of players
Two substitutions per team are allowed. Thereafter only an injured player, whose injury prevents him from continuing the game, may be replaced, providing the referee agrees. Once a player has been replaced, he/she cannot return to the game.
D. Clothing and shoes
The players of each side must be dressed in a uniform sports costume, which is sufficiently different from that of the other side. The players must wear shoes.

7. Captain

One player of each team is captain. He/She wears a clearly visible band on the upper part of his/her left arm. He/She represents the team and is responsible for the proper conduct of his/her players. He/She informs the referee of any change in the team.

8. Referee

The referee controls the games. Their task is:

A. To decide the suitability of the weather, pitch and material;

B. To enforce the rules. The referee punishes the infringements of the rules, except when the punishment would be to the disadvantage of the non-offending side ("advantage rule"). the ref takes action when one side obtains an unfair advantage from circumstances outside the game. The ref decides in cases of doubt.

C. To indicate the starting, stopping and restarting of the games by means of blowing a whistle. To start or restart the game, the referee blows their whistle as soon as the player taking the throw is ready and all the requirements (19 and 20) are satisfied.

D. In case of misbehaviour the referee can warn the player formally, which he does by showing him a yellow card. They can send the player off by showing him a red card. During a match the referee must not give more than two formal warnings to the same player; should this player misbehave a third time, then they must be sent off. Misbehaviour includes striking, punching, kicking or intentionally running down of an opponent; repeated infringements of the rules, especially after a warning; the deliberate moving of the post during a shot; the utterance of insults, no matter to whom addressed.

9. Timekeeper

If at all possible, the referee will appoint a timekeeper, whose duty it is to warn the referee just before the end of each half of the game.

10. Linesmen

In each match there are two linesmen, whose duty it is to make sure whether the ball is 'out' and to draw the attention to any foul made in their vicinity.

11. Duration

A match must not last longer than 2 x 30 minutes with 5 to 15 minutes interval.

12. Goals

A goal is scored when the ball has fallen completely through the basket. A goal stands even when the referee has previously blown for an infringement committed by a defender, provided the ball had left the hands of the shooting attacker at the moment of whistling and was outside the reach of one of the defenders. The team scoring most goals wins the match.

13. Line-up

A. Choice of line-up and zones
The home team chooses the basket into which they will shoot up to half time. They arrange their players in the two zones and the visiting team arranges their side accordingly.

B. Change in line-up
If during the game circumstances alter owing to the dropping out of a player, the referee can permit a change. They will order a change when it is necessary to comply with the conditions mentioned in 6b or when the number of players with a direct opponent is less than absolutely necessary.

14. Change of zones and change of ends

After every two goals the players move to the other zone and change function; defenders become attackers and vice versa. At half time there is a change of ends.

15 Throw-off

The throw-off is taken by a player in the attacker near the centre of the pitch at the start of the games, at the start of the second half and after every goal. In the first case the throw-off is taken by the home team, in the second case by the visiting team and in the last case by the team against which the goal has been scored. The same stipulations apply as for a free pass (see 19).

16. Infringements of the rules

During the game it is prohibited:

A. To touch the ball with leg or foot.
If the touching is unintentional and exerts no important influence on the game, it will not be punished.
B. To hit the ball with the fist.
All hitting with a clenched fist is punishable, even when the ball is actually touched by the wrist or the back of the hand.

C. To take hold of the ball in a fallen position.
When any part of the body other than the feet is touching the ground, catching or tapping the ball is not allowed. However, when a player falls who is already in possession of the ball, then they are allowed to play the ball from a fallen position. It is of course also permitted to stand up after having fallen with the ball.

D. To run with the ball.
Running with the ball is contrary to the requirements for co-operation. Change of position with the ball is therefore only permitted when otherwise it would be impossible to throw the ball correctly or to stop with the ball. Applying these principles three cases are to be distinguished:

1. When seizing the ball the player stands at rest: in this case they may move one leg at will, provided the other one remains in its place. Turning on the latter however is permitted.

2. When seizing the ball the player is running or jumping: they stop first and afterwards passes the ball. The principle is that after seizing the ball, they have immediately and fully tried to come to a stop. After coming to a stop, the same rules apply as mentioned under 1.
3. After seizing the ball while running or jumping, the player throws the ball before he has come to a stop. This is permitted provided the catching and throwing have only taken a very short time or have been combined into one flowing movement.
E. To avoid co-operation ('solo play').
Avoidance of co-operation occurs:
1. When throwing the ball away with the intention of collecting it again elsewhere;

2. When tapping the ball along whilst running alongside it ('dribbling');

Solo-play is not punishable:
i. When the player does not change his position appreciably (e.g. a player, while standing still, throws the ball from one hand to the other, or bounces the ball to the ground first and seizes it afterwards).

ii. When the avoidance of co-operation was not intentional (examples: a player passes the ball to another player, but the latter fails to catch it; when contesting the ball with an opponent a player is not able to seize the ball right away, but taps it along and seizes it afterwards).

F. To hand the ball to another player of the same team;

G. To delay the game unnecessarily.

H To knock, task or run the ball out of an opponent's hand;
I. To push, to cling to, or to hold off an opponent:
This unlawful hindering of an opponent has to be punished no matter whether this opponent does or does not posses the ball. Every impediment of the free movement of an opponent is forbidden, whether this is done deliberately or not.

J. To hinder an opponent in possession of the ball excessively;
The hindering player is allowed to hinder the throwing of the ball in the desired direction by actions which result in the ball being thrown against his hand or arm. They are especially allowed to block the ball by bringing their arm in the path of the ball, but they must not:

1. Hinder their opponent in the free use of their body by blocking the arms instead of the ball;

2. Beat the ball or hit the throwing arm i.e. the hindering arm or hand must not move towards the ball at the instant of contact.

K. To hinder an opponent of the opposite sex in throwing the ball;
L. to hinder somebody who is already being hindered by another opponent;

M. To play outside one's zone;

N. To shoot from a defended position
The shot must be considered defended when the hindering defender satisfies each of the following three conditions;

1. They must be within arm's length of the attacker and they must be facing him; the distance must be so close, that the defender can touch the attacker without having to bend forward;

2 They must actually try to block the ball;

3. They must be nearer to the post than the attacker.

O. To shoot after cutting past another attacker
'cutting' occurs when a defender cannot follow an attacker, because the attacker runs so close past another attacker, that the defender collides with or is likely to collide with his attacker and therefore gives up his defending position;
P. To shoot from the defence zone, from a free pass or from a referee-throw ('throw-up');

Q. To shoot when one plays without a personal opponent;
This occurs when the defence has only three players against an attack of four players. In that case the captain of the attacking side must inform the referee and the other captain, which of their attackers will not shoot. A change of attacker is only allowed twice during every offensive period. A goal made from a penalty by an attacker without a personal opponent counts as a goal.

R. To influence a shot by moving the post;

S. To take hold of the post when running, jumping or in order to move away quickly;

T. To violate the conditions laid down for a free pass or penalty.

17. Out-ball

The ball is out, as soon as it touches a boundary line of the pitch, the ground, a person or an object outside the pitch.

The ball is also out, when it touches the ceiling or an object above the pitch. In the case of an out-ball, a free pass is awarded against the side who touched the ball last.

18. Referee-throw ('throw-up)

When two opponents seize the ball simultaneously, the referee will stop play and will throw the ball up. For this purpose they choose two players from the zone concerned, who must be of the same sex and if possible of about the same height. The other players observe a distance of 2 1/2m (8 1/5 ft) and may only touch the ball after one of the two selected players has touched the ball or after the ball has been in contact with the ground. Shooting directly from the throw-up is not allowed.

19. Free pass

A. When to award a free pass:
A free pass is awarded to the opposing side after the referee has indicated that one of the rules (16 or 17) has been violated.

B. Place of the free pass:
The free pass is taken from the spot where the infringement was committed. In the case of an out-ball or when rule 16m has been violated, the pass is taken from outside the pitch, near the boundary line where the ball or the offending player touched or crossed the line.

C. How to take a free pass:
The person taking the free pass must play the ball within 4 seconds after the whistle has gone fro the commencement of play (8c).

All other players must keep a distance of a least 2 1/2 m (8 1/5 ft) until the free pass has been taken. The latter stipulation is cancelled for the opponents as soon as the taker of the free pass moves the ball. If the free pass is not taken within 4 seconds, a free pass is awarded to the other side.

20. Penalty

A. When to award a penalty:
Infringements which result in the loss of a scoring chance, are punished by the award of a penalty to the other side. A penalty can also be awarded after previous warnings for other repeated infringements which improperly hinder the attack.

B. Place of the penalty:
The penalty must be taken on the longitudinal axis of the pitch at a distance of 2 1/2m (8 1/5 ft) in front of the post.

C. How to take a penalty:
It is permitted to score directly from a penalty. The person taking the penalty must not touch the ground between the penalty spot and the post with any part of their body, before the ball has left their hands. Until that moment all players must observe a distance of 2 1/2m in all directions, from any point on the imaginary line between the penalty spot and post. They must refrain from any action disturbing to the thrower.

If necessary, the first as well as the second half of the game will be prolonged for the taking of a penalty.