Defending with feet!
By Christer Ahl (IHF/PRC President)
(http://www.ihf.info)


Today we can watch in every match different bounced passes from the back court to the pivot or to the winger. Here are some guidelines how to handle situations when players defending bounced passes with the feet:

1. If the attacker is standing still and the ball is thrown at his legs = The game continues!
2. Touch the ball with the leg while moving in a normal way to approach the attacker = Free throw. No progressive punishment.
3. Close the legs like a reflex = Free throw! No progressive punishment.
4. Active movements of the leg to the ball = Lead immediately to progressive punishment if it is repeated!
5. Active movements of the leg to the ball. If a good opportunity for the attacking team is prevented, then there should be an immediate progressive punishment!

The following picture series shows a situation in direction to guideline 5.

1. SCG attacks in a numerical superiority (6-5). SCG plays with two pivots (2-4 system). The    left back court player attacks the centre back defender: on the right side is now a numerical superiority (3-2 situation).
2. Pass from the left back court player to the right back court player. The left half defender holds the pivot on the right side.
3. The right back court player plays a bounced pass to the pivot. The defender moves actively the foot sideways – like a goalkeeper – in order to defend.
 
- obvious large step
- raising a leg obviously
- The half defender stops very obviously a pass to the pivot.

Decision: Normally using the legs for defensive purposes is not punished the first time; however in a situation like the one described , where a good opportunity for the attacking team is prevented, then there should be an immediate progressive punishment.