WOMEN’S JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Comments from the perspective of the Rules and Referee Commission
- Part 4-
(http://www.ihf.info)

(Download .pdf format)

There is a new emphasis in the rules on the following situation: For many years the focus in the interpretation of the rules for the ‘red card’ was on violent and forceful action. In the process it may have been forgotten that also a small body contact can be very dangerous and have a serious effect if it comes at the ‘wrong moment’; by this we mean, if it comes when the player is defenseless, because he is jumping or running fast and has no chance to maintain his body control and prevent a bad fall. These situations must also instinctively get the referees ready to show the ‘red card’.

Regarding the work distribution between the two referees, it is important to keep the following in mind. The goal-line referee has the main responsibility for avoiding contradicting decisions (or unnecessary double whistles). The goal-line referee should know in which cases the partner still has control of the situation, and when it becomes necessary to whistle, then the hand signal should come only after the decision of the partner has been noticed. However, if the goal-line referee initiates a decision in favor of the defending team (a free-throw or a goalkeeper-throw), then the reaction must be immediate and forceful, with a strong whistle, an unmistakable direction signal, and ‘explosive’ running out to the 6-meter line.