Question Number: 16377

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 8/20/2007

RE: competitive Adult

stephen of Sydney, NSW Australia asks...

Hi.

Where in the Official Rules does it define what part(s) of the body constitute the 'hand', for the purpose of ruling on hand ball ? (and therefore i also wish to know what does constitute the 'hand', as i suspect it's from the shoulder down).

Thanks,

Stephen.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Stephen one must look, not the the present Laws, but to history to find this. Over the century and a half, plus, this Game has been around everyone has come to understand the hand includes everything from the tip[ of the fingers all the way up to the shoulder. The very top of the shoulder, the part touching the neck with which a player is nearly unable to control the ball, isn't included for obvious reasons.

It is worthy of note that referees just starting usually have no clue what constitutes deliberately handling the ball so we have a huge disparity in what is whistled. The young may on his first match is almost expected to intervene whenever the ball touches the hand or arm, it isn't right but he does it anyway. That is the field condition for what constitutes an offence that day. The older, more experienced, referee knows the difference between a deliberate act and one that is accidental. Spectators base their knowledge on what the young, inexperienced, referee does and scream "handball, handball, handball" whenever it contacts the hand or arm.

In this they demonstrate their ignorance about The Game, much like screaming "offsides" when they mean offside.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Ah, yes. Those who know the least know it loudest!