Parents’ Guide to “Handball”

Every time the ball comes into contact with someone's hand is not "handball." The situations of "ball-to-hand" (not an infraction) and "hand-to-ball" (an infraction) are recognized as different by the official.

The offense known as "handling the ball" involves deliberate contact with the ball by a player's hand or arm (including fingertips, upper arm, or outer shoulder). "Deliberate contact" means that the player could have avoided the touch but chose not to, or that the player's arms were not in a normal playing position at the time, or that the player deliberately continued an initially accidental contact for the purpose of gaining an unfair advantage.

Moving hands or arms instinctively to protect the body when suddenly faced with a fast approaching ball does not constitute deliberate contact unless there is subsequent action to direct the ball once contact is made.

Likewise, placing hands or arms to protect one's body at a free kick or similar restart is not likely to produce an infringement unless there is subsequent action to direct or control the ball.

The fact that a player may benefit from the ball contacting the hand does not transform the otherwise accidental event into an infringement.

A player also infringes the Law regarding handling the ball even if direct contact is indirect, such as by controlling the ball with something (clothing, shinguard, etc.) held in the hand.