Handball
Goal area, goalkeepers and goalkeeper throws in handball
How IHF Rules 5, 6 and 12 govern the six-metre goal area in indoor handball: who may enter it, the goalkeeper’s special rights, court-player infringements and the goalkeeper throw.
The goal area is reserved for the goalkeeper
The goal area is bounded by the 6-metre line, and the line itself belongs to the area. Only the goalkeeper may enter it. A court player is considered to have entered as soon as any part of the body touches the goal-area line or the area.
The goalkeeper has special rights inside the area
While defending inside the goal area, the goalkeeper may touch the ball with any part of the body and may move with the ball without the three-second and three-step restrictions that apply to court players. If the goalkeeper leaves the area without the ball, the normal court-player rules apply.
Court-player entry changes the restart
If an attacking court player enters the goal area with the ball or gains an advantage there, the restart is a goalkeeper throw. If a defender enters and gains an advantage, the result is a free throw; if that entry destroys a clear scoring chance, a 7-metre throw is awarded.
When the ball is out of play and the goalkeeper throw
When the goalkeeper controls the ball and has the body inside the goal area, the ball is out of play and is restarted with a goalkeeper throw. A ball rolling on the floor inside the goal area remains in play, but only the goalkeeper may touch it.