When is a 7-metre throw given in handball?
B · Beginner · Restarts · 6 of 8When a clear chance of scoring is destroyed illegally, anywhere on the court. One attacker then throws from the 7-metre line against the goalkeeper alone, within three seconds of the whistle and without touching or crossing the line. The goalkeeper may come out as far as the 4-metre line.
How it works
- When: "a clear chance of scoring is illegally destroyed anywhere on the court by a player or a team official of the opposing team".
- A clear chance: a player with control of ball and body at the goal-area line able to shoot with no opponent able to stop it legally.
- Also a clear chance: a player running alone at the goalkeeper on a counter-attack, or facing an empty goal with a clear throw.
- Wait and see: the referees hold off until they know whether the chance was lost. If the attacker scores anyway, there is no 7-metre throw.
- Still in control: if the attacker keeps full control of ball and body and then misses, there is no 7-metre throw.
- The throw: "as a shot on goal, within 3 seconds after a whistle signal".
- The thrower: behind the 7-metre line and not more than a metre back. The thrower may not touch or cross it until the ball has left the hand.
- Team-mates: outside the free-throw line. If they encroach, a free throw goes against their team.
- Defenders: outside the free-throw line and three metres from the 7-metre line. If they encroach and no goal is scored, the throw is retaken.
- The goalkeeper: behind the 4-metre line until the ball leaves the hand, or the throw is retaken if it misses.
- No rebound for the thrower: the thrower and team-mates may not play the ball again until it has touched an opponent or the goal.
- No late change: the goalkeeper may not be substituted once the thrower is ready with the ball in hand.
The glossary has the 7-metre throw, the clear chance of scoring, the 7-metre line and 4-metre line entry, the goalkeeper, the save and the free throw.
Tricky cases
A defender fouls an attacker in the act of shooting at the 6-metre line, with another defender standing in front. Is it a 7-metre throw?
It depends on whether the other defender could have stopped the shot legally. A clear chance needs no opponent able to prevent the shot with legal methods.
An attacker is pulled back on a counter-attack near the centre line with nobody ahead. What is the decision?
A 7-metre throw. A clear chance can be destroyed anywhere on the court.
The goalkeeper steps past the 4-metre line early and saves. What happens?
The throw is retaken. There is no personal punishment for the goalkeeper.
The throw hits the post and comes straight back to the thrower, who scores. Does it count?
Yes. The thrower may play the ball again once it has touched the goal.
Why the rule exists
The test is the chance and not the place. A foul on the 6-metre line that spoils nothing is a free throw, while a shirt-pull at the halfway line on a player running clear is a 7-metre throw. The punishment matches what was taken away, which was a near-certain goal.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Clear chance destroyed | 7-metre throw | IHF 14:1 |
| Foul without a clear chance | Free throw | IHF 13:1 |
| Last 30 seconds, certain offences | 7-metre throw whether or not there was a clear chance | IHF 8:11 |
| A whistle or a spectator stopping a clear chance | 7-metre throw | IHF 14:1 |
From the rule book
International Handball Federation, Rules of the Game: Indoor Handball (1 July 2025), Rule 14 and Clarification No. 6. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: IX. Rules of the Game, a) Indoor Handball (PDF).