What is a free throw in handball, and where is it taken?
B · Beginner · Restarts · 5 of 8The ordinary restart after a foul or violation. It is taken where the offence happened, without a whistle, with defenders at least three metres away. If the offence was between the 6-metre and 9-metre lines, the throw moves back to the 9-metre line and the attackers must all be outside that line.
How it works
- When: the team with the ball breaks a rule, or the opponents break one and cause it to lose the ball.
- Advantage first: the referees "should allow continuity in the game" and not whistle if the non-offending team keeps or gains the ball.
- Where: "in principle, from the place where the infraction occurred".
- Never inside: it cannot be taken inside the opponents' free-throw line or the thrower's own goal area. It moves to the nearest spot outside.
- No whistle: it is normally taken without one.
- Three seconds: when there is a whistle, the ball must be played within three seconds.
- The thrower: one foot must stay on the floor until the ball is released.
- Team-mates: "must not touch or cross the free throw line of the opponents before the free throw has been taken".
- Opponents: at least three metres away. They may stand on their own goal-area line when the throw is at their free-throw line.
- Give it up: a player holding the ball when the whistle goes against their team must drop it or put it down at once.
- Directly at goal: a goal may be scored straight from a free throw.
- After the final signal: a free throw already awarded is still taken, as a direct shot.
The glossary has the free throw, the free-throw line, the foul, the block, the shot and the playing the ball entry.
Tricky cases
A defender fouls an attacker who still gets the pass away to a free team-mate. Is play stopped?
No. The referees should not intervene unless the attacking team has lost the ball or cannot continue its attack.
An attacker is standing between the 6-metre and 9-metre lines when their team takes a free throw. What happens?
The referees correct the position if it affects play. If the throw was started by a whistle and an attacker crosses the line too early, the free throw goes to the defending team.
The half-time signal sounds after a free throw is awarded but before it is taken. Is it lost?
No. It is taken after the signal. The thrower's team-mates must then be three metres from the thrower, and only one attacking substitution is allowed.
A player keeps hold of the ball after a free throw is given against their team. What is the punishment?
A two-minute suspension. Not making the ball available at once is unsportsmanlike conduct of the kind that brings a direct suspension.
Why the rule exists
The free throw is frequent and deliberately quick, which is why it needs no whistle: the fouled team can restart before the defence resets. Pushing it out to nine metres keeps a foul near goal from becoming a point-blank throw. Fouls that take away a real chance to score are dealt with by the 7-metre throw.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Offence outside the 9-metre line | Taken on the spot | IHF 13:6 |
| Offence inside the 9-metre line | Taken at the nearest point on that line | IHF 13:6 |
| Passive play | Taken where the ball was when play stopped | IHF 7:11 |
| After the final signal | A direct throw with special positions | IHF 2:4; IHF 2:5 |
From the rule book
International Handball Federation, Rules of the Game: Indoor Handball (1 July 2025), Rules 2:4, 2:5, 13 and 15. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: IX. Rules of the Game, a) Indoor Handball (PDF).