Substitution Area Regulations

1.
The substitution areas are situated to the left and right of the extension of the center line, outside the side line up to 1.5 meter beyond it, and also behind the team benches if there is space (Rules of the Game: diagram 1).

No objects of any kind whatsoever may be placed at the side line in front of the substitution benches (for at least 8 meters from the center line).

2.
Only the players and team officials entered in the scoresheet are allowed to be in the substitution area (rule 4:1).

If an interpreter is needed, he must take up a position behind the team bench.

Players and team officials who wish to leave the substitution area, must inform the timekeeper/scorekeeper, through the responsible team official, when they leave and when they return.

3.
The team officials in the substitution area must be fully dressed in sports wear or civilian clothing.

4.
The timekeeper and scorekeeper shall support the referees in monitoring the occupancy of the substitution area before and during the game.

If before the game there are any infringements of the rules as regards the substitution area, the game may not start until the infringements have been remedied. If these rules are infringed during the game, the game may not be continued after the next interruption until the matter has been resolved.

5.
The team officials have the right and duty to guide and manage their team also during the game, in a fair and sporting spirit within the framework of the rules. In principle, they should sit on the team bench.

However, the officials are permitted to move around within the substitution area in order to:

manage the substitution of players
give the medical adivce to players on the court and on the bench;
give medical care;
request a team time-out;
communicate with the timekeeper/scorekeeper; this applies only to the "responsible team official" and only in unusual situations (rule 4:1).
In principle, players in the substitution area should sit on the team bench.

The players are howver permitted to:

move arouond behind the bench to warm up, without the ball, provided there is sufficient space and that it is not disruptive.

It is not permitted to:

interfere with or insult referees, timekeeper/scorekeeper, players, team officials, or spectators, by behaving in a provocative , protesting or otherwise unsportsmanlike manner (speec, facial expression or gestures).
leave the substitution area in order to influence the game;
stand or move along the side line while warming up.

6.
If the Substitution Area Regulations are infringed, the referees are obliged to act in accordance with rules 17:1d or 17:5d (warning, disqualification).

7.
If the referees fail to notice an infringement of the substitution area regulations, they must be informed about it by the timekeeper/scorekeeper during the next interruption of the game.

Technical Delegates of the IHF (or the Continental Federation) who are on duty at a game are allowed to draw the attention of the referees (at the next interruption of the game) to a possible violation of the rules or a failure to comply with the substitution area regulations, except in the case of decisions made by the referees on the basis of their observations of the facts.

In such cases the game must be restarted with the appropriate throw depending on the game situation.

However, if the Technical Delegate of the IHF (or the Continental Federation) has found it necessary to interrupt the game immediately because of an infringement by one team, then the game is resumed with possession of the ball for the opponents (free-throw or, in the case of a clear scoring opportunity, 7-meter throw).

The player or official who committed an infringement shall be punished by the referees after consultation with the delegate; the details shall be recorded in the scoresheet.

8.
If the referees do not take action regarding an infringement of the substitution area regulations, even after they have been made aware of it, then the Technical Delegate of the IHF (or Continental Federation) must submit a report to the appropriate authority (e.g., disciplinary committee). This authority shall rule on the events and on the attitude of the referees.

Clarifications to the rules of the game === Contents of IHF Rules