The team must use a goalkeeper at all times.

No more than 7 players (6 court players and 1 goalkeeper) may be present on the court at the same time. The remaining players are substitutes. (In mini-handball exceptions are allowed.)

Only the substitutes, any suspended players, and 4 team officials are allowed in the teamís substitution .

The team officials must be listed in the scoresheet and may not be replaced during the course of the game. One of them must be designated as "the responsible team official." Only this official (see, however, team time-out - Clarification no. 2) is allowed to address the timekeeper/scorekeeper and, possibly, the referees.

4:2
A team must have at least 5 players ready on the court at the start of the game.

The number of players on a team can be increased up to 12, at any time during the game, including overtime.

The game may continue, even if a team is reduced to less than 5 players on the court.

4:3
A player is entitled to participate if he is present at the start of the game and is included in the scoresheet.

A player who is entitled to participate may, at any time, enter the court over the team's own substitution line.

Players and team officials who arrive after the game has started must obtain their entitlement to participate from the timekeeper/ scorekeeper.

A player who is not entitled to participate shall be disqualified if he enters the court (17:5a), and the opponents shall be awarded a free-throw.

4:4
Substitutes may enter the game, at any time and repeatedly, without notifying the timekeeper/scorekeeper, as long as the players they are replacing have already left the court (4:5).

This also applies to the substitution of goalkeepers.

The players shall always leave and enter the court over their own teamís substitution line (4:5, 13:1a).

During a time-out, it is permitted to enter the court from the substitution area for a normal substitution or else with explicit permission from one of the referees (hand signal 18).

Note:

Anyone leaving or entering the court incorrectly shall be penalized for faulty substitution, except in the case of someone leaving the court unintentionally.

4:5
A faulty substitution shall be penalized with a free-throw for the opponents (13:1a) from the place where the guilty player crossed the side line. However, if the ball is at a more favorable position for the opposing team when the game is interrupted, then the free-throw shall be taken from there. In addition, the offending player shall be given a 2-minute suspension (17:3a).

If the faulty substitution takes place during a stoppage in the game, the player shall be suspended but the game is to be restarted in the way which corresponds to the reason for the stoppage.

In the event of a seriously unsportsmanlike conduct or an assault in connection with, or immediately following, a faulty substitution, the guilty player shall be disqualified or excluded, respectively (17:5d, 17:7).

4:6
If an additional player enters the court without a substitution, or if a substitute illegally interferes with the game from the substitution area, there shall be a 2-minute suspension for the player, and another player must leave the court so that the team plays with reduced strength for 2 minutes.

If a pl ayer enters the court whi le serving a 2-mi nute suspension, he shall be given an addi tional 2-minute suspension. This suspension shall begin immediately, and another player must therefore leave the court during the overlap between the first and the second suspension.

The responsible team official must select this other player. If he refuses, then the referees will decide who must leave the court.

Note:

"Another player" who leaves the court to serve an additional or remaining suspension time for someone else, remains entitled to play and may enter the court again during the suspension time through a substitution.

Only the guilty player is to be charged with a suspension in the scoresheet.

4:7
All the court players on a team must wear identical uniforms. The combinations of colors and design for the two teams must be clearly distinguishable from each other. A player who is used as goalkeeper must wear colors which distinguish him from the court players of both teams and the goalkeeper of the opposing team (18:3).

The players should be numbered from 1-20. The numbers must be at least 20 cm high in the back of the shirt and at least 10 cm in the front.

The color of the numbers must contrast clearly with the color of the shirt.

The players must wear sports shoes.

It is not permitted to wear any objects that could be dangerous to players. This includes, for instance, head or face protection, bracelets, watches, rings, necklaces or chains, earrings, glasses without restraining bands or with solid frames, or any other objects which could be dangerous to the players (18:3).

Players who do not meet this requirement will not be allowed to take part until they have corrected the problem.

The captain of each team must wear an armlet around the upper arm. It should be about 4 cm wide and its color must contrast with that of the shirt.

3. The Ball === Contents of IHF Rules === 5. The Goalkeeper