Rule 5 - The Goalkeeper

5:1
A player who is playing in the goalkeeper position may become a court player at any time, following a change of uniform. Similarly, a court player may become a goalkeeper at any time.

Goalkeeper substitutions must take place through the team's own substitution area.

The goalkeeper is allowed to:

5:2
touch the ball with any part of his body while in the act of defense inside the goal area;

5:3
move around with the ball inside the goal area without any restriction (see, however, 16:3b);

5:4
leave the goal area without the ball and participate in the game in the playing area; when doing so, the goalkeeper becomes subject to the rules applying to players in the playing area (see, however, 5:12);

the goalkeeper is considered to have left the goal area as soon as any part of the body touches the floor outside the goal-area line;

5:5
to leave the goal area with the ball and play it again in the playing area, if he has not managed to control it fully.

The goalkeeper is not allowed to:

5:6
endanger the opponent while in the act of defence;

5:7
play the ball intentionally out over the outer goal line, after controlling the ball (13:1b);

5:8
leave the goal area with the ball under control (13:1b)

5:9
touch the ball again outside the goal area following a goalkeeper-throw, until after it has touched another player (13:1b);

5:10
touch the ball when it is stationary or rolling on the floor outside the goal area, while he is inside the goal area (13:1b);

5:11
take the ball into the goal area when it is stationary or rolling on the floor outside the goal area (14:1b);

5:12
re-enter the goal area from the playing area with the ball (14:1b);

5:13
touch the ball with the foot or the leg below the knee, when it is stationary on the floor in the goal area or moving out towards the playing area (13:1b);

5:14
cross the goalkeeper's restraining line (4-meter line) or its projection on either side, before the ball has left the thrower's hand when a 7-meter throw is being taken (14:9).

Note:

As long as the goalkeeper keeps one foot on or behind the restraining line (4-meter line), he is permitted to move the other foot or any other part of his body out over the line in the air.

4. The Team === Contents of IHF Rules === 6. The Goal Area