Rule 7 - Playing the Ball

It is permitted to:

7:1
throw, catch, stop, push or hit the ball, by using hands (open or closed), arms, head, torso, thighs and knees;

7:2
hold the ball for a maximum of 3 seconds, also when it is Iying on the floor;

7:3
take a maximum of 3 steps with the ball; one step is considered taken when:

a player who is standing with both feet on the floor lifts one foot and puts it down again, or moves one foot from one place to another;
a player is touching the floor with one foot only, catches the ball and then touches the floor with the other foot;
a player after a jump touches the floor with one foot only, and then hops on the same foot or touches the floor with the other foot;
a player after a jump touches the floor with both feet simultaneously, and then lifts one foot and puts it down again, or moves one foot from one place to another.
Note:

If one foot is moved from one place to another, it is permitted to drag the other foot next to it.

7:4
while standing or running:

bounce the ball once and catch it again with one or both hands;
bounce the ball repeatedly with one hand (dribble), or roll the ball on the floor repeatedly with one hand, and then catch it or pick it up again with one or both hands.
As soon as the ball thereafter is held in one or both hands, it must be played within 3 seconds or after no more than 3 steps.

The bouncing or dribbling is considered to have started when the player touches the ball with any part of his body and directs it towards the floor.

After the ball has touched another player or the goal, the player is allowed to tap the ball or bounce it and catch it again.

7:5
move the ball from one hand into the other one.

7:6
play the ball while kneeling, sitting or lying on the floor. It is not permitted to:

7:7
touch the ball more than once, unless it has touched the floor, another player, or the goal in the meantime (13:1d).

Fumbling the ball is not penalized.

Note:

Fumbling means that a player fails to control the ball when trying to catch it or stop it.

If the ball has already been controlled, then the player may not touch it more than once after tapping or bouncing it.

7:8
touch the ball with a foot or leg below the knee, except when the ball has been thrown at the player by an opponent (13:1d);

7:9
play the ball intentionally out over the side line or the team's own outer goal line (13:1e);

this rule does not apply to the goalkeeper in his own goal area, when he fails to get the ball under control and directs it out over the outer goal line (goalkeeper-throw);

7:10
keep the ball in the team's possession without making any recognizable attempt to attack or to shoot on goal. This is regarded as passive play, which the referee should indicate by giving a warning signal (hand signal 19). Should the team now fail to make a recognizable attempt to shoot on goal, it is to be penalized with a free-throw for its opponents, to be taken from the spot where the ball was when play was interrupted (13:1f).

7:11
Play continues if the ball touches a referee on the court.

6. The Goal Area = Contents of IHF Rules = 8. The Approach to the Opponent