| Most fouls on a soccer field are fouls only by degree. | | | | contact for the referee to consider when deciding |
| Actions during the run of play are, in large measure, | | | | whether a handball is deliberate. An uneven playing |
| harmless in themselves. They become fouls only if | | | | surfaces can cause the ball to deflect at odd angles, |
| done in an unfair manner. | | | | making it hard for players to know how it will bounce. |
| A few acts, however, are deemed fouls whenever | | | | Players who are unchallenged in the open field have |
| they take place--regardless of how or why they | | | | no incentive to handle the ball, since it will be easily |
| occur. One kind of act is the foul of deliberately | | | | detected--which often suggests an unintentional |
| handling the ball--commonly known as a "handball." | | | | handling, especially on the fields where the playing |
| Deliberately handling the ball | | | | surface itself not quite putting-green smooth. On the |
| Among all fouls arising during the course of the game, | | | | other hand, because players intending to commit a |
| handballs--or deliberately handling the ball, in the | | | | foul often try to hide their actions from the officials, |
| terminology of the Laws--may well cause the most | | | | many intentional handballs will occur just out of sight |
| disagreements, misunderstandings, and trouble for | | | | of the referee, a factor which makes cooperation |
| the referee. | | | | between the officials all-the-more essential. |
| Handling is the only foul not committed against an | | | | But rather than trying to devise an intricate formula, |
| opposing player. It is, instead, committed against the | | | | we can best understand the principles by cases of |
| opposing team. But it is also the only penal foul | | | | what handling is not: |
| requiring a deliberate intent by the player committing | | | | What Handling is NOT: |
| the foul. The foul is not, after all, "letting the ball | | | | A player who moves the arms instinctively to |
| touch the hand" but rather "deliberately handling the | | | | protect a sensitive area of the body from the |
| ball." Consequently, it is often said that if the ball | | | | sudden approach of the ball does not commit a foul. |
| plays the hand it is not a foul, but if the hand plays | | | | A ball that deflects off a player's hand or arm from a |
| the ball, then it is. | | | | shot or pass taken a few feet away is not a |
| This rule of thumb is, however, much more easily | | | | foul--unless the player has deliberately placed the arm |
| said than put into practice. In addition, it also conflicts | | | | in an unnatural position, hoping to block the pass. |
| with the far more conventional rule, which is loudly | | | | (However, placing the arms or hands over a sensitive |
| proclaimed by players, coaches, and spectators | | | | area of the body--particularly while standing in the |
| around the world: If it hits the hand of an opposing | | | | wall at a free kick--is not, by any stretch of the |
| player, it is a handball. But given the fact that most | | | | imagination, unnatural). |
| players are blessed with at least two arms--which | | | | A player who is looking the other way when the ball |
| must be placed somewhere during the course of a | | | | strikes his arm has not committed a foul. |
| match, if only to be available for throw-ins--it would | | | | A ball that has innocently struck the arm of a player |
| be unfair to penalize players for accidental touches | | | | does not magically turn become a foul merely by |
| which are neither intended nor avoidable. A few | | | | falling in a place that happens to benefit that player. |
| moments of thought should be enough for us to | | | | On the other hand....the player who using his arm |
| understand the basic concepts: | | | | after an initial, innocent touch to keep control over |
| Above all else, handling fouls require deliberate | | | | the ball is committing a handling foul. |
| contact between the ball and a player's hand or arm. | | | | And the referee will probably start wondering just |
| This means that the player either chose not to avoid | | | | how innocent a hand-ball contact is if the ball is |
| touching the ball or placed his arms in an unnatural | | | | constantly dropping in a convenient place for the |
| playing position to make it likely that he would touch | | | | same player in the same game. |
| the ball. And there are many aspects of hand-to-ball | | | | |