THE RULES OF TCHOUKBALL
THE RULES OF TCHOUKBALL
ACCORDING TO INTERNATIONAL TCHOUKBALL FEDERATION (FITB
)
Foreword
The present document precisely defines the rules of Tchoukball applicable in all official meetings,
national and international. This new version of the rules follows from the FITB technical and refereeing
committee meeting held in Neuchâtel (Switzerland) on the 31st of July 1987. The decisions taken and
some of the propositions put forward on this occasion were integrated in this update of the refereeing
code.
Since 1970, during which year Dr Hermann Brandt first officially introduced Tchoukball, the rules
underwent several modifications. The present changes, as in the past, have been added in order to
harmonise the practice of Tchoukball while taking into account the latest experiences, without however
spoiling the spirit of the game’s creator.
Introduction
A Tchoukball match opposes two nine-player teams on a rectangular field forty meters long by
twenty meters wide. One rebound frame is placed at each end of the field. In front of each frame, a
semi-circle three meters in radius defines a forbidden zone.
The ball meets the standards of the Handball game. It must never touch the ground. During any
phase of the game, the ball remains in the hands of one team; interception is forbidden in order to
prevent aggressions and violent physical contacts between opponents. Control of the ball is handed to
the other team after every shoot at the frame or after every fault. In order to score a point for his team, a
player must bounce the ball off the frame such that no defending player can catch it before it falls on the
field of play.
The team that has just conceded a point restarts the game. A maximum of three passes is allowed
to put one player in a favourable position to shoot. Defending players are not allowed to interfere this
preparation, but they must anticipate in order not to be surprised by the ball’s trajectory when it
bounces from the frame. At the end of the allotted time, the team with the most points wins the match.
Outside of competition, it will often prove necessary to adapt the rules to the number of available
players, to their level of preparedness, or to the size of the playing field. The flexibility of Tchoukball
makes it a sport accessible to all by allowing a great freedom of action. However, any modification must
follow a reflection on its educative, physiological, and psychosocial impact. This caution is absolutely
indispensable in order not to lose any of the advantages provided by the scientific design of Tchoukball..
The Rules of Tchoukball
Rule 1 The Playing Area
1.1 The recommended playing area is a 40m x 20m rectangle; it consists of a field of play and
two forbidden zones.
1.2 The long sides are known as the sidelines and the short lines as the base lines. The playing
area is divided into two zones by a median line joining the midpoints of the sidelines.
1.3 The "forbidden" zone is a semi-circle, with a 3m radius measured from the centre of each
base line.
1.4 The front base of the frame is positioned in the middle of the diameter of this zone.
1.5.1 The lines should be clearly visible and with a width of 5 cm.
1.5.2 All lines are part of the area they delimit: The sidelines and the base lines belong to the field
of play. The lines of the forbidden zone (semi-circle and diameter) belong to this area.
1.6 In sports halls, the ceiling or sport engines higher than 7m are considered as out of the
playing area.
1.7 A 2 meter wide unobstructed area around the playing area is recommended.
Ground Layout with 3m Radius "D" & Frame Possition.
Rule 2 The Frame
2.1 The frame and the net size, the inclination between the frame and the ground must conform to
the F.I.T.B. standards.
2.2 The net has to be sufficiently taut.
2.3 The frame must be fixed during the play in a way that cannot endanger the players.
2.4 The frame has to be officially approved by the F.I.T.B.
Rule 3 The Ball
3.1 The ball must be round, with a leather covering and a rubber bladder.
3.2 In men's matches, the ball must have a circumference of 58 to 60cm and weight 425 to 475
grams.
3.3 In women's and junior matches the ball must have a circumference of 54 to 56 cm and
weight 325 to 400 grams.
3.4 In mixed matches the ball will meet the standards used for women's and junior matches.
Rule 4 Players
4.1 A squad can be made up of up to 15 players; but in any given match, only 12 may be on the
match sheet.
4.2 Of the 12 players, only 9 can play simultaneously at any given time, the remaining 3 act as
substitutes.
4.3.1 Substitution will take place in front of the scorekeeper's table or in front of the team benches,
within 5m on each side of the median line, without stopping the game.
4.3.2 A wounded player can be replaced as soon as he is out of the playing field.
4.3.3 Substitution can take place only if a point has been scored.
4.4 Players should be dressed uniformly and have a clearly visible number from 5 to 20.
4.5 Players are to wear sports shoes without studs. On grass or other soft surfaces, sports shoes
with rubber-ridged soles are authorised.
4.6 It is forbidden to wear any jewellery, (whether ring, broach, watch, earrings...).
Rule 5 The Referees
5.1 The refereeing body for international matches shall comprise 3 persons, of whom one
is to be responsible for the scoring and time keeping.
5.2 The referees control the game according to the rules.
5.3 The scorekeeper notes the results, deliberate offences, foul play; he checks that substitutions
and engagement are correctly made. He gets the match-sheet to be signed.
5.4 The referee's outfit is clearly different from the players' outfit. They have at their disposition a
whistle, yellow cards (warning), and red cards (expulsion).
Rule 6 The Duration of the Matches
6.1 The duration of the men's matches shall be three periods of 15 minutes, with a maximum
interval of 5 minutes between periods.
6.2 The duration of the women's and junior matches shall be three periods of 12 minutes, which
a maximum interval of 5 minutes between periods.
6.3 The duration of the junior matches (less than16 year-old players) shall be three periods of 10
minutes, with a maximum interval of 5 minutes between periods.
6.4 The referee shall decide when the stopwatch is to be stopped and restarted (in case of
injury…).
6.5 Upon the final blast of whistle, the game ends at once: consequently, any ongoing action shall
be declared null.
Rule 7 The Faults
7.1 A player commits a fault if:
7.1.1 he touches the ball with his leg. (below the knee);
7.1.2 he makes more than 3 contacts with the feet on the ground whilst holding the ball (receiving
the ball with one or two feet on the ground counts as one contact);
7.1.3 he holds the ball for more than 3 seconds;
7.1.4 he makes a pass that takes the team count of successive passes over 3 (a deviation of the
ball is considered as a pass);
7.1.5 he touches any area outside of the field of play while holding the ball;
7.1.6 he drops the ball during a pass;
7.1.7 he obstructs the movement of an opponent about to receive the ball, shoot, pass, position
himself…
7.1.8 he shoots at the frame on which 3 consecutive shots have already been made (a breakdown
or point scored returns the count to zero);
7.1.9 he touches the ball rebounding from the net after a team mate shot and the ball falls down
into the field of play;
7.1.10 he makes contact with the forbidden zone before he has thrown the ball;
7.1.11 he goes through the forbidden zone to take a defensive position;
7.1.12 he shoots, after an engagement, before the ball has crossed the median line;
7.1.13 he enters the ground, upon substitution, before his teammate has come out.
7.2 A fault is penalised by a breakdown in favour of the adverse team. The referee is to ensure
that the free throw is taken from where the fault occurred. At least one pass must be made
before shooting at the frame. The referee has to check that the ball is rolled (and not thrown)
to the place of free throw..
Rule 8 The Awarding of Points
8.1 A player scores a point if the ball rebounding from the frame:
8.1.1 touches the field of play before a defender can catch it;
8.1.2 touches a defender who fails to control it by dropping it on the floor or knocking it out of
play;
8.1.3 touches a defender below the knee (rule 7.1.1).
8.2 A player concedes a point if:
8.2.1 he shoots and misses the frame;
8.2.2 the ball rebounding from the net, after a shot, falls out of play or into the forbidden zone;
8.2.3 he shoots and the ball rebounds onto him.
8.2.4 he touches the ball having a contact with the forbidden zone or being outside of the playing
area after a teammate shot.
8.2.5 he deflects the rebounding ball into the forbidden zone or out of the play after a teammate
shot;
8.2.6 he deliberately touches the ball, preventing it from falling out of play or into the forbidden
zone. He has committed an intentional foul.
8.2.7 while trying to catch the ball, he steps into the forbidden zone or out of the playing area.
8.3 The team that has the highest score at the end of the conventional time is the winner.
Rule 9 Starting and Restarting the Play
9.1 At the beginning of the match, the team who gets the ball is chosen by lots. At the start of the
second period, it is the other team’s turn. At the beginning of the third period, the ball is in
the hands of the losing team (in case of an even score, of the team who started the match).
9.2 The team that has conceded a point restarts the game.
9.3.1 The restart shall take place behind the base line and beside the frame on which the last point
was scored. If there is not enough space in the referee's opinion, the restart can take place
from inside the forbidden zone.
9.3.2 If rule 9.3.1. is not respected or if the ball leaves the playing area, the adverse team is
awarded a restart.
9.4.1 Following the restart, the first shot may be on either frame provided the ball has crossed the
median line
9.4.2 The ball is considered to have crossed the median line if the catcher has his feet clearly on
the far side of the median line
9.4.3 One or more pass is allowed before the ball crosses the median line.
9.5 The restart does not count as a pass.
Rule 10 Foul Bounce
10.1 A foul bounce occurs when:
10.1.1 the ball touches the metal edge of the frame;
10.1.2 the rebounding ball does not respect the mirror image as a result of hitting the frame's rubber
bands or clips.
10.2 If a defending team successfully catches a foul bounce, the game goes on. If, on the other
hand, it fails to control the ball, the game stops and the defending team is given a free throw
from the spot where the ball did fall.
10.3 Rules 8.2.2 to 8.2.6 remain in effect even after a foul bounce..
Rule 11 Behaviour towards Opponents, Referees and Public
11.1 Each player, referee, coach or manager must respect the Tchoukball Charter.
11.2 A player who violates the spirit of the game through disrespectful behaviour towards an
opponent, a referee, a spectator or a teammate will receive a warning from the referee
(yellow card), who can also, if he deems it necessary, expel the player.
11.3 An expelled player may be replaced.
Warnings and expulsions are noted on the match sheet..
THE REFEREE’S GESTURES
Foreword
The present compendium is an indispensable complement to the referee’s code of the International
Tchoukball Federation. It defines the gestures that allow referees to communicate in a simple and quick
manner with all the field players as well as with the spectators. In order to overcome language problems
which might arise during international matches, and also in order to prevent fruitless and time-consuming
explanations, the referee will make his decisions explicitly visible by using the gestures described below.
Gestures
1. End of a playing period (rule # 6)
The forearms are crossed in front of the chest at shoulder height.
Hands are straight open and fingers are aligned with the forearms.
2. Time-out (rule # 6.4)
Both hands are open, fingers are aligned with the forearms. The
forearms are positioned at right angle in such a way that the tips of
the left hand’s fingers touch the right hand’s palm. Both hands are
above the head.
3. Touching the ball with the lower leg (under the knee)
(rule # 7.1.1)
The left leg is folded, the thigh held level, the right hand’s palm
touches the left knee
4. More than three steps while holding the ball
(rule # 7.1.2)
Both hands are straight open, fingers aligned with forearms.
Forearms are rotated around each other while being kept level and
parallel to the chest.
5. Player holds the ball for more than 3 seconds
(rule # 7.1.3) or more than 3 consecutive passes
(rule # 7.1.4)
Right arm stretched upward, thumb and first two fingers stretched,
ring- and auricular folded..
6. Player holding ball off field limits (rule # 7.1.5)
Both hands open fingers aligned with forearms placed vertically at
shoulder height. Palms are facing backward. Hands move back and
forth together several times.
7. Obstruction of defender against attacking team
(rule # 7.1.7)
Hands on hips
8. Four consecutive shoots at same frame (rule # 7.1.8)
Right arm stretched upward, 4 fingers stretched, 1 folded..
9. Stepping inside the forbidden zone (rule # 7.1.10)
Left arm stretched pointing towards the location of the fault while
right palm covers left hand’s back.
10. Penetration into forbidden zone before ball throw
(rule # 7.1.10) "Landing"
Left arm stretched forward, right hand open, palm facing ground,
rolls back and forth around left arm.
11. Shoot at frame where last point was scored before ball
crosses median line (rule # 7.1.12)
Both arms stretched forward with open hands pointing downward.
Arms move left and right in opposing motion.
.12. Designating location of a fault and of play restart
(rule # 7.2)
Right arm, stretched with palm facing upward, points towards
location..
13. Point scored by attacking team (rule # 8.1)
Right arm stretched upward with clenched hand.
14. Point lost to defending team (rule # 8.2)
Right arm stretched horizontally pointing sideways with clenched
hand..
15. Foul bounce (rule # 10)
Both forearms point upwards with elbows at shoulder level,
fingertips joined horizontally to symbolically picture the frame.
16. Serious fault implying warning or expulsion (rule # 11)
Right fist hits left palm once, at hip level.
17. Warning (rule # 11.2)
The yellow card is presented with right arm stretched towards
warned player..
18. Expulsion (rule # 11.2)
Red card is presented with left hand stretched towards expulsed player while other arm points towards referee's table. The role of the two arms can be exchanged according to circumstances.
19. Summoning the Captains
Both fist held infront of chest at shoulder level, both thumbs stretched upwards.
