# Hinder

> Interference that stops play so the rally is replayed (dead-ball hinder).

From the rulebook:

>  Dead-ball hinders should be called when interference affects the play. (See Rule 4.6.F.3).

— [One-wall · Rule 4.7 Dead-ball Hinders](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.7.md)

## How dead-ball hinders work

1. A dead-ball hinder is called when interference affects the play. ([One-wall 4.7](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.7.md))
2. Do not stop play expecting a court hinder (an erratic bounce from a court obstruction or a wet spot). That is the referee's call, not the player's. ([One-wall 4.7(a)](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.7/a.md))
3. You may stop play yourself only for contact during your back-swing (say “Contact” immediately) or for a safety holdup, when you believe you will strike your opponent with your hand, arm or the ball. If you choose to hit the ball, no contact call is allowed. ([One-wall 4.7(a)](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.7/a.md))
4. A hinder you call yourself is subject to approval by the referee. ([One-wall 4.7(d)](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.7/d.md))
5. One-wall: if an opponent who has just played the ball stands perfectly still in front of or beside you, it is not a hinder. If they stand still and you move back into them and lose a fair chance at the ball, it is a hinder. The player farther from the wall must get out of the way. ([One-wall 4.7(b)](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.7/b.md))
6. Four-wall: the side that has just served or returned the ball must give way so you have fair access to see and return it, but you must make a reasonable effort to move toward the ball. ([Four-wall 4.7(b)](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/4.7/b.md))
7. When a dead-ball hinder is called, the rally is replayed and any previous fault on the server is voided. ([One-wall 4.7(d)](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.7/d.md))
8. Whenever a rally is replayed, the server is given two serves. ([One-wall 4.6(l)](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.6/l.md))
9. One-wall: if a player on the serving side creates a hinder during a rally, the serving side starts the next serve with a fault, except as rule 4.3 B states. ([One-wall 4.75](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.75.md))

## Quick Qs

- **Is it a hinder if the ball could not have been returned anyway?** No. If the ball is judged to be un-retrievable, a hinder should not be called, whatever the interference. If the referee is in doubt, the benefit goes to the player trying to retrieve the ball. ([One-wall 4.7(b)](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.7/b.md))
- **What if my return hits my opponent before reaching the wall?** If the shot obviously would not have been fair, the player hit by it is awarded the rally. If the referee has any doubt, a dead-ball hinder is called. ([One-wall 4.7(a)](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.7/a.md))
- **How is a hinder different from an avoidable hinder?** An avoidable hinder is called only when the hinder could have been avoided with reasonable effort, and it results in an out or a point, depending on whether the offender was serving or receiving. Player intent has no bearing on the call. ([One-wall 4.8](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.8.md))
- **Can my partner hinder me in four-wall?** No. It is not a hinder when a player hinders his or her partner. ([Four-wall 4.7(b)](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/4.7/b.md))

## Where it shows up

- [One-wall · Rule 3.4 Referee](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/3.4.md): a, b
- [One-wall · Rule 3.6 Line judges](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/3.6.md): b
- [One-wall · Rule 3.7 Appeals](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/3.7.md): a, b
- [One-wall · Rule 4.1 Serve](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.1.md): e
- [One-wall · Rule 4.3 Defective serves](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.3.md): a, b, c
- [One-wall · Rule 4.5 Changes of serve](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.5.md): e
- [One-wall · Rule 4.6 Rally](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.6.md): d, f, k
- [One-wall · Rule 4.7 Dead-ball Hinders](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.7.md): intro, a, b, c, d
- [One-wall · Rule 4.75 Hinder Fault](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.75.md): intro
- [One-wall · Rule 4.8 Avoidable hinders](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.8.md): intro, a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h
- [One-wall · Rule 4.9 Technicals](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.9.md): c
- [One-wall · Rule 4.10 Timeouts](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.10.md): a
- [Four-wall · Rule 3.4 Referee](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/3.4.md): a
- [Four-wall · Rule 3.7 Appeals](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/3.7.md): a
- [Four-wall · Rule 4.3 Defective serves](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/4.3.md): a, b
- [Four-wall · Rule 4.5 Changes of serve](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/4.5.md): e
- [Four-wall · Rule 4.6 Rally](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/4.6.md): d, f, k
- [Four-wall · Rule 4.7 Dead-ball Hinders](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/4.7.md): intro, a, b, c, d
- [Four-wall · Rule 4.8 Avoidable hinders](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/4.8.md): intro, a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h
- [Four-wall · Rule 4.9 Technicals](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/4.9.md): c
- [Four-wall · Rule 2.1-three Courts](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/2.1-three.md): b
- [Four-wall · Rule 2.1-one Courts](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/2.1-one.md): a, b, c, d, e

## Related

- [Avoidable hinder](https://handball.theperfectship.com/avoidable-hinder.md)
- [Replay](https://handball.theperfectship.com/replay.md)
- [Referee](https://handball.theperfectship.com/match-referee.md)

## Ref questions

- [All Hinder questions (9)](https://handball.theperfectship.com/referee/hinder.md)

Rules text: United States Handball Association, used with written permission — https://www.ushandball.org/