Rule

USHA Four-Wall Rules · American four-wall

Rule 4.9 Technicals

USHA rules text used with permission of the U.S. Handball Association (ushandball.org); credit: U.S. Handball Association. Source: ushandball.org

Historical rulebook: not the current rules. The current rules are here (USHA Four-Wall Rulebook, as of 26 January 2025).

A technical is assessed for unsportsmanlike conduct or for improperly wearing eye protection. If a referee issues a technical, one point shall be deducted from the offender’s score. The technical has no effect on service changes or sideouts. If the technical occurs between games or when the offender has no points, the result will be that the offender’s score will be a negative one. Three technicals in a match, or two for eye protection infractions, on a singles player or a doubles team will result in a forfeiture.

Types

Some examples of actions that may result in technicals are:

1) Too frequent complaints made against the referee’s judgment.

2) Abuse of appeal privileges.

3) Profanity.

4) Excessive arguing.

5) Threat of any nature to opponent or referee.

6) Excessive or hard striking, throwing or kicking of ball between rallies.

Interpretation

If the opponent is hit or narrowly missed by the ball, a technical should be called. On the other hand, if it is the first offense, and the opponent was in no danger of being hit, a technical warning should be issued.

7) Failure to wear eye protection properly.

8) Protests lost after all timeouts have been used.

9) Anything considered to be unsportsmanlike behavior.

Warnings

If a player’s behavior is not so severe as to warrant a technical, a technical warning may be issued without a point deduction and should be accompanied by a brief explanation of the reason for a warning. A technical warning may precede the penalty of a technical but is not necessary.

Mentioned here

How this rule changed

See the wording of this rule in every rulebook, with the changes marked.

How these ideas connect in this rule

No link to the other terms shown: Appeal, Technical, Warning, Eye protection. 49 weaker links (terms mentioned together in few sub-rules) are not drawn.