# Rule 3.4 Referee (USHA Four-Wall Rules, 6 February 2015, historical)

> **Historical rulebook: not the current rules.** The current rules are here: https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/

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

## A. Pre-match duties

The principal official for every match shall be the referee. The referee’s authority regarding a match begins once the players are called to the court. Before each match begins, it shall be the duty of the referee to:

1) Playability. Check on adequacy of preparation of the handball court with respect to playability.

2) Equipment. Check on availability and suitability of all materials necessary for the match, such as handballs, towels, scorecards, pencils and a timepiece.

3) Assisting officials. Check readiness and provide instructions to assisting officials.

4) Court hinders. Explain court hinders, if any, to players. (See Rule 4.3.A and 4.7.A.1).

5) Inspect gloves, uniforms and eye protection. Remind players to have an adequate supply of extra gloves and shirts, and access to headbands. Inspect compliance of gloves and hands with rules. Remind players that failure to wear eye protection properly will result in a technical, and a second violation in a forfeit.

6) Start game. Introduce players, toss coin to determine order of serve and signal start of game.

7) Time. The assigned referee should be present 15 minutes before match time.

8) Two-minute warning. Give a two-minute warning before the match and before each game.

9) Scoring. Announce the scores before each rally. (See Rule 4.1.E and 3.8).

## B. Decisions

The referee shall make all decisions with regard to the rules and the referee has the authority to change his/her call. Where line judges are used, the referee shall announce all final judgments. In the absence of line judges, if both players in singles or three out of four in a doubles match disagree with a call made by the referee, the referee should consider reversing his/her call. The Chief of Referees and/or Tournament Director who has witnessed a violation of Rule 4.9 Technicals may enforce the application of the Technical (See Rule. 4.9 Technicals).

1) Spectators. The referee shall have jurisdiction over the spectators, as well as the players, while the match is in progress. (See Rule 5.6)

## C. Protests

Any decision involving a rules interpretation may be protested before the next serve. It will then be resolved by the chief of referees or tournament director. Judgment calls may not be protested. If the player’s protest is upheld, the proper ruling will be made. If the player’s protest is not upheld, the player shall be charged with a timeout. If the player is out of timeouts, a technical shall be charged against the player.

## D. Forfeitures

A match may be forfeited by the referee when:

1) Flagrant unsportsman-like conduct. Any player refuses to abide by the referee’s decision or engages in flagrant unsportsman-like conduct.

2) Three technicals. A player or side receives three technicals in a match, or two technicals for failure to properly wear eye protection.

3) Leaving the court. Any player leaves the court at a time not allowed by these rules without permission of the referee.

4) Failure to report.

a. No show. Any player for a singles match, or any team for a doubles match, fails to report to play.

b. Late start penalty. If a player is not ready to play (or resume play) on time, the opponent shall be awarded one point. The opponent will then be awarded one additional point for each full minute of delay of game up to 10 minutes. The match shall then be forfeited. This applies to the start of the match, between-game timeouts, timeouts during a game and glove-change timeouts. Late start penalty points are not cumulative, and the match forfeiture provision shall be applicable only if the full 10-minute delay is consecutive. Players should stay within earshot of the referee to help prevent the delay-of-game penalty. It is the obligation of the players to be ready to resume play on time even if the referee fails to give time warnings. If the matches are on, or ahead of schedule, the players must be in the court warming up at least 10 minutes before the assigned match time to assure a prompt start. If the tournament schedule is running behind, the players must be dressed and ready to enter the court for a maximum 10-minute, in-court warm up. If a player shows up less than 10 minutes before the scheduled starting time, that player’s warm-up time will be reduced accordingly. The tournament director may permit a longer delay if circumstances warrant.

## E. Forfeitures

A player or team may be forfeited by the tournament director or official in charge for failure to comply with the tournament or host facility’s rules while on the tournament premises, for failure to referee or for any other improper conduct on the tournament premises.

## F. Other rulings

The referee shall rule on all matters not covered in the USHA Official Rules. However, the referee may be overruled by the chief of referees or tournament director, the latter of whom shall have final authority.

5) Player forfeiture. A match must be played in its entirety with both players/teams on the court (See Rule 3.4.D.4.b). Partial forfeits, such as any player forfeiting the second game and progressing directly to a tiebreaker, are not allowed. A forfeit of any part of a match shall result in the forfeit of the entire match.

## Mentioned here

- [Player](https://handball.theperfectship.com/player.md)
- [Opponent](https://handball.theperfectship.com/opponent.md)
- [Referee](https://handball.theperfectship.com/match-referee.md)
- [Line judge](https://handball.theperfectship.com/line-judge.md)
- [Tournament director](https://handball.theperfectship.com/tournament-director.md)
- [Chief of referees](https://handball.theperfectship.com/chief-of-referees.md)
- [Serve](https://handball.theperfectship.com/serve.md)
- [Rally](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rally.md)
- [Hinder](https://handball.theperfectship.com/hinder.md)
- [Time-out](https://handball.theperfectship.com/time-out.md)
- [Delay of game](https://handball.theperfectship.com/delay.md)
- [Technical](https://handball.theperfectship.com/technical.md)
- [Warning](https://handball.theperfectship.com/warning.md)
- [Forfeit / default](https://handball.theperfectship.com/forfeit.md)
- [Court](https://handball.theperfectship.com/court.md)
- [Gloves](https://handball.theperfectship.com/gloves.md)
- [Eye protection](https://handball.theperfectship.com/eye-protection.md)
- [Uniform](https://handball.theperfectship.com/uniform.md)
- [Towel](https://handball.theperfectship.com/towel.md)
- [Point](https://handball.theperfectship.com/point.md)
- [Game, match, tiebreaker](https://handball.theperfectship.com/game.md)
- [Singles](https://handball.theperfectship.com/singles.md)
- [Doubles](https://handball.theperfectship.com/doubles.md)
- [USHA](https://handball.theperfectship.com/usha.md)
- [Jersey / shirt](https://handball.theperfectship.com/jersey.md)
- [Headband](https://handball.theperfectship.com/headband.md)
- [Coin](https://handball.theperfectship.com/coin.md)
- [Clock](https://handball.theperfectship.com/clock.md)

How this rule changed: [wording in every rulebook](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/clause-history/code-fourwall-american/3-4.md)

## Relationships

- Player relates to Opponent: mentioned together in 15 sub-rules.
- Player relates to Referee: mentioned together in 30 sub-rules.
- Player relates to Tournament director: mentioned together in 11 sub-rules.
- Player relates to Serve: mentioned together in 12 sub-rules.
- Player relates to Rally: mentioned together in 9 sub-rules.
- Player relates to Hinder: mentioned together in 15 sub-rules.
- Player relates to Court: mentioned together in 16 sub-rules.
- Player relates to Point: mentioned together in 12 sub-rules.
- Player relates to Game, match, tiebreaker: mentioned together in 10 sub-rules.
- Player relates to Doubles: mentioned together in 13 sub-rules.
- Opponent relates to Referee: mentioned together in 9 sub-rules.
- Opponent relates to Hinder: mentioned together in 11 sub-rules.
- Referee relates to Tournament director: mentioned together in 9 sub-rules.
- Referee relates to Serve: mentioned together in 9 sub-rules.
- Singles relates to Doubles: mentioned together in 9 sub-rules.
- No link to the other terms shown: Technical, Time-out.
- 59 weaker links (terms mentioned together in few sub-rules) are not drawn.
- 14 more terms are mentioned but not drawn (the best linked 14 are shown).

Rulebook: [USHA Four-Wall Rules, 6 February 2015](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/usha-fourwall-2015-02-06.md)

Source: Official USHA Handball Rulebook With Interpretations, One-Wall and Three-Wall Addendums (printed PDF, pnwhandball.org upload, captured 2026-10-30). USHA rules text, used with the USHA's written permission (letter not yet filed).