# Rule 4.9 Technicals (USHA Four-Wall Rules, December 2021, 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 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.

## A. Types

Some examples of actions that may result in technicals are:

1) Too frequent or excessive 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.

> Part 4, Rule 4.9.A.(6): Interpretation No. 22
>
> 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.

## B. 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.

## C. Duplicity

If a player’s behavior is severe enough to warrant a technical, the technical may be assessed in addition to any other penalty, including an avoidable hinder.

## Mentioned here

- [Player](https://handball.theperfectship.com/player.md)
- [Opponent](https://handball.theperfectship.com/opponent.md)
- [Referee](https://handball.theperfectship.com/match-referee.md)
- [Rally](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rally.md)
- [Hinder](https://handball.theperfectship.com/hinder.md)
- [Avoidable hinder](https://handball.theperfectship.com/avoidable-hinder.md)
- [Time-out](https://handball.theperfectship.com/time-out.md)
- [Technical](https://handball.theperfectship.com/technical.md)
- [Warning](https://handball.theperfectship.com/warning.md)
- [Appeal](https://handball.theperfectship.com/appeal.md)
- [Ball](https://handball.theperfectship.com/ball.md)
- [Eye protection](https://handball.theperfectship.com/eye-protection.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)

How this rule changed: [wording in every rulebook](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/clause-history/code-fourwall-american/4-9.md)

## Relationships

- Player relates to Opponent: mentioned together in 14 sub-rules.
- Player relates to Referee: mentioned together in 29 sub-rules.
- Player relates to Rally: mentioned together in 12 sub-rules.
- Player relates to Hinder: mentioned together in 16 sub-rules.
- Player relates to Avoidable hinder: mentioned together in 10 sub-rules.
- Player relates to Ball: mentioned together in 25 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 Hinder: mentioned together in 11 sub-rules.
- Opponent relates to Ball: mentioned together in 14 sub-rules.
- Referee relates to Rally: mentioned together in 12 sub-rules.
- Referee relates to Ball: mentioned together in 16 sub-rules.
- Hinder relates to Avoidable hinder: mentioned together in 11 sub-rules.
- Hinder relates to Ball: mentioned together in 15 sub-rules.
- No link to the other terms shown: Appeal, Technical, Time-out, Singles.
- 55 weaker links (terms mentioned together in few sub-rules) are not drawn.
- 2 more terms are mentioned but not drawn (the best linked 14 are shown).

Rulebook: [USHA Four-Wall Rules, December 2021](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/usha-fourwall-2021-12.md)

Source: Four-Wall Rulebook (Wayback capture 20211209064241 of ushandball.org). USHA rules text, used with the USHA's written permission (letter not yet filed).