# Rule 4.8 Avoidable hinders (USHA One-Wall Rules, September 2020, historical)

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

An avoidable hinder results in an out or a point ( See Rule 4.5.E ), depending on whether the offender was serving or receiving. Player intent has no bearing on an avoidable call. An avoidable hinder should be called only when a hinder could have been avoided with reasonable effort. A player moving as late as possible to avoid being hit by the ball is not creating an avoidable hinder. (See Rule 4.7 B.1) Avoidable hinders, which should not be confused with “legal” hinders (See rule 4.7 B.1), are called when:

## A. Failure to move

A player does not move sufficiently to allow his/her opponent his/her shot.

> Part 4, Rule 4.8 A: Interpretation No. 13
>
> The player standing further from the wall must move out of the way of his opponent even though it may mean moving to an undesirable court position. If a player assumes such a position and there is a collision, or there is interference with the stroke of the player trying to strike the ball, the hinder is avoidable.

## B. Blocking

A player moves into a position that effects a block or crowds his/her opponent about to return the ball; or, in doubles, one partner creates a hinder by moving in front of an opponent as his/her partner is returning the ball.

> Part 4, Rule 4.8 B: Interpretation No. 14
>
> This call is just the opposite of the “failure to move” avoidable hinder. When a player “creates” a hinder by his/her movement, it is also avoidable. Sometimes a player, in the effort to get into a better court position, will cause contact with an opponent who is about to hit the ball, or a player will move in so close to an opponent who is hitting the ball as to cause a possibility of body contact. In either case, an avoidable hinder should be called. It is also an avoidable hinder if one player, just as his/her partner is hitting the ball, moves directly in front of an opponent creating a hinder, not to be confused with a “legal “ hinder .

## C. Moving into ball

A player moves into the path of and is struck by the ball just played by his/her opponent.

> Part 4, Rule 4.8 C: Interpretation No. 15
>
> This avoidable hinder may occur almost anywhere on the court. A player has an offensive setup; in his/her effort to get into a more favorable position, the defensive player moves into the path of the ball and is hit. This is avoidable. In this case, the referee must use judgment and not call an avoidable if he/she feels the ball was “mis-hit” and that the defensive player was moving into a non-hindering position in which he/she would not have been hit if the ball had been hit truly.

## D. Pushing

A player forcibly pushes an opponent during a rally.

> Part 4, Rule 4.8 D: Interpretation No. 16
>
> This avoidable hinder may occur when a player pushes a player, no matter how slightly, who is about to hit the ball, or when a player forcefully pushes a player in the attempt to get into position for his/her shot. An incidental push of a slight nature by an offensive player should not be called avoidable. See Rule 4.7.A.3.

## E. View obstruction

Moving across an opponent’s line of vision just before he/she strikes the ball.

> Part 4, Rule 4.8 E: Interpretation No. 17
>
> Generally, this type of avoidable hinder occurs after a player has hit the ball and finds himself/herself out of position. In the effort to move into a better court position, he/she crosses the eventual path of the ball just before the ball reaches the opponent, thereby obstructing the opponent’s view of the ball.

## F. Distraction

Any avoidable distraction or intimidation that would interfere with the offensive player or team.

> Part 4, Rule 4.8 F: Interpretation No. 18
>
> This avoidable hinder should be called against a player who attempts to move in very close to an opponent in an attempt to cause a distraction.
>
> 1). Talking During the Rally. Aside from appeals and rally ending calls, there is no need for talking during a rally except in doubles, when the team on the offense is allowed to briefly communicate which partner is to hit, or not to hit, the ball.

> Part 4, Rule 4.8 F.1: Interpretation No. 19
>
> In doubles, allowable “brief communication” shall be construed to be any reasonable variation of “yours,” “mine,” or “leave it,” consisting of very few syllables.
>
> Any other talking during the rally by any player frequently affects the play of the opponent(s). If the referee determines that such talking is a distraction, an avoidable hinder shall be assessed. In order to deter unnecessary conflict between opponents on this issue, referees should be liberal in assessing this avoidable hinder.
>
> Sometimes an offensive player may make a call that is otherwise reserved for the referee, such as “short serve” “out,” or “hinder.” Play shall immediately be stopped and the referee shall consider this to be an appeal for concurrence. If the appeal is upheld, the player’s call shall stand. Otherwise, the player shall be assessed an avoidable distraction hinder and lose the rally. Under no circumstances may a player say anything while an opponent is playing the ball. Of course, players can make calls against themselves at any time, such as double bounces, wrist balls, etc.

## G. Stroke interference

Any positioning that would not allow the opponent to use a normal stroke. This especially applies to a player moving in too close and being hit by, or restricting the follow-through of, the player hitting the ball.

> Part 4, Rule 4.8 G: Interpretation No. 20
>
> A player hitting the ball is entitled to stroke the ball without being in danger of contacting an opponent during the stroke. The stroke includes the back-swing as well as the follow-through of the arm. If a player is contacted during any part of the stroke by the player hitting the ball, an avoidable hinder should be called, assuming the player who was hit could have avoided the interference with reasonable effort. This interference might not have affected the shot, but it doesn’t matter if the ball reaches the wall or not. This avoidable hinder must be called for safety reasons. Playing too close can cause serious injury, and the referee should forfeit the offending player if this type of positioning continues. This does not affect the rules on legal hinders.

## H. Improper equipment

The loss of any improperly worn equipment, or equipment not required on court, that interferes with the play or the safety of the players constitutes an avoidable hinder.

> Part 4, Rule 4.8 H: Interpretation No. 21
>
> Improperly worn equipment includes eye protection that requires some type of strap in order to stay on the head. Failure to wear such a strap could be considered improperly worn equipment. Gloves that are not snugly attached might also be improperly worn equipment. Equipment not required could be items such as a baseball cap or jewelry.

## Mentioned here

- [Player](https://handball.theperfectship.com/player.md)
- [Partner](https://handball.theperfectship.com/partner.md)
- [Opponent](https://handball.theperfectship.com/opponent.md)
- [Referee](https://handball.theperfectship.com/match-referee.md)
- [Serve](https://handball.theperfectship.com/serve.md)
- [Rally](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rally.md)
- [Hinder](https://handball.theperfectship.com/hinder.md)
- [Avoidable hinder](https://handball.theperfectship.com/avoidable-hinder.md)
- [Short serve](https://handball.theperfectship.com/short-serve.md)
- [Appeal](https://handball.theperfectship.com/appeal.md)
- [Forfeit / default](https://handball.theperfectship.com/forfeit.md)
- [Court](https://handball.theperfectship.com/court.md)
- [Ball](https://handball.theperfectship.com/ball.md)
- [Gloves](https://handball.theperfectship.com/gloves.md)
- [Eye protection](https://handball.theperfectship.com/eye-protection.md)
- [Point](https://handball.theperfectship.com/point.md)
- [Doubles](https://handball.theperfectship.com/doubles.md)
- [Wall](https://handball.theperfectship.com/wall.md)

How this rule changed: [wording in every rulebook](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/clause-history/code-fourwall-american/4-8.md)

## Relationships

- Player relates to Opponent: mentioned together in 13 sub-rules.
- Player relates to Referee: mentioned together in 30 sub-rules.
- Player relates to Rally: mentioned together in 11 sub-rules.
- Player relates to Hinder: mentioned together in 17 sub-rules.
- Player relates to Court: mentioned together in 14 sub-rules.
- Player relates to Ball: mentioned together in 28 sub-rules.
- Player relates to Point: mentioned together in 13 sub-rules.
- Player relates to Doubles: mentioned together in 14 sub-rules.
- Partner relates to Ball: mentioned together in 11 sub-rules.
- Opponent relates to Ball: mentioned together in 13 sub-rules.
- Referee relates to Hinder: mentioned together in 11 sub-rules.
- Referee relates to Ball: mentioned together in 20 sub-rules.
- Serve relates to Ball: mentioned together in 11 sub-rules.
- Hinder relates to Ball: mentioned together in 18 sub-rules.
- Court relates to Ball: mentioned together in 13 sub-rules.
- No link to the other terms shown: Appeal, Avoidable hinder, Wall.
- 63 weaker links (terms mentioned together in few sub-rules) are not drawn.
- 4 more terms are mentioned but not drawn (the best linked 14 are shown).

Rulebook: [USHA One-Wall Rules, September 2020](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/usha-onewall-2020-09.md)

Source: One-Wall Rulebook (Wayback capture 20200920054158 of ushandball.org). USHA rules text, used with the USHA's written permission (letter not yet filed).