The quick answer
Not every hand or arm contact is an offence. Handball includes deliberate handling or an arm position that makes the body unnaturally bigger and is not justified by that movement. A player also cannot score directly with the hand or arm, or immediately after their own accidental hand or arm touch. Judge the movement and the contact, not a slogan such as “ball to hand”.
See what changes
Choose a play. Use Play or Freeze decision, then read the example.
A defender blocks a shot with an arm stretched out to the side. The arm position is not justified by the movement.
- Blue team
- Green team
- Goalkeeper
- Referee or assistant
Arm out wide
A defender blocks a shot with an arm stretched out to the side. The arm position is not justified by the movement.
Paused
Arm out wide
A defender blocks a shot with an arm stretched out to the side. The arm position is not justified by the movement.
Handball: direct free kick
In this example the arm makes the body unnaturally bigger, and that position is not justified by the movement. Width alone is not the whole test.
Arm by the side
The same shot hits an arm that is hanging close to the body. There is no deliberate handling and no goal immediately after the player’s own arm touch.
No offence: play continues
The arm is where you would expect it for that movement, and the defender did not move it toward the ball.
Off the shoulder
The ball strikes the top of the shoulder.
No offence: play continues
For handball the arm starts at the bottom of the armpit. Above that line is shoulder.
Accident, then a goal
A cross hits an attacker's arm by accident and the attacker scores straight away.
No goal: direct free kick
The same player cannot score directly with the hand or arm, or immediately after their own accidental hand or arm touch.
Common misunderstandings
- “Any touch on the arm is handball.” No. Deliberate handling or an unjustified arm position that makes the body unnaturally bigger can be offences. An immediate goal by the same player after their own accidental touch is also disallowed.
- “Ball to hand is never handball.” Not quite. If the arm is out wide or up high for no reason, it can still be given.
- “It hit the shoulder, so it is handball.” No. The shoulder does not count as the arm.
What happens next?
A handball offence gives a direct free kick, or a penalty inside the defender’s own area. Cards depend on the attack and whether handling was deliberate; non-deliberate handball denying a goal and resulting in a penalty requires a yellow card.
What signal might you see?
The referee indicates a direct kick or penalty. The gesture alone does not explain why the arm contact was an offence.
Check your competition
Check your competition’s written rules and edition. Adapted youth formats may differ. The selected website city does not change the match rules.
Make the call
One question. No score or account needed.
A scorer accidentally touches the ball with their own arm and scores immediately. Does the goal count?
Sources and review
Rules edition: 2026/27 · Sources checked:
Prepared with AI assistance; checked against the linked rules. Simplified illustrations are teaching examples. AI transparency
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