Rule Updates to Be Applied in the 2025-2026 Season
The IKF has recommended that national federations implement a series of changes in preparation for updates to the game rules. In this context, the rule updates listed below will be applied in all competitions played throughout the 2025-2026 season.
Game Restart Procedure
All procedures that were previously valid when a team restarts the game have been cancelled. The new application will be as follows.
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After the referee blows the whistle for the game to restart, the defending team may defend against the player who will start the game.
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From the attacking zone, a direct goal can be scored from a game restart throw used by an attacking player.
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The ball will not be required to cover a distance of 2.5 metres to enter the game.
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The player using the throw will not be required to release the ball from their hand within 4 seconds.
All these changes do not apply to a game restart throw taken from outside the court following a ball going out of play. During a throw in which the ball is put into play from outside the court, all these conditions specified in Article 7.3 of the game rules will continue to apply.
Game Time and Attack Time
The game time will not start with the referee’s whistle. After the referee blows the whistle and the player who will start the game releases the ball, the time will start when the ball makes first contact with another player on the court.
The attack time will run synchronised with the game time. If an attack time that has started and been stopped for any reason is to continue from where it left off, it will start running synchronised with the game time when the ball makes first contact with another player on the court after the referee blows the whistle for the game to start.
These rule updates will be applied throughout the 2025-2026 season and at the end of the season will be incorporated into the game rules or revoked following an evaluation to be conducted by the IKF.
