IHF Athlete Health and Safety Provisions

Key provisions

1. No matches on consecutive daysIn senior events, a team must not be required to play on consecutive days and must have at least one full rest day between two matches, except with the express permission of the IHF in exceptional circumstances. In younger age categories, a maximum of two consecutive days of play is permitted. In beach handball, a maximum of two matches in one day is permitted, with at least four hours between them.
2. Additional rest day for long journeysIf official travel between venues or accommodation takes more than four hours and thirty minutes, the IHF may require an additional rest day.
3. Treatment takes priority over media obligationsMedia obligations, protocol, sponsors and ceremonies must not interfere with a player's treatment, recovery or safety. A player who requires assessment or treatment, is undergoing concussion assessment or doping control, is suffering acute physical or psychological distress, or has been prohibited by a physician, is exempt from attending press conferences, the mixed zone, award ceremonies and the like, and no player may be sanctioned for an absence with a valid medical reason.
4. Authority of medical decisionsThe event medical officer, an IHF official, an event delegate or another authorised physician may require immediate assessment, remove a player from the court, prevent their return, require further testing or hospitalisation, and recommend the modification, postponement, suspension or cancellation of a match. No sporting official, coach, employer or national federation representative may override a medical decision concerning a player's immediate safety.
5. ConcussionA player suspected of concussion or a serious head injury must be removed from play immediately and assessed, and must not return to play the same day, except with the express permission of the responsible physician. Return to training and competition follows a staged assessment and requires medical clearance. Referees, delegates, the team physician and the event medical officer may all initiate an assessment.
6. Event medical planThe organiser must prepare a written medical plan for IHF approval covering the competition and training halls, team accommodation, official transport, emergency care, ambulances, evacuation routes, designated hospitals and major-incident procedures.
7. A physician and an ambulance for every matchEvery match requires at least one licensed physician with emergency or sports-medicine experience, seated in a designated seat with an unobstructed view of the court and immediate access to it. At least one fully equipped ambulance must be present for the entire duration of the match — including the warm-up, half-time, extra time and the period immediately after the match. Medical resources allocated to players must not simultaneously be the only medical resource for spectators.
8. Player support programmeArticle 7 governs the "Indoor Handball Player Support Programme (salary compensation)", which is intended to protect professional players and employing clubs against the financial consequences of injury sustained in eligible IHF competitions or official national-team activity, and supports the payment of the contractual salary of a player temporarily unable to perform their obligations.
9. Nutrition and waterThe organiser must provide safe food suited to the needs of elite players, accommodate food-allergy options, religious requirements and vegetarian diets, identify all allergens, and make safe drinking water available free of charge around the clock.