<p class="reg-lead">The International Handball Federation's Regulations for Official Referee Courses, in force from 4 March 2022.</p>
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<tr><td>In force</td><td><b>4 March 2022</b> — adopted by the IHF Council</td></tr>
<tr><td>Structure</td><td>Chapter XII of the International Handball Federation's regulations</td></tr>
<tr><td>Status</td><td><strong>Current edition</strong> — administered by the Playing Rules and Referees Commission (PRC)</td></tr>
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<h2>What these regulations determine</h2>
<p>The regulations of the International Handball Federation (IHF) are a set of numbered chapters headed by the Statutes, each chapter governing one area. This document is <strong>Chapter XII</strong> of that set.</p><p>Ten short articles determining where, for whom and on what conditions the examination for promotion to international referee rank is held, and who administers it.</p>
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<h2>Key points</h2>
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<li><b class="t">Permitted venues for the examination</b>All examinations and promotions to "international referee" rank take place only within the framework of the <strong>Global Referee Training Programme (GRTP)</strong>, or by assessment in the candidate's own country, or in the course of the world youth or junior championships. <strong>No promotion is possible outside these events.</strong></li>
<li><b class="t">Continental rank as a precondition</b>Only referees currently recognised as "continental referees" may sit the examination for promotion to international rank.</li>
<li><b class="t">Age limit of 40</b>The ordinary maximum age for sitting the promotion examination is <strong>40</strong>, and there is <strong>no minimum age</strong>. The Playing Rules and Referees Commission may allow minor exceptions in unusual circumstances — including by taking into account the age of the referee's regular partner and the preservation of gender and geographical balance.</li>
<li><b class="t">Power of nomination</b>Nominating referees for the examination is in principle a power of the Playing Rules and Referees Commission. The continental confederations are consulted through their representatives on that commission but <strong>have no power of decision</strong>; they may only request that a referee who has not yet obtained continental rank acquire it before the examination.</li>
<li><b class="t">Instructors and assessors</b>This role is ordinarily assigned to the members and instructors of the Playing Rules and Referees Commission, together with colleagues from the Coaching and Methods Commission and the Medical Commission.</li>
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<h2>Who this document matters to</h2>
<p>For national federations seeking to nominate an international referee, two restrictions are decisive: the confinement of the promotion route to specified events, and the age limit of 40, which must be taken into account before investing in a refereeing pair.</p>
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Notes related to the tag referee_courses

IHF Regulations for Official Referee Courses 2022