Tokyo 2025 - Summer Deaflympics 2025

Technical Regulations - Handball

1. EVENTS
This competition will be conducted during the Summer Deaflympics 2025 from 15 Nov 2025 to 26 Nov 2025 and will consist of the following 1 events (1 for men, 0 for women and 0 for mixed):

2. PARTICIPANTS

2.1 Invitation to Participate
ICSD and the Organising Committee will invite all National Deaf Sports Federation (NDSF) members in good standing to participate in the competition.

2.2 Eligibility

2.2.1 Hearing Loss
Participation in the competition is restricted to athletes who are deaf and/or hard of hearing. Refer to the ICSD Audiogram Regulations for additional details on measurement of hearing loss.

2.2.2 Age
Athletes must meet the minimum age requirement for each event listed below:

2.2.3 Compliance
Only athletes who comply with the Deaflympics Regulations are allowed to participate in the competition.

2.3 Number of Teams
Each National Federation may enter one (1) men's team, one (1) women's team and/or one (1) mixed's team. Participation in the competition is limited to a maximum of 12 men's teams, 12 women's teams and 0 mixed's teams.

2.4 Qualified Teams

2.5 Number of Athletes per Discipline
A maximum number of athlete(s) per NDSF is allocated to each Handball discipline listed below:

2.6 Number of Athletes per Event
A maximum number of athlete(s) per NDSF is allocated to each event listed below:

2.7 Number of Reserves or Substitutes per Event
A maximum number of reserve/substitute athlete(s) per NDSF is allocated to each event listed below:

2.8 Competition Entry Standards
Not Applicable

2.9 Competition Entry Rules
Only an authorised representative of each NDSF is allowed to submit competition entries.

2.10 Non-Starting Athletes
A fine of USD$100.00 will be levied on each non-starting athlete unless he/she submits a doctor's declaration in writing English that he/she should not be allowed to start.

3. REGISTRATION
Please refer to the 6. Team Sports in the General Technical Rules - Summer Deaflympics, for further details on registration.

4. COMPETITION RULES AND REGULATIONS

4.1 Technical Organisation
ICSD is be responsible for the technical organisation of the competition in conjunction with the International Handball Federation (IHF).

4.2 Committees

4.2.1 Technical Committee
The Technical Committee is comprised of the ICSD Handball Director and other members nominated by the Organising Committee and approved by ICSD:

Jonny Gustavsson - ICSD Handball Director (Chair)
Masaki Ienaga - JHA Representative
Ryoichi Fukushima - JHA Head Referee
Noa Tsutsui - Sport Liaison Officer
Daizo Tanaka - Deaf Representative

4.2.2 Protest Committee
The Protest Committee is comprised of the ICSD Handball Director and other members nominated by the Organising Committee and approved by ICSD:

Jonny Gustavsson - ICSD Handball Director (Chair)
Masaki Ienaga - JHA Representative
Ryoichi Fukushima - JHA Head Referee

4.3 Competition Rules
The competitions will be conducted in accordance with the IHF Rules and Regulations (version: 1 July 2024). In case of disagreement in the interpretation of the Rules and Regulations, the English text shall prevail. Unforeseen incidents not covered by the Rules and Regulations shall be dealt with as follow:

4.3.1 Cases of a general nature will be resolved in accordance with the Deaflympics Regulations and this Handball Technical Regulations.

4.3.2 Cases of a technical nature related to competition rules will be resolved in accordance with the IHF Rules and Regulations.

4.4 Competition Equipment

All equipment used during competition must comply with the IHF Rules and Regulations.

4.5 Competition Clothing

4.5.1 Participants must wear competitive uniforms representing their nationality, duly registered and published in accordance with the IHF Rules and Regulations.

4.5.2 Participants must observe the Deaflympics Regulations regarding advertisements on their uniforms and clothing worn in the competition area.

4.6 Draw
The draw for all events will be conducted under control of the Technical Committee and in accordance with the IHF Rules and Regulations.

4.7 Competition Plan
The competition plan will be conducted in accordance with the IHF Rules and Regulations.

4.8 Officials

4.8.1 Judge/Referee/Umpire
Allocation of the officials to conduct the events will be made by the Technical Committee. Wherever possible, officials will possess the IHF international license valid for 2025. However, officials with the highest level of national accreditation may be assigned.

4.8.2 Appointment
The Organising Committee, the Handball Director and an ICSD-designated Representative shall appoint a IHF representative and an appropriate number of officials to conduct each event.

4.9 Unforeseen Incidents
In the event of unforeseen incidents not covered by the rules and regulations, the Technical Committee will make a determination. In the absence of the Technical Committee, the ICSD Handball Director will make a determination.

5. VENUES

5.1 Competition Venue

5.2 Training Venue

6. SCHEDULES

6.1 Competition Schedule

6.2 Training Schedule

6.3 Technical Meeting

6.3.1 Date and Location

6.3.2 Attendance
Each participating NDSF may be represented by a maximum of two officials, of whom at least one must be deaf. The NDSF may also bring an interpreter if necessary.

7. CONTROL AND SANCTIONS

7.1 Hearing Devices
The use of any hearing aid(s)/amplification or cochlear implant is prohibited in the restricted zone area.

7.1.1 Restricted Zone
As per Audiogram Regulations, athletes participating in Summer Deaflympics 2025 are strictly prohibited from using any hearing aids or cochlear implant aids during competitions. This rule applies specifically to the restricted zone, which is defined as follows:

7.1.1.1 Restricted Area

The restricted arena is the area

7.1.1.2 Authority

The ICSD Handball Director and the match referees have the authority to inspect athletes for the presence of hearing aids only.

7.1.1.3 Inspection Location

At the site, the SD or match referees must examine all athletes to ensure that no hearing aids are being worn before entering the sports hall.

7.1.1.4 Violation

• If an athlete wears a hearing device during the warm-up or the match within the restricted area → Immediate blue card (disqualified from the match).

• The player is suspended for the next match.

• If another player from the same team (or the same player repeats the violation) wears a hearing device → The entire team is disqualified from the tournament.

• The violation must be documented by the match referees on the scoresheet and reported using the ICSD Violation Form.

7.1.2 Violation and Penalty
When this rule is violated, refer to ICSD Audiogram Regulations 10: Violations and Penalties.

7.1.3 Award Ceremony
Athletes may use any hearing device during the award ceremony. No penalty will be imposed for using such a device.

8. PROTESTS

8.1 Procedures for lodging a protest
All sport related protests will be resolved in accordance with the IHF Rules and Regulations and will be adjudicated by the Protest Committee.

8.1.1 Any protest must be written in English on the Official Protest Form. The form and a deposit USD$100.00 must be given to the ICSD Handball Director within 60 minutes after the official public posting of results.

8.1.2 The ICSD Handball Director will decide whether the protest is sport-related or eligibility-related. The Protest Committee will review all sport-related protests, and the ICSD Representative will review all eligibility-related protests.

8.1.3 The deposit of USD$100.00 will be returned to the applicant only if the protest is considered valid.

8.2 Procedure for reviewing a protest
The Protest Committee will meet in the competition venue or a designated office at a time decided upon by the ICSD Handball Director.

8.2.1 The ICSD Handball Director will chair of the Protest Committee.

8.2.2 The Sport Liaison Officer (SLO) will be responsible for booking a meeting room and interpreters.

8.2.3 The SLO will contact and inform all members of the Protest Committee of the meeting time and location.

8.2.4 The ICSD Handball Director will be responsible for liaising with the State Sports Association's Competition Manager.

8.2.5 After adjudication, the ICSD Handball Director will forward the original Official Protest Form (along with the protest fee if the protest was denied) to the ICSD Secretariat. The SLO will forward a copy of the form to the Deaflympics Headquarters.

Notice: this regulations are subject to change. Last updated on Thursday, 31-Jul-25 10:27:44 GMT.