2019-20 Handling Law Update

Have any local/state associations advised their referees to start using the new handball guidance for this new season despite being on 2018-19 laws?

A buddy of a buddy who is on the CPL panel here said they were told that the handball change should start being used at all levels of soccer in Canada immediately, but nothing official has been put out (yet) by my district or state association.

I don't think it is a terrible idea. For reference:

It is usually an offence if a player touches the ball with their hand/arm when:

• the hand/arm has made their body unnaturally bigger
• the hand/arm is above/beyond their shoulder level (unless the player deliberately plays the ball which then touches their hand/arm)

The above offences apply even if the ball touches a player’s hand/arm directly from the head or body (including the foot) of another player who is close.

Except for the above offences, it is not usually an offence if the ball touches a player’s hand/arm:

• directly from the player’s own head or body (including the foot)
• directly from the head or body (including the foot) of another player who is close
• if the hand/arm is close to the body and does not make the body unnaturally bigger
• when a player falls and the hand/arm is between the body and the ground to support the body, but not extended laterally or vertically away from the body