Holding
A foul in which a player illegally uses the hands or arms to restrain or impede an opponent's movement.
Definition
Holding is committed when a player grabs, hooks, wraps, or otherwise restrains an opponent to slow them down or stop them reaching the ball or a position. Because it uses the hands or arms to control another player rather than to play the ball, it is penalised across most contact and invasion sports.
The consequences differ by sport. In football (soccer), holding an opponent is a direct free-kick offence and can concede a penalty inside the area; in American football it is a yardage penalty distinguished as offensive or defensive holding; in ice hockey it is a minor penalty; and in basketball it is a personal foul. In each case the common idea is unfairly restricting an opponent's freedom to move.
Meaning by sport
This term is used differently across sports:
- Football
- A direct free-kick offence; inside the penalty area it can concede a penalty.
- American football
- A yardage penalty, distinguished as offensive or defensive holding.
- Ice Hockey
- A minor penalty for restraining an opponent with hands, arms, or stick.
- Basketball
- A personal foul for restraining an opponent.
Where you’ll hear “holding”
Sports that use this term:
Football
The world’s most popular team sport — endless running, teamwork and community in one game.
Basketball
A fast, dynamic team sport of running, jumping and quick decisions on court.
Ice Hockey
A fast team sport on ice that combines skating skill with quick passing and goal-scoring.
Rugby
A physical team sport of carrying, passing and kicking an oval ball toward the opposing line.
Explore across the knowledge base
Follow the threads that connect Holding to the rest of SocialSportHub.
Officiating
- Penalty SignalA standardized hand or flag signal an official uses to announce a foul, penalty, or restart so players, teammates, and spectators can read the call.
- Foul callA foul call is an official's ruling that a player broke a rule of contact or conduct, triggering a penalty such as a free kick, free throw or penalty.
Rules
- Penalty kick awardA one-on-one kick against the goalkeeper awarded when a defending player commits a direct-free-kick foul inside their own penalty area.
- TravelingA basketball violation for moving illegally with the ball without dribbling it.
- Ice hockey penaltiesHow hockey punishes infractions by putting a player in the box — minor, double-minor, major, misconduct and game misconduct — and which ones end early when a goal is scored.
- Handball offenceA foul in football committed when an outfield player deliberately handles or controls the ball with the hand or arm.
- Personal fouls and free throwsThe basketball rules covering illegal contact and the uncontested shots awarded when a player is fouled.
Techniques
- Push-UpA bodyweight exercise that lowers and raises the body by bending and straightening the arms while holding a rigid plank line.
- StickhandlingHow a hockey player carries and protects the puck at speed — why the hands work independently of the feet, the role of soft hands, and how body position beats stick skill.
Disciplines
- CompoundCompound archery uses a bow with cams and cables that reduce the holding weight at full draw, and is typically shot with a release aid and a magnified sight.
- Sweep RowingSweep rowing is the discipline in which each rower handles a single oar with both hands, driving one side of the boat as part of a crew.
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How this page is maintained
- Content type
- Term
- Provenance
- Tier A — evergreen educational
- Verified external sources
- 0
- Content updated
- 2026-09-01
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