One of the first things that every soccer player learns is that they can't use their hands. The only exceptions are for the goalkeeper and for throw-ins.

Basically, a hand ball offense occurs when the player strikes the ball at any point from the tips of the fingers to the shoulder. A hand ball offense always occurs due to some action by the player on the ball. If a ball is kicked and strikes a player on the arm or hand, a hand ball is not necessarily called unless the referee feels that the player made some sort of action to strike the ball.

Did you know that there are times when the goalkeeper cannot use their hands? This is sometimes called the back-pass rule. Goalkeepers cannot pick up a pass that came directly from one of their teammates. In this case, the goalkeeper must use his feet. Infraction of this soccer rule will result in an indirect kick from the point of the infraction. The goalkeeper also may not use their hands outside of their own penalty area.