Handball codes compared
The newest edition of each code (2026). Pick a year to see the rules as they stood then.
Concepts come from the research crosswalk. Wording is shown only for editions whose text is republished on this site; for the Irish (GAA) and wallball (USWA) rules a cell says the concept is in the rules, with the rule number where known, and no wording. A code appears from its first edition on record. The Irish column holds the 1903 hardball rules only; later Irish editions are not yet in the comparison. Terms as of a year has the glossary; the family tree of the rulebooks shows how the editions descend from one another.
Year
| Concept | American four-wall Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | One-wall, small ball One-wall (USHA, 2025) | Three-wall Three-wall (USHA addendum, 2025) | Wallball, big ball USWA playing rules | Irish 60x30 hardball Gaelic Rules |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appeals and finality | Yes, rule 3.7, 3.4/C Appeals on listed calls to line judges; three unsuccessful per game (3.7 C says 'one-wall matches'); protests | Yes, rule 3.7, 3.4/C Appeals on listed calls to line judges; limited per game; protests of interpretation ['hinder serve' for 'screen serve' in 3.7] | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 7, 8) | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 14, 23, 28) |
| Ball from the wall hits a player | Yes, rule 4.6/G, 4.8/C Touching the ball before its second bounce (other than the returner) = point/out against; moving into the ball = avoidable | Yes, rule 4.6/G, 4.8/C Touching the ball before its second bounce (other than the returner) = point/out against; moving into the ball = avoidable | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Not in this edition | Not in this edition |
| Ball hits an official or spectator | Not in this edition | Yes, rule 3.4/B.1 Ball hitting an official or spectator before the wall: judged as if not touched (see text) | Not in this edition | Not in this edition | Not in this edition |
| Ball hits an opponent before reaching the wall | Yes, rule 4.7/A.2, 4.6/D.4 If the shot would obviously not have reached the front wall, the hit player wins the rally; otherwise a dead-ball hinder | Yes, rule 4.7/A.2, 4.6/D.4 If the shot would obviously not have been fair, the hit player wins the rally; doubt = dead-ball hinder | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 5) | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 21) |
| Ball hits the hitter or his partner | Yes, rule 4.5/C, 4.6/D.5 Ball hitting the hitter's partner = failure to return (server side: out) | Yes, rule 4.6/D.5, 4.5/C Ball hitting the hitter's partner = failure to return | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Not in this edition | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 15, 22) |
| Ball: broken ball | Yes, rule 4.3/A.2, 4.6/J Broken ball on serve or rally: replay | Yes, rule 4.3/A.2, 4.6/J Broken ball on serve or rally: replay | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Not in this edition | Not in this edition |
| Ball: selection by the referee | Yes, rule 2.2/B.6 Ball approved by the referee for each match; may change balls | Yes, rule 2.2/B.6 Ball approved by the referee for each match; may change balls | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Not in this edition | Not in this edition |
| Ball: specification | Yes, rule 2.2 USHA official balls; 1 7/8 in, 61 g, rubber or synthetic, colour optional; rebound spec | Yes, rule 2.2/A, 2.2/B, 2.2/C USHA approved balls; 1 7/8 in, 61 g (red); rebound spec; lighter/larger by entry | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Not in this edition | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 5) |
| Ball: wet ball | Yes, rule 2.3/D, 4.6/I Ball to be kept dry; deliberate wetting = out or point | Yes, rule 2.3/D, 4.6/I Ball to be kept dry; deliberate wetting = out or point | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 11, 17) | Not in this edition |
| Catching or stopping the ball | Yes, rule 4.3/D.3 An intentionally caught serve is a touched serve = out | Yes, rule 4.3/D.3, 4.6/H Intentionally caught serve = out; don't catch balls assumed out | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 4) | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 13, 20) |
| Ceiling and overhead obstructions | Yes, rule 4.3/C.4, 4.6/D.3 Ceiling in play in the rally; ceiling serve = fault; ball into a ceiling opening = failure to return | Yes, rule 2.1/B.8, 4.3/D.8 Top edge of the wall is out | Yes, rule 4.7 Three-wall courts with ceilings: 'anything goes' when the ball hits the ceiling (house rule under court hinders) | Not in this edition | Not in this edition |
| Change of serve | Yes, rule 1.4, 4.5 Out: one rally in singles, two in doubles; listed ways outs are made | Yes, rule 1.4, 4.5 Out: one rally in singles, two in doubles (both partners serve) | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Not in this edition | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 11) |
| Conduct and player code | Yes, rule 3.5, 5.6 Presumptive code of integrity; self-enforcement; tournament conduct, coaching | Yes, rule 3.5, 5.6 Presumptive code of integrity; self-enforcement; tournament conduct, coaching | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule Rpurpose, Rp1, Rp2, Rp3, ...) | Not in this edition |
| Court: dimensions | Yes, rule 2.1/A 20 ft wide, 20 ft high, 40 ft long; back wall at least 14 ft recommended | Yes, rule 2.1/A, 2.1/A.1, 2.1/A.2 Wall 20 x 16 ft; floor 20 ft wide, 34 ft to back edge of long line | Yes, rule 2.1 Same 20 x 20 x 40 ft, side walls 44 ft recommended; no back wall | Not in this edition | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 3, 4) |
| Court: line marking | Yes, rule 2.1/B 2-in lines; white or red recommended | Yes, rule 2.1/B 2-in lines; white, yellow or red recommended | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Not in this edition | Not in this edition |
| Court: long (back) line | Not in this edition | Yes, rule 2.1/B.2 'Long line', back edge 34 ft from the wall | Yes, rule 2.1 Long line added: outer edge 40 ft from the front wall (no back wall) | Not in this edition | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 2) |
| Court: receiving and playing zones | Not in this edition | Yes, rule 2.1/B.6, 2.1/B.7 Receiving zone behind the short line; playing zone inside side and long lines | Not in this edition | Not in this edition | Not in this edition |
| Court: run-off area around the floor | Not in this edition | Yes, rule 2.1/A.2 Border of at least 10 ft (ideally 20 ft beside, 16 ft behind); outdoor fence | Not in this edition | Not in this edition | Not in this edition |
| Court: service zone | Yes, rule 2.1/B.2, 2.1/B.3 Service line 5 ft in front of the short line; zone between the outer edges of the two lines | Yes, rule 2.1/B.4, 2.1/B.5 Zone between short line and service markers (service line midway to long line) | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Not in this edition | Not in this edition |
| Court: short line (minimum serve length) | Yes, rule 2.1/B.1 Short line, outside edge 20 ft from the front wall | Yes, rule 2.1/B.1 Short line, back edge 16 ft from the wall | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Not in this edition | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 1) |
| Court: towels and wiping | Yes, rule 2.1/C Towel available in tournaments; procedure and abuse | Yes, rule 2.1/C Towel available in tournaments; procedure and abuse | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Not in this edition | Not in this edition |
| Court: wall surface and top | Not in this edition | Yes, rule 2.1/B.3, 2.1/B.8 Optional top line 16 ft; top edge of wall not part of the court (out) | Not in this edition | Not in this edition | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 4) |
| Doubles: serving order and first hand | Yes, rule 4.2/A, 4.3/D.6, 4.5/F Order declared; first server alone serves first time up; out-of-order serve | Yes, rule 4.2/A, 4.3/D.6, 4.5/F Order declared; first server alone serves first time up; out-of-order serve | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Not in this edition | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 9) |
| Doubles: serving to each receiver in turn | Yes, rule 4.2/A Not necessary to alternate serves to the opponents | Yes, rule 4.2/A Not necessary to alternate serves to the opponents | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Not in this edition | Not in this edition |
| Drugs, alcohol and smoking | Not in this edition | Not in this edition | Not in this edition | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 16) | Not in this edition |
| Equipment: dress and uniform | Yes, rule 2.4 Shirt, shorts, socks, shoes; colour, wet shirts, lettering, shoes, headband | Yes, rule 2.4 Shirt, shorts, socks, shoes; colour, wet shirts, headband [2025 drops the duplicate outdoor-shirt sentence] | Yes, rule 2.4 Shirts not required outdoors unless the opponent asks | Not in this edition | Not in this edition |
| Equipment: eye protection | Yes, rule 2.5 Court-sport eyewear compulsory; violations are technicals | Yes, rule 2.5 Court-sport eyewear compulsory; violations are technicals | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Not in this edition | Not in this edition |
| Equipment: gloves | Yes, rule 2.3 Gloves compulsory; light-coloured soft hitting surface; no foreign substances; wet gloves changed | Yes, rule 2.3 Gloves compulsory (optional in big ball); style, foreign substances, wet gloves | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 17) | Not in this edition |
| First service (toss) | Yes, rule 4.1/A Toss; the other side serves first in game 2; tiebreaker by points | Yes, rule 4.1/A, 3.4/A.6 Toss; other side serves first in game 2; tiebreaker by points | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 1) | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 9) |
| Forfeits for no-show, late start and defaults | Yes, rule 3.4/D, 3.4/D.2, 3.4/D.4, 3.4/D.5, ... No show, late-start points, three technicals, partial forfeits, defaults | Yes, rule 3.4/D, 3.4/D.2, 3.4/D.4, 3.4/D.5, ... No show, late-start points, three technicals, partial forfeits, defaults | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Not in this edition | Not in this edition |
| Game length | Yes, rule 1.5 21 points (games 1-2), tiebreaker to 11 | Yes, rule 1.5 21 points (games 1-2), tiebreaker to 11; 15/21/25 by entry | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Not in this edition | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 6) |
| Game types: singles, doubles, cutthroat | Yes, rule 1.1 Singles, cutthroat (practice only), doubles | Yes, rule 1.1 Singles, cutthroat (practice), doubles | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Not in this edition | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 9, 16) |
| Hinder fault (serving side) | Not in this edition | Yes, rule 4.75 Serving side that creates a hinder starts the next serve with a fault | Not in this edition | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 18) | Not in this edition |
| Injury time | Yes, rule 4.10/C Up to 15 minutes cumulative; blood and concussion procedures | Yes, rule 4.10/C Up to 15 minutes cumulative; blood and concussion procedures | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 12) | Not in this edition |
| Lines: ball on a line | Yes, rule 2.1/B.3, 4.3/C.2 Zone between the lines' outer edges; a serve on the short line is short | Yes, rule 2.1/B.5, 4.3/C.2 Zones include their lines, but a serve on the short line is short (reverses Brokaw's 'line is good' for the short line) | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Not in this edition | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 18) |
| Match format | Yes, rule 1.5 Best of three games, the third an 11-point tiebreaker | Yes, rule 1.5 Best of three games, third an 11-point tiebreaker | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Not in this edition | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 7, 8) |
| Obstruction: benefit of the doubt | Yes, rule 4.7/B Doubt goes to the player attempting to retrieve (Interpretation 12) | Yes, rule 4.7/A.2, 4.7/B Doubt goes to the player trying to retrieve; doubt on a ball hitting an opponent = hinder | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Not in this edition | Not in this edition |
| Obstruction: blocking the view (covered ball / screen) | Yes, rule 4.7/A.4, 4.7/A.5, 4.7/B, 4.8/E Screen ball and straddle ball = dead-ball hinders; referee 'liberal' against play the opponent cannot see; moving across the line of vision = avoidable | Yes, rule 4.8/E Moving across the opponent's line of vision = avoidable hinder | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Not in this edition | Not in this edition |
| Obstruction: duty to give way | Yes, rule 4.7/B, 4.8/A, 4.8/B Defensive side must yield fair access; failure to move and blocking = avoidable hinders ['moving directly in front'] | Yes, rule 4.7/B.1, 4.8/A, 4.8/B, 4.8/E Player farther from the wall must get out of the way; failure to move, blocking, view obstruction = avoidable ['moving directly in front'] | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 15) | Not in this edition |
| Obstruction: either doubles partner may claim | Yes, rule 4.7/C Both players entitled to a fair and unobstructed chance (wording close to A.A.U. 1923 R22) | Yes, rule 4.7/C Both players on a side entitled to a fair, unobstructed chance | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Not in this edition | Not in this edition |
| Obstruction: interference by one's partner | Yes, rule 4.7/B It is not a hinder when a player hinders his/her partner | Not in this edition | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Not in this edition | Not in this edition |
| Obstruction: legal block by position | Not in this edition | Yes, rule 4.7/B.1 Standing still is NOT a hinder: the 'legal' hinder, 'the essence of the one-wall game' | Not in this edition | Not in this edition | Not in this edition |
| Obstruction: penalised (intentional / avoidable) interference | Yes, rule 4.8, 4.5/E, 4.6/D.6 Avoidable hinders (failure to move, blocking, moving into the ball, pushing, distraction, stroke interference, equipment) = out or point; intent irrelevant ['moving directly in front'] | Yes, rule 4.8, 4.5/E, 4.6/D.6 Avoidable hinder = out or point; intent irrelevant ['moving directly in front'] | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 5) | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 24) |
| Obstruction: unintentional interference replayed (dead-ball hinder) | Yes, rule 4.7, 4.7/A.3, 4.7/A.6, 4.7/A.7, ... Dead-ball hinders (contact, back-swing, safety holdup, other); rally replayed, prior fault voided [2025 drops the 2020 rule that a court-hinder shot unable to reach the wall loses the rally] | Yes, rule 4.7, 4.7/A.3, 4.7/A.5, 4.7/A.6, ... Dead-ball hinders (contact, back-swing, safety holdup, other); rally replayed [2025 drops the 2020 rule that a court-hinder shot unable to reach the wall loses the rally] | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Not in this edition | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 24) |
| Obstruction: who calls hinders | Yes, rule 4.7/D, 4.7/A.6, 4.7/A.7 Referee's call; players may call only back-swing and safety holdups | Yes, rule 4.7/A.1, 4.7/D Referee's call; players may call only back-swing and safety holdups [the 2025 court-hinder change is under interference-replay] | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 7, 19) | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 23, 24) |
| Officials: line official | Yes, rule 3.6 Two line judges; signals; majority on appeals | Yes, rule 3.6 Four line judges; signals; majority on appeals | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Not in this edition | Not in this edition |
| Officials: referee's charge and powers | Yes, rule 3.4, 3.4/A, 3.4/B, 3.4/F Principal official; pre-match duties, decisions, spectators, other rulings | Yes, rule 3.4, 3.4/A, 3.4/B, 3.4/F Principal official; pre-match duties, decisions, other rulings | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Not in this edition | Not in this edition |
| Officials: scorer | Yes, rule 3.8 Scorer, when used, keeps a record of serves, outs, points | Yes, rule 3.8 Scorer, when used, keeps a record of serves, outs, points | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Not in this edition | Not in this edition |
| Officials: who officiates | Yes, rule 3.1 Tournament director designates chief of referees, floor manager, referees, line judges | Yes, rule 3.1 Tournament director designates chief of referees, floor manager, referees, line judges | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Not in this edition | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 17, 23, 28) |
| Penalty: disqualification, suspension and bans | Not in this edition | Not in this edition | Not in this edition | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 21) | Not in this edition |
| Penalty: leaving the court | Yes, rule 3.4/D.3 Match may be forfeited | Yes, rule 3.4/D.3 Match may be forfeited | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 8) | Not in this edition |
| Penalty: point deduction (fine / technical) | Yes, rule 4.9 Technical: one point deducted; warnings; three = forfeit | Yes, rule 4.9 Technical: one point deducted; warnings; three = forfeit | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 8, 13, 17) | Not in this edition |
| Penalty: refusing the referee's decision | Yes, rule 3.4/D.1 Match may be forfeited | Yes, rule 3.4/D.1 Match may be forfeited | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Not in this edition | Not in this edition |
| Rally: ball landing out | Yes, rule 4.6/H, 4.6/D.3 Ball into the gallery or through an opening in a side wall (or ceiling) = out or point | Yes, rule 4.6/H Ball outside the side lines or past the long line = out or point | Yes, rule 4.6, 4.6-2 Out-of-court rule (4.6 H) deleted; a 'long ball' past the long line is a failure to return | Not in this edition | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 14, 25, 27) |
| Rally: failure to return | Yes, rule 1.3, 4.6/D, 4.6/E, 4.5/D Listed failures (two bounces, not reaching the front wall, gallery, etc.) = out or point | Yes, rule 1.3, 4.6, 4.6/D, 4.6/E, ... Listed failures (two bounces, not reaching wall, gallery, etc.) = out or point | Yes, rule 4.6 Adds a failure: 'long ball' that passes the long line before bouncing | Not in this edition | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 11) |
| Rally: one touch only | Yes, rule 4.6/C Touched only once by one player; both partners may swing | Yes, rule 4.6/C Touched only once by one player | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Not in this edition | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 12) |
| Rally: play before the second bounce | Yes, rule 4.4/C, 4.6/D.1 Fly or first bounce; two bounces before the hit = failure to return | Yes, rule 4.4/C, 4.6/D.1 Two bounces before the hit = failure to return | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Not in this edition | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 12) |
| Rally: swing and miss, further attempts | Yes, rule 4.6/F Repeated attempts until the second bounce; partners too; hinders on continuing attempts | Yes, rule 4.6/F Repeated attempts until the second bounce; partners too | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Not in this edition | Not in this edition |
| Replays and play stoppages | Yes, rule 4.6/K, 4.6/L Foreign object, player stoppage; after any replay the server has two serves | Yes, rule 4.6/K, 4.6/L Foreign object, player stoppage; after any replay the server has two serves | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 18, 19) | Not in this edition |
| Return of serve: on the fly | Yes, rule 4.4/B Fly return once the ball passes the short-line plane; body not over the plane before contact | Yes, rule 4.4/B Fly return allowed once the ball passes the short-line plane | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Not in this edition | Not in this edition |
| Return: front wall before floor | Yes, rule 4.4/C, 4.6/D.2 Return reaches the front wall before the floor, directly or off side walls, back wall or ceiling | Yes, rule 4.4/C, 4.6/D.2 Return must reach the wall before the floor and rebound into the playing zone | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Not in this edition | Not in this edition |
| Scoring: who scores and the unit | Yes, rule 1.4 Serving side scores by an ace (untouched serve) or by winning a rally | Yes, rule 1.4 Serving side scores by an ace (untouched serve) or by winning a rally | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Not in this edition | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 11) |
| Serve hits a player | Yes, rule 4.3/D.3 Served ball touching the server, or the partner out of position, on the rebound = out | Yes, rule 4.3/D.3 Served ball touching the server or partner on the rebound = out | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 9) | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 19) |
| Serve: dead-ball serves and court hinders | Yes, rule 4.3/A, 4.3/A.1, 4.3/A.3, 4.7/A.1 Court hinders (incl. wet-wall house rule), broken ball, wrong score: serve replayed [2025 drops the 2020 court-hinder rule of 4.7 A.1] | Yes, rule 4.3/A, 4.3/A.1, 4.3/A.3, 4.7/A.1 Court hinders, broken ball, wrong score: serve replayed [2025 drops the 2020 court-hinder rule of 4.7 A.1] | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Not in this edition | Not in this edition |
| Serve: faults on the rebound (walls, ceiling, out of court) | Yes, rule 4.3/C.3, 4.3/C.4, 4.3/C.6 Three-wall serve, ceiling serve and out-of-court serve are faults | Not in this edition | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Not in this edition | Not in this edition |
| Serve: faults that lose the serve | Yes, rule 4.3/C, 4.3/D.4, 4.5/B Any two consecutive fault serves (of any kind) = out | Yes, rule 4.3/C, 4.3/D.4, 4.5/B Any two fault serves (of any kind) = out | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Not in this edition | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 18) |
| Serve: foot fault | Yes, rule 4.1/C, 4.3/C.1 'Foot fault' is a fault serve (server outside the zone; partner out of the service box) | Yes, rule 4.1/C, 4.3/C.1 'Foot fault' named; server or (doubles) partner out of position | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 3) | Not in this edition |
| Serve: how it is put in play | Yes, rule 4.1/D, 4.3/C.7, 4.3/C.8, 4.3/C.10 Complete stop, bounce in the zone, strike before the second bounce; faults for bounce errors | Yes, rule 4.1/D, 4.3/C.4, 4.3/C.5, 4.3/D.10 Complete stop, bounce in zone, strike before second bounce; faults for bounce errors | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Not in this edition | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 10, 18) |
| Serve: landing outside the side lines | Not in this edition | Yes, rule 4.3/D.9 Outside serve = out | Not in this edition | Not in this edition | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 18) |
| Serve: long | Yes, rule 4.3/C.5 Long serve: rebounds to the back wall before the floor | Yes, rule 4.3/C.3 Long serve: lands behind the long line | Yes, rule 4.3 Long serve: passes the long line before the floor (no back wall) | Not in this edition | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 18, 26) |
| Serve: missed serve | Yes, rule 4.3/D.1 Total miss (or ball touching the body) = out serve | Yes, rule 4.3/D.1 Total miss (or ball touching body) = out serve | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Not in this edition | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 18) |
| Serve: must hit the front wall first | Yes, rule 4.3/D.2, 4.3/D.5 Non-front serve and crotch serve = out | Yes, rule 4.3/D.2, 4.3/D.5 Non-front serve and crotch serve = out | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Not in this edition | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 18) |
| Serve: playing a fault serve | Not in this edition | Yes, rule 4.3/C.3 Receivers must not catch a serve assumed long (fault is called, not played) | Yes, rule 4.3 Receivers must not catch serves assumed long; the referee awards a point for failure to return | Not in this edition | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 19, 26) |
| Serve: positions of the other players | Yes, rule 4.2/B, 2.1/B.4 Partner erect, back to the nearer side wall, both feet in the 18-in service box; violation = foot fault | Yes, rule 4.2/B Partner outside the side lines, astraddle the service line; violation = foot fault | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 2) | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 16) |
| Serve: receiver's position | Yes, rule 4.4/A, 2.1/B.5 At least 5 ft behind the short line (restraining lines) until the serve is hit; violation = point | Yes, rule 4.4/A Receivers behind the service line until the ball passes the short line | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Not in this edition | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 17) |
| Serve: screening / moving on the serve | Yes, rule 4.3/B, 4.3/B.1, 4.3/B.2, 4.3/C.9 'Screen serves' (ball close to server or partner; straddle ball); two consecutive = fault | Yes, rule 4.3/B, 4.3/B.1, 4.3/B.2, 4.3/C.6, ... Hinder serve (moving on service, straddle ball); two consecutive = fault | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 9, 20) | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 19) |
| Serve: server's position | Yes, rule 4.1/C Anywhere in the service zone; no foot beyond either line until the ball passes the short line | Yes, rule 4.1/C Anywhere in the service zone; stay in it until the ball passes the short line | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Not in this edition | Not in this edition |
| Serve: short | Yes, rule 4.3/C.2 Short serve: lands in front of, or on, the short line | Yes, rule 4.3/C.2 Short serve: lands in front of, or on, the short line | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Not in this edition | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 18, 26) |
| Striking: hand only | Yes, rule 1.2, 4.6/B Either hand or fist; wrist, arm or body = violation | Yes, rule 1.2, 4.6/B Either hand or fist; wrist/arm/body = violation | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Not in this edition | Not in this edition |
| Striking: one hand at a time | Yes, rule 4.6/A Only one hand at a time; two hands together = out | Yes, rule 4.6/A Only one hand at a time; two hands together = out | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Not in this edition | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 15) |
| Talking during the rally | Yes, rule 4.8/F.1 Same rule as one-wall: brief doubles communication only | Yes, rule 4.8/F.1 No need to talk except brief doubles communication; otherwise an avoidable hinder may be called | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 7) | Not in this edition |
| Time between games | Yes, rule 4.10/D Five minutes | Yes, rule 4.10/D Five minutes | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Not in this edition | Not in this edition |
| Time between rallies and service delay | Yes, rule 4.1/B, 4.1/E, 4.3/D.7 Serve only after the score; 10 s for receiver and server; service delay = out | Yes, rule 4.1/B, 4.1/E, 4.3/D.7 10 seconds for receiver and server after the score; service delay = out | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 2, 6) | Not in this edition |
| Timeouts and postponement | Yes, rule 4.10/A, 4.10/B, 4.10/E Player timeouts, equipment timeouts, postponed games resume | Yes, rule 4.10/A, 4.10/B, 4.10/E Three one-minute timeouts per 21-point game; equipment timeouts; postponed games resume | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 11) | Not in this edition |
| Tournament administration | Yes, rule 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, ... Scheduling, consolation, notices, court changes, regionals, eligibility, round-robin tiebreakers | Yes, rule 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, ... Scheduling, consolation, notices, court changes, regionals, eligibility, round-robin tiebreakers [2025 adds 'eye protection is mandatory for all USHA events' to the tiebreak rule] | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 14) | Not in this edition |
| Tournament draw | Yes, rule 5.1 At least two days before; seeding approved by committee or director | Yes, rule 5.1 At least two days before; seeding approved by committee or director | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Not in this edition | Not in this edition |
| Tournament officials | Yes, rule 3.1/A, 3.1/B, 3.2, 3.3, ... Tournament director, chief of referees, removal of officials, floor manager | Yes, rule 3.1/A, 3.1/B, 3.2, 3.3, ... Tournament director, chief of referees, removal of officials, floor manager | Yes, as in four-wall (not restated) Four-wall (USHA, 2025) | Yes, in the rules; text not republished (rule 10) | Not in this edition |
What the codes share
81 concepts appear in more than one code, 6 in only one.
Shared (28)
In two or more codes, each with it from the first edition of its line on record.
- Appeals and finality (American four-wall, One-wall, small ball, Three-wall, Wallball, big ball, Irish 60x30 hardball)
- Ball hits an opponent before reaching the wall (American four-wall, One-wall, small ball, Three-wall, Wallball, big ball, Irish 60x30 hardball)
- Ball hits the hitter or his partner (American four-wall, One-wall, small ball, Three-wall, Irish 60x30 hardball)
- Ball: specification (American four-wall, One-wall, small ball, Three-wall, Irish 60x30 hardball)
- Change of serve (American four-wall, One-wall, small ball, Three-wall, Irish 60x30 hardball)
- Court: long (back) line (One-wall, small ball, Three-wall, Irish 60x30 hardball)
- Court: service zone (American four-wall, One-wall, small ball, Three-wall)
- Court: short line (minimum serve length) (American four-wall, One-wall, small ball, Three-wall, Irish 60x30 hardball)
- Court: wall surface and top (One-wall, small ball, Irish 60x30 hardball)
- First service (toss) (American four-wall, One-wall, small ball, Three-wall, Wallball, big ball, Irish 60x30 hardball)
- Game length (American four-wall, One-wall, small ball, Three-wall, Irish 60x30 hardball)
- Obstruction: penalised (intentional / avoidable) interference (American four-wall, One-wall, small ball, Three-wall, Wallball, big ball, Irish 60x30 hardball)
- Officials: who officiates (American four-wall, One-wall, small ball, Three-wall, Irish 60x30 hardball)
- Rally: ball landing out (American four-wall, One-wall, small ball, Three-wall, Irish 60x30 hardball)
- Rally: play before the second bounce (American four-wall, One-wall, small ball, Three-wall, Irish 60x30 hardball)
- Scoring: who scores and the unit (American four-wall, One-wall, small ball, Three-wall, Irish 60x30 hardball)
- Serve: faults on the rebound (walls, ceiling, out of court) (American four-wall, Three-wall)
- Serve: faults that lose the serve (American four-wall, One-wall, small ball, Three-wall, Irish 60x30 hardball)
- Serve: how it is put in play (American four-wall, One-wall, small ball, Three-wall, Irish 60x30 hardball)
- Serve: landing outside the side lines (One-wall, small ball, Irish 60x30 hardball)
- Serve: must hit the front wall first (American four-wall, One-wall, small ball, Three-wall, Irish 60x30 hardball)
- Serve: playing a fault serve (One-wall, small ball, Three-wall, Irish 60x30 hardball)
- Serve: positions of the other players (American four-wall, One-wall, small ball, Three-wall, Wallball, big ball, Irish 60x30 hardball)
- Serve: receiver's position (American four-wall, One-wall, small ball, Three-wall, Irish 60x30 hardball)
- Serve: short (American four-wall, One-wall, small ball, Three-wall, Irish 60x30 hardball)
- Striking: hand only (American four-wall, One-wall, small ball, Three-wall)
- Time between games (American four-wall, One-wall, small ball, Three-wall)
- Time between rallies and service delay (American four-wall, One-wall, small ball, Three-wall, Wallball, big ball)
Converging (53)
In two or more codes, at least one of which added it in a later edition of its line (first year per code shown).
- Ball from the wall hits a player (One-wall, small ball 1916, then American four-wall 1920, then Three-wall 2025)
- Ball: broken ball (American four-wall 2025, then One-wall, small ball 2025, then Three-wall 2025)
- Ball: selection by the referee (American four-wall 1920, then One-wall, small ball 1923, then Three-wall 2025)
- Ball: wet ball (One-wall, small ball 1916, then Wallball, big ball 2021, then American four-wall 2025, then Three-wall 2025)
- Catching or stopping the ball (American four-wall 1889, then Irish 60x30 hardball 1903, then One-wall, small ball 1923, then Wallball, big ball 2021, then Three-wall 2025)
- Ceiling and overhead obstructions (One-wall, small ball 1923, then American four-wall 2025, then Three-wall 2025)
- Conduct and player code (American four-wall 1903, then Wallball, big ball 2021, then One-wall, small ball 2025, then Three-wall 2025)
- Court: dimensions (Irish 60x30 hardball 1903, then One-wall, small ball 1916, then American four-wall 1920, then Three-wall 2025)
- Court: line marking (One-wall, small ball 1916, then American four-wall 2025, then Three-wall 2025)
- Court: towels and wiping (American four-wall 2025, then One-wall, small ball 2025, then Three-wall 2025)
- Doubles: serving order and first hand (American four-wall 1889, then Irish 60x30 hardball 1903, then One-wall, small ball 2025, then Three-wall 2025)
- Doubles: serving to each receiver in turn (American four-wall 1920, then One-wall, small ball 2025, then Three-wall 2025)
- Equipment: dress and uniform (American four-wall 1903, then One-wall, small ball 2025, then Three-wall 2025)
- Equipment: eye protection (American four-wall 2025, then One-wall, small ball 2025, then Three-wall 2025)
- Equipment: gloves (American four-wall 1903, then One-wall, small ball 1916, then Wallball, big ball 2021, then Three-wall 2025)
- Forfeits for no-show, late start and defaults (American four-wall 1889, then One-wall, small ball 2025, then Three-wall 2025)
- Game types: singles, doubles, cutthroat (American four-wall 1889, then Irish 60x30 hardball 1903, then One-wall, small ball 2025, then Three-wall 2025)
- Hinder fault (serving side) (Wallball, big ball 2021, then One-wall, small ball 2025)
- Injury time (One-wall, small ball 1916, then Wallball, big ball 2021, then American four-wall 2025, then Three-wall 2025)
- Lines: ball on a line (Irish 60x30 hardball 1903, then One-wall, small ball 1916, then American four-wall 2025, then Three-wall 2025)
- Match format (American four-wall 1903, then Irish 60x30 hardball 1903, then One-wall, small ball 1916, then Three-wall 2025)
- Obstruction: benefit of the doubt (American four-wall 1920, then One-wall, small ball 2025, then Three-wall 2025)
- Obstruction: blocking the view (covered ball / screen) (American four-wall 1920, then One-wall, small ball 2025, then Three-wall 2025)
- Obstruction: duty to give way (American four-wall 1903, then One-wall, small ball 1916, then Wallball, big ball 2021, then Three-wall 2025)
- Obstruction: either doubles partner may claim (American four-wall 1920, then One-wall, small ball 1923, then Three-wall 2025)
- Obstruction: interference by one's partner (American four-wall 1920, then Three-wall 2025)
- Obstruction: unintentional interference replayed (dead-ball hinder) (American four-wall 1893, then Irish 60x30 hardball 1903, then One-wall, small ball 1923, then Three-wall 2025)
- Obstruction: who calls hinders (American four-wall 1903, then Irish 60x30 hardball 1903, then One-wall, small ball 1923, then Wallball, big ball 2021, then Three-wall 2025)
- Officials: line official (One-wall, small ball 1916, then American four-wall 2025, then Three-wall 2025)
- Officials: referee's charge and powers (American four-wall 1903, then One-wall, small ball 1916, then Three-wall 2025)
- Officials: scorer (American four-wall 1903, then One-wall, small ball 1916, then Three-wall 2025)
- Penalty: leaving the court (American four-wall 1920, then One-wall, small ball 1923, then Wallball, big ball 2021, then Three-wall 2025)
- Penalty: point deduction (fine / technical) (One-wall, small ball 1916, then Wallball, big ball 2021, then American four-wall 2025, then Three-wall 2025)
- Penalty: refusing the referee's decision (American four-wall 1903, then One-wall, small ball 1916, then Three-wall 2025)
- Rally: failure to return (American four-wall 1889, then Irish 60x30 hardball 1903, then One-wall, small ball 1923, then Three-wall 2025)
- Rally: one touch only (American four-wall 1889, then Irish 60x30 hardball 1903, then One-wall, small ball 1923, then Three-wall 2025)
- Rally: swing and miss, further attempts (One-wall, small ball 1916, then American four-wall 2025, then Three-wall 2025)
- Replays and play stoppages (Wallball, big ball 2021, then American four-wall 2025, then One-wall, small ball 2025, then Three-wall 2025)
- Return of serve: on the fly (One-wall, small ball 1916, then American four-wall 2025, then Three-wall 2025)
- Return: front wall before floor (One-wall, small ball 1916, then American four-wall 1920, then Three-wall 2025)
- Serve hits a player (American four-wall 1889, then Irish 60x30 hardball 1903, then Wallball, big ball 2021, then One-wall, small ball 2025, then Three-wall 2025)
- Serve: dead-ball serves and court hinders (American four-wall 2025, then One-wall, small ball 2025, then Three-wall 2025)
- Serve: foot fault (American four-wall 1893, then One-wall, small ball 1923, then Wallball, big ball 2021, then Three-wall 2025)
- Serve: long (Irish 60x30 hardball 1903, then One-wall, small ball 1916, then American four-wall 2025, then Three-wall 2025)
- Serve: missed serve (Irish 60x30 hardball 1903, then American four-wall 1920, then One-wall, small ball 1923, then Three-wall 2025)
- Serve: screening / moving on the serve (Irish 60x30 hardball 1903, then One-wall, small ball 1916, then Wallball, big ball 2021, then American four-wall 2025, then Three-wall 2025)
- Serve: server's position (American four-wall 1889, then One-wall, small ball 1923, then Three-wall 2025)
- Striking: one hand at a time (American four-wall 1893, then Irish 60x30 hardball 1903, then One-wall, small ball 2025, then Three-wall 2025)
- Talking during the rally (Wallball, big ball 2021, then American four-wall 2025, then One-wall, small ball 2025, then Three-wall 2025)
- Timeouts and postponement (Wallball, big ball 2021, then American four-wall 2025, then One-wall, small ball 2025, then Three-wall 2025)
- Tournament administration (Wallball, big ball 2021, then American four-wall 2025, then One-wall, small ball 2025, then Three-wall 2025)
- Tournament draw (American four-wall 1920, then One-wall, small ball 1923, then Three-wall 2025)
- Tournament officials (Wallball, big ball 2021, then American four-wall 2025, then One-wall, small ball 2025, then Three-wall 2025)
Unique (6)
Only one code has it.
- Ball hits an official or spectator (One-wall, small ball)
- Court: receiving and playing zones (One-wall, small ball)
- Court: run-off area around the floor (One-wall, small ball)
- Drugs, alcohol and smoking (Wallball, big ball)
- Obstruction: legal block by position (One-wall, small ball)
- Penalty: disqualification, suspension and bans (Wallball, big ball)