Handball codes compared, 1893

The rules in force in 1893, one column per code. Each cell is the code's newest edition on or before 1893.

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

Concepts by code, rules as in force in 1893
ConceptAmerican four-wall
Four-wall (Deshong, 1893)
One-wall, small ball
no edition yet
Three-wall
no edition yet
Wallball, big ball
no edition yet
Irish 60x30 hardball
no edition yet
Appeals and finalityYes, rule 9
Referee decides all claims; final
No edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yet
Ball hits an opponent before reaching the wallYes, rule 4, 5
'A hinder is when a ball strikes your opponent' and stops it reaching the wall; effect unstated
No edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yet
Ball hits the hitter or his partnerYes, rule 5
Recoverer striking his partner = ace against; server hit by partner's ball = hand out
No edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yet
Ball: specificationYes, rule 3
1 7/8 in, 1 5/8 oz
No edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yet
Change of serveYes, rule 2
Hand is out and the opponent becomes server
No edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yet
Court: service zoneYes, rule 2
Serve from either side, always within 'the two parallel lines'
No edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yet
Court: short line (minimum serve length)Yes, rule 2
'Ace line': serve must reach the court beyond it
No edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yet
Doubles: serving order and first handYes, rule 4
Toss winners allowed only one hand at the start
No edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yet
First service (toss)Yes, rule 4
Four-handed: toss winners get only one hand at the start
No edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yet
Game lengthYes, rule 1
21 aces
No edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yet
Game types: singles, doubles, cutthroatYes, rule 4
Four-handed (doubles) match provided for
No edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yet
Obstruction: penalised (intentional / avoidable) interferenceYes, rule 5
Intentional hinder: ace against or hand out, at the referee's opinion
No edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yet
Obstruction: unintentional interference replayed (dead-ball hinder)Yes, rule 5
Hinders mostly 'accidents pure and simple'; effect unstated
No edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yet
Officials: who officiatesYes, rule 9
The referee (sole official)
No edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yet
Rally: failure to returnYes, rule 2
Server who fails to recover a returned ball loses the hand
No edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yet
Rally: play before the second bounceYes, rule 2
All balls recovered on the first bound; may circuit the four walls
No edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yet
Scoring: who scores and the unitYes, rule 2
Ace = serve beyond the ace line not returned
No edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yet
Serve hits a playerYes, rule 5
Serve striking an opponent = ace to the server
No edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yet
Serve: faults that lose the serveYes, rule 2
Three short balls in succession lose the hand
No edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yet
Serve: foot faultYes, rule 2
Stepping beyond the inner line twice in succession loses the hand
No edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yet
Serve: must hit the front wall firstYes, rule 2
Side wall, roof or floor before the front wall loses the hand
No edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yet
Serve: playing a fault serveYes, rule 6
Receiver may play a short with hand (counts as regular serve) or foot
No edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yet
Serve: positions of the other playersYes, rule 4
Server's partner inside the ace line, back to a side wall
No edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yet
Serve: server's positionYes, rule 2
Either side of the court, within the two parallel lines
No edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yet
Serve: shortYes, rule 2
Serve must reach beyond the ace line; 'short balls'
No edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yet
Striking: hand onlyYes, rule 6
Foot allowed to play a short serve
No edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yet
Striking: one hand at a timeYes, rule 7
One hand only; otherwise a foul
No edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yet
Time between rallies and service delayYes, rule 8
Retired server and partner given sufficient time to take positions
No edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yetNo edition yet

What the codes share

0 concepts appear in more than one code, 28 in only one.

Shared (0)

In two or more codes, each with it from the first edition of its line on record.

None this year.

Converging (0)

In two or more codes, at least one of which added it in a later edition of its line (first year per code shown).

None this year.

Unique (28)

Only one code has it.