# 1931

In: [Learn](https://handball.theperfectship.com/learn.md) > [History](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history.md) > [Years and decades](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history/years.md) > 1931

8 dated items in the record for 1931, and 2 championship result rows.

## Dated items

- **1931**: The A.A.U. soft-ball four-wall rules printed in O'Connell 1931 add a ball specification, 2.3 oz with a half-ounce tolerance (A.A.U. Soft Ball Four-Wall Rules (in Charles J. O'Connell, How to Play Handball, 1931) (1931); H-142): the first Source: [Charles J. O'Connell, How to Play Handball (American Sports Publishing Company, 1931)](https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=osu.32435007267735), p. 65
- **1931-1990**: The 2.3 oz ball the A.A.U. specified in 1931, allowing half an ounce either way (A.A.U. Soft Ball Four-Wall Rules (in Charles J. O'Connell, How to Play Handball, 1931) (1931)), is also the USHA's weight in 1990, allowing 0.2 oz (The Source: [Charles J. O'Connell, How to Play Handball (American Sports Publishing Company, 1931)](https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=osu.32435007267735), p. 65
- **1931**: Charles J. O'Connell's How to Play Handball (the successor of the Spalding guide, 'including official rules for play') prints three A.A.U. codes: soft-ball four-wall (34 rules, now with an A.A.U. ball specification of 2.3 oz, H-142), Source: [Charles J. O'Connell, How to Play Handball (American Sports Publishing Company, 1931)](https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=osu.32435007267735), p. 65
- **1931**: The A.A.U.'s three codes (soft-ball four-wall, one-wall, hard ball) printed in O'Connell's How to Play Handball (A.A.U. Soft Ball Four-Wall Rules (in Charles J. O'Connell, How to Play Handball, 1931) (1931), A.A.U. One-Wall Rules (in Source: [Charles J. O'Connell, How to Play Handball (American Sports Publishing Company, 1931)](https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=osu.32435007267735), p. 65
- **1931**: How to Play Handball ... including official rules for play (1931) Source: [HathiTrust Digital Library, catalog record 102896696 (seen 28 October 2026)](https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/102896696)
- **1931**: The A.A.U. prints separate hard-ball rules in 1931 for a four-wall court about 65 ft long and 25 ft wide with a 12 ft back wall, a length and back wall like those of Casey's old Brooklyn court (his was 24 ft wide with a 35 ft front wall) Source: [Charles J. O'Connell, How to Play Handball (American Sports Publishing Company, 1931)](https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=osu.32435007267735)
- **1931**: O'Connell's 1931 book describes four-wall and one-wall partisans arguing which game is more scientific or more strenuous, and notes champions in both codes Source: [Charles J. O'Connell, How to Play Handball (American Sports Publishing Company, 1931)](https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=osu.32435007267735)
- **1931**: Charles J. O'Connell's 'How to Play Handball' (Spalding, 1931) prints the A.A.U. four-wall, one-wall and hard-ball rules; the USHA later calls it the first printed book of handball rules and dates it 1930 (conflicting) The book carries a 1931 copyright line, but a 1971 USHA magazine tribute dates it to 1930 and calls it the first printed book of handball rules, which earlier guides and rule books (1893 to 1928) contradict. Source: [Charles J. O'Connell, How to Play Handball (American Sports Publishing Company, 1931)](https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=osu.32435007267735)

## Championships held

- [AAU national four-wall handball championships](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history/championships/aau-national-four-wall-championships.md)
- [All-Ireland 60x30 Softball Championships](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history/championships/gaa-all-ireland-60x30-softball.md)
- [All-Ireland Hardball Championships](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history/championships/gaa-all-ireland-hardball.md)

## Neighboring years

- Previous year with a page: [1929](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history/years/1929.md)
- Next year with a page: [1932](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history/years/1932.md)
- Part of [the 1930s](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history/years/1930s.md)
- [All years and decades](https://handball.theperfectship.com/history/years.md)

## Corrections

Found a mistake, or a source we missed? Email perfectshipllc@gmail.com with the subject "History correction: 1931 (/history/years/1931/)". Please name the page and, if you can, the source.