Family tree of the rulebooks

Every handball rules edition on record, 105 editions and 23 gaps across 11 codes, from the 1870s to today: which edition each one revises, where codes and side lines split off, where wording was borrowed, and the 1958/59 unification where three lines merge.

Time runs left to right; each row is a code or a side line within one. The years are not to scale: years with editions are widened so every edition and gap label fits. The map scrolls sideways inside its box. The same tree as a list follows it.

The tree as a list

By code, oldest first. Parents name the edition each one revises (line parent), the line it forked from, side lines merged into it, wording it adapted (text parent) and earlier, separate rules for the same game (game ancestor). Hypothesis numbers refer to the research notes. Codes compared side by side shows the rules themselves.

• American four-wall

  47 editions, 13 gaps. Grew out of Irish handball, hardball (60x30 alley game) (a code-level link; no edition is named). Lines: American four-wall, Deshong's own text, Y.M.C.A. line, early USHA line, A.A.U. after the split, usha-abridged.

  1. Four-wall (Ed. James, New York, 1873)
     • Date: 1873
     • Issuer: not recorded
     • Status: Full text on this site
     • Line: American four-wall
     • Parents: none on record
  2. Four-wall (Spalding, 1886)
     • Date: 1886
     • Issuer: not recorded
     • Status: Full text on this site
     • Line: American four-wall
     • Parents: line parent: Four-wall (Ed. James, New York, 1873)
  3. Four-wall (The Sun, New York, 1889) (opens codes compared, 1889)
     • Date: 1889
     • Issuer: not recorded
     • Status: Full text on this site
     • Line: American four-wall
     • Parents: line parent: Four-wall (Spalding, 1886)
  4. Four-wall (Deshong, 1893) (opens codes compared, 1893)
     • Date: 1893
     • Issuer: not recorded
     • Status: Full text on this site
     • Line: American four-wall
     • Parents: game ancestor: Four-wall (The Sun, New York, 1889)
  5. A.A.U. handball rules for the first national championship, January 1897 (title not known)
     • Date: 1896/1897 (adopted)
     • Issuer: Amateur Athletic Union of the United States
     • Status: Citation only (known from a reference; no copy found)
     • Line: American four-wall
     • Parents: line parent: Four-wall (Deshong, 1893)
  6. Four-wall (A.A.U. revised rules, 1903) (opens codes compared, 1903)
     • Date: 1903
     • Issuer: Amateur Athletic Union of the United States
     • Status: Full text on this site
     • Line: American four-wall
     • Parents: line parent: A.A.U. handball rules for the first national championship, January 1897 (title not known)
  7. Four-wall (Deshong, 1903)
     • Date: 1903
     • Issuer: not recorded
     • Status: Full text on this site
     • Line: American four-wall: Deshong's own text
     • Parents: forked from: Four-wall (Deshong, 1893)
  8. Gap 1904–1919: A.A.U. four-wall rules 1904-1919
     • Years: 1904–1919
     • Status: Gap (editions presumed; none found)
     • Why: Intermediate A.A.U. editions are presumed: the 1920 text shares almost no wording with the 1903 'Revised' rules (H-15).
     • Line: American four-wall
     • Parents: line parent: Four-wall (A.A.U. revised rules, 1903)
  9. Four-wall (Y.M.C.A., Honolulu, 1907)
     • Date: 1907
     • Issuer: not recorded
     • Status: Full text on this site
     • Line: American four-wall: Y.M.C.A. line
     • Parents: none on record
  10. Gap 1910–1957: Y.M.C.A. hand ball rules after 1909
      • Years: 1910–1957
      • Status: Gap (editions presumed; none found)
      • Why: Y.M.C.A. rules presumed to continue (nationals from 1925, secondary); none located.
      • Line: American four-wall: Y.M.C.A. line
      • Parents: line parent: Hand ball rules; four wall court
  11. Four-wall (Y.M.C.A., 1915)
      • Date: 1915-05 (adopted)
      • Issuer: not recorded
      • Status: Full text on this site
      • Line: American four-wall: Y.M.C.A. line
      • Parents: line parent: Four-wall (Y.M.C.A., Honolulu, 1907)
  12. Four-wall (A.A.U., 1920) (opens codes compared, 1920)
      • Date: 1920-01-01 (effective)
      • Issuer: Amateur Athletic Union of the United States
      • Status: Full text on this site
      • Line: American four-wall
      • Parents: line parent: Gap 1904–1919: A.A.U. four-wall rules 1904-1919
  13. Four-wall (A.A.U., 1923) (opens codes compared, 1923)
      • Date: 1923
      • Issuer: Amateur Athletic Union of the United States
      • Status: Full text on this site
      • Line: American four-wall
      • Parents: line parent: Four-wall (A.A.U., 1920)
  14. Gap 1924–1925: A.A.U. four-wall rules 1924-1925
      • Years: 1924–1925
      • Status: Gap (editions presumed; none found)
      • Why: Annual A.A.U. rules are presumed for 1924-1933; the 1926 and 1927 Spalding guides are recorded (ed:aau-handball-1926, -1927) but no 1924 or 1925 issue is. The 1923 suggested changes in force by 1928 (H-18) were adopted some time 1924-1927.
      • Line: American four-wall
      • Parents: line parent: Four-wall (A.A.U., 1923)
  15. Spalding's Official Handball Guide (AAU rules)
      • Date: 1926
      • Issuer: Amateur Athletic Union of the United States
      • Status: Metadata only (a copy is known; text not on this site)
      • Line: American four-wall
      • Parents: line parent: Gap 1924–1925: A.A.U. four-wall rules 1924-1925
  16. Spalding's Official Handball Guide (AAU rules)
      • Date: 1927
      • Issuer: Amateur Athletic Union of the United States
      • Status: Metadata only (a copy is known; text not on this site)
      • Line: American four-wall
      • Parents: line parent: Spalding's Official Handball Guide (AAU rules)
  17. Four-wall (A.A.U., 1928)
      • Date: 1928
      • Issuer: Amateur Athletic Union of the United States
      • Status: Full text on this site
      • Line: American four-wall
      • Parents: line parent: Spalding's Official Handball Guide (AAU rules)
  18. Gap 1929–1930: A.A.U. four-wall rules 1929-1930
      • Years: 1929–1930
      • Status: Gap (editions presumed; none found)
      • Why: Annual A.A.U. rules are presumed for 1924-1933; nothing is recorded between the 1928 Spalding guide and O'Connell's How to Play Handball (1931). The players' vote on the hinder rule at the March 1929 championship (R56b, O'Connell p. 58) suggests a revision here.
      • Line: American four-wall
      • Parents: line parent: Four-wall (A.A.U., 1928)
  19. Hand ball rules; four wall court
      • Date: 1929
      • Issuer: not recorded
      • Status: Citation only (known from a reference; no copy found)
      • Line: American four-wall: Y.M.C.A. line
      • Parents: line parent: Four-wall (Y.M.C.A., 1915)
  20. How to Play Handball ... including official rules for play
      • Date: 1931
      • Issuer: Amateur Athletic Union of the United States
      • Status: Metadata only (a copy is known; text not on this site)
      • Line: American four-wall
      • Parents: line parent: Gap 1929–1930: A.A.U. four-wall rules 1929-1930
  21. Four-wall (A.A.U., 1931)
      • Date: 1931
      • Issuer: Amateur Athletic Union of the United States
      • Status: Full text on this site
      • Line: American four-wall
      • Parents: line parent: How to Play Handball ... including official rules for play
  22. Rules for volley ball, ice hockey, hand ball, squash-handball, field-handball, code ball
      • Date: 1932
      • Issuer: Amateur Athletic Union of the United States
      • Status: Citation only (known from a reference; no copy found)
      • Line: American four-wall
      • Parents: line parent: Four-wall (A.A.U., 1931)
  23. Official hand ball rules. Also rules for squash handball, field-handball, code ball, volley ball
      • Date: 1933
      • Issuer: Amateur Athletic Union of the United States
      • Status: Metadata only (a copy is known; text not on this site)
      • Line: American four-wall
      • Parents: line parent: Rules for volley ball, ice hockey, hand ball, squash-handball, field-handball, code ball
  24. Amateur Athletic Union official rules handball, four-wall, one-wall, four-wall hardball, squash handball, field handball, code ball, volley ball
      • Date: 1934
      • Issuer: Amateur Athletic Union of the United States
      • Status: Citation only (known from a reference; no copy found)
      • Line: American four-wall
      • Parents: line parent: Official hand ball rules. Also rules for squash handball, field-handball, code ball, volley ball
  25. Amateur Athletic Union official rules handball, four-wall, one-wall, four-wall hardball, code ball, volley ball
      • Date: 1935
      • Issuer: Amateur Athletic Union of the United States
      • Status: Citation only (known from a reference; no copy found)
      • Line: American four-wall
      • Parents: line parent: Amateur Athletic Union official rules handball, four-wall, one-wall, four-wall hardball, squash handball, field handball, code ball, volley ball
  26. Amateur Athletic Union official rules handball, four-wall, one-wall, four-wall hardball, squash handball, field handball, code ball, volley ball
      • Date: 1936
      • Issuer: Amateur Athletic Union of the United States
      • Status: Citation only (known from a reference; no copy found)
      • Line: American four-wall
      • Parents: line parent: Amateur Athletic Union official rules handball, four-wall, one-wall, four-wall hardball, code ball, volley ball
  27. Amateur Athletic Union official rules handball
      • Date: 1939
      • Issuer: Amateur Athletic Union of the United States
      • Status: Citation only (known from a reference; no copy found)
      • Line: American four-wall
      • Parents: line parent: Amateur Athletic Union official rules handball, four-wall, one-wall, four-wall hardball, squash handball, field handball, code ball, volley ball
  28. Official rules handball
      • Date: 1942
      • Issuer: Amateur Athletic Union of the United States
      • Status: Citation only (known from a reference; no copy found)
      • Line: American four-wall
      • Parents: line parent: Amateur Athletic Union official rules handball
  29. Gap 1943–1948: A.A.U. four-wall rules 1943-1948
      • Years: 1943–1948
      • Status: Gap (editions presumed; none found)
      • Why: Annual A.A.U. rules are presumed for 1934-1961 (LCCN ca33000972 title; serial resumes 1962); the last registration R54 found before the 1949 rules is 1942 (ed:aau-handball-1942). R54 found no A.A.U. handball registration for 1937, 1938, 1940 or 1941, so no gap is presumed for those years.
      • Line: American four-wall
      • Parents: line parent: Official rules handball
  30. Official rules handball : four-wall, one-wall, four-wall handball
      • Date: 1949
      • Issuer: Amateur Athletic Union of the United States
      • Status: Citation only (known from a reference; no copy found)
      • Line: American four-wall
      • Parents: line parent: Gap 1943–1948: A.A.U. four-wall rules 1943-1948
  31. Gap 1951–1957: USHA rules 1951-1957
      • Years: 1951–1957
      • Status: Gap (editions presumed; none found)
      • Why: USHA founded 1951 (secondary); its early rules are presumed to exist.
      • Line: American four-wall: early USHA line
      • Parents: none on record
  32. Official Handball A.A.U. Rules
      • Date: 1955
      • Issuer: Amateur Athletic Union of the United States
      • Status: Citation only (known from a reference; no copy found)
      • Line: American four-wall
      • Parents: line parent: Official rules handball : four-wall, one-wall, four-wall handball
  33. Official Rules, Handball (A.A.U.)
      • Date: 1957
      • Issuer: Amateur Athletic Union of the United States
      • Status: Citation only (known from a reference; no copy found)
      • Line: American four-wall
      • Parents: line parent: Official Handball A.A.U. Rules
  34. Gap 1958–1959: Common ('unified') handball rules of the A.A.U., USHA and YMCA
      • Years: 1958–1959
      • Status: Gap (editions presumed; none found)
      • Why: Common rules are reported for 1958 (H-19) or 1959 (H-03), both from secondary sources; no rulebook located. Merge of the A.A.U., YMCA and USHA-early lines.
      • Line: American four-wall
      • Parents: line parent: Official Rules, Handball (A.A.U.); merged in from: Gap 1910–1957: Y.M.C.A. hand ball rules after 1909; merged in from: Gap 1951–1957: USHA rules 1951-1957
  35. Official Rules, Handball (A.A.U.)
      • Date: 1960
      • Issuer: Amateur Athletic Union of the United States
      • Status: Citation only (known from a reference; no copy found)
      • Line: American four-wall: A.A.U. after the split
      • Parents: forked from: Gap 1958–1959: Common ('unified') handball rules of the A.A.U., USHA and YMCA
  36. Gap 1961–1962: USHA Membership Directory and Guide 1961-62
      • Years: 1961–1962
      • Status: Gap (editions presumed; none found)
      • Why: LCCN sf92092866 is catalogued; no text held; whether it prints rules is unknown.
      • Line: American four-wall
      • Parents: line parent: Gap 1958–1959: Common ('unified') handball rules of the A.A.U., USHA and YMCA
  37. Gap 1962: A.A.U. Official Rules, Handball (1962 volume)
      • Years: 1962
      • Status: Gap (editions presumed; none found)
      • Why: A.A.U. serial resumes 1962 (a rights record exists for this volume); no copy held.
      • Line: American four-wall: A.A.U. after the split
      • Parents: line parent: Official Rules, Handball (A.A.U.)
  38. Gap 1963–1970: USHA four-wall rules 1963-1970
      • Years: 1963–1970
      • Status: Gap (editions presumed; none found)
      • Why: No USHA four-wall text dated 1963-1970 is held. The USHA had its own rules after it declined the 1968 AAU-JWB-YMCA unified revision (R55); the earliest recorded USHA rules publication is ed:usha-fourwall-1971 (citation only).
      • Line: American four-wall
      • Parents: line parent: Gap 1961–1962: USHA Membership Directory and Guide 1961-62
  39. Championship Handball plus Official Handball Rules
      • Date: 1971
      • Issuer: United States Handball Association
      • Status: Citation only (known from a reference; no copy found)
      • Line: American four-wall
      • Parents: line parent: Gap 1963–1970: USHA four-wall rules 1963-1970
  40. Gap 1972–1989: USHA four-wall rules 1972-1989
      • Years: 1972–1989
      • Status: Gap (editions presumed; none found)
      • Why: No USHA four-wall text dated 1972-1989 is held: ed:usha-fourwall-1971 is cited to 1983 (possibly several printings), and the earliest text found online is 'amended June 20, 1990' ('Revised 1991').
      • Line: American four-wall
      • Parents: line parent: Championship Handball plus Official Handball Rules
  41. Four-wall (USHA, amended 1990; 'Revised 1991')
      • Date: 1990-06-20 (adopted)
      • Issuer: United States Handball Association
      • Status: Full text on this site
      • Line: American four-wall
      • Parents: line parent: Gap 1972–1989: USHA four-wall rules 1972-1989
  42. Gap 1991–1998: USHA four-wall amendments 1991-1998
      • Years: 1991–1998
      • Status: Gap (editions presumed; none found)
      • Why: No four-wall text dated between the June 1990 amendments ('Revised 1991' book) and the January 1999 amendments is known; the 1999 text was published with its changes highlighted against the 1990 text, which suggests no intermediate edition, but this is not stated.
      • Line: American four-wall
      • Parents: line parent: Four-wall (USHA, amended 1990; 'Revised 1991')
  43. Four-wall (USHA, amended 31 Jan 1999)
      • Date: 1999-01-31 (adopted)
      • Issuer: United States Handball Association
      • Status: Full text on this site
      • Line: American four-wall
      • Parents: line parent: Gap 1991–1998: USHA four-wall amendments 1991-1998
  44. Gap 2000–2004: USHA four-wall amendments 2000-2004
      • Years: 2000–2004
      • Status: Gap (editions presumed; none found)
      • Why: No four-wall text dated 2000-2004 was found. USHA's own site printed the 1999 text (officialrules.pdf, October and December 2004) and linked the 1999 mirror on cohandball.com (2002, 2005), so the 1999 text appears to have stayed in force until the January 2005 amendments. The 'August 20, 2002' date is the one-wall rules' ('last updated August 20th 2002'), not four-wall's; the one-wall page was updated 2000, 2001-03, 2001-10-07, 2002-04-08 and 2002-08-20 with no four-wall counterpart found.
      • Line: American four-wall
      • Parents: line parent: Four-wall (USHA, amended 31 Jan 1999)
  45. Four-wall (USHA, amended 16 Jan 2005; 'as of April 15, 2005')
      • Date: 2005-01-16 (adopted)
      • Issuer: United States Handball Association
      • Status: Full text on this site
      • Line: American four-wall
      • Parents: line parent: Gap 2000–2004: USHA four-wall amendments 2000-2004
  46. Four-wall changes (USHA Board, June 2006)
      • Date: 2006-06 (adopted)
      • Issuer: United States Handball Association
      • Status: Full text on this site
      • Line: American four-wall
      • Parents: line parent: Four-wall (USHA, amended 16 Jan 2005; 'as of April 15, 2005') (also the base it is printed as changes to)
  47. Four-wall changes (USHA Board, May 2007)
      • Date: 2007-05 (adopted)
      • Issuer: United States Handball Association
      • Status: Full text on this site
      • Line: American four-wall
      • Parents: line parent: Four-wall changes (USHA Board, June 2006) (also the base it is printed as changes to)
  48. Handball Rules (Abridged for Curriculum)
      • Date: 2010-05
      • Issuer: United States Handball Association
      • Status: Full text on this site
      • Line: American four-wall: usha-abridged
      • Parents: forked from: Four-wall (USHA, amended 16 Jan 2005; 'as of April 15, 2005')
  49. The Official USHA Handball Rules, 2012
      • Date: 2012
      • Issuer: United States Handball Association
      • Status: Full text on this site
      • Line: American four-wall
      • Parents: line parent: Four-wall changes (USHA Board, May 2007)
  50. The Official USHA Handball Rules, 2014
      • Date: 2014
      • Issuer: United States Handball Association
      • Status: Full text on this site
      • Line: American four-wall
      • Parents: line parent: The Official USHA Handball Rules, 2012
  51. Official USHA Handball Rulebook With Interpretations, One-Wall and Three-Wall Addendums
      • Date: 2015-02-06 (effective)
      • Issuer: United States Handball Association
      • Status: Full text on this site
      • Line: American four-wall
      • Parents: line parent: The Official USHA Handball Rules, 2014
  52. Four-wall (USHA, as of 22 Jan 2017)
      • Date: 2017-01-22 (effective)
      • Issuer: United States Handball Association
      • Status: Full text on this site
      • Line: American four-wall
      • Parents: line parent: Official USHA Handball Rulebook With Interpretations, One-Wall and Three-Wall Addendums
  53. Four-Wall Rulebook
      • Date: 2019-01-27 (effective)
      • Issuer: United States Handball Association
      • Status: Full text on this site
      • Line: American four-wall
      • Parents: line parent: Four-wall (USHA, as of 22 Jan 2017)
  54. Four-Wall Rulebook
      • Date: 2020-01-26 (effective)
      • Issuer: United States Handball Association
      • Status: Full text on this site
      • Line: American four-wall
      • Parents: line parent: Four-Wall Rulebook
  55. Four-Wall Rulebook
      • Date: 2020-09
      • Issuer: United States Handball Association
      • Status: Full text on this site
      • Line: American four-wall
      • Parents: line parent: Four-Wall Rulebook
  56. Four-Wall Rulebook
      • Date: 2021-01-22 (effective)
      • Issuer: United States Handball Association
      • Status: Full text on this site
      • Line: American four-wall
      • Parents: line parent: Four-Wall Rulebook
  57. Four-Wall Rulebook
      • Date: 2021-12
      • Issuer: United States Handball Association
      • Status: Full text on this site
      • Line: American four-wall
      • Parents: line parent: Four-Wall Rulebook
  58. Four-Wall Rulebook
      • Date: 2022-01-23 (effective)
      • Issuer: United States Handball Association
      • Status: Full text on this site
      • Line: American four-wall
      • Parents: line parent: Four-Wall Rulebook
  59. Four-Wall Rulebook
      • Date: 2024-01-26 (effective)
      • Issuer: United States Handball Association
      • Status: Full text on this site
      • Line: American four-wall
      • Parents: line parent: Four-Wall Rulebook
  60. Four-wall (USHA, 2025) (opens the four-wall rulebook on this site)
      • Date: 2025-01-26 (effective)
      • Issuer: United States Handball Association
      • Status: Full text on this site
      • Line: American four-wall
      • Parents: line parent: Four-Wall Rulebook

• American one-wall, small ball

  28 editions, 5 gaps. Grew out of American four-wall (a code-level link; no edition is named). Lines: Y.M.C.A. line, American one-wall, small ball.

  1. One-wall (Y.M.C.A., 1900 revision)
     • Date: 1900-06 (adopted)
     • Issuer: not recorded
     • Status: Full text on this site
     • Line: American one-wall, small ball: Y.M.C.A. line
     • Parents: none on record
  2. One-wall (Y.M.C.A., 1913 revised text)
     • Date: 1913
     • Issuer: not recorded
     • Status: Full text on this site
     • Line: American one-wall, small ball: Y.M.C.A. line
     • Parents: line parent: One-wall (Y.M.C.A., 1900 revision)
  3. One-wall (Brokaw, American Hand Ball, 1915) (opens codes compared, 1916)
     • Date: 1916
     • Issuer: not recorded
     • Status: Full text on this site
     • Line: American one-wall, small ball
     • Parents: none on record
  4. One-wall (A.A.U., 1923) (opens codes compared, 1923)
     • Date: 1922-11-20 (adopted)
     • Issuer: Amateur Athletic Union of the United States
     • Status: Full text on this site
     • Line: American one-wall, small ball
     • Parents: line parent: One-wall (Brokaw, American Hand Ball, 1915); text parent: Four-wall (A.A.U., 1923) (hypothesis H-62)
  5. Gap 1924–1927: A.A.U. one-wall rules 1924-1927
     • Years: 1924–1927
     • Status: Gap (editions presumed; none found)
     • Why: The 1926 and 1927 Spalding guides (ed:aau-handball-1926, -1927; on the four-wall line, contents unseen) are expected to print the one-wall rules (H-135). An A.A.U. one-wall text between the 1922 and 1927 rules (service line, 'Spalding No. 131', short line 'at least 13 feet') survives in a later reprint (H-137).
     • Line: American one-wall, small ball
     • Parents: line parent: One-wall (A.A.U., 1923)
  6. One-wall (A.A.U., adopted 1927)
     • Date: 1927-11-20 (adopted)
     • Issuer: Amateur Athletic Union of the United States
     • Status: Full text on this site
     • Line: American one-wall, small ball
     • Parents: line parent: Gap 1924–1927: A.A.U. one-wall rules 1924-1927
  7. Hand ball rules; single wall court
     • Date: 1929
     • Issuer: not recorded
     • Status: Citation only (known from a reference; no copy found)
     • Line: American one-wall, small ball: Y.M.C.A. line
     • Parents: line parent: One-wall (Y.M.C.A., 1913 revised text)
  8. Gap 1930–1957: Y.M.C.A. hand ball (single-wall) rules after 1929
     • Years: 1930–1957
     • Status: Gap (editions presumed; none found)
     • Why: Y.M.C.A. single-wall rules presumed to continue after the 1929 leaflet (ed:ymca-onewall-1929) until the unified rules; none located.
     • Line: American one-wall, small ball: Y.M.C.A. line
     • Parents: line parent: Hand ball rules; single wall court
  9. One-wall (A.A.U., 1931)
     • Date: 1931
     • Issuer: Amateur Athletic Union of the United States
     • Status: Full text on this site
     • Line: American one-wall, small ball
     • Parents: line parent: One-wall (A.A.U., adopted 1927)
  10. Gap 1932–1948: A.A.U. one-wall rules 1932-1948
      • Years: 1932–1948
      • Status: Gap (editions presumed; none found)
      • Why: One-wall rules after the 1931 text (ed:aau-onewall-1931) are presumed within the annual A.A.U. rules (ca33000972); the 1934 and 1936 registrations name one-wall (ed:aau-handball-1934, -1936, on the four-wall line; contents unseen).
      • Line: American one-wall, small ball
      • Parents: line parent: One-wall (A.A.U., 1931)
  11. Official rules handball : four-wall, one-wall, four-wall handball
      • Date: 1949
      • Issuer: Amateur Athletic Union of the United States
      • Status: Citation only (known from a reference; no copy found)
      • Line: American one-wall, small ball
      • Parents: line parent: Gap 1932–1948: A.A.U. one-wall rules 1932-1948
  12. Gap 1950–1966: A.A.U./USHA one-wall rules 1950-1966
      • Years: 1950–1966
      • Status: Gap (editions presumed; none found)
      • Why: No one-wall text dated 1950-1966 is held. The Sports Rules Encyclopedia (1961) prints 'AAU ONE-WALL HANDBALL RULES' (lending only, R54); the next recorded edition is the A.A.U. one-wall booklet of 1967 (citation only).
      • Line: American one-wall, small ball
      • Parents: line parent: Official rules handball : four-wall, one-wall, four-wall handball
  13. Official AAU One Wall Handball Rules
      • Date: by 1967-06-04 (effective)
      • Issuer: Amateur Athletic Union of the United States
      • Status: Citation only (known from a reference; no copy found)
      • Line: American one-wall, small ball
      • Parents: line parent: Gap 1950–1966: A.A.U./USHA one-wall rules 1950-1966
  14. Gap 1968–1993: A.A.U./USHA one-wall rules 1968-1993
      • Years: 1968–1993
      • Status: Gap (editions presumed; none found)
      • Why: The earliest USHA one-wall text found is 'The New and Official United States Handball Association One-Wall Rules With Interpretations 1995' (last amended 10/14/94). Its Q&A page says the one-wall rule book was 'republished in 1991'; that 1991 book is not online.
      • Line: American one-wall, small ball
      • Parents: line parent: Official AAU One Wall Handball Rules
  15. One-wall (USHA, amended 1994; '1995')
      • Date: 1994-10-14 (adopted)
      • Issuer: United States Handball Association
      • Status: Full text on this site
      • Line: American one-wall, small ball
      • Parents: line parent: Gap 1968–1993: A.A.U./USHA one-wall rules 1968-1993
  16. The New and Official United States Handball Association One-Wall Rules With Interpretations 2000
      • Date: 2000
      • Issuer: United States Handball Association
      • Status: Full text on this site
      • Line: American one-wall, small ball
      • Parents: line parent: One-wall (USHA, amended 1994; '1995')
  17. The New and Official United States Handball Association One-Wall Rules With Interpretations 2000
      • Date: 2001-03
      • Issuer: United States Handball Association
      • Status: Full text on this site
      • Line: American one-wall, small ball
      • Parents: line parent: The New and Official United States Handball Association One-Wall Rules With Interpretations 2000
  18. The New and Official United States Handball Association One-Wall Rules With Interpretations
      • Date: 2001-10-07 (effective)
      • Issuer: United States Handball Association
      • Status: Full text on this site
      • Line: American one-wall, small ball
      • Parents: line parent: The New and Official United States Handball Association One-Wall Rules With Interpretations 2000
  19. The New and Official United States Handball Association One-Wall Rules With Interpretations
      • Date: 2002-04-08 (effective)
      • Issuer: United States Handball Association
      • Status: Full text on this site
      • Line: American one-wall, small ball
      • Parents: line parent: The New and Official United States Handball Association One-Wall Rules With Interpretations
  20. One-wall (USHA, last updated 20 Aug 2002)
      • Date: 2002-08-20 (effective)
      • Issuer: United States Handball Association
      • Status: Full text on this site
      • Line: American one-wall, small ball
      • Parents: line parent: The New and Official United States Handball Association One-Wall Rules With Interpretations
  21. One-wall (USHA, as of 1 Apr 2005)
      • Date: 2005-04-01 (adopted)
      • Issuer: United States Handball Association
      • Status: Full text on this site
      • Line: American one-wall, small ball
      • Parents: line parent: One-wall (USHA, last updated 20 Aug 2002)
  22. Official USHA One-Wall Handball Rules (2005 rules with the June 2006 Board changes incorporated)
      • Date: 2006-06 (adopted)
      • Issuer: United States Handball Association
      • Status: Full text on this site
      • Line: American one-wall, small ball
      • Parents: line parent: One-wall (USHA, as of 1 Apr 2005)
  23. The Current Official USHA One-Wall Handball Rules
      • Date: 2008-06 (adopted)
      • Issuer: United States Handball Association
      • Status: Full text on this site
      • Line: American one-wall, small ball
      • Parents: line parent: Official USHA One-Wall Handball Rules (2005 rules with the June 2006 Board changes incorporated)
  24. Official USHA One-Wall Handball Rules
      • Date: 2014-01 (adopted)
      • Issuer: United States Handball Association
      • Status: Full text on this site
      • Line: American one-wall, small ball
      • Parents: line parent: The Current Official USHA One-Wall Handball Rules
  25. One-Wall Addendum (USHA 2015)
      • Date: 2015-02-06 (effective)
      • Issuer: United States Handball Association
      • Status: Full text on this site
      • Line: American one-wall, small ball
      • Parents: line parent: Official USHA One-Wall Handball Rules; printed as changes to: Official USHA Handball Rulebook With Interpretations, One-Wall and Three-Wall Addendums
  26. One-wall addendum (USHA, 2017)
      • Date: 2017-01-22 (effective)
      • Issuer: United States Handball Association
      • Status: Full text on this site
      • Line: American one-wall, small ball
      • Parents: line parent: One-Wall Addendum (USHA 2015); printed as changes to: Four-wall (USHA, as of 22 Jan 2017)
  27. One-Wall Rulebook
      • Date: 2019-01-27 (effective)
      • Issuer: United States Handball Association
      • Status: Full text on this site
      • Line: American one-wall, small ball
      • Parents: line parent: One-wall addendum (USHA, 2017)
  28. One-Wall Rulebook
      • Date: 2020-01-26 (effective)
      • Issuer: United States Handball Association
      • Status: Full text on this site
      • Line: American one-wall, small ball
      • Parents: line parent: One-Wall Rulebook
  29. One-Wall Rulebook
      • Date: 2020-09
      • Issuer: United States Handball Association
      • Status: Full text on this site
      • Line: American one-wall, small ball
      • Parents: line parent: One-Wall Rulebook
  30. One-Wall Rulebook
      • Date: 2021-01-22 (effective)
      • Issuer: United States Handball Association
      • Status: Full text on this site
      • Line: American one-wall, small ball
      • Parents: line parent: One-Wall Rulebook
  31. One-Wall Rulebook
      • Date: 2022-01-23 (effective)
      • Issuer: United States Handball Association
      • Status: Full text on this site
      • Line: American one-wall, small ball
      • Parents: line parent: One-Wall Rulebook
  32. One-Wall Rulebook
      • Date: 2024-01-26 (effective)
      • Issuer: United States Handball Association
      • Status: Full text on this site
      • Line: American one-wall, small ball
      • Parents: line parent: One-Wall Rulebook
  33. One-wall (USHA, 2025) (opens the one-wall rulebook on this site)
      • Date: 2025-01-26 (effective)
      • Issuer: United States Handball Association
      • Status: Full text on this site
      • Line: American one-wall, small ball
      • Parents: line parent: One-Wall Rulebook; printed as changes to: Four-wall (USHA, 2025)

• American three-wall

  4 editions. Grew out of American four-wall (a code-level link; no edition is named).

  1. Three-wall addendum (USHA, 2005)
     • Date: 2004-12
     • Issuer: United States Handball Association
     • Status: Full text on this site
     • Line: American three-wall
     • Parents: forked from: Four-wall (USHA, amended 31 Jan 1999) (also the base it is printed as changes to)
  2. Three-Wall Addendum (USHA 2015)
     • Date: 2015-02-06 (effective)
     • Issuer: United States Handball Association
     • Status: Full text on this site
     • Line: American three-wall
     • Parents: line parent: Three-wall addendum (USHA, 2005); printed as changes to: Official USHA Handball Rulebook With Interpretations, One-Wall and Three-Wall Addendums
  3. Three-wall addendum (USHA, 2017)
     • Date: 2017-01-22 (effective)
     • Issuer: United States Handball Association
     • Status: Full text on this site
     • Line: American three-wall
     • Parents: line parent: Three-Wall Addendum (USHA 2015); printed as changes to: Four-wall (USHA, as of 22 Jan 2017)
  4. Three-wall (USHA addendum, 2025) (opens codes compared, 2025)
     • Date: 2025-01-26 (effective)
     • Issuer: United States Handball Association
     • Status: Full text on this site
     • Line: American three-wall
     • Parents: line parent: Three-wall addendum (USHA, 2017); printed as changes to: Four-wall (USHA, 2025)

• American one-wall, big ball (wallball)

  3 editions. Grew out of American one-wall, small ball (a code-level link; no edition is named).

  1. Wall Ball Rules (opens codes compared, 2021)
     • Date: 2021-04
     • Issuer: United States Wallball Association
     • Status: Metadata only (a copy is known; text not on this site)
     • Line: American one-wall, big ball (wallball)
     • Parents: none on record
  2. USWA OFFICIAL RULES (opens codes compared, 2022)
     • Date: 2022-11
     • Issuer: United States Wallball Association
     • Status: Metadata only (a copy is known; text not on this site)
     • Line: American one-wall, big ball (wallball)
     • Parents: line parent: Wall Ball Rules
  3. USWA playing rules (opens codes compared, 2026)
     • Date: 2026-10-22 (adopted)
     • Issuer: United States Wallball Association
     • Status: Metadata only (a copy is known; text not on this site)
     • Line: American one-wall, big ball (wallball)
     • Parents: line parent: USWA OFFICIAL RULES

• Irish handball, hardball (60x30 alley game)

  6 editions, 4 gaps.

  1. Gap 1884–1902: GAA handball rules before 1903
     • Years: 1884–1902
     • Status: Gap (editions presumed; none found)
     • Why: GAA rules before 1903 (from 1884) are presumed; H-13 concerns the 28-rule set printed in US books.
     • Line: Irish handball, hardball (60x30 alley game)
     • Parents: none on record
  2. Gaelic Rules (opens codes compared, 1903)
     • Date: 1903
     • Issuer: Gaelic Athletic Association of Ireland
     • Status: Metadata only (a copy is known; text not on this site)
     • Line: Irish handball, hardball (60x30 alley game)
     • Parents: line parent: Gap 1884–1902: GAA handball rules before 1903
  3. Gap 1924–1962: Irish Amateur Handball Association / Irish Handball Council rules 1924-1962
     • Years: 1924–1962
     • Status: Gap (editions presumed; none found)
     • Why: IAHA first meeting 27 Jan 1924 (secondary); no rulebook located.
     • Line: Irish handball, hardball (60x30 alley game)
     • Parents: line parent: Gaelic Rules
  4. Official rules
     • Date: 1963
     • Issuer: Irish Handball Council
     • Status: Citation only (known from a reference; no copy found)
     • Line: Irish handball, hardball (60x30 alley game)
     • Parents: line parent: Gap 1924–1962: Irish Amateur Handball Association / Irish Handball Council rules 1924-1962
  5. Gap 1964–2008: Irish Handball Council rules 1964-2008
     • Years: 1964–2008
     • Status: Gap (editions presumed; none found)
     • Why: No Irish rule text dated 1964-2008 is held; the 1963 'Official rules' (ed:ihc-official-rules-1963) and the 1997 'Handball Playing Rules' (ed:ihc-playing-rules-1997, softball line) are citations only.
     • Line: Irish handball, hardball (60x30 alley game)
     • Parents: line parent: Official rules
  6. Gap 2009–2019: GAA Handball playing rules 2009-2019
     • Years: 2009–2019
     • Status: Gap (editions presumed; none found)
     • Why: No hardball text dated 2010-2019 is held. The Wexford 2016-08 upload, once thought a candidate, is the Irish Handball Council's playing rules 'modified January 2009' (ed:ihc-playing-rules-2009-01, R54/R57b), recorded on the softball line; it also gives the hardball ball specification. The next hardball text is the GAA's March 2020 rulebook (a delta on the softball text).
     • Line: Irish handball, hardball (60x30 alley game)
     • Parents: line parent: Gap 1964–2008: Irish Handball Council rules 1964-2008
  7. Official Irish 4-Wall & 60x30 Playing Rules
     • Date: 2020-03 (effective)
     • Issuer: GAA Handball
     • Status: Metadata only (a copy is known; text not on this site)
     • Line: Irish handball, hardball (60x30 alley game)
     • Parents: line parent: Gap 2009–2019: GAA Handball playing rules 2009-2019; printed as changes to: Official Irish 4-Wall & 60x30 Playing Rules
  8. GAA Handball - Official 4-Wall & 60x30 Playing Rules
     • Date: 2024-02-04 (effective)
     • Issuer: GAA Handball
     • Status: Metadata only (a copy is known; text not on this site)
     • Line: Irish handball, hardball (60x30 alley game)
     • Parents: line parent: Official Irish 4-Wall & 60x30 Playing Rules; printed as changes to: GAA Handball - Official 4-Wall & 60x30 Playing Rules
  9. Official Irish 4-Wall, Softball, Hardball & Wallball Playing Rules
     • Date: 2025-02-09 (adopted)
     • Issuer: GAA Handball
     • Status: Metadata only (a copy is known; text not on this site)
     • Line: Irish handball, hardball (60x30 alley game)
     • Parents: line parent: GAA Handball - Official 4-Wall & 60x30 Playing Rules; printed as changes to: Official Irish 4-Wall, Softball, Hardball & Wallball Playing Rules
  10. GAA Handball Playing Rules
      • Date: 2025-02-09 (adopted)
      • Issuer: GAA Handball
      • Status: Metadata only (a copy is known; text not on this site)
      • Line: Irish handball, hardball (60x30 alley game)
      • Parents: line parent: Official Irish 4-Wall, Softball, Hardball & Wallball Playing Rules; printed as changes to: GAA Handball Playing Rules

• Irish handball, softball (60x30)

  6 editions. Grew out of Irish handball, hardball (60x30 alley game) (a code-level link; no edition is named).

  1. Handball Playing Rules
     • Date: 1997
     • Issuer: Irish Handball Council
     • Status: Citation only (known from a reference; no copy found)
     • Line: Irish handball, softball (60x30)
     • Parents: none on record
  2. Official Playing Rules (Handball Playing Rules)
     • Date: 2009-01 (effective)
     • Issuer: Irish Handball Council
     • Status: Metadata only (a copy is known; text not on this site)
     • Line: Irish handball, softball (60x30)
     • Parents: line parent: Handball Playing Rules
  3. Official Irish 4-Wall & 60x30 Playing Rules
     • Date: 2020-03 (effective)
     • Issuer: GAA Handball
     • Status: Metadata only (a copy is known; text not on this site)
     • Line: Irish handball, softball (60x30)
     • Parents: line parent: Official Playing Rules (Handball Playing Rules)
  4. GAA Handball - Official 4-Wall & 60x30 Playing Rules
     • Date: 2024-02-04 (effective)
     • Issuer: GAA Handball
     • Status: Metadata only (a copy is known; text not on this site)
     • Line: Irish handball, softball (60x30)
     • Parents: line parent: Official Irish 4-Wall & 60x30 Playing Rules
  5. Official Irish 4-Wall, Softball, Hardball & Wallball Playing Rules
     • Date: 2025-02-09 (adopted)
     • Issuer: GAA Handball
     • Status: Metadata only (a copy is known; text not on this site)
     • Line: Irish handball, softball (60x30)
     • Parents: line parent: GAA Handball - Official 4-Wall & 60x30 Playing Rules
  6. GAA Handball Playing Rules
     • Date: 2025-02-09 (adopted)
     • Issuer: GAA Handball
     • Status: Metadata only (a copy is known; text not on this site)
     • Line: Irish handball, softball (60x30)
     • Parents: line parent: Official Irish 4-Wall, Softball, Hardball & Wallball Playing Rules

• International four-wall (40x20)

  4 editions. Grew out of American four-wall (a code-level link; no edition is named).

  1. Official Irish 4-Wall & 60x30 Playing Rules
     • Date: 2020-03 (effective)
     • Issuer: GAA Handball
     • Status: Metadata only (a copy is known; text not on this site)
     • Line: International four-wall (40x20)
     • Parents: printed as changes to: Official Irish 4-Wall & 60x30 Playing Rules
  2. GAA Handball - Official 4-Wall & 60x30 Playing Rules
     • Date: 2024-02-04 (effective)
     • Issuer: GAA Handball
     • Status: Metadata only (a copy is known; text not on this site)
     • Line: International four-wall (40x20)
     • Parents: line parent: Official Irish 4-Wall & 60x30 Playing Rules; printed as changes to: GAA Handball - Official 4-Wall & 60x30 Playing Rules
  3. Official Irish 4-Wall, Softball, Hardball & Wallball Playing Rules
     • Date: 2025-02-09 (adopted)
     • Issuer: GAA Handball
     • Status: Metadata only (a copy is known; text not on this site)
     • Line: International four-wall (40x20)
     • Parents: line parent: GAA Handball - Official 4-Wall & 60x30 Playing Rules; printed as changes to: Official Irish 4-Wall, Softball, Hardball & Wallball Playing Rules
  4. GAA Handball Playing Rules
     • Date: 2025-02-09 (adopted)
     • Issuer: GAA Handball
     • Status: Metadata only (a copy is known; text not on this site)
     • Line: International four-wall (40x20)
     • Parents: line parent: Official Irish 4-Wall, Softball, Hardball & Wallball Playing Rules; printed as changes to: GAA Handball Playing Rules

• Irish one-wall / Wallball (GAA)

  3 editions, 1 gap. Grew out of American one-wall, small ball (a code-level link; no edition is named).

  1. Gap up to 2018: USHA one-wall edition c.2018 from which the GAA 1-wall rules derive
     • Years: up to 2018
     • Status: Gap (editions presumed; none found)
     • Why: H-21 (supported) says the GAA January 2019 one-wall rules derive from USHA one-wall rules. R52 found the USHA one-wall texts current in 2014-2019 (ed:usha-onewall-2014-01, printed to 2018-09-27; ed:usha-onewall-2019-01-27); which one the GAA used is not yet settled by collation.
     • Line: Irish one-wall / Wallball (GAA)
     • Parents: none on record
  2. Official Irish 1-Wall (Wallball) Playing Rules - As of January 2019
     • Date: 2019-01 (effective)
     • Issuer: GAA Handball
     • Status: Metadata only (a copy is known; text not on this site)
     • Line: Irish one-wall / Wallball (GAA)
     • Parents: line parent: Gap up to 2018: USHA one-wall edition c.2018 from which the GAA 1-wall rules derive
  3. Official Irish 4-Wall, Softball, Hardball & Wallball Playing Rules
     • Date: 2025-02-09 (adopted)
     • Issuer: GAA Handball
     • Status: Metadata only (a copy is known; text not on this site)
     • Line: Irish one-wall / Wallball (GAA)
     • Parents: line parent: Official Irish 1-Wall (Wallball) Playing Rules - As of January 2019; printed as changes to: Official Irish 4-Wall, Softball, Hardball & Wallball Playing Rules
  4. GAA Handball Playing Rules
     • Date: 2025-02-09 (adopted)
     • Issuer: GAA Handball
     • Status: Metadata only (a copy is known; text not on this site)
     • Line: Irish one-wall / Wallball (GAA)
     • Parents: line parent: Official Irish 4-Wall, Softball, Hardball & Wallball Playing Rules; printed as changes to: GAA Handball Playing Rules

• International wallball (CIJB)

  1 edition. Grew out of American one-wall, small ball (a code-level link; no edition is named).

  1. WALLBALL RULES
     • Date: 2023
     • Issuer: Confederación Internacional de Pelota a Mano
     • Status: Metadata only (a copy is known; text not on this site)
     • Line: International wallball (CIJB)
     • Parents: none on record

• American four-wall hardball (1930s-40s)

  2 editions.

  1. Four-wall hardball (A.A.U., 1931)
     • Date: 1931
     • Issuer: Amateur Athletic Union of the United States
     • Status: Full text on this site
     • Line: American four-wall hardball (1930s-40s)
     • Parents: text parent: Four-wall (A.A.U., 1923) (hypothesis H-138)
  2. Official rules handball, four-wall, one-wall, four-wall hardball; codeball, volleyball, horseshoe pitching
     • Date: 1949
     • Issuer: Amateur Athletic Union of the United States
     • Status: Citation only (known from a reference; no copy found)
     • Line: American four-wall hardball (1930s-40s)
     • Parents: line parent: Four-wall hardball (A.A.U., 1931)

• Seawall Ball (Atlantic Beach Navy)

  1 edition.

  1. Seawall Ball, the Atlantic Beach Navy Official... (title truncated)
     • Date: 1959
     • Issuer: not recorded
     • Status: Metadata only (a copy is known; text not on this site)
     • Line: Seawall Ball (Atlantic Beach Navy)
     • Parents: none on record