A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1923

Rule 1

Standard courts shall be four walls of approximately 24 feet by 48 feet in size. The ceilings shall be at least 25 feet at the front wall. The building and use of standard courts is advised, although for the time being championships may be held on courts of other sizes and of less than four walls.

Rule 2

Ball shall be standard rubber handball. (Spalding's No. 101 ball is used in the national championship tournaments.)

Rule 3

Twenty-one points shall constitute a game.

Rule 4

First service shall be determined by the toss of a coin or in any other manner agreed by the contestants.

Rule 5

If the players cannot agree upon a ball a new ball shall be selected by the referee.

Rule 6

In serving, the ball must be bounced on the floor and struck on the first bounce. Missing the ball puts the server out. The server has the privilege of several attempts at bouncing the ball before serving.

Rule 7

The server must stand between the short line and the service line before commencing his service and must not step over the service line while serving.

Rule 8

Stepping over the service line while serving shall be counted as a short ball. Doing so twice in succession shall be counted a hand out.

Rule 9

Three short balls in succession shall count as a hand out.

Rule 10

Hitting the ceiling, floor or side walls before the front wall while serving counts as a hand out.

Rule 11

Catching or stopping the ball on the service before it hits the floor counts as a hand out.

Rule 12

It is optional with a player to accept a short ball; if a short ball is attempted it becomes a fair ball.

Rule 13

The server or his partner may stop a short ball after it touches the floor and before it has been touched by the opposing side.

Rule 14

While his partner is serving a player should stand between the lines with his back to the wall and while in this position it does not count as a hand out if he is struck by a served ball.

Rule 15

After the service the ball must be returned to the front wall before hitting the floor. Hitting the floor and front wall at the same time counts as a miss. The front wall must be hit first.

Rule 16

If the outside fails to return the ball it counts as a tally for the side serving. If the server fails to return the adversary's play, it counts as a hand out.

Rule 17

If a ball hits an adversary on the way to the front wall and afterwards reaches the front wall before touching the floor, it is in play. All balls striking players on the return are hinders or points.

Rule 18

If a ball, before it is dead, touches a player on the way back from the front wall, it loses the point for the player touched and the ball is immediately out of play.

Rule 19

Hitting a partner with a ball immediately puts the ball out of play and loses the point for that side except during the service when the partner is standing between the lines with his back to the wall. The man serving the ball in four handed match is the man who is supposed to play inside the lines at all times.

Rule 20

Every player is entitled to a free and unobstructed opportunity to play the ball. If he is interfered with unintentionally it is called a hinder and is played over.

Rule 21

When, in the opinion of the referee, a player is hindered intentionally he should decide that point against the offending player.

Rule 22

In doubles, both players on a side are entitled to a fair and unobstructed chance at the ball and either one is entitled to a decision on a hinder, even though it naturally would be his partner's ball and notwithstanding the fact that his partner may be attempting to play the ball or that he may already have missed it.

The referee should be liberal in rendering decisions under this rule so as to discourage any practice of playing the ball where an adversary cannot see it until too late to get into position and it is no excuse that the ball is "killed dead" or that the adversary "could not get it." He is entitled to a chance to try and in the absence of this chance is entitled to the decision.

Rule 23

It is the duty of the side that has played the ball to keep out of the way of the side that is playing and under no circumstances shall a player be forced to run around an adversary in order to reach the ball. Hinders when claimed should generally be allowed unless clearly in the opinion of the referee there was no hinder.

Rule 24

It is the duty of the referee to decide all hinders and covered balls without being appealed to by the players as it is often distasteful to a player to make claims especially in close cases, and failure to claim a hinder or covered ball does not relieve the referee from the duty of rendering a decision.

Rule 25

A player may not claim a hinder when interfered with by his partner.

Rule 26

In doubles it is customary to serve to the adversaries alternately but this is not compulsory.

Rule 27

Kicking the ball is not allowed.

Rule 28

During a play the ball may not be played by a player after it has been touched either by his partner or by himself.

Rule 29

In all match games there should be a referee and score keeper who should sit next to the referee.

Rule 30

During tournament or match play, leaving the court without consent of adversary forfeits the series unless excused by the referee.

Rule 31

After the completion of a rally both players shall be allowed a reasonable time to get in position, after which the referee may call play. If the server fails to serve the ball after play is called the referee or other player may count ten as nearly as possible at the rate of one count per second and if the ball is not served before the completion of the count the server shall be declared out.

Rule 32

The referee's decision is final.

Rule 33

Any player refusing to abide by the decision of referee forfeits the match.

Rule 34

Hands or fingers may be covered, but only with soft material or soft gloves of kid or cloth. No hard material shall be used on any part of either hand.

Rule 35

Drawings shall be held immediately before the contest and the method of drawing shall be the same as prescribed in Boxing rules. (See A.A.U. Official Handbook—Spalding's Athletic Library.)