A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1928

Rule 1

Standard courts shall have four walls and a ceiling, shall be 22 feet in width, 46 feet in length and 22 feet in height.

The building and use of standard courts is advised, but championships may be held on courts of other sizes as approved by the Handball Committee.

A serving space enclosed by two parallel lines, five feet apart, drawn across the width, shall be laid out on the floor of the court (the back line shall be called the short line and shall divide the court equally and the front line shall be five feet in front thereof; thus in a 46-foot court the short line will be 23 feet from the back wall and the front line 18 feet from the front wall). Eighteen inches from and parallel with each side wall a line shall be drawn to form a box where the partner to the man who is serving shall stand with his back to the side wall while the ball is being served. Should he leave the box before the ball crosses the short line, the referee shall declare it a short ball. If the server's partner is hit by the ball while in the box, it shall be considered a dead ball, and the ball shall be out of play.

Rule 2

The standard ball shall be Spalding's 101 or equal. A new ball selected by the referee shall be used for all championship matches.

Rule 3

Twenty-one points shall constitute a game. All matches shall be the best two out of three games.

Rule 4

The first service shall be determined by the toss of a coin. In a match or tournament first service shall alternate each game.

Rule 5

Players must wear white suits.

Rule 6

The hands or fingers of the players may be covered, but only with soft material or soft gloves of kid or cloth without the thumb or fingers being webbed or connected. Mittens shall not be used. No hard material shall be used on any part of either hand.

Rule 7

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, but not more than three attempts at bouncing the ball before serving. If the server bounces the ball more than three times before serving he shall be declared out. To be in play the ball must hit the front wall and rebound across the short line before striking the floor.

Rule 8

While serving the ball the server must stand in the serving space between the two lines.

Rule 9

If a served ball hits the ceiling, floor, or either side wall before hitting the front wall, the server is out.

Rule 10

A served ball which does not rebound beyond the short line before touching the floor is termed a "short" ball. A served ball which rebounds from the front wall and touches the back wall or ceiling before touching the floor is termed a "short" ball. A served ball which rebounds from the front wall and touches two side walls before touching the floor is termed a "short" ball. If the server steps over the short line while serving it is termed a "short" ball.

Rule 11

If two short balls of any kind are served in succession the server is 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

If a short ball is touched or stopped by the server or his partner the server is out.

Rule 14

After the ball is served the server's opponents must return the ball to the front wall. The ball may be played on the fly or on the first bounce, but must strike the front wall after it is returned before hitting the floor. If it strikes the front wall and floor at the same time it counts as a miss. If the opponents fail to return the ball properly it counts as a tally for the server. If the server or his partner in doubles fails to return the adversary's play properly the server is out.

Rule 15

If a returned ball hits an adversary as decided by the referee before hitting the front wall, it is out of play and it shall be served over without penalty to either side.

Rule 16

If a ball, while in play, touches a player on the way back from the front wall, it counts as a miss for this player, putting his side out if serving, or scoring for his opponent if they are serving, and the ball is immediately dead or out of play.

Rule 17

Hitting a partner with the ball immediately puts the ball out of play and counts as a miss for that side except during the service when the partner is standing with his back to the side wall as described in Rule 14.

Rule 18

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 without penalty to either side.

Rule 19

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

Rule 20

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 hinder if interfered with by an opponent 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 in order to discourage the 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 21

It is the duty of the referee to decide all hinders and covered balls without being appealed to by the players since most players dislike to make claims especially in close cases. The referee is not relieved of the duty of rendering a decision by the failure of a player to claim a hinder or a covered ball.

Rule 22

It is not a hinder when a player is interfered with by his partner.

Rule 23

Kicking the ball is not allowed.

Rule 24

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

Rule 25

After the completion of a rally the players shall be allowed a reasonable time to get into position, after which the referee shall call "play." If the server fails to serve the ball after the play is called the referee shall 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 of ten the server shall be declared out.

Rule 26

In all match games there shall be a referee and a score keeper who shall sit next to the referee. The referee is to be provided with a whistle to be used to indicate when play is stopped.

Rule 27

A player leaving the court without consent of the referee shall forfeit the match. There shall be a ten-minute rest between the second and third games of a match.

Rule 28

The referee's decision is final.

Rule 29

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

Rule 30

Every effort shall be made to keep the ball dry, particularly on the service. Deliberate violation of the spirit of this rule shall result in the loss of the serve.

Rule 31

If a player is incapacitated the match shall be forfeited to his opponent by the referee.

Rule 32

All officials for championship matches must be approved by the Championship Committee.