# Rule 21 (A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1928, historical)

> **Historical rulebook: not the current rules.** The current rules are here: https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/

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.

## Mentioned here

- [Player](https://handball.theperfectship.com/player.md)
- [Referee](https://handball.theperfectship.com/match-referee.md)
- [Hinder](https://handball.theperfectship.com/hinder.md)
- [Appeal](https://handball.theperfectship.com/appeal.md)
- [Ball](https://handball.theperfectship.com/ball.md)

How this rule changed: [wording in every rulebook](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/clause-history/code-fourwall-american/22.md)

## Relationships

- Player relates to Referee: mentioned together in 7 sub-rules.
- Player relates to Hinder: mentioned together in 5 sub-rules.
- Player relates to Ball: mentioned together in 7 sub-rules.
- Referee relates to Hinder: mentioned together in 3 sub-rules.
- Referee relates to Ball: mentioned together in 5 sub-rules.
- Hinder relates to Ball: mentioned together in 3 sub-rules.
- No link to the other terms shown: Appeal.

Rulebook: [A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1928](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/aau-fourwall-1928.md)

Source: Spalding's Official Handball Guide, ed. Robert L. Ripley (New York: American Sports Publishing Company, copyright 1928; Spalding 'Red Cover' Series No. 114R), pp. 31-33; Ohio State University copy (HathiTrust osu.32435000469544; Google Books 9jNMAQAAMAAJ), user-supplied whole-item PDF. Public domain.