# Rule 9 (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/

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

## Mentioned here

- [Server](https://handball.theperfectship.com/server.md)
- [Serve](https://handball.theperfectship.com/serve.md)
- [Front wall](https://handball.theperfectship.com/front-wall.md)
- [Side wall](https://handball.theperfectship.com/side-wall.md)
- [Ceiling](https://handball.theperfectship.com/ceiling.md)
- [Ball](https://handball.theperfectship.com/ball.md)
- [Wall](https://handball.theperfectship.com/wall.md)
- [Floor](https://handball.theperfectship.com/floor.md)

How this rule changed: [wording in every rulebook](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/clause-history/code-fourwall-american/10.md)

## Relationships

- Server relates to Serve: mentioned together in 5 sub-rules.
- Server relates to Front wall: mentioned together in 4 sub-rules.
- Server relates to Ball: mentioned together in 8 sub-rules.
- Server relates to Wall: mentioned together in 4 sub-rules.
- Server relates to Floor: mentioned together in 4 sub-rules.
- Serve relates to Ball: mentioned together in 7 sub-rules.
- Front wall relates to Ball: mentioned together in 6 sub-rules.
- Front wall relates to Wall: mentioned together in 6 sub-rules.
- Ball relates to Wall: mentioned together in 7 sub-rules.
- No link to the other terms shown: Ceiling, Side wall.
- 19 weaker links (terms mentioned together in few sub-rules) are not drawn.

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.