# A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1931 (historical)

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

**Historical rulebook, 1931** (not the current rules)
- Issued by: Amateur Athletic Union of the United States
- Date: 1931 (the year printed on the rulebook)
- Code: American four-wall
- Form: Full rulebook

## Contents

- [Rule 1](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/aau-fourwall-1931/1.md)
- [Rule 2](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/aau-fourwall-1931/2.md)
- [Rule 3](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/aau-fourwall-1931/3.md)
- [Rule 4](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/aau-fourwall-1931/4.md)
- [Rule 5](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/aau-fourwall-1931/5.md)
- [Rule 6](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/aau-fourwall-1931/6.md)
- [Rule 7](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/aau-fourwall-1931/7.md)
- [Rule 8](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/aau-fourwall-1931/8.md)
- [Rule 9](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/aau-fourwall-1931/9.md)
- [Rule 10](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/aau-fourwall-1931/10.md)
- [Rule 11](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/aau-fourwall-1931/11.md)
- [Rule 12](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/aau-fourwall-1931/12.md)
- [Rule 13](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/aau-fourwall-1931/13.md)
- [Rule 14](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/aau-fourwall-1931/14.md)
- [Rule 15](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/aau-fourwall-1931/15.md)
- [Rule 16](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/aau-fourwall-1931/16.md)
- [Rule 17](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/aau-fourwall-1931/17.md)
- [Rule 18](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/aau-fourwall-1931/18.md)
- [Rule 19](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/aau-fourwall-1931/19.md)
- [Rule 20](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/aau-fourwall-1931/20.md)
- [Rule 21](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/aau-fourwall-1931/21.md)
- [Rule 22](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/aau-fourwall-1931/22.md)
- [Rule 23](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/aau-fourwall-1931/23.md)
- [Rule 24](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/aau-fourwall-1931/24.md)
- [Rule 25](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/aau-fourwall-1931/25.md)
- [Rule 26](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/aau-fourwall-1931/26.md)
- [Rule 27](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/aau-fourwall-1931/27.md)
- [Rule 28](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/aau-fourwall-1931/28.md)
- [Rule 29](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/aau-fourwall-1931/29.md)
- [Rule 30](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/aau-fourwall-1931/30.md)
- [Rule 31](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/aau-fourwall-1931/31.md)
- [Rule 32](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/aau-fourwall-1931/32.md)
- [Rule 33](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/aau-fourwall-1931/33.md)
- [Rule 34](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/aau-fourwall-1931/34.md)

## A.A.U. Soft Ball Four-Wall Rules

### 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, 5 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 5 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

Specifications for standard handball:

Color—Black.

Diameter—1 7-8 inches, with 1-32-inch variation.

Weight—2.3 ounces, with a variation of .5-ounce.

Rebound—From 100-inch drop, 60 to 65 inches.

Compression—160 to 210 (Stevens Compression Machine, 18-lb. load).

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. Losers in the semi-final must play off for third place.

### 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 wears 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, between the service-line and the short-line, 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 service-line and the short-line.

### Rule 9

In doubles, each partner must serve his own hand. Failure to do so shall count as the side out, and points scored on the last hand shall not count.

### Rule 10

If a served ball hits the ceiling, floor, or either side wall before hitting the front wall, the server is out. A ball bouncing over the back wall, either on the serve or in play, or that is driven over the back wall without hitting the floor except on the serve, shall be a dead ball and shall be played over without penalty to either side.

### Rule 11

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 service line, or behind the short-line, while in the act of serving, it shall be termed a short ball. A served ball which rebounds from the front wall over the back wall and out of the court without touching the floor shall be termed a short ball.

### Rule 12

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

### Rule 13

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

### Rule 14

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

### Rule 15

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 16

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 17

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 18

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 1.

### Rule 19

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 20

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

### Rule 21

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 22

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 23

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

### Rule 24

Kicking the ball is not allowed. The intention is that the ball shall always be struck with the hand. If the ball is struck with any other portion of the body, the referee shall rule the ball dead and it shall be scored against the player.

### Rule 25

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 26

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 27

In all match games there shall be a referee and a scorekeeper, 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 28

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 29

The referee's decision is final.

### Rule 30

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

### Rule 31

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 32

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

### Rule 33

All officials for championship matches must be approved by the championship committee.

### Rule 34

In championship, as well as all open tournaments, it shall be permissible for two unattached players to compete as a team in doubles events, provided they are members of the same sectional association of the A.A.U.

## Terms in this rulebook

- [Appeal](https://handball.theperfectship.com/appeal.md): 22
- [Back wall](https://handball.theperfectship.com/back-wall.md): 1, 10, 11
- [Ball](https://handball.theperfectship.com/ball.md): 1, 2, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 31
- [Ceiling](https://handball.theperfectship.com/ceiling.md): 1, 10, 11
- [Change of serve (side-out)](https://handball.theperfectship.com/change-of-serve.md): 9, 17
- [Clock](https://handball.theperfectship.com/clock.md): 28
- [Coin](https://handball.theperfectship.com/coin.md): 4
- [Court](https://handball.theperfectship.com/court.md): 1, 11, 28
- [Doubles](https://handball.theperfectship.com/doubles.md): 9, 15, 21, 34
- [Floor](https://handball.theperfectship.com/floor.md): 1, 7, 10, 11, 15
- [Forfeit / default](https://handball.theperfectship.com/forfeit.md): 28, 30, 32
- [Four-wall](https://handball.theperfectship.com/four-wall.md): 1
- [Front wall](https://handball.theperfectship.com/front-wall.md): 1, 7, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17
- [Game, match, tiebreaker](https://handball.theperfectship.com/game.md): 3, 4, 27, 28
- [Gloves](https://handball.theperfectship.com/gloves.md): 6
- [Hinder](https://handball.theperfectship.com/hinder.md): 19, 20, 21, 22, 23
- [Opponent](https://handball.theperfectship.com/opponent.md): 15, 17, 21, 32
- [Partner](https://handball.theperfectship.com/partner.md): 1, 9, 14, 15, 18, 21, 23, 25
- [Player](https://handball.theperfectship.com/player.md): 5, 6, 13, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34
- [Point](https://handball.theperfectship.com/point.md): 3, 9, 15, 20
- [Rally](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rally.md): 26
- [Referee](https://handball.theperfectship.com/match-referee.md): 1, 2, 16, 20, 21, 22, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 32
- [Scorer](https://handball.theperfectship.com/scorer.md): 27
- [Serve](https://handball.theperfectship.com/serve.md): 1, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 26, 31
- [Server](https://handball.theperfectship.com/server.md): 1, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 26
- [Service line](https://handball.theperfectship.com/service-line.md): 1, 11
- [Short line](https://handball.theperfectship.com/short-line.md): 1
- [Short serve](https://handball.theperfectship.com/short-serve.md): 1, 11, 12, 13, 14
- [Side wall](https://handball.theperfectship.com/side-wall.md): 1, 10, 11, 18
- [Wall](https://handball.theperfectship.com/wall.md): 1, 7, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18

Printed title: A.A.U. Soft Ball Four-Wall Rules (in Charles J. O'Connell, How to Play Handball, 1931)

Source: Charles J. O'Connell, How to Play Handball ... Including Official Rules for Play and Diagrams of Court Construction (New York: American Sports Publishing Company, copyright 1931; Spalding's 'Red Cover' Series of Athletic Handbooks No. 114R), pp. 65-69; Ohio State University copy (HathiTrust osu.32435007267735), page screenshots saved by the user from HathiTrust's viewer. Public domain in the US.