# Rule 11 (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/

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.

## Mentioned here

- [Server](https://handball.theperfectship.com/server.md)
- [Serve](https://handball.theperfectship.com/serve.md)
- [Short serve](https://handball.theperfectship.com/short-serve.md)
- [Court](https://handball.theperfectship.com/court.md)
- [Front wall](https://handball.theperfectship.com/front-wall.md)
- [Back wall](https://handball.theperfectship.com/back-wall.md)
- [Side wall](https://handball.theperfectship.com/side-wall.md)
- [Ceiling](https://handball.theperfectship.com/ceiling.md)
- [Service line](https://handball.theperfectship.com/service-line.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/4-3.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 Front wall: mentioned together in 4 sub-rules.
- Serve relates to Ball: mentioned together in 7 sub-rules.
- Serve relates to Wall: mentioned together in 4 sub-rules.
- Short serve relates to Ball: mentioned together in 4 sub-rules.
- Front wall relates to Ball: mentioned together in 6 sub-rules.
- Front wall relates to Wall: mentioned together in 6 sub-rules.
- Front wall relates to Floor: mentioned together in 4 sub-rules.
- Ball relates to Wall: mentioned together in 7 sub-rules.
- No link to the other terms shown: Back wall, Ceiling, Court, Service line, Side wall.
- 26 weaker links (terms mentioned together in few sub-rules) are not drawn.

Rulebook: [A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1931](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/aau-fourwall-1931.md)

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.