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A.A.U. One-Wall Rules, 20 November 1927

Historical rulebook: not the current rules. The current rules are here (USHA One-Wall Rulebook, as of 26 January 2025).

Historical

Historical rulebook, 20 November 1927

Issued by
Amateur Athletic Union of the United States
Dated
20 November 1927 (the date the rules were adopted)
Code
American one-wall, small ball
Form
Full rulebook

A.A.U. One-Wall Rules

Rule 1

Standard one-wall courts shall be 20 feet in width by 34 feet in length and the wall to be 16 feet in height. The short line to be 14 feet from the board. That there shall be a line parallel to the short line or markers on the floor marking an imaginary line nine (9 feet) behind the short line. This line will be known as the service line.

Rule 2

Ball to be standard rubber handball, Spalding No. 101, or similar thereto.

Rule 3

Twenty-one points shall constitute a game. Preliminary matches shall be two out of three games; semi-final and final matches shall be three out of five games.

Rule 4

First service shall be determined by the toss of a coin by the Referee. Service shall alternate for each additional game.

Rule 5

If the players cannot agree upon a ball a new ball shall be selected by the referee.

Rule 6

In serving, the ball must be bounced on the floor within the square formed by the two side lines, the short and the service line, and struck on the first bounce. Missing the ball puts the server out. The server has the privilege of several attempts at bouncing the ball before serving.

Rule 7

The server must stand between the short line and the service line before commencing his service, with at least one foot between the side lines, and must not step over the short line while serving. Stepping over the short line while serving (or serving with both feet outside of the court) shall be counted a fault the same as a short or long ball. Doing so twice in succession shall be counted a hand out. The receiver must stand back of the service line until the ball passes the short line.

Rule 8

The server must serve the ball so that it will first strike the board and bounce from the board across the short line within the area formed by the two side lines, the short line and the rear line.

Rule 9

Two short balls in succession, or two long balls in succession, or a short ball and a long ball in succession, shall count as a hand out.

Rule 10

A ball served outside of the side line shall count as a hand out.

Rule 11

Hitting the ceiling, floor or any other part of the room before the front wall while serving counts as a hand out.

Rule 12

If either side catches or stops the ball on the service, or play before it hits the floor, it counts as a hand out or a point against the offending side.

Rule 13

The receiver cannot play a short nor a long ball. The server or his partner may stop a short ball after it touches the floor and before it has been touched by the opposing side.

Rule 14

While his partner is serving, the player must stand outside of the side lines and must not enter the court until the served ball has passed beyond him on its return from the front wall.

Rule 15

The receiver may strike the ball in returning same on the fly or on the first bounce.

Rule 16

After the receiver strikes the ball, it must return to the front wall before hitting the floor and bound back into the court.

Rule 17

If the receiver fails to return the ball it counts as a tally for the side serving. If the server fails to return the adversary's play, it counts as hand out.

Rule 18

If a player strikes the ball and it hits an adversary before striking the floor or the front wall, the ball is dead and the point must be played over.

Rule 19

If a ball before it is dead touches a player on the way back from the front wall, it is charged against the player touched and the ball is immediately out of play.

Rule 20

Hitting a partner with the ball immediately puts the ball out of play and it is charged against that side.

Rule 21

If a player is interfered with by his opponent he may claim a hinder, which shall be decided by the referee.

Rule 22

A player being interfered with by an opponent in playing the ball may claim a hinder, unless his opponent after having played the ball shall have stood still, in which case no hinder shall be allowed. The decision of the referee shall govern.

Rule 23

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 decision on a hinder, even though it might be the partner's ball and notwithstanding that the partner may be attempting to play the ball or that he may have already missed it.

Rule 24

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

Rule 25

It is the duty of the referee to decide all hinders without being appealed to by the players as it is often distasteful to a player to make claim, especially in close cases, and failure to claim a hinder does not relieve the referee from the duty of rendering a decision.

Rule 26

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

Rule 27

A player may not claim a hinder when interfered with by his partner.

Rule 28

Kicking the ball is not allowed.

Rule 29

In all match games there should be a linesman on each line, a referee and scorekeeper, who should sit next to the referee.

Rule 30

During tournament or match play, leaving the court without consent of referee forfeits the series. Between the second and third games in the preliminaries there shall be a rest period of ten minutes, and also a rest period for ten minutes between the third and fourth games in the semi-finals and finals.

Rule 31

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

Rule 32

The referee's decision is final.

Rule 33

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

Rule 34

Drawings may be made either 48 or 72 hours before the scheduled time of the contest and the method of drawing shall be approved by the Handball Committee. (See A.A.U. Official Handbook—Spalding's Athletic Library.)

Rule 35

If a ball strikes the ceiling or other obstructions either in going or coming from the front wall, it shall be charged against the player who struck the ball.

Rule 36

In the event that a player is incapacitated, the match must be forfeited to his opponent by the referee.

Rule 37

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

Terms in this rulebook

Each glossary term this rulebook uses, with the rules that use it (matched on the wording of its date).

About this rulebook

Printed title
One-Wall Playing Rules (in Spalding's Official Handball Guide, 1928)
Rules or sections
37
Source
Spalding's Official Handball Guide, 1928 (Google Books 9jNMAQAAMAAJ, full view; LC 28012960). Public domain.