# Rule 10 Rule 10: how the wording changed (American four-wall)

7 rulebooks state this rule, from 1873 to 1931. No rewording or change was found.

## How to read this

- Added words are marked [+ like this +]; removed words [- like this -].
- Each rulebook says what kind of change it is: unchanged, punctuation only, moved, reworded or changed.
- A program matched each clause with the one before it. Automatic matches were made by the program alone; machine-reviewed ones were also checked by a second program. A person has not checked either.

## Rulebook by rulebook

| Date | Rulebook | Clauses, by kind of change |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1873 | James's Four-Wall Rules, 1873 | 1 first recorded |
| 1886 | Spalding Four-Wall Rules, 1886 | 1 punctuation only |
| 17 March 1889 | The Sun Four-Wall Rules, 1889 | 1 moved |
| 1 January 1920 | A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1 January 1920 | 1 first recorded |
| 1923 | A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1923 | 1 unchanged |
| 1928 | A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1928 | 1 first recorded |
| 1931 | A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1931 | 1 moved |

## The wording

### Rule 10, part 1 of 3

Begins: “If a ball struck by the player, strikes the…”

- **1873, James's Four-Wall Rules**: First recorded (automatic).

  > If a ball struck by the player, strikes the striker or his partner, it is a hinder, and it shall be played over again.

- **1886, Spalding Four-Wall Rules**: Punctuation only (automatic). Compared with James's Four-Wall Rules, 1873.

  > If a ball struck by the [- player, -] [+ player +] strikes the striker or his partner, it is a hinder, and it shall be played over again.
  
  1 word added, 1 removed.

- **17 March 1889, The Sun Four-Wall Rules**: Moved (automatic). Compared with Spalding Four-Wall Rules, 1886.

  Same words as the rulebook compared with.

### Rule 10, part 2 of 3

Begins: “Hitting the ceiling, floor or side walls before the…”

- **1 January 1920, A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules**: First recorded (automatic).

  > Hitting the ceiling, floor or side walls before the front wall while serving counts as a hand out.

- 1923, A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic).

### Rule 10, part 3 of 3

Begins: “If a served ball hits the ceiling, floor, or…”

- **1928, A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules**: First recorded (automatic).

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

- **1931, A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules**: Moved (automatic). Compared with A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1928.

  Same words as the rulebook compared with.

All rules: [clause history](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/clause-history/).