Clause history · American four-wall
Rule 14 Rule 14: how the wording changed
7 rulebooks state this rule, from 1873 to 1931. The wording was reworded or changed 1 time.
How to read this page
- Added words are underlined and sit inside [+ +].
Removed wordsare struck through and sit inside [- -].- Each rulebook says in words what kind of change it is: unchanged (same wording as the rulebook it was compared with); punctuation only (only punctuation, spacing or capitals differ); moved (same wording, in another place or under another number); reworded (the sense is the same, said in other words); changed (the rule now says something different).
- 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, so a wrong match is possible.
Rulebook by rulebook
The table has one row per rulebook; each date jumps to its wording below.
| Date | Rulebook | Clauses, by kind of change |
|---|---|---|
| 1873 | James's Four-Wall Rules, 1873 | 1 first recorded |
| 1886 | Spalding Four-Wall Rules, 1886 | 1 unchanged |
| 17 March 1889 | The Sun Four-Wall Rules, 1889 | 1 moved |
| 1 January 1920 | A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1 January 1920 | 2 first recorded |
| 1923 | A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1923 | 2 unchanged |
| 1928 | A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1928 | 1 changed |
| 1931 | A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1931 | 1 unchanged |
The wording
Each part of the rule is followed on its own, oldest rulebook first. Rulebooks of other codes that borrowed the wording appear in their place by date.
Rule 14, part 1 of 3
Begins: “When the player is about to strike the ball…”
1873 James's Four-Wall Rules
When the player is about to strike the ball and his opponent jostles him or gets in his way intentionally, it is an ace or a hand out.
- 1886 Spalding Four-Wall Rules Unchanged automatic Read the rule
17 March 1889 The Sun Four-Wall Rules
Compared with Spalding Four-Wall Rules, 1886.
When the player is about to strike the
ballball, and his opponent jostles him or gets in his way intentionally, it is an ace or a hand out.1 word added, 1 removed.
Rule 14, part 2 of 3
Begins: “The server or his partner may stop a short…”
1 January 1920 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules
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.
- 1923 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules Unchanged automatic Read the rule
1928 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules
Compared with A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1923.
The server or his partner may stopIf a short ballafter it touches the floor and before it has beenis touched or stopped by theopposing side.server or his partner the server is out.12 words added, 19 removed.
- 1931 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules Unchanged automatic Read the rule
Rule 14, part 3 of 3
Begins: “While his partner is serving a player should stand…”
1 January 1920 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules
While his partner is serving a player should stand between the lines with his back to the wall and while in this position it does not count as a hand out if he is struck by a served ball.
- 1923 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules Unchanged automatic Read the rule
All rules: clause history. The family tree is at Rulebooks.