Clause history · American four-wall
Rule 17 Rule 17: how the wording changed
4 rulebooks state this rule, from 1 January 1920 to 1931. No rewording or change was found.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 first recorded |
| 1931 | A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1931 | 1 moved |
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 17, part 1 of 3
Begins: “If a ball hits an adversary on the way…”
1 January 1920 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules
If a ball hits an adversary on the way to the front wall and afterwards reaches the front wall before touching the floor, it is in play.
- 1923 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules Unchanged automatic Read the rule
Rule 17, part 2 of 3
Begins: “All balls striking players on the return are hinders…”
1 January 1920 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules
All balls striking players on the return are hinders or points.
- 1923 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules Unchanged automatic Read the rule
Rule 17, part 3 of 3
Begins: “If a ball, while in play, touches a player…”
1928 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules
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.
1931 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules
Compared with A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1928.
If a
ball,ball while inplay,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.2 words added, 2 removed.
All rules: clause history. The family tree is at Rulebooks.