# Rule 20 Rule 20: how the wording changed (American four-wall)

7 rulebooks state this rule, from 1873 to 1931. The wording was reworded or changed 2 times.

## 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 changed |
| 1928 | A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1928 | 1 changed |
| 1931 | A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1931 | 1 moved |

## The wording

### Rule 20, part 1 of 2

Begins: “In all cases when a ball is taken foul…”

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

  > In all cases when a ball is taken foul and the players play it or not, it shall be decided as a foul ball.

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

  > In all cases when a ball is taken foul and the players play it or [- not, -] [+ not +] it shall be decided as a foul ball.
  
  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 20, part 2 of 2

Begins: “When, in the opinion of the referee, the ball…”

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

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

- **1923, A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules**: Changed (machine-reviewed). Compared with A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1 January 1920.

  > When, in the opinion of the referee, [- the ball is covered intentionally or -] a player is hindered intentionally he should decide that point against the offending player.
  
  6 words removed.

- **1928, A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules**: Changed (machine-reviewed). Compared with A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1923.

  > [- When, -] [+ When +] in the opinion of the referee, a player is hindered intentionally he [- should -] [+ shall +] decide [- that -] [+ the +] point against the offending player.
  
  3 words added, 3 removed.

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

  > [- When -] [+ When, +] in the opinion of the referee, a player is hindered intentionally he shall decide the point against the offending player.
  
  1 word added, 1 removed.

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