Clause history · American four-wall
Rule 22 Rule 22: how the wording changed
5 rulebooks state this rule, from 1873 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 1928 | A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1928 | 2 first recorded |
| 1931 | A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1931 | 1 unchanged, 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 22, part 1 of 3
Begins: “If the striker in serving the ball strikes himself…”
1873 James's Four-Wall Rules
If the striker in serving the ball strikes himself or his partner with the ball and it goes over the ace line, it is at the option of the player whether he plays to it or not, as it can be called a hinder.
- 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.
Same words as the rulebook it was compared with. Nothing to mark.
Rule 22, part 2 of 3
Begins: “It is the duty of the referee to decide…”
1928 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules
It is the duty of the referee to decide all hinders and covered balls without being appealed to by the players since most players dislike to make claims especially in close cases.
1931 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules
Compared with A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1928.
It is the duty of the referee to decide all hinders and covered balls without being appealed to by the
playersplayers, since most players dislike to makeclaimsclaims, especially in close cases.2 words added, 2 removed.
Rule 22, part 3 of 3
Begins: “The referee is not relieved of the duty of…”
1928 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules
The referee is not relieved of the duty of rendering a decision by the failure of a player to claim a hinder or a covered ball.
- 1931 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules Unchanged automatic Read the rule
All rules: clause history. The family tree is at Rulebooks.