# Rule 23 Rule 23: how the wording changed (American four-wall)

7 rulebooks state this rule, from 1873 to 1931. The wording was reworded or changed 1 time.

## 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 changed |
| 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 first recorded |
| 1931 | A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1931 | 1 unchanged |

## The wording

### Rule 23, part 1 of 4

Begins: “In case there are only boundary lines drawn, and…”

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

  > In case there are only boundary lines drawn, and no side walls, if the ball after striking the front wall rebounds outside the side boundary line, such ball is foul and not to be played to.

- **1886, Spalding Four-Wall Rules**: Changed (machine-reviewed). Compared with James's Four-Wall Rules, 1873.

  > In case there are only boundary lines drawn, and no side walls, if the ball after striking the front wall rebounds outside the side boundary line, such ball is [- foul -] [+ foul, +] and [- not to be played to. -] [+ is a hand out. +]
  
  5 words added, 6 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 23, part 2 of 4

Begins: “It is the duty of the side that has…”

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

  > It is the duty of the side that has played the ball to keep out of the way of the side that is playing and under no circumstances shall a player be forced to run around an adversary in order to reach the ball.

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

### Rule 23, part 3 of 4

Begins: “Hinders when claimed should generally be allowed unless clearly…”

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

  > Hinders when claimed should generally be allowed unless clearly in the opinion of the referee there was no hinder.

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

### Rule 23, part 4 of 4

Begins: “It is not a hinder when a player is…”

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

  > It is not a hinder when a player is interfered with by his partner.

- 1931, A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic).

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