Clause history · American four-wall
Rule 23 Rule 23: 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 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
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 23, part 1 of 4
Begins: “In case there are only boundary lines drawn, and…”
1873 James's Four-Wall Rules
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
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
foulfoul, andnot to be played to.is a hand out.5 words added, 6 removed.
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 23, part 2 of 4
Begins: “It is the duty of the side that has…”
1 January 1920 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules
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 Read the rule
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
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 Read the rule
Rule 23, part 4 of 4
Begins: “It is not a hinder when a player is…”
1928 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules
It is not a hinder when a player is interfered with by his partner.
- 1931 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules Unchanged automatic Read the rule
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