# Rule 26 Rule 26: how the wording changed (American four-wall)

4 rulebooks state this rule, from 1 January 1920 to 1931. No rewording or change was found.

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 January 1920 | A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1 January 1920 | 1 first recorded |
| 1923 | A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1923 | 1 unchanged |
| 1928 | A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1928 | 1 first recorded |
| 1931 | A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1931 | 1 moved |

## The wording

### Rule 26, part 1 of 2

Begins: “In doubles it is customary to serve to the…”

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

  > In doubles it is customary to serve to the adversaries alternately but this is not compulsory.

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

### Rule 26, part 2 of 2

Begins: “After the completion of a rally the players shall…”

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

  > After the completion of a rally the players shall be allowed a reasonable time to get into position, after which the referee shall call "play." If the server fails to serve the ball after the play is called the referee shall count ten as nearly as possible at the rate of one count per second and if the ball is not served before the completion of the count of ten the server shall be declared out.

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

  > After the completion of a rally the players shall be allowed a reasonable time to get into position, after which the referee shall call "play." If the server fails to serve the ball after the play is [- called -] [+ called, +] the referee shall count ten as nearly as possible at the rate of one count per second and if the ball is not served before the completion of the count of ten the server shall be declared out.
  
  1 word added, 1 removed.

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