# Rule 3.4 Referee: how the wording changed (American four-wall) 41 rulebooks state this rule, from 20 June 1990 to 26 January 2025. The wording was reworded or changed 12 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 | | --- | --- | --- | | 20 June 1990 | USHA Four-Wall Rules, 20 June 1990 | 1 first recorded | | 31 January 1999 | USHA Four-Wall Rules, 31 January 1999 | 1 changed | | 31 January 1999 | American four-wall, 31 January 1999 | 1 changed | | 19 January 2005 | USHA Three-Wall Addendum, December 2004 | 1 unchanged | | 15 April 2005 | USHA Four-Wall Rules, 16 January 2005 | 1 reworded | | June 2006 | USHA Four-Wall Rule Changes, June 2006 | 1 first recorded, 1 unchanged | | June 2006 | American one-wall, small ball, June 2006 | 1 punctuation only | | June 2006 | USHA One-Wall Rules, June 2006 | 1 first recorded | | May 2007 | USHA Four-Wall Rule Changes, May 2007 | 2 unchanged | | 13 October 2007 | American three-wall, 13 October 2007 | 1 reworded | | June 2008 | USHA One-Wall Rules, June 2008 | 1 unchanged | | 2012 | USHA Four-Wall Rules, 2012 | 1 unchanged, 1 moved | | 2014 | USHA Four-Wall Rules, 2014 | 1 unchanged, 1 changed | | January 2014 | USHA One-Wall Rules, January 2014 | 1 unchanged | | 6 February 2015 | USHA Four-Wall Rules, 6 February 2015 | 1 unchanged, 1 punctuation only | | 6 February 2015 | USHA One-Wall Addendum, 6 February 2015 | 1 moved, 1 changed | | 6 February 2015 | USHA Three-Wall Addendum, 6 February 2015 | 1 unchanged, 1 changed | | 22 January 2017 | USHA Four-Wall Rules, 22 January 2017 | 2 unchanged | | 22 January 2017 | USHA One-Wall Addendum, 22 January 2017 | 2 unchanged | | 22 January 2017 | USHA Three-Wall Addendum, 22 January 2017 | 2 unchanged | | 27 January 2019 | USHA Four-Wall Rules, 27 January 2019 | 1 unchanged, 1 moved | | 27 January 2019 | USHA One-Wall Rules, 27 January 2019 | 1 moved | | 12 July 2019 | American four-wall, 12 July 2019 | 2 unchanged | | 12 July 2019 | American one-wall, small ball, 12 July 2019 | 1 unchanged | | 26 January 2020 | USHA Four-Wall Rules, 26 January 2020 | 1 unchanged, 1 changed | | 26 January 2020 | USHA One-Wall Rules, 26 January 2020 | 1 unchanged | | 20 September 2020 | USHA One-Wall Rules, September 2020 | 1 unchanged | | 21 September 2020 | USHA Four-Wall Rules, September 2020 | 2 unchanged | | 22 January 2021 | USHA Four-Wall Rules, 22 January 2021 | 2 unchanged | | 22 January 2021 | USHA One-Wall Rules, 22 January 2021 | 1 unchanged | | 9 December 2021 | USHA Four-Wall Rules, December 2021 | 2 unchanged | | 23 January 2022 | USHA Four-Wall Rules, 23 January 2022 | 2 unchanged | | 23 January 2022 | USHA One-Wall Rules, 23 January 2022 | 1 unchanged | | 27 November 2022 | American four-wall, 27 November 2022 | 2 unchanged | | 17 January 2024 | American four-wall, 17 January 2024 | 2 unchanged | | 26 January 2024 | USHA Four-Wall Rules, 26 January 2024 | 1 unchanged, 1 changed | | 26 January 2024 | USHA One-Wall Rules, 26 January 2024 | 1 changed | | 17 July 2024 | American one-wall, small ball, 17 July 2024 | 1 unchanged | | 26 January 2025 | USHA Four-Wall Rulebook, 26 January 2025 | 2 unchanged | | 26 January 2025 | USHA One-Wall Rulebook, 26 January 2025 | 1 unchanged | | 26 January 2025 | USHA Three-Wall Addendum, 26 January 2025 | 2 changed | ## The wording ### Rule 3.4, item 5 Begins: “5) Player forfeiture. A match must be played in…” - **June 2006, USHA Four-Wall Rule Changes**: First recorded (automatic). > 5) Player forfeiture. A match must be played in its entirety with both players/teams on the court (See Rule 3.4.D.4.b). Partial forfeits, such as any player forfeiting the second game and progressing directly to a tiebreaker, are not allowed. A forfeit of any part of a match shall result in the forfeit of the entire match. - **June 2006, American one-wall, small ball**: Punctuation only (automatic). Compared with USHA One-Wall Rules, June 2006. > [- 5.) -] [+ 5) +] Player forfeiture. A match must be played in its entirety with both players/teams on the court (See Rule 3.4.D.4.b). Partial forfeits, such as any player forfeiting the second game and progressing directly to a tiebreaker, are not allowed. A forfeit of any part of a match shall result in the forfeit of the entire match. 1 word added, 1 removed. - **June 2006, USHA One-Wall Rules**: First recorded (automatic). > 5.) Player forfeiture. A match must be played in its entirety with both players/teams on the court (See Rule 3.4.D.4.b). Partial forfeits, such as any player forfeiting the second game and progressing directly to a tiebreaker, are not allowed. A forfeit of any part of a match shall result in the forfeit of the entire match. - May 2007, USHA Four-Wall Rule Changes: Unchanged (automatic). Same words as USHA Four-Wall Rule Changes, June 2006. - June 2008, USHA One-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic). Same words as USHA One-Wall Rules, June 2006. - **2012, USHA Four-Wall Rules**: Moved (automatic). Compared with USHA Four-Wall Rule Changes, May 2007. Same words as the rulebook compared with. 3 more rulebooks with the same words: - 2014, USHA Four-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic). - January 2014, USHA One-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic). Same words as USHA One-Wall Rules, June 2008. - 6 February 2015, USHA Four-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic). Same words as USHA Four-Wall Rules, 2014. - **6 February 2015, USHA One-Wall Addendum**: Moved (automatic). Compared with USHA One-Wall Rules, January 2014. > [- 5.) -] [+ 5) +] Player forfeiture. A match must be played in its entirety with both players/teams on the court (See Rule 3.4.D.4.b). Partial forfeits, such as any player forfeiting the second game and progressing directly to a tiebreaker, are not allowed. A forfeit of any part of a match shall result in the forfeit of the entire match. 1 word added, 1 removed. 4 more rulebooks with the same words: - 6 February 2015, USHA Three-Wall Addendum: Unchanged (automatic). Same words as USHA Four-Wall Rules, 6 February 2015. - 22 January 2017, USHA Four-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic). Same words as USHA Four-Wall Rules, 6 February 2015. - 22 January 2017, USHA One-Wall Addendum: Unchanged (automatic). Same words as USHA One-Wall Addendum, 6 February 2015. - 22 January 2017, USHA Three-Wall Addendum: Unchanged (automatic). Same words as USHA Three-Wall Addendum, 6 February 2015. - **27 January 2019, USHA Four-Wall Rules**: Moved (automatic). Compared with USHA Four-Wall Rules, 22 January 2017. Same words as the rulebook compared with. - **27 January 2019, USHA One-Wall Rules**: Moved (automatic). Compared with USHA One-Wall Addendum, 22 January 2017. > [- 5) -] [+ 5.) +] Player forfeiture. A match must be played in its entirety with both players/teams on the court (See Rule 3.4.D.4.b). Partial forfeits, such as any player forfeiting the second game and progressing directly to a tiebreaker, are not allowed. A forfeit of any part of a match shall result in the forfeit of the entire match. 1 word added, 1 removed. 13 more rulebooks with the same words: - 12 July 2019, American four-wall: Unchanged (automatic). Same words as USHA Four-Wall Rules, 27 January 2019. - 12 July 2019, American one-wall, small ball: Unchanged (automatic). Same words as USHA One-Wall Rules, 27 January 2019. - 26 January 2020, USHA Four-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic). Same words as American four-wall, 12 July 2019. - 26 January 2020, USHA One-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic). Same words as American one-wall, small ball, 12 July 2019. - 20 September 2020, USHA One-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic). - 21 September 2020, USHA Four-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic). Same words as USHA Four-Wall Rules, 26 January 2020. - 22 January 2021, USHA Four-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic). - 22 January 2021, USHA One-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic). Same words as USHA One-Wall Rules, September 2020. - 9 December 2021, USHA Four-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic). Same words as USHA Four-Wall Rules, 22 January 2021. - 23 January 2022, USHA Four-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic). - 23 January 2022, USHA One-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic). Same words as USHA One-Wall Rules, 22 January 2021. - 27 November 2022, American four-wall: Unchanged (automatic). Same words as USHA Four-Wall Rules, 23 January 2022. - 17 January 2024, American four-wall: Unchanged (automatic). - **26 January 2024, USHA Four-Wall Rules**: Changed (machine-reviewed). Compared with American four-wall, 17 January 2024. > 5) Player forfeiture. A match must be played in its entirety with both players/teams on the court (See Rule 3.4.D.4.b). Partial forfeits, such as any player forfeiting the second game and progressing directly to a tiebreaker, are not allowed. A forfeit of any part of a match shall result in the forfeit of the entire match. [+ In round robin format forfeit of one match will not require a forfeit from that event. A forfeit in one event shall not result in a forfeit of any other event. +] 31 words added. - **26 January 2024, USHA One-Wall Rules**: Changed (machine-reviewed). Compared with USHA One-Wall Rules, 23 January 2022. > 5.) Player forfeiture. A match must be played in its entirety with both players/teams on the court (See Rule 3.4.D.4.b). Partial forfeits, such as any player forfeiting the second game and progressing directly to a tiebreaker, are not allowed. A forfeit of any part of a match shall result in the forfeit of the entire match. [+ In round robin format forfeit of one match will not require a forfeit from that event. A forfeit in one event shall not result in a forfeit of any other event. +] 31 words added. - 17 July 2024, American one-wall, small ball: Unchanged (automatic). - 26 January 2025, USHA Four-Wall Rulebook: Unchanged (automatic). Same words as USHA Four-Wall Rules, 26 January 2024. - **26 January 2025, USHA One-Wall Rulebook**: Unchanged (automatic). Compared with American one-wall, small ball, 17 July 2024. > 5.) Player forfeiture. A match must be played in its entirety with both players/teams on the court (See Rule 3.4.D.4.b). Partial forfeits, such as any player forfeiting the second game and progressing directly to a tiebreaker, are not allowed. A forfeit of any part of a match shall result in the forfeit of the entire match. [+ > +] In round robin format forfeit of one match will not require a forfeit from that event. [+ > +] A forfeit in one event shall not result in a forfeit of any other event. no words changed. - **26 January 2025, USHA Three-Wall Addendum**: Changed (automatic). Compared with USHA Three-Wall Addendum, 22 January 2017. > 5) Player forfeiture. A match must be played in its entirety with both players/teams on the court (See Rule 3.4.D.4.b). Partial forfeits, such as any player forfeiting the second game and progressing directly to a tiebreaker, are not allowed. A forfeit of any part of a match shall result in the forfeit of the entire match. [+ In round robin format forfeit of one match will not require a forfeit from that event. A forfeit in one event shall not result in a forfeit of any other event. +] 31 words added. ### Rule 3.4, item B Begins: “B. Decisions. The referee shall make all decisions with…” - **20 June 1990, USHA Four-Wall Rules**: First recorded (automatic). > B. Decisions. > The referee shall make all decisions with regard to the rules. > Where line judges are used, the referee shall announce all final judgments. > In the absence of line judges, if both players in singles or three out of four in a doubles match disagree with a call made by the referee, the referee should consider reversing his call. - **31 January 1999, USHA Four-Wall Rules**: Changed (machine-reviewed). Compared with USHA Four-Wall Rules, 20 June 1990. > B. Decisions. [- > -] The referee shall make all decisions with regard to the [- rules. > -] [+ rules and the referee has the authority to change his call. +] Where line judges are used, the referee shall announce all final judgments. [- > -] In the absence of line judges, if both players in singles or three out of four in a doubles match disagree with a call made by the referee, the referee should consider reversing his call. 11 words added, 1 removed. - **31 January 1999, American four-wall**: Changed (machine-reviewed). Compared with USHA Four-Wall Rules, 20 June 1990. > B. Decisions. [- > -] The referee shall make all decisions with regard to the [- rules. > -] [+ rules and the referee has the authority to change his call. +] Where line judges are used, the referee shall announce all final judgments. [- > -] In the absence of line judges, if both players in singles or three out of four in a doubles match disagree with a call made by the referee, the referee should consider reversing his call. 11 words added, 1 removed. - 19 January 2005, USHA Three-Wall Addendum: Unchanged (automatic). - **15 April 2005, USHA Four-Wall Rules**: Reworded (machine-reviewed). Compared with American four-wall, 31 January 1999. > B. Decisions. The referee shall make all decisions with regard to the rules and the referee has the authority to change [- his -] [+ his/her +] call. Where line judges are used, the referee shall announce all final judgments. In the absence of line judges, if both players in singles or three out of four in a doubles match disagree with a call made by the referee, the referee should consider reversing [- his -] [+ his/her +] call. 2 words added, 2 removed. - June 2006, USHA Four-Wall Rule Changes: Unchanged (automatic). - May 2007, USHA Four-Wall Rule Changes: Unchanged (automatic). - **13 October 2007, American three-wall**: Reworded (automatic). Compared with American four-wall, 31 January 1999. > B. Decisions. The referee shall make all decisions with regard to the rules and the referee has the authority to change [- his -] [+ his/her +] call. Where line judges are used, the referee shall announce all final judgments. In the absence of line judges, if both players in singles or three out of four in a doubles match disagree with a call made by the referee, the referee should consider reversing [- his -] [+ his/her +] call. 2 words added, 2 removed. - 2012, USHA Four-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic). Same words as USHA Four-Wall Rule Changes, May 2007. - **2014, USHA Four-Wall Rules**: Changed (machine-reviewed). Compared with USHA Four-Wall Rules, 2012. > B. Decisions. The referee shall make all decisions with regard to the rules and the referee has the authority to change his/her call. Where line judges are used, the referee shall announce all final judgments. In the absence of line judges, if both players in singles or three out of four in a doubles match disagree with a call made by the referee, the referee should consider reversing his/her call. [+ The Chief of referees and/or tournament director who has witnessed a violation of Rule 4.9. Technicals may enforce the application of the technical. (See Rule 4.9 Technicals). +] 27 words added. - **6 February 2015, USHA Four-Wall Rules**: Punctuation only (automatic). Compared with USHA Four-Wall Rules, 2014. > B. Decisions. The referee shall make all decisions with regard to the rules and the referee has the authority to change his/her call. Where line judges are used, the referee shall announce all final judgments. In the absence of line judges, if both players in singles or three out of four in a doubles match disagree with a call made by the referee, the referee should consider reversing his/her call. The Chief of [- referees -] [+ Referees +] and/or [- tournament director -] [+ Tournament Director +] who has witnessed a violation of Rule [- 4.9. -] [+ 4.9 +] Technicals may enforce the application of the [- technical. -] [+ Technical +] (See [- Rule -] [+ Rule. +] 4.9 Technicals). 6 words added, 6 removed. - **6 February 2015, USHA One-Wall Addendum**: Changed (automatic). Compared with USHA Four-Wall Rules, 6 February 2015. > [- B. -] [+ A. +] Decisions. The referee [+ will be positioned behind the receiving side and +] shall make all decisions with regard to the rules and the referee has the authority to change [- his/her -] [+ his +] call. Where line judges are used, the referee shall announce all final judgments. [- In the absence of line judges, if both players in singles or three out of four in a doubles match disagree with a call made by the referee, the referee should consider reversing his/her call. The Chief of Referees and/or Tournament Director who has witnessed a violation of Rule 4.9 Technicals may enforce the application of the Technical (See Rule. 4.9 Technicals). -] 10 words added, 64 removed. - **6 February 2015, USHA Three-Wall Addendum**: Changed (automatic). Compared with USHA Three-Wall Addendum, December 2004. > B. Decisions. The referee shall make all decisions with regard to the rules and the referee has the authority to change [- his -] [+ his/her +] call. Where line judges are used, the referee shall announce all final judgments. In the absence of line judges, if both players in singles or three out of four in a doubles match disagree with a call made by the referee, the referee should consider reversing [- his -] [+ his/her +] call. [+ The Chief of Referees and/or Tournament Director who has witnessed a violation of Rule 4.9 Technicals may enforce the application of the Technical (See Rule. 4.9 Technicals). +] 29 words added, 2 removed. 5 more rulebooks with the same words: - 22 January 2017, USHA Four-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic). Same words as USHA Four-Wall Rules, 6 February 2015. - 22 January 2017, USHA One-Wall Addendum: Unchanged (automatic). Same words as USHA One-Wall Addendum, 6 February 2015. - 22 January 2017, USHA Three-Wall Addendum: Unchanged (automatic). Same words as USHA Three-Wall Addendum, 6 February 2015. - 27 January 2019, USHA Four-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic). Same words as USHA Four-Wall Rules, 22 January 2017. - 12 July 2019, American four-wall: Unchanged (automatic). - **26 January 2020, USHA Four-Wall Rules**: Changed (machine-reviewed). Compared with American four-wall, 12 July 2019. > B. Decisions. The referee shall make all decisions with regard to the rules and the referee has the authority to change his/her [- call. -] [+ call (See Rule 3.7 Appeals). +] Where line judges are used, the referee shall announce all final judgments. In the absence of line judges, if both players in singles or three out of four in a doubles match disagree with a call made by the referee, the referee should consider reversing his/her call. [+ Any reversal must be completed before the referee announces the score for the next rally. On the final rally of any game such reversal must come in a reasonable time after the rally, consistent with the amount of time that would normally transpire from the end of a rally to the subsequent calling of the score. +] The Chief of Referees and/or Tournament Director who has witnessed a violation of Rule 4.9 Technicals may enforce the application of the Technical (See Rule. 4.9 Technicals). 61 words added, 1 removed. 8 more rulebooks with the same words: - 21 September 2020, USHA Four-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic). - 22 January 2021, USHA Four-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic). - 9 December 2021, USHA Four-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic). - 23 January 2022, USHA Four-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic). - 27 November 2022, American four-wall: Unchanged (automatic). - 17 January 2024, American four-wall: Unchanged (automatic). - 26 January 2024, USHA Four-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic). - 26 January 2025, USHA Four-Wall Rulebook: Unchanged (automatic). - **26 January 2025, USHA Three-Wall Addendum**: Changed (automatic). Compared with USHA Three-Wall Addendum, 22 January 2017. > B. Decisions. The referee shall make all decisions with regard to the rules and the referee has the authority to change his/her [- call. -] [+ call (See Rule 3.7 Appeals). +] Where line judges are used, the referee shall announce all final judgments. In the absence of line judges, if both players in singles or three out of four in a doubles match disagree with a call made by the referee, the referee should consider reversing his/her call. [+ Any reversal must be completed before the referee announces the score for the next rally. On the final rally of any game such reversal must come in a reasonable time after the rally, consistent with the amount of time that would normally transpire from the end of a rally to the subsequent calling of the score. +] The Chief of Referees and/or Tournament Director who has witnessed a violation of Rule 4.9 Technicals may enforce the application of the Technical (See Rule. 4.9 Technicals). 61 words added, 1 removed. All rules: [clause history](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/clause-history/).