Clause history · American four-wall
Rule 3 Rule 3: 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 unchanged |
| 17 March 1889 | The Sun Four-Wall Rules, 1889 | 1 reworded |
| 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, 1 unchanged |
| 1931 | A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1931 | 2 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 3, part 1 of 3
Begins: “When a match is made, be it double or…”
1873 James's Four-Wall Rules
When a match is made, be it double or single, the players (after entering the court) shall toss for the first hand, the winner to have one hand only in the first inning.
- 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.
When a match is made, be it double or single, the players
(after entering the court)shall toss for the first hand, the winner to have one hand only in the first inning.4 words removed.
Rule 3, part 2 of 3
Begins: “Twenty-one points shall constitute a game.”
1 January 1920 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules
Twenty-one points shall constitute a game.
3 more rulebooks with the same words
- 1923 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules Unchanged automatic Read the rule
- 1928 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules Unchanged automatic Read the rule
- 1931 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules Unchanged automatic Read the rule
Rule 3, part 3 of 3
Begins: “All matches shall be the best two out of…”
1928 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules
All matches shall be the best two out of three games.
- 1931 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules Unchanged automatic Read the rule
All rules: clause history. The family tree is at Rulebooks.