# Rule 30 Rule 30: how the wording changed (American four-wall)

4 rulebooks state this rule, from 1 January 1920 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 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 January 1920 | A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1 January 1920 | 2 first recorded |
| 1923 | A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1923 | 1 unchanged, 1 punctuation only |
| 1928 | A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1928 | 1 reworded |
| 1931 | A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1931 | 1 unchanged |

## The wording

### Rule 30, part 1 of 2

Begins: “During Tournament or match play, leaving the court without…”

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

  > During Tournament or match play, leaving the court without consent of adversary forfeits the series unless excused by the referee.

- **1923, A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules**: Punctuation only (automatic). Compared with A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1 January 1920.

  > During [- Tournament -] [+ tournament +] or match play, leaving the court without consent of adversary forfeits the series unless excused by the referee.
  
  1 word added, 1 removed.

### Rule 30, part 2 of 2

Begins: “Any player refusing to abide by the decision of…”

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

  > Any player refusing to abide by the decision of referee forfeits the match.

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

- **1928, A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules**: Reworded (machine-reviewed). Compared with A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1923.

  > Any player refusing to abide by the decision of [+ the +] referee forfeits the match.
  
  1 word added.

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

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