# Rule 31 Rule 31: how the wording changed (American four-wall)

4 rulebooks state this rule, from 1 January 1920 to 1931. The wording was reworded or changed 2 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 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 January 1920 | A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1 January 1920 | 2 first recorded |
| 1923 | A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1923 | 2 reworded |
| 1928 | A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1928 | 1 first recorded |
| 1931 | A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1931 | 1 unchanged |

## The wording

### Rule 31, part 1 of 3

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

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

  > After a completion of a rally both players shall be allowed a reasonable time to get in position, after which the referee may call play.

- **1923, A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules**: Reworded (machine-reviewed). Compared with A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1 January 1920.

  > After [- a -] [+ the +] completion of a rally both players shall be allowed a reasonable time to get in position, after which the referee may call play.
  
  1 word added, 1 removed.

### Rule 31, part 2 of 3

Begins: “If the server fails to serve the ball after…”

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

  > If the server fails to serve the ball after play is called the referee or the other player may 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 the server shall be declared out.

- **1923, A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules**: Reworded (machine-reviewed). Compared with A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1 January 1920.

  > If the server fails to serve the ball after play is called the referee or [- the -] other player may 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 the server shall be declared out.
  
  1 word removed.

### Rule 31, part 3 of 3

Begins: “Deliberate violation of the spirit of this rule shall…”

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

  > Deliberate violation of the spirit of this rule shall result in the loss of the serve.

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

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