# Rule 6 Rule 6: how the wording changed (American four-wall)

7 rulebooks state this rule, from 1873 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 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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 moved |
| 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 | 2 first recorded, 1 moved |
| 1931 | A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1931 | 3 unchanged |

## The wording

### Rule 6, part 1 of 4

Begins: “The striker failing to strike the ball over the…”

- **1873, James's Four-Wall Rules**: First recorded (automatic).

  > The striker failing to strike the ball over the ace line three times in succession is a hand out.

- 1886, Spalding Four-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic).

- **17 March 1889, The Sun Four-Wall Rules**: Moved (automatic). Compared with Spalding Four-Wall Rules, 1886.

  Same words as the rulebook compared with.

### Rule 6, part 2 of 4

Begins: “No hard material shall be used on any part…”

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

  > No hard material shall be used on any part of either hand.

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

- **1928, A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules**: Moved (automatic). Compared with A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1923.

  Same words as the rulebook compared with.

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

### Rule 6, part 3 of 4

Begins: “The hands or fingers of the players may be…”

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

  > The hands or fingers of the players may be covered, but only with soft material or soft gloves of kid or cloth without the thumb or fingers being webbed or connected.

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

### Rule 6, part 4 of 4

Begins: “Mittens shall not be used.”

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

  > Mittens shall not be used.

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

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