# Rule 1.3 Objective: how the wording changed (American one-wall, small ball) 49 rulebooks state this rule, from 20 June 1990 to 30 October 2026. The wording was reworded or changed 4 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 | 2 first recorded | | 14 October 1994 | USHA One-Wall Rules, 14 October 1994 | 2 first recorded | | 31 January 1999 | USHA Four-Wall Rules, 31 January 1999 | 2 unchanged | | 31 January 1999 | American four-wall, 31 January 1999 | 2 unchanged | | 2000 | USHA One-Wall Rules, 2000 | 2 unchanged | | 9 March 2001 | USHA One-Wall Rules, March 2001 | 2 unchanged | | 7 October 2001 | USHA One-Wall Rules, 7 October 2001 | 2 unchanged | | 8 April 2002 | USHA One-Wall Rules, 8 April 2002 | 2 unchanged | | 20 August 2002 | USHA One-Wall Rules, 20 August 2002 | 2 unchanged | | 19 January 2005 | USHA Three-Wall Addendum, December 2004 | 2 unchanged | | 1 April 2005 | USHA One-Wall Rules, 1 April 2005 | 1 unchanged, 1 punctuation only | | 15 April 2005 | USHA Four-Wall Rules, 16 January 2005 | 2 unchanged | | June 2006 | USHA Four-Wall Rule Changes, June 2006 | 2 unchanged | | June 2006 | American one-wall, small ball, June 2006 | 2 unchanged | | June 2006 | USHA One-Wall Rules, June 2006 | 2 unchanged | | May 2007 | USHA Four-Wall Rule Changes, May 2007 | 2 unchanged | | 13 October 2007 | American three-wall, 13 October 2007 | 2 unchanged | | June 2008 | USHA One-Wall Rules, June 2008 | 2 unchanged | | 2012 | USHA Four-Wall Rules, 2012 | 2 unchanged | | 2014 | USHA Four-Wall Rules, 2014 | 2 unchanged | | January 2014 | USHA One-Wall Rules, January 2014 | 2 unchanged | | 6 February 2015 | USHA Four-Wall Rules, 6 February 2015 | 2 unchanged | | 6 February 2015 | USHA One-Wall Addendum, 6 February 2015 | 1 unchanged, 1 changed | | 6 February 2015 | USHA Three-Wall Addendum, 6 February 2015 | 2 unchanged | | 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 | 2 unchanged | | 27 January 2019 | USHA One-Wall Rules, 27 January 2019 | 1 unchanged, 1 changed | | 12 July 2019 | American four-wall, 12 July 2019 | 2 unchanged | | 12 July 2019 | American one-wall, small ball, 12 July 2019 | 2 unchanged | | 26 January 2020 | USHA Four-Wall Rules, 26 January 2020 | 2 unchanged | | 26 January 2020 | USHA One-Wall Rules, 26 January 2020 | 2 unchanged | | 20 September 2020 | USHA One-Wall Rules, September 2020 | 2 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 | 2 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 | 2 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 | 2 unchanged | | 26 January 2024 | USHA One-Wall Rules, 26 January 2024 | 2 unchanged | | 17 July 2024 | American one-wall, small ball, 17 July 2024 | 2 unchanged | | 26 January 2025 | USHA Four-Wall Rulebook, 26 January 2025 | 2 unchanged | | 26 January 2025 | USHA One-Wall Rulebook, 26 January 2025 | 2 unchanged | | 26 January 2025 | USHA Three-Wall Addendum, 26 January 2025 | 2 unchanged | | 30 October 2026 | USHA Four-Wall Abridged Rules, May 2010 | 2 reworded | ## The wording ### Rule 1.3, part 1 of 2 Begins: “The objective is to win each rally by serving…” - **20 June 1990, USHA Four-Wall Rules**: First recorded (automatic). > The objective is to win each rally by serving or returning the ball so the opponent is unable to keep the ball in play. - **14 October 1994, USHA One-Wall Rules**: First recorded (automatic). > The objective is to win each rally by serving or returning the ball so the opponent is unable to keep the ball in play. 46 more rulebooks with the same words: - 31 January 1999, USHA Four-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic). Same words as USHA Four-Wall Rules, 20 June 1990. - 31 January 1999, American four-wall: Unchanged (automatic). Same words as USHA Four-Wall Rules, 20 June 1990. - 2000, USHA One-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic). Same words as USHA One-Wall Rules, 14 October 1994. - 9 March 2001, USHA One-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic). - 7 October 2001, USHA One-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic). - 8 April 2002, USHA One-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic). - 20 August 2002, USHA One-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic). - 19 January 2005, USHA Three-Wall Addendum: Unchanged (automatic). Same words as American four-wall, 31 January 1999. - 1 April 2005, USHA One-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic). Same words as USHA One-Wall Rules, 20 August 2002. - 15 April 2005, USHA Four-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic). Same words as American four-wall, 31 January 1999. - June 2006, USHA Four-Wall Rule Changes: Unchanged (automatic). - June 2006, American one-wall, small ball: Unchanged (automatic). Same words as USHA One-Wall Rules, 1 April 2005. - June 2006, USHA One-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic). Same words as USHA One-Wall Rules, 1 April 2005. - May 2007, USHA Four-Wall Rule Changes: Unchanged (automatic). Same words as USHA Four-Wall Rule Changes, June 2006. - 13 October 2007, American three-wall: Unchanged (automatic). Same words as American four-wall, 31 January 1999. - June 2008, USHA One-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic). Same words as USHA One-Wall Rules, June 2006. - 2012, USHA Four-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic). Same words as USHA Four-Wall Rule Changes, May 2007. - 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: Unchanged (automatic). Same words as USHA One-Wall Rules, January 2014. - 6 February 2015, USHA Three-Wall Addendum: Unchanged (automatic). Same words as USHA Three-Wall Addendum, December 2004. - 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. - 27 January 2019, USHA One-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic). Same words as USHA One-Wall Addendum, 22 January 2017. - 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: Unchanged (automatic). - 26 January 2024, USHA One-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic). Same words as USHA One-Wall Rules, 23 January 2022. - 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). Same words as American one-wall, small ball, 17 July 2024. - 26 January 2025, USHA Three-Wall Addendum: Unchanged (automatic). Same words as USHA Three-Wall Addendum, 22 January 2017. - **30 October 2026, USHA Four-Wall Abridged Rules**: Reworded (machine-reviewed). Compared with USHA Four-Wall Rules, 16 January 2005. > The objective is to win [- each -] [+ the +] rally by serving or returning the ball so the opponent is unable to keep the ball in play. 1 word added, 1 removed. ### Rule 1.3, part 2 of 2 Begins: “A rally is won when one player is unable…” - **20 June 1990, USHA Four-Wall Rules**: First recorded (automatic). > A rally is won when one player is unable to return the opponent's shot to the front wall before it touches the floor twice, or when a player returns the ball so that it hits the floor before striking the front wall. - **14 October 1994, USHA One-Wall Rules**: First recorded (automatic). > A rally is won when one player is unable to return the opponent's shot legally (See Rule 4.4C). 8 more rulebooks with the same words: - 31 January 1999, USHA Four-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic). Same words as USHA Four-Wall Rules, 20 June 1990. - 31 January 1999, American four-wall: Unchanged (automatic). Same words as USHA Four-Wall Rules, 20 June 1990. - 2000, USHA One-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic). Same words as USHA One-Wall Rules, 14 October 1994. - 9 March 2001, USHA One-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic). - 7 October 2001, USHA One-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic). - 8 April 2002, USHA One-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic). - 20 August 2002, USHA One-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic). - 19 January 2005, USHA Three-Wall Addendum: Unchanged (automatic). Same words as American four-wall, 31 January 1999. - **1 April 2005, USHA One-Wall Rules**: Punctuation only (automatic). Compared with USHA One-Wall Rules, 20 August 2002. > A rally is won when one player is unable to return the opponent's shot [- legally -] [+ legally. +] (See Rule [- 4.4C). -] [+ 4.4C) +] 2 words added, 2 removed. 7 more rulebooks with the same words: - 15 April 2005, USHA Four-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic). Same words as American four-wall, 31 January 1999. - June 2006, USHA Four-Wall Rule Changes: Unchanged (automatic). - June 2006, American one-wall, small ball: Unchanged (automatic). Same words as USHA One-Wall Rules, 1 April 2005. - June 2006, USHA One-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic). Same words as USHA One-Wall Rules, 1 April 2005. - May 2007, USHA Four-Wall Rule Changes: Unchanged (automatic). Same words as USHA Four-Wall Rule Changes, June 2006. - 13 October 2007, American three-wall: Unchanged (automatic). Same words as American four-wall, 31 January 1999. - June 2008, USHA One-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic). Same words as USHA One-Wall Rules, June 2006. - **2012, USHA Four-Wall Rules**: Unchanged (automatic). Compared with USHA Four-Wall Rule Changes, May 2007. > A rally is won when one player is unable to return the [- opponent's -] [+ opponent’s +] shot to the front wall before it touches the floor twice, or when a player returns the ball so that it hits the floor before striking the front wall. 1 word added, 1 removed. 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**: Changed (machine-reviewed). Compared with USHA One-Wall Rules, January 2014. > A rally is won when one player is unable to return the [- opponent's -] [+ opponent’s +] shot [- legally. (See Rule 4.4C) -] [+ to the front wall before it touches the floor twice, or when a player returns the ball so that it hits the floor before striking the front wall. +] 29 words added, 5 removed. - **6 February 2015, USHA Three-Wall Addendum**: Unchanged (automatic). Compared with USHA Three-Wall Addendum, December 2004. > A rally is won when one player is unable to return the [- opponent's -] [+ opponent’s +] shot to the front wall before it touches the floor twice, or when a player returns the ball so that it hits the floor before striking the front wall. 1 word added, 1 removed. 4 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. - **27 January 2019, USHA One-Wall Rules**: Changed (machine-reviewed). Compared with USHA One-Wall Addendum, 22 January 2017. > A rally is won when one player is unable to return the opponent’s shot [- to the front wall before it touches the floor twice, or when a player returns the ball so that it hits the floor before striking the front wall. -] [+ legally. (See Rule 4.4C) +] 4 words added, 28 removed. 19 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: Unchanged (automatic). - 26 January 2024, USHA One-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic). Same words as USHA One-Wall Rules, 23 January 2022. - 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). Same words as American one-wall, small ball, 17 July 2024. - 26 January 2025, USHA Three-Wall Addendum: Unchanged (automatic). Same words as USHA Three-Wall Addendum, 22 January 2017. - **30 October 2026, USHA Four-Wall Abridged Rules**: Reworded (machine-reviewed). Compared with USHA Four-Wall Rules, 16 January 2005. > A rally is won when one player is unable to [- return -] [+ reach +] the [- opponent's -] [+ opponent’s +] shot [- to the front wall -] before [- it touches -] the [+ ball hits the +] floor twice, or when a [- player returns the ball so that it hits -] [+ player’s attempted return fails to reach +] the [- floor -] [+ front wall +] before striking the [- front wall. -] [+ floor. +] 14 words added, 19 removed. All rules: [clause history](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/clause-history/).