Clause history · American one-wall, small ball
Rule 1.3 Objective: how the wording changed
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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
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 1.3, part 1 of 2
Begins: “The objective is to win each rally by serving…”
20 June 1990 USHA Four-Wall Rules (American four-wall)
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
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 (American four-wall) Unchanged automatic Same words as USHA Four-Wall Rules, 20 June 1990. Read the rule
- 31 January 1999 American four-wall (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. Read the rule
- 9 March 2001 USHA One-Wall Rules Unchanged automatic Read the rule
- 7 October 2001 USHA One-Wall Rules Unchanged automatic Read the rule
- 8 April 2002 USHA One-Wall Rules Unchanged automatic Read the rule
- 20 August 2002 USHA One-Wall Rules Unchanged automatic Read the rule
- 19 January 2005 USHA Three-Wall Addendum (American three-wall) 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. Read the rule
- 15 April 2005 USHA Four-Wall Rules (American four-wall) Unchanged automatic Same words as American four-wall, 31 January 1999. Read the rule
- June 2006 USHA Four-Wall Rule Changes (American four-wall) 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. Read the rule
- May 2007 USHA Four-Wall Rule Changes (American four-wall) Unchanged automatic Same words as USHA Four-Wall Rule Changes, June 2006.
- 13 October 2007 American three-wall (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. Read the rule
- 2012 USHA Four-Wall Rules (American four-wall) Unchanged automatic Same words as USHA Four-Wall Rule Changes, May 2007. Read the rule
- 2014 USHA Four-Wall Rules (American four-wall) Unchanged automatic Read the rule
- January 2014 USHA One-Wall Rules Unchanged automatic Same words as USHA One-Wall Rules, June 2008. Read the rule
- 6 February 2015 USHA Four-Wall Rules (American four-wall) Unchanged automatic Same words as USHA Four-Wall Rules, 2014. Read the rule
- 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 (American three-wall) Unchanged automatic Same words as USHA Three-Wall Addendum, December 2004.
- 22 January 2017 USHA Four-Wall Rules (American four-wall) Unchanged automatic Same words as USHA Four-Wall Rules, 6 February 2015. Read the rule
- 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 (American three-wall) Unchanged automatic Same words as USHA Three-Wall Addendum, 6 February 2015.
- 27 January 2019 USHA Four-Wall Rules (American four-wall) Unchanged automatic Same words as USHA Four-Wall Rules, 22 January 2017. Read the rule
- 27 January 2019 USHA One-Wall Rules Unchanged automatic Same words as USHA One-Wall Addendum, 22 January 2017. Read the rule
- 12 July 2019 American four-wall (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 (American four-wall) Unchanged automatic Same words as American four-wall, 12 July 2019. Read the rule
- 26 January 2020 USHA One-Wall Rules Unchanged automatic Same words as American one-wall, small ball, 12 July 2019. Read the rule
- 20 September 2020 USHA One-Wall Rules Unchanged automatic Read the rule
- 21 September 2020 USHA Four-Wall Rules (American four-wall) Unchanged automatic Same words as USHA Four-Wall Rules, 26 January 2020. Read the rule
- 22 January 2021 USHA Four-Wall Rules (American four-wall) Unchanged automatic Read the rule
- 22 January 2021 USHA One-Wall Rules Unchanged automatic Same words as USHA One-Wall Rules, September 2020. Read the rule
- 9 December 2021 USHA Four-Wall Rules (American four-wall) Unchanged automatic Same words as USHA Four-Wall Rules, 22 January 2021. Read the rule
- 23 January 2022 USHA Four-Wall Rules (American four-wall) Unchanged automatic Read the rule
- 23 January 2022 USHA One-Wall Rules Unchanged automatic Same words as USHA One-Wall Rules, 22 January 2021. Read the rule
- 27 November 2022 American four-wall (American four-wall) Unchanged automatic Same words as USHA Four-Wall Rules, 23 January 2022.
- 17 January 2024 American four-wall (American four-wall) Unchanged automatic
- 26 January 2024 USHA Four-Wall Rules (American four-wall) Unchanged automatic Read the rule
- 26 January 2024 USHA One-Wall Rules Unchanged automatic Same words as USHA One-Wall Rules, 23 January 2022. Read the rule
- 17 July 2024 American one-wall, small ball Unchanged automatic
- 26 January 2025 USHA Four-Wall Rulebook (American four-wall) Unchanged automatic Same words as USHA Four-Wall Rules, 26 January 2024. Read the rule
- 26 January 2025 USHA One-Wall Rulebook Unchanged automatic Same words as American one-wall, small ball, 17 July 2024. Read the rule
- 26 January 2025 USHA Three-Wall Addendum (American three-wall) Unchanged automatic Same words as USHA Three-Wall Addendum, 22 January 2017.
30 October 2026 USHA Four-Wall Abridged Rules (American four-wall (USHA-ABRIDGED side line))
Compared with USHA Four-Wall Rules, 16 January 2005.
The objective is to win
eachthe 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 (American four-wall)
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
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 (American four-wall) Unchanged automatic Same words as USHA Four-Wall Rules, 20 June 1990. Read the rule
- 31 January 1999 American four-wall (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. Read the rule
- 9 March 2001 USHA One-Wall Rules Unchanged automatic Read the rule
- 7 October 2001 USHA One-Wall Rules Unchanged automatic Read the rule
- 8 April 2002 USHA One-Wall Rules Unchanged automatic Read the rule
- 20 August 2002 USHA One-Wall Rules Unchanged automatic Read the rule
- 19 January 2005 USHA Three-Wall Addendum (American three-wall) Unchanged automatic Same words as American four-wall, 31 January 1999.
1 April 2005 USHA One-Wall Rules
Compared with USHA One-Wall Rules, 20 August 2002.
A rally is won when one player is unable to return the opponent's shot
legallylegally. (See Rule4.4C).4.4C)2 words added, 2 removed.
7 more rulebooks with the same words
- 15 April 2005 USHA Four-Wall Rules (American four-wall) Unchanged automatic Same words as American four-wall, 31 January 1999. Read the rule
- June 2006 USHA Four-Wall Rule Changes (American four-wall) 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. Read the rule
- May 2007 USHA Four-Wall Rule Changes (American four-wall) Unchanged automatic Same words as USHA Four-Wall Rule Changes, June 2006.
- 13 October 2007 American three-wall (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. Read the rule
2012 USHA Four-Wall Rules (American four-wall)
Compared with USHA Four-Wall Rule Changes, May 2007.
A rally is won when one player is unable to return the
opponent'sopponent’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 (American four-wall) Unchanged automatic Read the rule
- January 2014 USHA One-Wall Rules Unchanged automatic Same words as USHA One-Wall Rules, June 2008. Read the rule
- 6 February 2015 USHA Four-Wall Rules (American four-wall) Unchanged automatic Same words as USHA Four-Wall Rules, 2014. Read the rule
6 February 2015 USHA One-Wall Addendum
Compared with USHA One-Wall Rules, January 2014.
A rally is won when one player is unable to return the
opponent'sopponent’s shotlegally. (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 (American three-wall)
Compared with USHA Three-Wall Addendum, December 2004.
A rally is won when one player is unable to return the
opponent'sopponent’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 (American four-wall) Unchanged automatic Same words as USHA Four-Wall Rules, 6 February 2015. Read the rule
- 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 (American three-wall) Unchanged automatic Same words as USHA Three-Wall Addendum, 6 February 2015.
- 27 January 2019 USHA Four-Wall Rules (American four-wall) Unchanged automatic Same words as USHA Four-Wall Rules, 22 January 2017. Read the rule
27 January 2019 USHA One-Wall Rules
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 (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 (American four-wall) Unchanged automatic Same words as American four-wall, 12 July 2019. Read the rule
- 26 January 2020 USHA One-Wall Rules Unchanged automatic Same words as American one-wall, small ball, 12 July 2019. Read the rule
- 20 September 2020 USHA One-Wall Rules Unchanged automatic Read the rule
- 21 September 2020 USHA Four-Wall Rules (American four-wall) Unchanged automatic Same words as USHA Four-Wall Rules, 26 January 2020. Read the rule
- 22 January 2021 USHA Four-Wall Rules (American four-wall) Unchanged automatic Read the rule
- 22 January 2021 USHA One-Wall Rules Unchanged automatic Same words as USHA One-Wall Rules, September 2020. Read the rule
- 9 December 2021 USHA Four-Wall Rules (American four-wall) Unchanged automatic Same words as USHA Four-Wall Rules, 22 January 2021. Read the rule
- 23 January 2022 USHA Four-Wall Rules (American four-wall) Unchanged automatic Read the rule
- 23 January 2022 USHA One-Wall Rules Unchanged automatic Same words as USHA One-Wall Rules, 22 January 2021. Read the rule
- 27 November 2022 American four-wall (American four-wall) Unchanged automatic Same words as USHA Four-Wall Rules, 23 January 2022.
- 17 January 2024 American four-wall (American four-wall) Unchanged automatic
- 26 January 2024 USHA Four-Wall Rules (American four-wall) Unchanged automatic Read the rule
- 26 January 2024 USHA One-Wall Rules Unchanged automatic Same words as USHA One-Wall Rules, 23 January 2022. Read the rule
- 17 July 2024 American one-wall, small ball Unchanged automatic
- 26 January 2025 USHA Four-Wall Rulebook (American four-wall) Unchanged automatic Same words as USHA Four-Wall Rules, 26 January 2024. Read the rule
- 26 January 2025 USHA One-Wall Rulebook Unchanged automatic Same words as American one-wall, small ball, 17 July 2024. Read the rule
- 26 January 2025 USHA Three-Wall Addendum (American three-wall) Unchanged automatic Same words as USHA Three-Wall Addendum, 22 January 2017.
30 October 2026 USHA Four-Wall Abridged Rules (American four-wall (USHA-ABRIDGED side line))
Compared with USHA Four-Wall Rules, 16 January 2005.
A rally is won when one player is unable to
returnreach theopponent'sopponent’s shotto the front wallbeforeit touchesthe ball hits the floor twice, or when aplayer returns the ball so that it hitsplayer’s attempted return fails to reach thefloorfront wall before striking thefront wall.floor.14 words added, 19 removed.
All rules: clause history. The family tree is at Rulebooks.