# Rule 17 Rule 17: how the wording changed (American one-wall, small ball)

3 rulebooks state this rule, from 20 November 1922 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 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 20 November 1922 | A.A.U. One-Wall Rules, 20 November 1922 | 1 first recorded |
| 20 November 1927 | A.A.U. One-Wall Rules, 20 November 1927 | 1 reworded |
| 1931 | A.A.U. One-Wall Rules, 1931 | 1 moved |

## The wording

### Rule 17, rulebook by rulebook

Begins: “After the receiver strikes the ball, it must return…”

- **20 November 1922, A.A.U. One-Wall Rules**: First recorded (automatic).

  > After the receiver strikes the ball, it must return to the front wall before hitting the floor and bound back into the court between the side lines, the board and rear line.

- **20 November 1927, A.A.U. One-Wall Rules**: Reworded (machine-reviewed). Compared with A.A.U. One-Wall Rules, 20 November 1922.

  > After the receiver strikes the ball, it must return to the front wall before hitting the floor and bound back into the [- court between the side lines, the board and rear line. -] [+ court. +]
  
  1 word added, 10 removed.

- **1931, A.A.U. One-Wall Rules**: Moved (automatic). Compared with A.A.U. One-Wall Rules, 20 November 1927.

  > After the receiver strikes the [- ball, -] [+ ball +] it must return to the front wall before hitting the floor and bound back into the court.
  
  1 word added, 1 removed.

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