# Rule 4.2 Doubles: how the wording changed (American one-wall, small ball) 48 rulebooks state this rule, from 20 June 1990 to 26 January 2025. The wording was reworded or changed 9 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 | 1 unchanged, 1 reworded | | 31 January 1999 | American four-wall, 31 January 1999 | 1 unchanged, 1 reworded | | 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 reworded | | 15 April 2005 | USHA Four-Wall Rules, 16 January 2005 | 2 reworded | | 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 reworded | | 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 | 2 unchanged | | 6 February 2015 | USHA Three-Wall Addendum, 6 February 2015 | 2 reworded | | 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 | 2 unchanged | | 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 | ## The wording ### Rule 4.2, item A Begins: “A. Server. At the beginning of each game in…” - **20 June 1990, USHA Four-Wall Rules**: First recorded (automatic). > A. Server. > At the beginning of each game in doubles, each side informs the referee of the order of service, which must be followed throughout the game. > Only the first server on the first serving team may serve the first time up. > This player must continue to serve first throughout the game. > When the game's first server is put out on his initial serve, the side is out. > Thereafter, both players on each side shall serve until an out for each occurs. > It is not necessary for the server to alternate serves to the opponents. - **14 October 1994, USHA One-Wall Rules**: First recorded (automatic). > A. Server. At the beginning of each game in doubles, each side informs the referee of the order of service, which must be followed throughout the game. Only the first server on the first serving team may serve the first time up. This player must continue to serve first throughout the game. When the game's first server is put out on his initial serve, the side is out. Thereafter, both players on each side shall serve until an out for each occurs. It is not necessary for the server to alternate serves to the opponents. - **31 January 1999, USHA Four-Wall Rules**: Unchanged (automatic). Compared with USHA Four-Wall Rules, 20 June 1990. > A. Server. [- > -] At the beginning of each game in doubles, each side informs the referee of the order of service, which must be followed throughout the game. [- > -] Only the first server on the first serving team may serve the first time up. [- > -] This player must continue to serve first throughout the game. [- > -] When the game's first server is put out on his initial serve, the side is out. [- > -] Thereafter, both players on each side shall serve until an out for each occurs. [- > -] It is not necessary for the server to alternate serves to the opponents. no words changed. - **31 January 1999, American four-wall**: Unchanged (automatic). Compared with USHA Four-Wall Rules, 20 June 1990. > A. Server. [- > -] At the beginning of each game in doubles, each side informs the referee of the order of service, which must be followed throughout the game. [- > -] Only the first server on the first serving team may serve the first time up. [- > -] This player must continue to serve first throughout the game. [- > -] When the game's first server is put out on his initial serve, the side is out. [- > -] Thereafter, both players on each side shall serve until an out for each occurs. [- > -] It is not necessary for the server to alternate serves to the opponents. no words changed. 6 more rulebooks with the same words: - 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**: Reworded (machine-reviewed). Compared with USHA One-Wall Rules, 20 August 2002. > A. Server. At the beginning of each game in doubles, each side informs the referee of the order of service, which must be followed throughout the game. Only the first server on the first serving team may serve the first time up. This player must continue to serve first throughout the game. When the game's first server is put out on [- his -] [+ his/her +] initial serve, the side is out. Thereafter, both players on each side shall serve until an out for each occurs. It is not necessary for the server to alternate serves to the opponents. 1 word added, 1 removed. - **15 April 2005, USHA Four-Wall Rules**: Reworded (machine-reviewed). Compared with American four-wall, 31 January 1999. > A. Server. At the beginning of each game in doubles, each side informs the referee of the order of service, which must be followed throughout the game. Only the first server on the first serving team may serve the first time up. This player must continue to serve first throughout the game. When the game's first server is put out on [- his -] [+ his/her +] initial serve, the side is out. Thereafter, both players on each side shall serve until an out for each occurs. It is not necessary for the server to alternate serves to the opponents. 1 word added, 1 removed. 4 more rulebooks with the same words: - 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**: Reworded (automatic). Compared with American four-wall, 31 January 1999. > A. Server. At the beginning of each game in doubles, each side informs the referee of the order of service, which must be followed throughout the game. Only the first server on the first serving team may serve the first time up. This player must continue to serve first throughout the game. When the game's first server is put out on [- his -] [+ his/her +] initial serve, the side is out. Thereafter, both players on each side shall serve until an out for each occurs. It is not necessary for the server to alternate serves to the opponents. 1 word added, 1 removed. - 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. Server. At the beginning of each game in doubles, each side informs the referee of the order of service, which must be followed throughout the game. Only the first server on the first serving team may serve the first time up. This player must continue to serve first throughout the game. When the [- game's -] [+ game’s +] first server is put out on his/her initial serve, the side is out. Thereafter, both players on each side shall serve until an out for each occurs. It is not necessary for the server to alternate serves to the opponents. 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**: Unchanged (automatic). Compared with USHA One-Wall Rules, January 2014. > A. Server. At the beginning of each game in doubles, each side informs the referee of the order of service, which must be followed throughout the game. Only the first server on the first serving team may serve the first time up. This player must continue to serve first throughout the game. When the [- game's -] [+ game’s +] first server is put out on his/her initial serve, the side is out. Thereafter, both players on each side shall serve until an out for each occurs. It is not necessary for the server to alternate serves to the opponents. 1 word added, 1 removed. - **6 February 2015, USHA Three-Wall Addendum**: Reworded (automatic). Compared with USHA Three-Wall Addendum, December 2004. > A. Server. At the beginning of each game in doubles, each side informs the referee of the order of service, which must be followed throughout the game. Only the first server on the first serving team may serve the first time up. This player must continue to serve first throughout the game. When the [- game's -] [+ game’s +] first server is put out on [- his -] [+ his/her +] initial serve, the side is out. Thereafter, both players on each side shall serve until an out for each occurs. It is not necessary for the server to alternate serves to the opponents. 2 words added, 2 removed. 24 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: 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. ### Rule 4.2, item B Begins: “B. Partner's position. On each serve, the server's partner…” - **20 June 1990, USHA Four-Wall Rules**: First recorded (automatic). > B. Partner's position. > On each serve, the server's partner shall stand erect with his back to the side wall and with both feet on the floor within the service box until the served ball passes the short line. > Violations are called "foot faults". - **14 October 1994, USHA One-Wall Rules**: First recorded (automatic). > B. Partner's position. In doubles, the server's partner must stand outside the side lines, astraddle the indicated service line, and may not enter the playing zone until the served ball passes him. A violation is called a "foot fault." - **31 January 1999, USHA Four-Wall Rules**: Reworded (machine-reviewed). Compared with USHA Four-Wall Rules, 20 June 1990. > B. Partner's position. [- > -] On each serve, the server's partner shall stand erect with his back to the [+ nearer +] side wall and with both feet on the floor within the service box until the served ball passes the short line. [- > -] Violations are called [- "foot faults". -] [+ “foot faults." +] 3 words added, 2 removed. - **31 January 1999, American four-wall**: Reworded (machine-reviewed). Compared with USHA Four-Wall Rules, 20 June 1990. > B. Partner's position. [- > -] On each serve, the server's partner shall stand erect with his back to the [+ nearer +] side wall and with both feet on the floor within the service box until the served ball passes the short line. [- > -] Violations are called [- "foot faults". -] [+ “foot faults." +] 3 words added, 2 removed. 7 more rulebooks with the same words: - 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**: Reworded (machine-reviewed). Compared with American four-wall, 31 January 1999. > B. Partner's position. On each serve, the server's partner shall stand erect with [- his -] [+ his/her +] back to the nearer side wall and with both feet on the floor within the service box until the served ball passes the short line. Violations are called “foot faults." 1 word added, 1 removed. 4 more rulebooks with the same words: - 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**: Reworded (automatic). Compared with American four-wall, 31 January 1999. > B. Partner's position. On each serve, the server's partner shall stand erect with [- his -] [+ his/her +] back to the nearer side wall and with both feet on the floor within the service box until the served ball passes the short line. Violations are called “foot faults." 1 word added, 1 removed. - 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. > B. [- Partner's -] [+ Partner’s +] position. On each serve, the [- server's -] [+ server’s +] partner shall stand erect with his/her back to the nearer side wall and with both feet on the floor within the service box until the served ball passes the short line. Violations are called “foot [- faults." -] [+ faults.” +] 3 words added, 3 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**: Unchanged (automatic). Compared with USHA One-Wall Rules, January 2014. > B. [- Partner's -] [+ Partner’s +] position. In doubles, the [- server's -] [+ server’s +] partner must stand outside the side lines, astraddle the indicated service line, and may not enter the playing zone until the served ball passes him. A violation is called a [- "foot fault." -] [+ “foot fault.” +] 4 words added, 4 removed. - **6 February 2015, USHA Three-Wall Addendum**: Reworded (automatic). Compared with USHA Three-Wall Addendum, December 2004. > B. [- Partner's -] [+ Partner’s +] position. On each serve, the [- server's -] [+ server’s +] partner shall stand erect with [- his -] [+ his/her +] back to the nearer side wall and with both feet on the floor within the service box until the served ball passes the short line. Violations are called “foot [- faults." -] [+ faults.” +] 4 words added, 4 removed. 24 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: 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. All rules: [clause history](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/clause-history/).