# Rule 4 Four-handed match: how the wording changed (American four-wall (DESHONG side line))

2 rulebooks state this rule, from 1893 to 1903. 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 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1893 | Deshong Four-Wall Rules, 1893 | 7 first recorded |
| 1903 | Deshong Four-Wall Rules, 1903 | 6 unchanged, 1 punctuation only |

## The wording

### Rule 4, part 1 of 7

Begins: “In a four-handed match, parties winning the toss are…”

- **1893, Deshong Four-Wall Rules**: First recorded (automatic).

  > In a four-handed match, parties winning the toss are allowed only one hand at the commencement.

- 1903, Deshong Four-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic).

### Rule 4, part 2 of 7

Begins: “All balls striking an opponent shall be a hinder.”

- **1893, Deshong Four-Wall Rules**: First recorded (automatic).

  > All balls striking an opponent shall be a hinder.

- 1903, Deshong Four-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic).

### Rule 4, part 3 of 7

Begins: “The server’s partner and one of the opponents generally…”

- **1893, Deshong Four-Wall Rules**: First recorded (automatic).

  > The server’s partner and one of the opponents generally stand side by side against the left hand wall, if the service is from the right.

- **1903, Deshong Four-Wall Rules**: Punctuation only (automatic). Compared with Deshong Four-Wall Rules, 1893.

  > The server’s partner and one of the opponents generally stand side by side against the [- left hand -] [+ left-hand +] wall, if the service is from the right.
  
  1 word added, 2 removed.

### Rule 4, part 4 of 7

Begins: “The recoverer is on the alert in the outer…”

- **1893, Deshong Four-Wall Rules**: First recorded (automatic).

  > The recoverer is on the alert in the outer court the same as in a single-handed game.

- 1903, Deshong Four-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic).

### Rule 4, part 5 of 7

Begins: “It is not compulsory, however, that the opponent of…”

- **1893, Deshong Four-Wall Rules**: First recorded (automatic).

  > It is not compulsory, however, that the opponent of the server’s partner shall stand just outside of the ace line.

- 1903, Deshong Four-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic).

### Rule 4, part 6 of 7

Begins: “He can go in the outer court and help…”

- **1893, Deshong Four-Wall Rules**: First recorded (automatic).

  > He can go in the outer court and help his partner to recover service, but he may be more useful at the line, particularly to take all line service to the left on the fly.

- 1903, Deshong Four-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic).

### Rule 4, part 7 of 7

Begins: “This is a very important position against a heavy…”

- **1893, Deshong Four-Wall Rules**: First recorded (automatic).

  > This is a very important position against a heavy server, because in a majority of instances it results in the disposing of the hand.

- 1903, Deshong Four-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic).

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