# Rule 12 Four-handed and three-handed games: how the wording changed (American one-wall, small ball (YMCA side line))

2 rulebooks state this rule, from June 1900 to 1913. 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 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| June 1900 | Y.M.C.A. One-Wall Rules, June 1900 | 4 first recorded |
| 1913 | Y.M.C.A. One-Wall Rules, 1913 | 4 unchanged |

## The wording

### Rule 12, part 1 of 4

Begins: “In a four-handed game, the side serving first is…”

- **June 1900, Y.M.C.A. One-Wall Rules**: First recorded (automatic).

  > In a four-handed game, the side serving first is allowed but one service at the commencement of the game.

- 1913, Y.M.C.A. One-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic).

### Rule 12, part 2 of 4

Begins: “After the first service each side is allowed two…”

- **June 1900, Y.M.C.A. One-Wall Rules**: First recorded (automatic).

  > After the first service each side is allowed two consecutive services, the two partners alternating in turn.

- 1913, Y.M.C.A. One-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic).

### Rule 12, part 3 of 4

Begins: “The server's partner must stand in one of the…”

- **June 1900, Y.M.C.A. One-Wall Rules**: First recorded (automatic).

  > The server's partner must stand in one of the "partners' boxes" until the ball strikes the service wall on each service.

- 1913, Y.M.C.A. One-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic).

### Rule 12, part 4 of 4

Begins: “In a three-handed game the single player shall have…”

- **June 1900, Y.M.C.A. One-Wall Rules**: First recorded (automatic).

  > In a three-handed game the single player shall have every alternate service.

- 1913, Y.M.C.A. One-Wall Rules: Unchanged (automatic).

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