# Rule 16 Officials: 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 | 3 unchanged, 1 punctuation only |

## The wording

### Rule 16, part 1 of 4

Begins: “The officials shall be a referee, scorer, and linesman.”

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

  > The officials shall be a referee, scorer, and linesman.

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

### Rule 16, item a

Begins: “(a) The Referee shall decide all questions pertaining to…”

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

  > (a) The Referee shall decide all questions pertaining to the serving of the ball and its return, and shall be judge of hinders and faults, and shall decide all questions not covering these rules. His decision shall be final on all questions.

- **1913, Y.M.C.A. One-Wall Rules**: Punctuation only (machine-reviewed). Compared with Y.M.C.A. One-Wall Rules, June 1900.

  > (a) The Referee shall decide all questions pertaining to the serving of the ball and its return, and shall be judge of hinders and faults, and shall decide all questions not [- covering -] [+ covered in +] these rules. His decision shall be final on all questions.
  
  2 words added, 1 removed.

### Rule 16, item b

Begins: “(b) The Scorer shall keep a correct record of…”

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

  > (b) The Scorer shall keep a correct record of the points made and shall keep the contestants informed as to the progress of the game.

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

### Rule 16, item c

Begins: “(c) The Linesman shall decide when the ball is…”

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

  > (c) The Linesman shall decide when the ball is in or out of court, and report to the referee.

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

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