# Rule 21 Server hitting himself or his partner (Spalding Four-Wall Rules, 1886, historical)

> **Historical rulebook: not the current rules.** The current rules are here: https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/

If the striker in serving the ball strikes himself or his partner with the ball and it goes over the ace line, it is at the option of the player whether he plays to it or not, as it can be called a hinder.

## Mentioned here

- [Player](https://handball.theperfectship.com/player.md)
- [Partner](https://handball.theperfectship.com/partner.md)
- [Hinder](https://handball.theperfectship.com/hinder.md)
- [Short line](https://handball.theperfectship.com/short-line.md)
- [Ball](https://handball.theperfectship.com/ball.md)
- [Ace](https://handball.theperfectship.com/ace.md)

How this rule changed: [wording in every rulebook](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/clause-history/code-fourwall-american/22.md)

## Relationships

- Player relates to Partner: mentioned together in 2 sub-rules.
- Player relates to Ball: mentioned together in 12 sub-rules.
- Player relates to Ace: mentioned together in 7 sub-rules.
- Partner relates to Ball: mentioned together in 5 sub-rules.
- Short line relates to Ball: mentioned together in 4 sub-rules.
- Short line relates to Ace: mentioned together in 4 sub-rules.
- Ball relates to Ace: mentioned together in 9 sub-rules.
- No link to the other terms shown: Hinder.
- 6 weaker links (terms mentioned together in few sub-rules) are not drawn.

Rulebook: [Spalding Four-Wall Rules, 1886](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/spalding-fourwall-1886.md)

Source: "Hand Ball", in [George H. Benedict, comp.], Spalding's Hand Book of Sporting Rules and Training (Chicago and New York: A. G. Spalding & Bros., 1886), pp. 45-46 (Library of Congress copy, LCCN 05029206; Internet Archive spaldingshandboo00bene); reprinted, numbered and abridged, in the Houston Daily Post, 13 March 1898, p. 15 (sn86071197). Public domain.