# Rule 23 Referee (Spalding Four-Wall Rules, 1886, historical)

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

All disputed balls shall be decided by a referee chosen by the players, whose decision in all cases shall be final.

## Mentioned here

- [Player](https://handball.theperfectship.com/player.md)
- [Referee](https://handball.theperfectship.com/match-referee.md)
- [Ball](https://handball.theperfectship.com/ball.md)

How this rule changed: [wording in every rulebook](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/clause-history/code-fourwall-american/24.md)

## Relationships

- Player relates to Ball: mentioned together in 12 sub-rules.
- No link to the other terms shown: Referee.

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.