# Rule 5.8 Eligibility (USHA Four-Wall Rules, 31 January 1999, historical)

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

USHA rules text used with permission of the U.S. Handball Association (ushandball.org); credit: U.S. Handball Association. Source: https://www.ushandball.org/

All entrants in any USHA event must be current USHA members.

A.) Age group divisions. In any division designated by a minimum age (Seniors, Masters, etc.), the entrant must reach the proper age on or before December 31 of the calendar year in which he participates. For example, a player who is 39 is allowed to enter the Masters (40-plus) if he turns 40 before December 31 of the year in which the tournament is scheduled. In any division designated by a maximum age (Juniors, Challengers, etc.), the player cannot have passed the age of eligibility until the scheduled end of the tournament. For example, a player entering the 15-and-under division cannot reach his 16th birthday until the tournament is scheduled to end.

## Mentioned here

- [Player](https://handball.theperfectship.com/player.md)
- [USHA](https://handball.theperfectship.com/usha.md)
- [Field](https://handball.theperfectship.com/field.md)

How this rule changed: [wording in every rulebook](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/clause-history/code-onewall-smallball/5-8.md)

## Relationships

- Player relates to USHA: mentioned together in 7 sub-rules.
- Player relates to Field: mentioned together in 2 sub-rules.

Rulebook: [USHA Four-Wall Rules, 31 January 1999](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/usha-fourwall-1999-01-31.md)

Source: The Official USHA Handball Rules, 1999 (Wayback capture 20000914195049 of cohandball.com). USHA rules text, used with the USHA's written permission (letter not yet filed).