# Under Part 4, Rule 4.3 A. (2): Interpretation No. 5 (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/

The receiver standing in the center of the rear court, two to four feet from the back wall, should have a clear view of the served ball as it rebounds from the front wall when it is approximately five feet in front of the service zone.

This is a difficult call because there will be instances in which the receiver will be screened, but the ball has been hit so high that it is going to result in a back-wall setup and the receiver will have time to get into a good position to attempt his shot. The screen serve, like any other hinder, is based on interference affecting the play. In the case just mentioned, there is initial interference, but the receiver still has time to get into good position so that the momentary screen will not affect the play. In such a case, the referee should not make his call too quickly, but should watch the reaction of the receiver. If the referee feels that the receiver hesitates getting into position, a screen should be called. If, however, the receiver moves quickly and obviously is going to have time to get into good position for a back-wall shot, the screen should not be called.

The receiver should be given the benefit of any doubt so long as his receiving position is in the center of the court. However, if the receiver positions himself to one side of center or anticipates the serve is going to be hit to one side and moves in that direction too quickly, and the serve is hit to the opposite side, a screen should not be called.

It is also important that the referee attempt to position himself in the middle of the balcony whenever possible so that he will have the same angle of view as the receiver. The best answer to this dilemma is: When in doubt, call a screen.

## Mentioned here

- [Receiver](https://handball.theperfectship.com/receiver.md)
- [Referee](https://handball.theperfectship.com/match-referee.md)
- [Serve](https://handball.theperfectship.com/serve.md)
- [Hinder](https://handball.theperfectship.com/hinder.md)
- [Court](https://handball.theperfectship.com/court.md)
- [Front wall](https://handball.theperfectship.com/front-wall.md)
- [Back wall](https://handball.theperfectship.com/back-wall.md)
- [Service zone](https://handball.theperfectship.com/service-zone.md)
- [Receiving line](https://handball.theperfectship.com/receiving-line.md)
- [Ball](https://handball.theperfectship.com/ball.md)
- [Wall](https://handball.theperfectship.com/wall.md)

## Relationships

- Referee relates to Serve: mentioned together in 13 sub-rules.
- Referee relates to Hinder: mentioned together in 11 sub-rules.
- Referee relates to Court: mentioned together in 9 sub-rules.
- Referee relates to Ball: mentioned together in 21 sub-rules.
- Serve relates to Ball: mentioned together in 16 sub-rules.
- Hinder relates to Court: mentioned together in 10 sub-rules.
- Hinder relates to Ball: mentioned together in 19 sub-rules.
- Court relates to Ball: mentioned together in 11 sub-rules.
- Court relates to Wall: mentioned together in 8 sub-rules.
- Front wall relates to Ball: mentioned together in 9 sub-rules.
- Front wall relates to Wall: mentioned together in 8 sub-rules.
- Ball relates to Wall: mentioned together in 12 sub-rules.
- No link to the other terms shown: Receiver, Back wall, Receiving line, Service zone.
- 32 weaker links (terms mentioned together in few sub-rules) are not drawn.

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).