# Rule 2.1 Courts (USHA Four-Wall Rules, 16 January 2005, 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 specifications for the standard four-wall handball court are:

## A. Dimensions

The court is 20 feet wide, 20 feet high and 40 feet long, with the back wall having a recommended minimum height of 14 feet.

## B. Lines and zones

Handball courts shall be divided and marked on the floors with 2-inch wide lines. Recommended colors are white or red. The lines shall be marked as follows:

1.) Short line. The short line is parallel to the front and back walls. Its outside edge is 20 feet from the front wall.

2.) Service line. The service line is parallel to the short line and its outside edge is 5 feet in front of the outside edge of the short line.

3.) Service zone. The service zone is the area between the outer edges of the short and service lines.

4.) Service boxes. A service box is located at each end of the service zone by lines which have outside measurements of 18 inches from, and parallel to, each side wall.

5.) Receiver's restraining lines. Five feet back of the outside edge of the short line, lines should be marked on the floor extending at least 6 inches from the side wall. These lines, parallel to the short line, may also be marked as a broken line extending from side wall to side wall. (See Rule 4. 4.A).

## Mentioned here

- [Receiver](https://handball.theperfectship.com/receiver.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)
- [Side wall](https://handball.theperfectship.com/side-wall.md)
- [Short line](https://handball.theperfectship.com/short-line.md)
- [Service line](https://handball.theperfectship.com/service-line.md)
- [Service zone](https://handball.theperfectship.com/service-zone.md)
- [Four-wall](https://handball.theperfectship.com/four-wall.md)
- [Service box](https://handball.theperfectship.com/service-box.md)
- [Receiver’s restraining line](https://handball.theperfectship.com/restraining-line.md)
- [Wall](https://handball.theperfectship.com/wall.md)
- [Floor](https://handball.theperfectship.com/floor.md)

How this rule changed: [wording in every rulebook](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/clause-history/code-fourwall-american/2-1.md)

## Relationships

- Receiver relates to Short line: mentioned together in 3 sub-rules.
- Court relates to Front wall: mentioned together in 3 sub-rules.
- Court relates to Back wall: mentioned together in 3 sub-rules.
- Court relates to Side wall: mentioned together in 4 sub-rules.
- Court relates to Wall: mentioned together in 7 sub-rules.
- Front wall relates to Side wall: mentioned together in 4 sub-rules.
- Front wall relates to Wall: mentioned together in 6 sub-rules.
- Front wall relates to Floor: mentioned together in 5 sub-rules.
- Back wall relates to Wall: mentioned together in 4 sub-rules.
- Side wall relates to Short line: mentioned together in 3 sub-rules.
- Side wall relates to Wall: mentioned together in 7 sub-rules.
- Side wall relates to Floor: mentioned together in 4 sub-rules.
- Short line relates to Floor: mentioned together in 4 sub-rules.
- Wall relates to Floor: mentioned together in 5 sub-rules.
- No link to the other terms shown: Receiver’s restraining line, Service box, Service line, Service zone, Four-wall.
- 17 weaker links (terms mentioned together in few sub-rules) are not drawn.

Rulebook: [USHA Four-Wall Rules, 16 January 2005](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/usha-fourwall-2005-01-16.md)

Source: The Official USHA Handball Rules, 2005 (Wayback capture 20060104055021 of ushandball.org). USHA rules text, used with the USHA's written permission (letter not yet filed).