# Rule 4.6 (USHA Four-Wall Rule Changes, June 2006, 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/

Printed as changes to USHA Four-Wall Rules (16 January 2005); shown here as printed (the changes only, not merged).

Under 4.6, change:

## J. Broken ball

If there is any suspicion that a ball has broken on the serve or during a rally, play continues until the end of the rally. An official or any player may request that the ball be examined by the referee. If the referee decides the ball is broken, an approved ball must be put into play and the point replayed. Once a succeeding serve is attempted, the previous rally stands. (See Rule 4.3.A.2)

Under Part 4, Rule 4.6.J, change:

Interpretation No. 8. The ball does not have to be completely broken to warrant a replay. A ball this starting to crack will often have an erratic bounce. The referee should call for a replay only if he/she determines that a ball has cracked sufficiently to cause an erratic bounce. If a player suspects a ball has cracked, he/she should immediately toss it to the referee for inspection. No player shall make any physical effort to determine if the ball is cracked or otherwise unplayable without the express consent of the referee. This is solely the referee's responsibility and he/she will make the replay call if necessary. At the referee’s discretion, if a ball is found to be unplayable due to the unauthorized physical efforts of any player, it shall be deemed to have been made unplayable by that player’s actions and not during the rally, and the preceding rally shall not be replayed.

Under 4.6, change:

L. Replays. Whenever a rally is replayed for any reason, the server is awarded two serves. All previous defective serves are voided.

## Mentioned here

- [Server](https://handball.theperfectship.com/server.md)
- [Player](https://handball.theperfectship.com/player.md)
- [Referee](https://handball.theperfectship.com/match-referee.md)
- [Serve](https://handball.theperfectship.com/serve.md)
- [Rally](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rally.md)
- [Replay](https://handball.theperfectship.com/replay.md)
- [Fault serve](https://handball.theperfectship.com/fault-serve.md)
- [Ball](https://handball.theperfectship.com/ball.md)
- [Point](https://handball.theperfectship.com/point.md)

How this rule changed: [wording in every rulebook](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/clause-history/code-fourwall-american/4-6.md)

## Relationships

- Server relates to Serve: mentioned together in 3 sub-rules.
- Server relates to Rally: mentioned together in 2 sub-rules.
- Server relates to Fault serve: mentioned together in 2 sub-rules.
- Server relates to Ball: mentioned together in 2 sub-rules.
- Server relates to Point: mentioned together in 2 sub-rules.
- Player relates to Referee: mentioned together in 2 sub-rules.
- Serve relates to Rally: mentioned together in 2 sub-rules.
- Serve relates to Replay: mentioned together in 2 sub-rules.
- Serve relates to Fault serve: mentioned together in 3 sub-rules.
- Serve relates to Ball: mentioned together in 3 sub-rules.
- 4 weaker links (terms mentioned together in few sub-rules) are not drawn.

Rulebook: [USHA Four-Wall Rule Changes, June 2006](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/usha-fourwall-2006-06.md)

Source: Schedule 1: These are the rules changes passed by the USHA Board, June 2006 (Wayback capture 20071013173352 of ushandball.org). USHA rules text, used with the USHA's written permission (letter not yet filed).