# Summary (USHA Four-Wall Abridged Rules, May 2010, 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/

Handball can be played by two (singles), three (cutthroat) or four (doubles) players.

Gloves must be worn when playing with the ‘Ace’ handball, proper eye protection must always be worn.

The objective is to win the rally by serving or returning the ball so the opponent is unable to keep the ball in play. A rally is won when one player is unable to reach the opponent’s shot before the ball hits the floor twice, or when a player’s attempted return fails to reach the front wall before striking the floor.

Points are scored only by the serving side. When the serving side loses a rally (or two rallies in doubles), it loses the serve, and the receiver becomes the server.

A match is won by the first side winning two games. The first two games of a match are played to 21 points. If a third game is necessary, it is played to 11 points. A player (team) does not have to win a game by 2 points.

The receiving team must stand at least 5 feet behind the short line when the serve is attempted. Either partner (when playing doubles or cutthroat) on the receiving team may return the ball. If the receiver makes a legal return, either the server or the server’s partner, may return the ball; and so forth.

If a player hits a ball that hits his/her partner, either going to the front wall or rebounding from the front wall, that team loses the rally. The one exception is when the partner standing in the service box gets hit by a served ball rebounding from the front wall. In this case, the serve is replayed without penalty.

## Mentioned here

- [Server](https://handball.theperfectship.com/server.md)
- [Receiver](https://handball.theperfectship.com/receiver.md)
- [Player](https://handball.theperfectship.com/player.md)
- [Partner](https://handball.theperfectship.com/partner.md)
- [Opponent](https://handball.theperfectship.com/opponent.md)
- [Serve](https://handball.theperfectship.com/serve.md)
- [Return of serve](https://handball.theperfectship.com/return-of-serve.md)
- [Rally](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rally.md)
- [Replay](https://handball.theperfectship.com/replay.md)
- [Front wall](https://handball.theperfectship.com/front-wall.md)
- [Short line](https://handball.theperfectship.com/short-line.md)
- [Ball](https://handball.theperfectship.com/ball.md)
- [Gloves](https://handball.theperfectship.com/gloves.md)
- [Eye protection](https://handball.theperfectship.com/eye-protection.md)
- [Point](https://handball.theperfectship.com/point.md)
- [Game, match, tiebreaker](https://handball.theperfectship.com/game.md)
- [Singles](https://handball.theperfectship.com/singles.md)
- [Doubles](https://handball.theperfectship.com/doubles.md)
- [Cutthroat](https://handball.theperfectship.com/cutthroat.md)
- [Service box](https://handball.theperfectship.com/service-box.md)
- [Ace](https://handball.theperfectship.com/ace.md)
- [Wall](https://handball.theperfectship.com/wall.md)
- [Floor](https://handball.theperfectship.com/floor.md)

## Relationships

- Server relates to Player: mentioned together in 2 sub-rules.
- Server relates to Serve: mentioned together in 4 sub-rules.
- Server relates to Front wall: mentioned together in 3 sub-rules.
- Server relates to Ball: mentioned together in 5 sub-rules.
- Server relates to Wall: mentioned together in 3 sub-rules.
- Server relates to Floor: mentioned together in 3 sub-rules.
- Player relates to Ball: mentioned together in 4 sub-rules.
- Player relates to Wall: mentioned together in 3 sub-rules.
- Serve relates to Front wall: mentioned together in 3 sub-rules.
- Serve relates to Ball: mentioned together in 4 sub-rules.
- Serve relates to Wall: mentioned together in 3 sub-rules.
- Front wall relates to Ball: mentioned together in 4 sub-rules.
- Front wall relates to Wall: mentioned together in 4 sub-rules.
- Ball relates to Wall: mentioned together in 5 sub-rules.
- Ball relates to Floor: mentioned together in 3 sub-rules.
- No link to the other terms shown: Opponent, Partner, Receiver, Rally, Replay, Return of serve, Short line.
- 13 weaker links (terms mentioned together in few sub-rules) are not drawn.
- 9 more terms are mentioned but not drawn (the best linked 14 are shown).

Rulebook: [USHA Four-Wall Abridged Rules, May 2010](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/usha-fourwall-abridged-2010-05.md)

Source: Handball Rules (Abridged for Curriculum) (PDF, ushandball.org upload, captured 2026-10-30). USHA text, used with the USHA's written permission (letter not yet filed).