# USHA Three-Wall Addendum, 6 February 2015 (historical)

> **Historical rulebook: not the current rules.** The current rules are here: https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/usha-threewall-2025-01-26/

**Historical rulebook, 6 February 2015** (not the current rules)
- Issued by: United States Handball Association
- Date: 6 February 2015 (the date the rules took effect)
- Code: American three-wall
- Form: Addendum: changes to the four-wall rules

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 (6 February 2015); shown here as printed (the changes only, not merged).

## Contents

- [Introduction](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/usha-threewall-2015-02-06/intro.md)
- [Rule 2.1](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/usha-threewall-2015-02-06/2.1.md)
- [Rule 2.4](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/usha-threewall-2015-02-06/2.4.md)
- [Rule 4.3](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/usha-threewall-2015-02-06/4.3.md)
- [Rule 4.6](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/usha-threewall-2015-02-06/4.6.md)
- [Rule 4.7](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/usha-threewall-2015-02-06/4.7.md)

## Three-Wall Addendum

### Introduction

Changes from Four-Wall Rules. The following rules changes supersede the corresponding rules in four-wall.

Under Part 2. Courts and Equipment.

### Rule 2.1

Rule 2.1 Courts. The specifications for the standard three-wall handball court are:

#### A. Dimensions

The dimensions are: 20 feet wide, 20 feet high and 40 feet long, with side walls recommended length of 44 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:

Add 6) Long Line. The outer edge of the long line is 40 feet from the front wall and runs parallel with the front wall and service zone lines.

### Rule 2.4

Under Rule 2.4 General.

#### A. General

Shirts are not required for outdoor play unless opponent requests one be worn.

### Rule 4.3

Under Rule 4.3 Defective Serves.

Under C. Fault Serves.

5) Long Serve. Any served ball that first hits the front wall and rebounds past the outer edge of the long line before touching the floor. During tournament play, receivers must not catch long serves that they assume to be long. Referee will award point for failure to return.

### Rule 4.6

Under Rule 4.6 Rally.

Under D. Failure to Return.

Add 7) Long Ball. The ball hits the front wall but doesn’t bounce until it passes the outer edge of the long line.

Under Rule 4.6 Rally.

Delete H. Out-of-court ball.

### Rule 4.7

Under Rule 4.7 Situations.

Under 1) Court Hinders.

Add a) Ceiling House Rule. On three-wall courts with ceilings, since no two are the same anything goes when the ball hits the ceiling, either on the way to the front wall or on the way back from the front wall. This is similar to the “House Rule” in four-wall.

## Terms in this rulebook

- [Ball](https://handball.theperfectship.com/ball.md): 4.3, 4.6, 4.7
- [Ceiling](https://handball.theperfectship.com/ceiling.md): 4.7
- [Court](https://handball.theperfectship.com/court.md): intro, 2.1, 4.6, 4.7
- [Fault serve](https://handball.theperfectship.com/fault-serve.md): 4.3
- [Floor](https://handball.theperfectship.com/floor.md): 2.1
- [Four-wall](https://handball.theperfectship.com/four-wall.md): intro, 4.7
- [Front wall](https://handball.theperfectship.com/front-wall.md): 2.1, 4.3, 4.6, 4.7
- [Hinder](https://handball.theperfectship.com/hinder.md): 4.7
- [Jersey / shirt](https://handball.theperfectship.com/jersey.md): 2.4
- [Long line](https://handball.theperfectship.com/long-line.md): 2.1, 4.3, 4.6
- [Long serve](https://handball.theperfectship.com/long-serve.md): 4.3
- [Opponent](https://handball.theperfectship.com/opponent.md): 2.4
- [Point](https://handball.theperfectship.com/point.md): 4.3
- [Rally](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rally.md): 4.6
- [Receiver](https://handball.theperfectship.com/receiver.md): 4.3
- [Referee](https://handball.theperfectship.com/match-referee.md): 4.3
- [Serve](https://handball.theperfectship.com/serve.md): 4.3
- [Service zone](https://handball.theperfectship.com/service-zone.md): 2.1
- [Side wall](https://handball.theperfectship.com/side-wall.md): 2.1
- [Three-wall](https://handball.theperfectship.com/three-wall.md): 2.1, 4.7
- [Wall](https://handball.theperfectship.com/wall.md): intro, 2.1, 4.6

Printed title: Three-Wall Addendum - Changes from Four-Wall Rules

Source: Three-Wall Addendum (printed PDF, pnwhandball.org upload, captured 2026-10-30). USHA rules text, used with the USHA's written permission (letter not yet filed).