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Y.M.C.A. Four-Wall Rules, 1907

Historical rulebook: not the current rules. The current rules are here (USHA Four-Wall Rulebook, as of 26 January 2025).

Historical

Historical rulebook, 1907

Issued by
not recorded
Dated
1907 (the year printed on the rulebook)
Code
American four-wall
Form
Full rulebook

New handball rules

Rule 1

A fault is made when a served ball (1) Strikes the front wall, outside the red boundary lines. (2) Strikes the front wall and goes over the side-wall, back-wall or side-lines. (3) Strikes in front of ace or service line.

Rule 2

A hand-out is made (1) By making two faults, (2) By ball touching, floor, ceiling, side-walls or partner before striking front wall. (3) By batting ball with closed hand, or with both hands, or dropping it and not serving on first bounce or dropping it with one hand and batting with other hand. (4) By touching the ball after serving it, before it bounces twice on floor or opponent has played it. (5) By not returning ball direct to front wall, before or after it touches the floor the first time, after your opponent has returned it. (6) By server stepping across ace or service line with both feet before ball strikes front wall (Except Hindrance Rule).

Rule 3

A hindrance is made (1) By blocking your opponent's way. (2) By ball touching any apparatus inside of boundary lines. (3) By ball touching an opponent before striking front wall or before bouncing on way to front wall.

Rule 4

An ace or one point is scored if opponent does not return the ball direct to front wall, before or after it touches the floor first time, or bats the ball with closed hand or both hands (Except Hindrance Rule).

Rule 5

A server's partner must be in box when ball strikes front wall from service.

Rule 6

A set of players should not play more than three games of eleven points each when others are waiting.

Rule 7

To settle a disputed point, (without referee) play it over.

Terms in this rulebook

Each glossary term this rulebook uses, with the rules that use it (matched on the wording of its date).

About this rulebook

Printed title
New handball rules (Y.M.C.A., Honolulu)
Rules or sections
7
Source
'New Handball Rules Adopted', The Pacific Commercial Advertiser (Honolulu), 19 October 1907, p. 5 (Chronicling America, sn85047084); reprinted in The Hawaiian Star (Honolulu), 23 October 1907, p. 6 (sn82015415). Public domain.