Mary C. Morgan

Hand ball is a game suitable for either indoor or outdoor playing, in which two or four persons may participate. The game is divided into two parts—offensive and defensive. The server, or, if there are four playing, the server and her partner, constitute the offensive; the receiver or the receiving side, the defensive. The score is made by the serving side upon an error by the receiving side; if the server makes an error she loses the serve, thus also the chance to score. The ball is batted with the cupped hand against a wall or back board so that it bounds within a given territory.

The server drops or bounces the ball and then hits it on the rebound with the palm of hand against the wall, so that it rebounds as far from the receiver as possible. Control and speed are two important factors. In order to obtain good control, the player should practice and endeavor to place the ball where her opponent isn’t. This requires careful observation of your opponent’s tactics. After control comes speed; a speedy ball is always hard to return.

For the defensive, the player should always try to be in a good position to return any ball; thus, it is imperative to be able to play the ball with either hand. It is safer for the defensive player to play a conservative game rather than a speedy one, for any error counts for the other side.

1 For further details see Spalding’s “American Hand Ball.”

Every player should learn to serve well, to use control and speed; every player should learn to become equally efficient with either hand, batting the ball with straight aim; every player should always remember to outmaneuver her opponent and place the ball where it is most difficult for her to return it.

Rules for American Hand Ball.

A hand ball court consists of a floor, a wall or back board, and field. The floor is usually 20 feet wide and 26 feet long, with a service line, distinctly marked, drawn across the floor at the middle point, 13 feet away, between the front line (end line 26 feet away from the board) and the board. The floor is smooth but not polished. The wall or back board is 10 feet high and 20 feet wide. The field is the whole space including the floor and is 55 feet wide and 40 feet long including the court.

A regulation hand ball (small hard-rubber ball hollow inside) and gloves are used.

Points may only be scored by the side serving. Twenty-one points are a game. Should each score twenty points, either side must score two consecutive points on one serve to win.

There are two officials—a referee and an umpire—who have control of the game, who decide all questions of balls, time, unfair play, etc.

The choice of serving or receiving is decided by tossing a coin.

The ball is struck with the palm of either hand—one hand only—by no other part of body, nor by both hands simultaneously.

The ball is dropped or bounced to the floor by the server on that side of the service line farthest from the court. The served ball after touching the board must cross to the far side of the service line and land within the court. If it touches the floor on the near side of the service line, it is short; if it touches out of the court on the far side of the service line, it is long.

The server may serve these balls over again, but if one “short” and one “long;” or two “short” or two “long” balls are served consecutively by the same player, the server (or the side, if doubles) is out. Then the receiver becomes the server.

If a served ball touches the floor outside the side lines, the server or the side is out.

A served ball is played on the first bounce only. A returned ball may be played on the first bounce or on the fly. All balls served or returned must touch the board before touching the floor. A ball leaving the hand of a player striking opponent before touching wall or floor is a “hinder.” Two hinders by one player in a service is a put-out or a point scored. A ball leaving the board which strikes the player who returned it, or partner, is a put-out or a point for the side struck. A ball leaving the board striking an opponent is a point or put-out in favor of the opposing side of person so struck.

All balls are played until decided by the referee.

A returned ball must be within the dimensions of the court.

Players may block each other fairly, that is, a player may so place the ball that he blocks his opponent, but this must be done before the ball has left his hand. In doubles, no blocking may be done after the ball has left the board.

For unfair blocking, a penalty—subtracting from one to five points from score of the offender—may be imposed by the referee.

In doubles, the sides alternate in service as well as receiving. No player shall serve or play the same defensive position all the time.