Handball

HANDBALL, a ball game played in a court, the ball being struck against the wall or walls with the hand. Although it is considered a fast game even for men athletically inclined, and one which usually arouses a keen competitive spirit, it can be played in leisurely fashion like tennis or golf by those who seek fun and diversion without extraordinary effort. Played strenuously, it is recommended by some athletic trainers as being better than road running for boxers and wrestlers in preparation for their bouts. Although the game of hand-ball originated in Ireland a thousand years ago, and is often considered one of the national games of that country, it is now played by more men in America than any where else in the world. Hand-ball courts are installed in practi cally every gymnasium in America, indoors and out, as well as in men's clubs, fraternal organizations and elsewhere. The first scien tific hand-ball player was really developed in the early '5os, when William Baggs of Tipperary originated new ways of hitting the ball in curves, low drives and screw tosses. He was followed in Ireland by David Browning. In 1885 John Lawlor of Ireland won the Irish championship. The first international match ever played was the Lawlor-Casey match in 1887 with the prize of $1,000 for the best of 21 games, i o in Cork and I i in the United States. Lawlor won 6 games to 4 in Cork, and Casey, the American cham pion, won 7 straight in New York, winning the match. Casey, who retained his title against all comers until 1 900, when he retired, was spoken of as the "father" of hand-ball in America. McQuade, Alderman Dunne, Judge Dunne, Drew, Cashman, Kelly, Eagan, O'Rourke and Heney were outstanding stars of former days.

Since i 90o hand-ball has developed into two separate games,

a one-wall game and a four-wall game, both of which are played by amateurs in singles or doubles. Professional games are unheard of now. The one-wall game (A.A.U. rules) is played in a court 34 ft. long by 20 ft. wide, with front wall 16 f t. high. A "short" line on the floor is 15 ft. from the front wall with a second line 9 ft. further back known as the "service" line. Twenty-one points constitute a game. Preliminary matches consist of two out of three games; semi-final and final matches comprise three out of five games. In serving, the ball must be bounced on the floor within the square formed by the side lines and the short and serv ice lines, and struck on the first bounce. The server must see that the ball will strike the wall and bounce across the short line. Hitting the ceiling, floor or any other part of the room before the front wall, while serving, counts as a lost point. The receiver may strike the ball on the fly or on the first bounce. In singles or doubles, players are entitled to an unobstructed chance at the ball. The ball is i$ in. in diameter and weighs 2 ounces. There are 37 recognized rules for one-wall hand-ball as adopted at the annual meeting of the A.A.U. on Nov. 20, 1927.

In the four-wall game of hand-ball a standard court 46 ft. long by 22 ft. wide is bounded by four walls 22 ft. high. A serving space enclosed by two parallel lines, the back line and foul-line, drawn across the width is laid out on the floor of the court. The back line, called the "short" line, divides the court equally ; the "front" line is 5 ft. in front of it, that is 18 ft. from the front wall. At right angles to these lines and 18 in. from the side walls lines are drawn to form a box where the partner to the man who is serving stands with his back to the side wall while the ball is being served. Should he leave the box before the ball crosses the short line, the referee will declare it a "short" ball. If the server's partner is hit by the ball while in the box, it is considered a dead ball and the ball is out of play. Missing the ball on the first bounce in serving puts the server out, although he has the privilege of several, but not more than three attempts at bouncing the ball before serving. To be in play the ball must hit the front wall and rebound across the short line before striking the floor. While serving the ball the server must stand in the serving space between the two lines. A served ball which does not rebound beyond the short line before touching the floor is termed a short ball, as is also a served ball which re bounds from the front wall and touches the back wall or ceiling before touching the floor, and a served ball which rebounds from the front wall and touches two side walls before touching the floor. If the server steps over the short line while serving, it is termed a "short" ball. If two short balls are served in succession the server is out. After the ball is served the server's opponents must return the ball to the front wall, before hitting the floor. If the opponents fail to return the ball properly it counts as a tally against the server. If the server or his partner in doubles fails to return the adversary's play properly, the server is out. There are 32 official A.A.U. rules for four-wall hand-ball and this game is usually played indoors exclusively.

The dimensions of the Irish court or alley as given in the playing rules of the Gaelic Athletic Association are : Floor not less than 6o ft. nor more than 63 ft. long, not less than 28 ft. nor more than 3o ft. wide. Height of front wall 3o feet. Height of back wall at least 8 feet.

1919 Ranft and Lacey, Los Angeles. 1920 Klawiter and Retzer, Los Angeles. 1921 Spiegel and Asselin, Detroit.

1922 Gold and Laswell, Los Angeles. 1923 Serenberg and Bathey, Detroit.

1924 McMillan and Donovan, San Francisco. 1925 Dworman and Kammann, Detroit. 1926 Donovan and McMillan, San Francisco. 1927 Dworman and Kammann, Detroit.

See

Spalding's Hand-ball Guide, No. 114 (1928) ; Gaelic Athletic Association, Playing Rules of Football, Hurling, Rounders and Hand ball. (J. B. P.)