Girls and Athletics / Giving a brief summary of the activity, rules and method of administration of the following games in girls' schools and colleges, women's clubs, etc.: archery, basket ball, cricket, fencing, field day, field hockey, gymnastics, golf, hand ball, ice hockey, indoor base ball, rowing, soccer, skating, swimming, tennis, track athletics, volley ball, walking, water polo, water basket ball.

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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.