# Coin

> The coin tossed before a match to decide who serves first, and tossed again if the first two games finish level on points.

From the rulebook:

> Order In singles, the player winning the toss of a coin serves first in the first game. The other player serves first in the second game. If a tiebreaker is necessary, the player who scored the higher total of points in the first two games serves first. If both players score an equal number of points in the first two games, another coin toss will be made to determine which player serves first. In doubles, the side winning the toss of a coin chooses to serve or receive in the first game. The othe…

— [One-wall · Rule 4.1 Serve](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.1/a.md)

## Where it shows up

- [One-wall · Rule 3.4 Referee](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/3.4.md): a
- [One-wall · Rule 4.1 Serve](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.1.md): a
- [One-wall · Rule 5.9 Round Robin Tiebreaker Scoring](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/5.9.md): intro
- [Four-wall · Rule 3.4 Referee](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/3.4.md): a
- [Four-wall · Rule 4.1 Serve](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/4.1.md): a
- [Four-wall · Rule 5.9 Round Robin Tiebreaker Scoring](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/5.9.md): intro

## Related

- [Server](https://handball.theperfectship.com/server.md)
- [Serve](https://handball.theperfectship.com/serve.md)
- [Game, match, tiebreaker](https://handball.theperfectship.com/game.md)
- [Referee](https://handball.theperfectship.com/match-referee.md)

## In GAA / 60×30 rules

- GAA rules allow the choice of a number as an alternative to the coin toss for the order of serve, on a three-year trial from 2026 (GAA rule 4.1.A).

## Ref questions

- [All Serve questions (40)](https://handball.theperfectship.com/referee/serve.md)

Rules text: United States Handball Association, used with written permission — https://www.ushandball.org/