# Rally

> The exchange of shots after the serve, until the point ends.

From the rulebook:

>  A rally is defined as when the ball is legally returned and kept in play after a legal serve is executed. Play during rallies must be in accord with the following rules:

— [One-wall · Rule 4.6 Rally](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.6.md)

## How to win a rally

1. A rally is the ball being legally returned and kept in play after a legal serve. ([One-wall 4.6](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.6.md))
2. Strike the ball with the front or back of one hand only. Using two hands together, in contact with each other, is an out. ([One-wall 4.6(a)](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.6/a.md))
3. Do not return the ball with the wrist or arm above the hand; that is a violation, even if a glove covers it. ([One-wall 4.6(b)](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.6/b.md))
4. Only one player may touch the ball on each return. In doubles, both partners may swing at it, but only one may strike it. ([One-wall 4.6(c)](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.6/c.md))
5. Hit the ball before it bounces on the floor twice. ([One-wall 4.6(d)](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.6/d.md))
6. One-wall: after you hit it, the ball must reach the wall and rebound into the playing zone. ([One-wall 4.6(d)](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.6/d.md))
7. Four-wall: after you hit it, the ball must reach the front wall before touching the floor. ([Four-wall 4.6(d)](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/4.6/d.md))
8. If you swing and miss, you may keep trying until the ball touches the floor a second time. In doubles, your partner may also try. ([One-wall 4.6(f)](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.6/f.md))
9. A rally is won when one player is unable to return the opponent's shot legally. ([One-wall 1.3](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/1.3.md))
10. Each failure to make a legal return results in an out or a point. ([One-wall 4.6(e)](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.6/e.md))
11. If the serving side wins the rally, it scores a point. If it loses, it loses the serve: after one lost rally in singles, or two in doubles (except as rule 4.2 A provides for the first server of a doubles game). ([One-wall 1.4](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/1.4.md))

## Quick Qs

- **Can I hit the ball with both hands?** No. Only the front or back of one hand may be used at any one time. Using two hands together, in contact with each other when the ball is struck, is an out. ([One-wall 4.6(a)](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.6/a.md))
- **What happens if the ball breaks during a rally?** Play continues until the end of the rally. If the referee then decides the ball is broken, an approved ball is put into play and the point is replayed. Once the next serve is attempted, the previous rally stands. ([One-wall 4.6(j)](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.6/j.md))
- **Can I catch a ball that I think is going out?** Not in one-wall tournament play: players must not catch balls they assume to be out, and the referee will award an out or point. ([One-wall 4.6(h)](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.6/h.md))

## Where it shows up

- [One-wall · Rule 1.3 Objective](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/1.3.md): intro
- [One-wall · Rule 1.4 Points and outs](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/1.4.md): intro
- [One-wall · Rule 2.5 Eye protection](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/2.5.md): b
- [One-wall · Rule 3.4 Referee](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/3.4.md): a, b, c
- [One-wall · Rule 3.7 Appeals](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/3.7.md): a, b
- [One-wall · Rule 4.1 Serve](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.1.md): e
- [One-wall · Rule 4.3 Defective serves](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.3.md): a
- [One-wall · Rule 4.6 Rally](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.6.md): intro, c, d, j, k, l
- [One-wall · Rule 4.7 Dead-ball Hinders](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.7.md): a, d
- [One-wall · Rule 4.75 Hinder Fault](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.75.md): intro
- [One-wall · Rule 4.8 Avoidable hinders](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.8.md): d, f
- [One-wall · Rule 4.9 Technicals](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.9.md): a
- [One-wall · Rule 5.6 Tournament conduct](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/5.6.md): intro
- [Four-wall · Rule 1.3 Objective](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/1.3.md): intro
- [Four-wall · Rule 1.4 Points and outs](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/1.4.md): intro
- [Four-wall · Rule 2.5 Eye protection](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/2.5.md): b
- [Four-wall · Rule 3.4 Referee](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/3.4.md): a, b, c
- [Four-wall · Rule 3.7 Appeals](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/3.7.md): a, b
- [Four-wall · Rule 4.1 Serve](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/4.1.md): e
- [Four-wall · Rule 4.3 Defective serves](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/4.3.md): a
- [Four-wall · Rule 4.6 Rally](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/4.6.md): intro, c, d, j, k, l
- [Four-wall · Rule 4.7 Dead-ball Hinders](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/4.7.md): a, d
- [Four-wall · Rule 4.8 Avoidable hinders](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/4.8.md): d, f
- [Four-wall · Rule 4.9 Technicals](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/4.9.md): a
- [Four-wall · Rule 5.6 Tournament conduct](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/5.6.md): intro
- [Four-wall · Rule 2.1-three Courts](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/2.1-three.md): b
- [Four-wall · Rule 2.1-one Courts](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/2.1-one.md): d

## Related

- [Serve](https://handball.theperfectship.com/serve.md)
- [Point](https://handball.theperfectship.com/point.md)
- [Change of serve (side-out)](https://handball.theperfectship.com/change-of-serve.md)

## Ref questions

- [All Rally questions (4)](https://handball.theperfectship.com/referee/rally.md)

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