Ref questions

Serve

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• Exams:
• 1-wall L1
• 1-wall L3
• 4-wall L1
• 4-wall L3
• Practise endlessly

Study material drawn from the USHA rulebooks and referee guide — verify against the current official rulebook before certification.

1. Question 1. The served ball hits the front wall then two side walls before the floor. (3/4-wall)

   • A Fault (three-wall serve)
   • B Out serve
   • C Legal
   Answer

   Answer: Fault (three-wall serve)

   Front + two side walls on the fly is a three-wall serve — a fault.

2. Question 2. The served ball hits the front wall then the ceiling before the floor. (3/4-wall)

   • A Fault (ceiling serve)
   • B Out serve
   • C Legal
   Answer

   Answer: Fault (ceiling serve)

   Touching the ceiling after the front wall is a fault serve.

3. Question 3. The served ball rebounds off the front wall and strikes the back wall on the fly. (3/4-wall)

   • A Fault (long serve)
   • B Out serve
   • C Legal
   Answer

   Answer: Fault (long serve)

   Carrying to the back wall untouched by the floor is a long serve — a fault.

4. Question 4. The served ball rebounds and first lands on or in front of the short line. (3/4-wall)

   • A Fault (short serve)
   • B Out serve
   • C Legal
   Answer

   Answer: Fault (short serve)

   Landing on/before the short line is a short serve — a fault.

5. Question 5. The served ball hits the floor before reaching the front wall. (3/4-wall)

   • A Out serve
   • B Fault
   • C Legal
   Answer

   Answer: Out serve

   Hitting the floor before the front wall is an out serve — hand/side out.

6. Question 6. The server swings at the serve and completely misses the ball. (3/4-wall)

   • A Out serve
   • B Fault
   • C No penalty, re-serve
   Answer

   Answer: Out serve

   A total whiff is an out serve.

7. Question 7. After the front wall the serve strikes one side wall, then the floor in the back court, in bounds. (3/4-wall)

   • A Legal serve
   • B Fault
   • C Out serve
   Answer

   Answer: Legal serve

   Front wall + one side wall before the floor is a legal serve.

8. Question 8. The serve hits the front wall and rebounds over the back wall AFTER bouncing on the floor. (3/4-wall)

   • A Legal — play on
   • B Fault
   • C Out serve
   Answer

   Answer: Legal — play on

   It bounced in the court first, so it is legal.

9. Question 9. A served ball strikes the server’s partner standing in the box (not in danger of being struck). (3/4-wall)

   • A Out serve
   • B Screen
   • C No penalty
   Answer

   Answer: Out serve

   A serve hitting the serving side is an out serve.

10. Question 10. The serve passes so close to the server the receiver cannot see it. (3/4-wall)

    • A Screen serve — replay
    • B Out serve
    • C Point
    Answer

    Answer: Screen serve — replay

    A screen serve is replayed; two consecutive screens is a fault.

11. Question 11. The server leaves the service zone before the served ball passes the short line. (one-wall)

    • A Fault (foot fault)
    • B Point
    • C Out serve
    Answer

    Answer: Fault (foot fault)

    Leaving the zone early is a foot fault.

12. Question 12. The served ball first lands on or short of the short line. (one-wall)

    • A Fault (short serve)
    • B Out serve
    • C Legal
    Answer

    Answer: Fault (short serve)

    A short serve is a fault.

13. Question 13. The served ball lands beyond the long line on the fly. (one-wall)

    • A Fault (long serve)
    • B Out serve
    • C Legal
    Answer

    Answer: Fault (long serve)

    Past the long line is a long serve — a fault.

14. Question 14. The served ball lands outside a side line. (one-wall)

    • A Fault (long/out serve)
    • B Point
    • C Legal
    Answer

    Answer: Fault (long/out serve)

    A served ball landing outside the side line is a fault serve.

15. Question 15. The serve passes so close to the server the receiver cannot see it (one-wall). (one-wall)

    • A Hinder serve — replay
    • B Out serve
    • C Point
    Answer

    Answer: Hinder serve — replay

    In one-wall a screen is a "hinder serve" — replay; two in a row is a fault.

16. Question 16. The receiver steps into the service zone before the serve passes the short line. (one-wall)

    • A Point for the server
    • B Fault
    • C Out
    Answer

    Answer: Point for the server

    Receiver encroachment favors the server — point.

17. Question 17. How many fault serves in a row result in loss of serve? (both)

    • A Two
    • B One
    • C Three
    Answer

    Answer: Two

    Two consecutive faults = side-out (hand out).

18. Question 18. The server drops the ball to bounce it for the serve but lets it bounce without striking. (both)

    • A Counts toward the 10-second clock (no fault yet)
    • B Immediate fault
    • C Out serve
    Answer

    Answer: Counts toward the 10-second clock (no fault yet)

    A drop without a strike isn’t a serve; the 10-second clock keeps running.

19. Question 19. In four-wall, the served ball hits the front wall and then the floor in the front court (before the short line). (3/4-wall)

    • A Short serve (fault)
    • B Legal
    • C Out
    Answer

    Answer: Short serve (fault)

    Front-court landing is short.

20. Question 20. In one-wall doubles, the server’s partner stands: (one-wall)

    • A Outside the side lines, clear of the receiver’s view
    • B Anywhere in the court
    • C On the short line
    Answer

    Answer: Outside the side lines, clear of the receiver’s view

    The partner stands clear so as not to screen.

21. Question 21. Serve ruling — the served ball: front wall, then directly to the floor in the back court (in bounds). (3/4-wall)

    • A Legal serve
    • B Fault serve
    • C Out serve
    • D Screen / hinder — replay
    Answer

    Answer: Legal serve

    A legal serve: front wall first, then the floor past the short line (and not long/out).

22. Question 22. Serve ruling — the served ball: front wall then ONE side wall, then the floor in bounds. (3/4-wall)

    • A Legal serve
    • B Fault serve
    • C Out serve
    • D Screen / hinder — replay
    Answer

    Answer: Legal serve

    A legal serve: front wall first, then the floor past the short line (and not long/out).

23. Question 23. Serve ruling — the served ball: front wall then the ceiling. (3/4-wall)

    • A Legal serve
    • B Fault serve
    • C Out serve
    • D Screen / hinder — replay
    Answer

    Answer: Fault serve

    A fault serve (short, long, three-wall, ceiling, or foot fault). Two faults = side-out.

24. Question 24. Serve ruling — the served ball: front wall then TWO side walls before the floor. (3/4-wall)

    • A Legal serve
    • B Fault serve
    • C Out serve
    • D Screen / hinder — replay
    Answer

    Answer: Fault serve

    A fault serve (short, long, three-wall, ceiling, or foot fault). Two faults = side-out.

25. Question 25. Serve ruling — the served ball: front wall and carries to the back wall on the fly. (3/4-wall)

    • A Legal serve
    • B Fault serve
    • C Out serve
    • D Screen / hinder — replay
    Answer

    Answer: Fault serve

    A fault serve (short, long, three-wall, ceiling, or foot fault). Two faults = side-out.

26. Question 26. Serve ruling — the served ball: first bounce lands on the short line. (3/4-wall)

    • A Legal serve
    • B Fault serve
    • C Out serve
    • D Screen / hinder — replay
    Answer

    Answer: Fault serve

    A fault serve (short, long, three-wall, ceiling, or foot fault). Two faults = side-out.

27. Question 27. Serve ruling — the served ball: first bounce lands in front of the short line. (3/4-wall)

    • A Legal serve
    • B Fault serve
    • C Out serve
    • D Screen / hinder — replay
    Answer

    Answer: Fault serve

    A fault serve (short, long, three-wall, ceiling, or foot fault). Two faults = side-out.

28. Question 28. Serve ruling — the served ball: the floor BEFORE reaching the front wall. (3/4-wall)

    • A Legal serve
    • B Fault serve
    • C Out serve
    • D Screen / hinder — replay
    Answer

    Answer: Out serve

    An out serve ends the service immediately (side-out / hand out).

29. Question 29. Serve ruling — the served ball: a complete miss (whiff) on the toss/strike. (3/4-wall)

    • A Legal serve
    • B Fault serve
    • C Out serve
    • D Screen / hinder — replay
    Answer

    Answer: Out serve

    An out serve ends the service immediately (side-out / hand out).

30. Question 30. Serve ruling — the served ball: strikes the server’s partner who is outside the box. (3/4-wall)

    • A Legal serve
    • B Fault serve
    • C Out serve
    • D Screen / hinder — replay
    Answer

    Answer: Out serve

    An out serve ends the service immediately (side-out / hand out).

31. Question 31. Serve ruling — the served ball: passes so close to the server the receiver can’t see it. (3/4-wall)

    • A Legal serve
    • B Fault serve
    • C Out serve
    • D Screen / hinder — replay
    Answer

    Answer: Screen / hinder — replay

    A screen/hinder serve is replayed; two in a row is a fault.

32. Question 32. Serve ruling — the served ball: front wall then floor between the short line and back wall (good depth). (3/4-wall)

    • A Legal serve
    • B Fault serve
    • C Out serve
    • D Screen / hinder — replay
    Answer

    Answer: Legal serve

    A legal serve: front wall first, then the floor past the short line (and not long/out).

33. Question 33. Serve ruling — the served ball: front wall then back wall after first bouncing on the floor. (3/4-wall)

    • A Legal serve
    • B Fault serve
    • C Out serve
    • D Screen / hinder — replay
    Answer

    Answer: Legal serve

    A legal serve: front wall first, then the floor past the short line (and not long/out).

34. Question 34. Serve ruling — the served ball: front wall then the floor between the short line and long line. (one-wall)

    • A Legal serve
    • B Fault serve
    • C Out serve
    • D Screen / hinder — replay
    Answer

    Answer: Legal serve

    A legal serve: front wall first, then the floor past the short line (and not long/out).

35. Question 35. Serve ruling — the served ball: front wall then the floor short of the short line. (one-wall)

    • A Legal serve
    • B Fault serve
    • C Out serve
    • D Screen / hinder — replay
    Answer

    Answer: Fault serve

    A fault serve (short, long, three-wall, ceiling, or foot fault). Two faults = side-out.

36. Question 36. Serve ruling — the served ball: front wall then the floor beyond the long line on the fly. (one-wall)

    • A Legal serve
    • B Fault serve
    • C Out serve
    • D Screen / hinder — replay
    Answer

    Answer: Fault serve

    A fault serve (short, long, three-wall, ceiling, or foot fault). Two faults = side-out.

37. Question 37. Serve ruling — the served ball: lands outside a side line. (one-wall)

    • A Legal serve
    • B Fault serve
    • C Out serve
    • D Screen / hinder — replay
    Answer

    Answer: Fault serve

    A fault serve (short, long, three-wall, ceiling, or foot fault). Two faults = side-out.

38. Question 38. Serve ruling — the served ball: the floor before reaching the wall. (one-wall)

    • A Legal serve
    • B Fault serve
    • C Out serve
    • D Screen / hinder — replay
    Answer

    Answer: Out serve

    An out serve ends the service immediately (side-out / hand out).

39. Question 39. Serve ruling — the served ball: a complete whiff on the serve. (one-wall)

    • A Legal serve
    • B Fault serve
    • C Out serve
    • D Screen / hinder — replay
    Answer

    Answer: Out serve

    An out serve ends the service immediately (side-out / hand out).

40. Question 40. Serve ruling — the served ball: the server steps over the short line before the ball passes it. (one-wall)

    • A Legal serve
    • B Fault serve
    • C Out serve
    • D Screen / hinder — replay
    Answer

    Answer: Fault serve

    A fault serve (short, long, three-wall, ceiling, or foot fault). Two faults = side-out.

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