# Return of serve

> The receiver’s first shot after a legal serve.

From the rulebook:

> Legal return After the ball is legally served, one of the players on the receiving side must strike the ball either on the fly or after the first bounce, and before the ball touches the floor a second time, to return the ball to the wall on or between the lines first and make it rebound into the playing zone. A returned ball may not touch the floor before touching the wall. Failure to make a legal return results in a point for the server.

— [One-wall · Rule 4.4 Return of Serve](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.4/c.md)

## How to return a serve (one-wall)

1. Stand in back of the service line until the ball from the wall passes the short line. A violation is a point for the server. ([One-wall 4.4(a)](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.4/a.md))
2. Strike the ball on the fly or after the first bounce, before it touches the floor a second time. ([One-wall 4.4(c)](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.4/c.md))
3. Return the ball to the wall first, on or between the lines, and make it rebound into the playing zone. ([One-wall 4.4(c)](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.4/c.md))
4. A returned ball may not touch the floor before touching the wall. Failure to make a legal return is a point for the server. ([One-wall 4.4(c)](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.4/c.md))

## Quick Qs

- **Can I hit the serve before it bounces?** Yes, once it has passed completely through the plane of the back edge of the short line. No part of your body may extend on or over that plane until you have hit the ball; a violation is a point for the server. ([One-wall 4.4(b)](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.4/b.md))
- **Where must I stand in four-wall?** At least five feet behind the short line, as shown by the receiver's restraining lines, until the server hits the ball. A violation is a point for the server. ([Four-wall 4.4(a)](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/4.4/a.md))

## Where it shows up

- [One-wall · Rule 4.4 Return of Serve](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.4.md): c
- [One-wall · Rule 4.6 Rally](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-wall/4.6.md): d
- [Four-wall · Rule 4.4 Return of Serve](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/4.4.md): b, c
- [Four-wall · Rule 4.6 Rally](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/4.6.md): d
- [Four-wall · Rule 2.1-one Courts](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/2.1-one.md): d

## Related

- [Receiver](https://handball.theperfectship.com/receiver.md)
- [Serve](https://handball.theperfectship.com/serve.md)
- [Rally](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rally.md)

## Ref questions

- [All Receiving questions (3)](https://handball.theperfectship.com/referee/receiving.md)

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