Rule 4.1 Serve

The player or side winning the toss of a coin chooses to serve or receive in the first game. The other player or side shall choose for the second game. If a tie breaker is necessary, the player or team scoring the higher total of points in the first two games shall choose. If both players or teams score an equal number of points in the first two games, another coin toss will be made to determine which player or team has the choice.

Games are started by the referee announcing the score, "0-0," and then "Play ball."

The server may serve from anyplace in the service zone. No part of either foot may extend beyond the outer edge of either line of the service zone. Server must remain in the service zone until the served ball passes the short line. Violations are called "foot faults". (See Rule 4.3 B.1.).

The server must come to a complete stop in the service zone before beginning the serve. The serve is begun by bouncing the ball to the floor in the service zone. Although the server may bounce and catch the ball several times before serving, when actually beginning the serve the ball must be struck on a single bounce. If a player allows the ball to bounce more than once after a single drop before hitting it, a fault will be called (See Rule 4.3 B.8). The ball must be struck by the server's hand or fist so that it hits the front wall first and on the rebound hits the floor behind the short line, either with or without touching one of the side walls. If the server bounces the ball outside the service zone as he begins his serve,a fault will be called (See Rule 4.3 B.7).

A serve may not be made until the referee has announced the score (See Rule 3.4.A.9). The referee shall call point or side out as soon as a rally ends. The receiver then has up to 10 seconds to assume a receiving position. When the receiver has assumed a receiving position or 10 seconds have elapsed, whichever occurs first, and the server has had reasonable time to get to his serving position, the referee shall announce the score and the server must serve (strike the ball) within 10 seconds.

If the first serve results in a fault, the referee shall give the defensive player a reasonable time to take a receiving position and then the referee shall announce "second serve" after which the server must serve within 10 seconds. (See Interpretation No. 4).