# Rule 4.4 Return of serve (USHA Four-Wall Rules, 31 January 1999, historical)

> **Historical rulebook: not the current rules.** The current rules are here: https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/

USHA rules text used with permission of the U.S. Handball Association (ushandball.org); credit: U.S. Handball Association. Source: https://www.ushandball.org/

## A. Receiving position

The receiver or receivers must stand at least five feet behind the short line, as indicated by the receiver’s restraining lines, until the ball is struck by the server. Any violation of this rule results in a point for the server. (See Rule 2.1.B.5)

## B. Fly return

In making a fly return, the receiver may play the ball anytime after it passes over the back edge of the short line and no part of his body may extend on or over the plane of the back edge of the short line when contacting the ball. A violation results in a point for the server. After contacting the ball, the receiver may step on or over the short line without penalty.

## C. 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 the second time, to return the ball to the front wall either directly or after it has touched one or both side walls, the back wall, the ceiling, or any combination of those surfaces. A returned ball may not touch the floor before touching the front wall. A ball may be played off the back wall as well as the front wall, provided the ball does not touch the floor a second time. Failure to make a legal return results in a point for the server.

## Mentioned here

- [Server](https://handball.theperfectship.com/server.md)
- [Receiver](https://handball.theperfectship.com/receiver.md)
- [Player](https://handball.theperfectship.com/player.md)
- [Serve](https://handball.theperfectship.com/serve.md)
- [Return of serve](https://handball.theperfectship.com/return-of-serve.md)
- [Front wall](https://handball.theperfectship.com/front-wall.md)
- [Back wall](https://handball.theperfectship.com/back-wall.md)
- [Side wall](https://handball.theperfectship.com/side-wall.md)
- [Ceiling](https://handball.theperfectship.com/ceiling.md)
- [Short line](https://handball.theperfectship.com/short-line.md)
- [Receiving line](https://handball.theperfectship.com/receiving-line.md)
- [Ball](https://handball.theperfectship.com/ball.md)
- [Point](https://handball.theperfectship.com/point.md)
- [Receiver’s restraining line](https://handball.theperfectship.com/restraining-line.md)
- [Wall](https://handball.theperfectship.com/wall.md)
- [Floor](https://handball.theperfectship.com/floor.md)

How this rule changed: [wording in every rulebook](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/clause-history/code-onewall-smallball/4-4.md)

## Relationships

- Server relates to Serve: mentioned together in 15 sub-rules.
- Server relates to Ball: mentioned together in 13 sub-rules.
- Player relates to Serve: mentioned together in 12 sub-rules.
- Player relates to Ball: mentioned together in 30 sub-rules.
- Player relates to Point: mentioned together in 13 sub-rules.
- Player relates to Wall: mentioned together in 9 sub-rules.
- Player relates to Floor: mentioned together in 10 sub-rules.
- Serve relates to Front wall: mentioned together in 7 sub-rules.
- Serve relates to Ball: mentioned together in 16 sub-rules.
- Serve relates to Point: mentioned together in 9 sub-rules.
- Front wall relates to Ball: mentioned together in 9 sub-rules.
- Front wall relates to Wall: mentioned together in 8 sub-rules.
- Ball relates to Point: mentioned together in 11 sub-rules.
- Ball relates to Wall: mentioned together in 12 sub-rules.
- Ball relates to Floor: mentioned together in 10 sub-rules.
- No link to the other terms shown: Receiver, Back wall, Ceiling, Receiving line, Short line, Side wall.
- 54 weaker links (terms mentioned together in few sub-rules) are not drawn.
- 2 more terms are mentioned but not drawn (the best linked 14 are shown).

Rulebook: [USHA Four-Wall Rules, 31 January 1999](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/usha-fourwall-1999-01-31.md)

Source: The Official USHA Handball Rules, 1999 (Wayback capture 20000914195049 of cohandball.com). USHA rules text, used with the USHA's written permission (letter not yet filed).