# Rule 4.4 Return of Serve (USHA Four-Wall Rules, 22 January 2021, 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 hit 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, or any other legal return, the receiver may hit the ball anytime after it passes completely through the plane of the back edge of the short line; however no part of his/her body may extend on or over the plane of the back edge of the short line until after contacting the ball. In doubles, this also applies to the receiver’s partner. A violation results in a point for the server. After contacting the ball, the receiver and his/her partner 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)
- [Partner](https://handball.theperfectship.com/partner.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)
- [Doubles](https://handball.theperfectship.com/doubles.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 12 sub-rules.
- Server relates to Ball: mentioned together in 10 sub-rules.
- Player relates to Partner: mentioned together in 7 sub-rules.
- Player relates to Serve: mentioned together in 11 sub-rules.
- Player relates to Ball: mentioned together in 25 sub-rules.
- Player relates to Point: mentioned together in 12 sub-rules.
- Player relates to Doubles: mentioned together in 13 sub-rules.
- Player relates to Wall: mentioned together in 7 sub-rules.
- Partner relates to Ball: mentioned together in 9 sub-rules.
- Partner relates to Doubles: mentioned together in 8 sub-rules.
- Serve relates to Ball: mentioned together in 13 sub-rules.
- Side wall relates to Wall: mentioned together in 8 sub-rules.
- Ball relates to Point: mentioned together in 8 sub-rules.
- Ball relates to Wall: mentioned together in 9 sub-rules.
- Ball relates to Floor: mentioned together in 9 sub-rules.
- No link to the other terms shown: Receiver, Back wall, Front wall, Short line.
- 54 weaker links (terms mentioned together in few sub-rules) are not drawn.
- 4 more terms are mentioned but not drawn (the best linked 14 are shown).

Rulebook: [USHA Four-Wall Rules, 22 January 2021](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/usha-fourwall-2021-01-22.md)

Source: Four-Wall Rulebook (Wayback capture 20210228100541 of ushandball.org). USHA rules text, used with the USHA's written permission (letter not yet filed).