# Rule 4.4 Return of Serve (USHA One-Wall Rules, March 2001, historical)

> **Historical rulebook: not the current rules.** The current rules are here: https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/one-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 in back of the service line until the ball from the wall passes the short line. Any violation of this rule results in a point for the server (See Rule 2.1B5).

## B. Fly return

In making a fly return, the receiver must play the ball after it passes over the short line, and no part of his body may extend on or over the plane 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 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.

## 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)
- [Short line](https://handball.theperfectship.com/short-line.md)
- [Service line](https://handball.theperfectship.com/service-line.md)
- [Receiving line](https://handball.theperfectship.com/receiving-line.md)
- [Playing zone](https://handball.theperfectship.com/playing-zone.md)
- [Ball](https://handball.theperfectship.com/ball.md)
- [Point](https://handball.theperfectship.com/point.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 Receiver: mentioned together in 5 sub-rules.
- Server relates to Serve: mentioned together in 12 sub-rules.
- Server relates to Ball: mentioned together in 12 sub-rules.
- Server relates to Point: mentioned together in 6 sub-rules.
- Player relates to Serve: mentioned together in 6 sub-rules.
- Player relates to Ball: mentioned together in 21 sub-rules.
- Player relates to Point: mentioned together in 11 sub-rules.
- Player relates to Floor: mentioned together in 8 sub-rules.
- Serve relates to Ball: mentioned together in 11 sub-rules.
- Serve relates to Point: mentioned together in 6 sub-rules.
- Ball relates to Point: mentioned together in 11 sub-rules.
- Ball relates to Wall: mentioned together in 8 sub-rules.
- Ball relates to Floor: mentioned together in 10 sub-rules.
- Wall relates to Floor: mentioned together in 6 sub-rules.
- No link to the other terms shown: Return of serve, Playing zone, Receiving line, Service line, Short line.
- 36 weaker links (terms mentioned together in few sub-rules) are not drawn.

Rulebook: [USHA One-Wall Rules, March 2001](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/usha-onewall-2001-03.md)

Source: The New and Official United States Handball Association One-Wall Rules With Interpretations 2000 (Wayback capture 20010309221200 of ushandball.org). USHA rules text, used with the USHA's written permission (letter not yet filed).