# Rule 4.1 Serve (USHA One-Wall Rules, 8 April 2002, 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. Order In singles, the player winning the toss of a coin serves first in the first game. The other player serves first in the second game. If a tie breaker is necessary, the player who scored the higher total of points in the first two games serves first. If both players score an equal number of points in the first two games, another coin toss will be made to determine which player serves first. In doubles, the side winning the toss of a coin chooses to serve or receive in the first game. The other side shall choose for the second game. If both teams score an equal number of points in the first two games, another coin toss will be made to determine which team has the choice. ## B. Start Games are started by the referee announcing "play ball', and then the score, "0-0". ## C. Place The server may serve from anyplace in the service zone. No part of either foot may touch beyond the outer edge of any 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 4.3C1). ## D. Manner 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 the server allows the ball to bounce more than once after a single drop before hitting it, a "fault" will be called (See Rule 4.3C5). The ball must be struck by the server's hand or fist so that it hits the wall first and on the rebound hits the floor in the receiving zone, unless played on the fly. If the server bounces the ball outside the service zone as he begins his serve, a "fault" will be called (See Rule 4.3C4). ## E. Time A serve may not be made until the referee has announced the score (See Rule 3.4A9). The referee shall call "point," "sideout," "hinder," etc. 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, or hinder serve, the referee shall give the receiver a reasonable time to take a receiving position and then the referee shall announce "second serve," "one hinder serve," etc. after which the server must serve within 10 seconds (See Interpretation No. 4). ## Mentioned here - [Server](https://handball.theperfectship.com/server.md) - [Receiver](https://handball.theperfectship.com/receiver.md) - [Player](https://handball.theperfectship.com/player.md) - [Referee](https://handball.theperfectship.com/match-referee.md) - [Serve](https://handball.theperfectship.com/serve.md) - [Second serve](https://handball.theperfectship.com/second-serve.md) - [Rally](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rally.md) - [Hinder](https://handball.theperfectship.com/hinder.md) - [Fault serve](https://handball.theperfectship.com/fault-serve.md) - [Foot fault](https://handball.theperfectship.com/foot-fault.md) - [Short line](https://handball.theperfectship.com/short-line.md) - [Service zone](https://handball.theperfectship.com/service-zone.md) - [Receiving line](https://handball.theperfectship.com/receiving-line.md) - [Ball](https://handball.theperfectship.com/ball.md) - [Point](https://handball.theperfectship.com/point.md) - [Game, match, tiebreaker](https://handball.theperfectship.com/game.md) - [Singles](https://handball.theperfectship.com/singles.md) - [Doubles](https://handball.theperfectship.com/doubles.md) - [Coin](https://handball.theperfectship.com/coin.md) - [Clock](https://handball.theperfectship.com/clock.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/4-1.md) ## Relationships - Server relates to Serve: mentioned together in 12 sub-rules. - Server relates to Ball: mentioned together in 12 sub-rules. - Player relates to Referee: mentioned together in 21 sub-rules. - Player relates to Hinder: mentioned together in 12 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 Doubles: mentioned together in 10 sub-rules. - Referee relates to Hinder: mentioned together in 9 sub-rules. - Referee relates to Ball: mentioned together in 13 sub-rules. - Referee relates to Point: mentioned together in 9 sub-rules. - Serve relates to Ball: mentioned together in 11 sub-rules. - Hinder relates to Ball: mentioned together in 14 sub-rules. - Ball relates to Point: mentioned together in 11 sub-rules. - Ball relates to Wall: mentioned together in 9 sub-rules. - Ball relates to Floor: mentioned together in 10 sub-rules. - No link to the other terms shown: Receiver, Fault serve, Rally, Game, match, tiebreaker. - 64 weaker links (terms mentioned together in few sub-rules) are not drawn. - 8 more terms are mentioned but not drawn (the best linked 14 are shown). Rulebook: [USHA One-Wall Rules, 8 April 2002](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/usha-onewall-2002-04-08.md) Source: The New and Official United States Handball Association One-Wall Rules With Interpretations (Wayback capture 20020613233254 of ushandball.org). USHA rules text, used with the USHA's written permission (letter not yet filed).