# Rule 4.6 Rally (USHA One-Wall Rules, 1 April 2005, 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 rally is defined aswhen the ball is legally returned and kept in play after a legal serve is executed. Play during rallies must be in accord with the following rules: ## A. One hand Only the front or back of one hand may be used at any one time to return the ball. Using two hands together or any portion of the body other than the hand to hit a ball is an out. ## B. Wrist ball The use of any other part of the body to return the ball, including the wrist or arm above the player's hand, is a violation, even though the wrist or arm may be covered by a glove. ## C. One touch In attempting returns, the ball may be touched only once by one player. In doubles, both partners may swing at the ball, but only one may actually hit it. ## D. Failure to return Any of the following constitutes a failure to make a legal return during the rally: 1.) The ball bounces on the floor twice before being hit. 2.) After contact, the ball fails to reach the wall and rebound into the playing zone . 3.) The ball goes off a player's hand or fist into the gallery. 4.) A ball that obviously did not have the velocity or direction to be returned legally (See Rule 4.4 C) strikes another player on the court. 5.) In doubles, a ball struck by one player hits that player's partner. 6.) Committing an avoidable hinder ( See Rule 4.9 ). ## E. Effect of failure to return Each violation results in an out or point. Any violation not detected by the referee must be called by the offending player (See Rule 3.5.A). ## F. Return attempts 1.) Singles. If a player swings at but misses the ball in play, the player may repeat attempts to return the ball until it touches the floor the second time. 2.) Doubles. Both players on a side are entitled to attempt to return the ball. If one player swings at but misses the ball, both he/she and his/her partner may make further attempts to return the ball until it touches the floor the second time. 3.) Hinders. In singles or doubles, if a player swings at but misses the ball in play, and, in his/her or his/her partner's continuing attempt to play the ball before it touches the floor a second time, an opponent commits unavoidable interference, a hinder is called ( See Rule 4.7 ). ## G. Touching the ball Except as provided in Rule 4.7 A.2 , any touching of a ball before it touches the floor the second time by a player other than the one making a return is a point or out against the offending player. ## H. Out ball Any ball in play, after the service, striking outside the side lines or past the long line, is an out or point. During tournament play, the players must not catch balls that they assume to be out. Referee will award an out or point. ## I. Dry ball and gloves Every effort must be made to keep the ball dry. Deliberately wetting the ball results in an out or point. The ball may be inspected by the referee at any time. If a player's gloves are wet to the extent that they leave wet marks on the ball, the player must change to dry gloves on a referee's timeout. This is strictly a referee's judgment. If a player wishes to change to dry gloves, he/she must hold his/her gloves up to the referee and obtain the referee's permission to change. He/she may not leave the court without the referee's permission. Two minutes are allowed for glove changes. The referee should give a one-minute warning, but the player is still responsible to be back in the court and ready to play within two minutes. ## J. Broken ball If there is any suspicion that a ball has broken on the serve or during a rally, play continues until the end of the rally. An official or any player may request that the ball be examined by the referee. If the referee decides the ball is broken, an approved ball must be put into play and the point replayed. Once a succeeding serve is attempted, the previous rally stands. > Part 4, Rule 4.6 J: Interpretation No. 8 > > The ball does not have to be completely broken to have the point replayed. A ball that is starting to crack will often have an erratic bounce. The referee should call for a replay only if he/she determines that a ball has cracked sufficiently to cause an erratic bounce. If a player suspects a ball has cracked, he/she should immediately toss it to the referee for inspection. No player shall make any physical effort to determine if the ball is cracked or otherwise unplayable without the express consent of the referee. This is solely the referee's responsibility and he/she will make the replay call if necessary. At the referee’s discretion, if a ball is found to be unplayable due to the unauthorized physical efforts of any player, it shall be deemed to have been made unplayable by that player’s actions and not during the rally, and the preceding rally shall not be replayed. ## K. Play stoppage If a foreign object enters the court, or any other outside interference occurs, or if a player loses a shoe or other properly worn equipment, the referee shall stop the game if it interferes with the continuance of play or poses an immediate danger. However, safety permitting, one rally-ending attempt should be allowed ( See Rule 4.9 H). > Part 4, Rule 4.6 K: Interpretation No. 9 > > In most cases, if a foreign object (such as a ball from an adjacent court) enters the court, the referee should immediately stop play and call a hinder because of the distraction and for safety reasons. However, it might happen that a player would lose a shoe, headband or even a glove. In these cases, the referee should allow the opposing player one opportunity to hit a rally-ending shot if all of the following conditions are met: > > 1. The referee believes the opposing player is in no danger of stepping on the lost object; > > 2. The opposing player does not appear to be distracted by the lost object; > > 3. And the opposing player apparently has an opportunity to hit an offensive, rally-ending shot. > > If the player is allowed the one offensive shot, one of the following calls should be made immediately afterward: If the player skips the ball in, that player loses the rally. If the player hits a kill shot or pass shot that cannot be retrieved, that player should be awarded the rally. If the player who lost the equipment is able to retrieve the shot, a hinder should be called. ## L. Replays Whenever a rally is replayed for any reason, the server is awarded two serves. A previous fault is voided. ## Mentioned here - [Server](https://handball.theperfectship.com/server.md) - [Player](https://handball.theperfectship.com/player.md) - [Partner](https://handball.theperfectship.com/partner.md) - [Opponent](https://handball.theperfectship.com/opponent.md) - [Referee](https://handball.theperfectship.com/match-referee.md) - [Serve](https://handball.theperfectship.com/serve.md) - [Return of serve](https://handball.theperfectship.com/return-of-serve.md) - [Rally](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rally.md) - [Hinder](https://handball.theperfectship.com/hinder.md) - [Avoidable hinder](https://handball.theperfectship.com/avoidable-hinder.md) - [Replay](https://handball.theperfectship.com/replay.md) - [Fault serve](https://handball.theperfectship.com/fault-serve.md) - [Skip](https://handball.theperfectship.com/skip.md) - [Time-out](https://handball.theperfectship.com/time-out.md) - [Warning](https://handball.theperfectship.com/warning.md) - [Court](https://handball.theperfectship.com/court.md) - [Long line](https://handball.theperfectship.com/long-line.md) - [Playing zone](https://handball.theperfectship.com/playing-zone.md) - [Side lines](https://handball.theperfectship.com/side-lines.md) - [Ball](https://handball.theperfectship.com/ball.md) - [Gloves](https://handball.theperfectship.com/gloves.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) - [Headband](https://handball.theperfectship.com/headband.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-fourwall-american/4-6.md) ## Relationships - Server relates to Serve: mentioned together in 14 sub-rules. - Server relates to Ball: mentioned together in 12 sub-rules. - Player relates to Opponent: mentioned together in 16 sub-rules. - Player relates to Referee: mentioned together in 31 sub-rules. - Player relates to Hinder: mentioned together in 19 sub-rules. - Player relates to Court: mentioned together in 15 sub-rules. - Player relates to Ball: mentioned together in 28 sub-rules. - Player relates to Point: mentioned together in 13 sub-rules. - Player relates to Doubles: mentioned together in 15 sub-rules. - Partner relates to Ball: mentioned together in 12 sub-rules. - Opponent relates to Hinder: mentioned together in 12 sub-rules. - Opponent relates to Ball: mentioned together in 15 sub-rules. - Referee relates to Ball: mentioned together in 19 sub-rules. - Hinder relates to Ball: mentioned together in 20 sub-rules. - Court relates to Ball: mentioned together in 13 sub-rules. - No link to the other terms shown: Rally, Floor, Wall. - 73 weaker links (terms mentioned together in few sub-rules) are not drawn. - 15 more terms are mentioned but not drawn (the best linked 14 are shown). Rulebook: [USHA One-Wall Rules, 1 April 2005](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/usha-onewall-2005-04-01.md) Source: The Official USHA One-Wall Handball Rules, 2005 (Wayback capture 20060210173110 of ushandball.org). USHA rules text, used with the USHA's written permission (letter not yet filed).