# Rule 4.4 Return of Serve (USHA One-Wall Rules, June 2008, 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 2.1 B.4).

## B. Fly return

In making a fly return, the receiver may hit the ball anytime after it passes completely through the plane of the back edge of the short line and 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. 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 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)
- [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)
- [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 Partner: mentioned together in 8 sub-rules.
- Server relates to Serve: mentioned together in 15 sub-rules.
- Server relates to Ball: mentioned together in 12 sub-rules.
- Server relates to Point: mentioned together in 7 sub-rules.
- Player relates to Partner: mentioned together in 9 sub-rules.
- Player relates to Serve: mentioned together in 10 sub-rules.
- Player relates to Ball: mentioned together in 29 sub-rules.
- Player relates to Point: mentioned together in 13 sub-rules.
- Player relates to Floor: mentioned together in 8 sub-rules.
- Partner relates to Ball: mentioned together in 12 sub-rules.
- Serve relates to Ball: mentioned together in 12 sub-rules.
- Ball relates to Point: mentioned together in 10 sub-rules.
- Ball relates to Wall: mentioned together in 12 sub-rules.
- Ball relates to Floor: mentioned together in 12 sub-rules.
- Wall relates to Floor: mentioned together in 8 sub-rules.
- No link to the other terms shown: Receiver, Return of serve, Playing zone, Receiving line, Service line, Short line.
- 43 weaker links (terms mentioned together in few sub-rules) are not drawn.

Rulebook: [USHA One-Wall Rules, June 2008](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/usha-onewall-2008-06.md)

Source: The Current Official USHA One-Wall Handball Rules (Wayback capture 20110728072855 of ushandball.org). USHA rules text, used with the USHA's written permission (letter not yet filed).