# One-wall · Rule 4.1 Serve · E. Time

A serve may not be made until the referee has announced the score ( See Rule 3.4.A.9 ). The referee shall call point or side out 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/her serving position, the referee shall announce the score and the server must serve (hit 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 the server reasonable time to get to his/her serving position. The referee shall then announce “second serve” if the serve was a fault, or “first/second serve, one hinder serve” if a hinder serve, after which the server must serve within 10 seconds.

> Part 4, Rule 4.1 E: Interpretation No. 4
>
> After the rally is over, the referee should immediately call “point” or “side out.” The receiver then has 10 seconds to assume his/her ready position, but the server should only have “reasonable time” to get set. The server should not be allowed to stall by slowly retrieving the ball. As soon as the receiver is “ready” and the server has had reasonable time to retrieve the ball, the referee should call the score, at which time the server has 10 seconds in which to hit the ball. If the receiver is in his/her ready position and the referee believes that the server is taking too much time retrieving the ball and assuming the serving position, the referee should call the score. The server will then have 10 seconds in which to serve. If the receiver is not in his/her ready position after 10 seconds have elapsed from the time the referee calls “point” or “side out,” the referee should call the score and the server may serve immediately or may take up to 10 seconds, whether or not the receiver is ready.

## Mentioned here

- [Server](https://handball.theperfectship.com/server.md)
- [Receiver](https://handball.theperfectship.com/receiver.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)
- [Change of serve (side-out)](https://handball.theperfectship.com/change-of-serve.md)
- [Hinder](https://handball.theperfectship.com/hinder.md)
- [Fault serve](https://handball.theperfectship.com/fault-serve.md)
- [Receiving line](https://handball.theperfectship.com/receiving-line.md)
- [Ball](https://handball.theperfectship.com/ball.md)
- [Point](https://handball.theperfectship.com/point.md)

Source: USHA official rulebook, used with written permission — https://www.ushandball.org/