# Rule 4.3 Defective serves (One-wall)

Defective serves are of four types and result in the following:

## A. Dead-ball serves

A dead-ball serve results in no penalty and the server is given another serve without canceling a prior defective serve or hinder fault. This occurs in the following situations:

1.) Court hinders. If a served ball takes an erratic bounce due to a court obstruction or wetness (including before the serve has become a legal serve) a court hinder is called and the serve is replayed. (See Rule 3.4 A.4 and 4.7 A.1)

2.) Broken ball. If the ball is determined to have broken before the serve has become a legal serve, an approved ball must be put into play and the serve shall be replayed. (See Rule 4.6.J)

3.) Wrong score announced. If it is determined the wrong score has been announced by the referee before the serve has become a legal serve the score shall be corrected and the serve shall be replayed. Any prior rallies shall not be affected.

## B. Hinder serves

A hinder serve call stops play, and the server gets another serve. (See Rule 4.3 C.6)

1) Moving on service. The server or his partner moves out of the way of a legally served ball from the wall, hinder may be called not voiding any previous faults. This call, like any other hinder, is based on interference affecting the play (See Interpretation No. 5) . If there is initial interference, but the receiver still has time to get into good position, a hinder should not be called. In such a case the referee should not make the call too quickly. He/she should watch the reaction of the receiver. The receiver should be given the benefit of any doubt, as long as he/she is properly positioned (See Rule 4.3C6).

> Part 4, Rule 4.3 B. (1): Interpretation No. 5
>
> This is a difficult call because there will be instances in which the receiver will be hindered, but the ball has been hit so high that it is going to result in a setup and the receiver will have time to get into a good position to attempt his/her shot. The hinder serve, like any other hinder, is based on interference affecting the play. In the case just mentioned, there is initial interference, but the receiver still has time to get into good position so that the momentary hinder will not affect the play. In such a case, the referee should not make the call too quickly, but should watch the reaction of the receiver. If the referee feels that the receiver hesitates getting into position, a hinder should be called. If, however, the receiver moves quickly and obviously is going to have time to get into good position for a shot, the hinder should not be called.
>
> The receiver should be given the benefit of any doubt so long as his/her receiving position is in the center of the court. However, if the receiver positions himself/herself to one side of center or anticipates the serve is going to be hit to one side and moves in that direction too quickly, and the serve is hit to the opposite side, a hinder should not be called. It is also important that the referee attempt to position himself/herself so that he/she will have the same angle of view as the receiver. The best answer to this dilemma is: When in doubt, call a hinder serve.
>
> 2.) Straddle balls. A legally served ball that travels between the legs of the server is an automatic hinder serve.

## C. Fault serves

The following serves are fault serves, and any two that are hit before a legal serve is executed result in an out:

1.) Foot fault.

a.) The server begins the service motion with one or both feet touching the floor outside the service zone (See Rule 4.1.C ).

b.) The server‘s foot touches the floor outside the service zone before the served ball passes through the plane of the back edge of the short line from the wall.

c.) In doubles, when the server’s partner is not outside the side lines, astraddle the indicated service line, or enters the playing zone before the served ball passes him/her (See Rule 4.2B).

2.) Short serve. Any serve that first hits the wall and on the rebound hits the floor in front of, or on, the short line on or between the side lines.

3) Long serve. Any serve that first hits the wall and on the rebound hits the floor in back of the long line and on or between the side lines. During tournament play, receiver(s) must not catch a serve that is assumed will be long. The referee shall award a point for failure to return.

4.) Bouncing ball outside service zone. Any serve that is struck on a bounce that was made outside the service zone. (See Rule 4.1 D ).

5.) Bounces. Any serve that is struck on less than, or more than, a single bounce in the service zone. (See Rule 4.1. D).

( See Rule 4.1 D).

6.) Two consecutive hinder serves. Two consecutive hinder serves result in a fault. (See Rule 4.3 B.1) This is the only fault call that cannot be appealed. (See Rule 4.8)

> Part 4, Rule 4.3 C (6): Interpretation No. 7
>
> If the referee is doing a proper job, there should be no out-of-order serves. The referee should keep the players informed as to which player is the server. If the referee sees that a player is about to serve out of order, the referee should immediately stop the player from serving and inform the team as to which player should be the server. If, however, a player does serve out of order, the “out-of-order” rule shall apply.
>
> 7.) Service delay. The server fails to hit the ball within 10 seconds after the referee has announced the score.
>
> 8.) Wall edge. The top edge of the wall, if any, is not part of the court. A ball striking the top edge is an out.
>
> 9.) Outside serve. Any serve that, on the rebound from the wall, hits the floor outside of the side lines is an out against the serving side. During tournament play, receivers must not catch serves that they assume to be out. Referee will award point for failure to return.
>
> 10.) Not coming to a complete stop in the service zone before beginning the serve. (See Rule 4.1.D).

## D. Out serves

Any of the following results in an out:

1.) Missed serve. Any attempt to hit the ball that results in a total miss, or in the ball touching any part of the server’s body other than the hitting hand.

2.) Non-front serve. Any served ball that does not strike the wall first.

3.) Touched serve. Any served ball on the rebound from the wall that touches the server, or touches the server’s partner. This includes a serve that is intentionally caught. When the partner is hit by the serve, the “out serve” penalty supersedes the partner’s foot fault.

> Part 4, Rule 4.3 D (3): Interpretation No. 6
>
> Even though the foot fault occurs before the out serve, the out serve penalty takes precedence and shall be enforced. Another example: A server foot faults when contacting the ball and the ball does not hit the wall first. Again, the out serve penalty should be enforced. For this reason, a referee should wait until after the ball is served to call a foot fault.
>
> 4.) Two consecutive fault serves. ( See Rule 4.3 C ).
>
> 5) Crotch serve. Any serve that hits the crotch of the wall and the floor shall be considered to have hit the floor first.
>
> 6.) Out-of-order serve. In doubles, when either partner serves out of order, the points scored by that server since the out of order serving commenced will be subtracted and an out serve will be called. If the second server serves out of order, the out serve will apply to the first server and the second server will resume serving. If the player designated as the first server serves out of order, a side out will be called.

## 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)
- [Referee](https://handball.theperfectship.com/match-referee.md)
- [Serve](https://handball.theperfectship.com/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)
- [Replay](https://handball.theperfectship.com/replay.md)
- [Fault serve](https://handball.theperfectship.com/fault-serve.md)
- [Out serve](https://handball.theperfectship.com/out-serve.md)
- [Short serve](https://handball.theperfectship.com/short-serve.md)
- [Long serve](https://handball.theperfectship.com/long-serve.md)
- [Foot fault](https://handball.theperfectship.com/foot-fault.md)
- [Delay of game](https://handball.theperfectship.com/delay.md)
- [Appeal](https://handball.theperfectship.com/appeal.md)
- [Court](https://handball.theperfectship.com/court.md)
- [Short line](https://handball.theperfectship.com/short-line.md)
- [Long line](https://handball.theperfectship.com/long-line.md)
- [Service line](https://handball.theperfectship.com/service-line.md)
- [Service zone](https://handball.theperfectship.com/service-zone.md)
- [Receiving line](https://handball.theperfectship.com/receiving-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)
- [Point](https://handball.theperfectship.com/point.md)
- [Doubles](https://handball.theperfectship.com/doubles.md)
- [Clock](https://handball.theperfectship.com/clock.md)

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