Rule 4. Fundamentals

  1. Only the serving team can score points. the opponents must down the server to have an opportunity to score points. All Official games are to be played to 21. The ball can only bounce once or it ends the rally and will result in a point or a down depending on who won the rally.

Rule 4.1: Scoring

  1. The Service Zone: The Blue on the court to the right shows the service zone. which is the space between the short line and the hashmark. The server must stand and serve from anywhere in the blue as long as their feet are not touching any of the lines.

  2. Where does the ball need to land after a serve: Each player on each time while serving gets two chances in a row to serve a ball passed the short line but before the longline in one bounce. Once that serve if officially a LIVE ball, then the whole court within the side boundaries and longline. The photo on the left shows where a valid serve should land on the first bounce and can land on any line BESIDE THE SHORT LINE.

Rule 4.2: The Server

3. What makes a short serve: When a serve’s first bounce fails to reach passed the back edge of the short line or when the server or his partners feet are touching the line during a serve.

4. What makes a long serve: When the serves first bounce goes passed the back edge of the long line.

5. What is a screened serve: when a player serves near his or his partners body and that player the ball is near moves as the ball is coming to the returning player. If a player serves near his body and does not move it is not a screened serve.

Rule 4.2: The Servers Partner (2nd man)

  1. The Server’s Partner must straddle the hashmark while his partners serving, or it will result in a short serve.

  1. The returning team: Calls their own screens and the ball must bounce before you or your partner passes the hashmark.

Rule 4.3: The Returning Team

  1. On The Serve: A skip ball on a serve can be called by either player or referee. If a player believes a ball has skipped and a referee disagrees, he can appeal at that time before the score is called.

  2. In the Rally: If the ball skips in the rallyit is still an active ball, after the play the referee will have to assess why the skip ball happened. The referee may decide at that time if a player needs to wear gloves or wipe but the play stands.

Rule 4.4: Skip Ball

  1. Server’s time to serve: A server has 5 seconds from the calling of the score to serve the ball or receive a short.

  2. Returning players time to get set at the long line: A player has 10 seconds after a rally to get set at the long line before a referee calls the score.

  3. Timeouts: Each player is given three 1-minute timeouts to do as they please but must be back in time or give up another timeout. A player cannot call a timeout after the score has been called.

  4. Wipes: Wipes are 10 seconds and for wiping sweat only. If a player is found misusing a wipe, they will be penalized a timeout, when there are no more timeouts, they will either be downed or lose a point. A player cannot take a wipe after the score is called.

Rule 4.5: Time Sensitive

If you do not agree with the rules above or have a different opinion on a particular part of the rule please fill out the appeal form.