16 SERVICE

16.1 DEFINITION
The service is the act of putting the ball into play by the correct serving player who,
positioned in the service zone, hits the ball with one hand or arm.
16.2 FIRST SERVICE IN A SET
The first service of a set is executed by the team determined by the coin toss (Rule 8.1).
16.3 SERVICE ORDER
After the first service in a set, the player to serve is determined as follows:
a) when the serving team wins the rally, the player who served before, serves again.
b) when the receiving team wins the rally, it gains the right to serve and the player who
did not serve last time will serve.
16.4 AUTHORIZATION OF THE SERVICE
The first referee authorizes the service after having checked that the correct server is in
possession of the ball behind the end line and that the teams are ready to play (Diagram
8, fig. 1).
16.5 EXECUTION OF THE SERVICE
16.5.1 The server may move freely within the service zone.
At the moment of the service hit or take-off for a jump
service, the server must not touch the court (the end line
included) nor the ground outside the zone. His/her foot
may not go under the line. After his/her hit, the server
may step or land outside the zone, or inside the court.
16.5.2 If the line moves because of the sand pushed by the
server, it is not considered a fault.
16.5.3 The server must hit the ball within 5 seconds after the
first referee whistles for service.
16.5.4 A service executed before the referee’s whistle is
cancelled and repeated.
16.5.5 The ball shall be hit with one hand or any part of
the arm after being tossed or released and before it
touches the playing surface.
16.5.6 If the ball, after having been tossed or released by the
server, lands without being touched or caught by the server, it is considered as a service.
16.5.7 No further service attempt will be permitted.
16.6 SCREENING
The teammate of the server must not prevent either opponent, through screening, from
seeing the server or the path of the ball. On the opponent’s request, they must move
sideways (Diagram 4).
16.7 SERVING FAULTS
The following faults lead to a change of service. The server:
a) violates the service order (Rule 16.3),
b) does not execute the service properly (Rule 16.5).
16.8 SERVING FAULTS AFTER HITTING THE BALL
After the ball has been correctly hit, the service becomes a fault if the ball:
a) touches a player of the serving team or fails to cross the vertical plane of the net,
b) goes “out” (Rule 11.4).