Lesson 4: Key Rules and Common Fouls

Understanding the core rules will keep you playing fairly and confidently. **The Serve:** - Must be hit **underhand** with an upward arm motion (or as a drop serve). - Hit **diagonally crosscourt** and must land in the opposite service court. - Must clear the **NVZ and its line** — a serve landing in the kitchen is a fault. - The server must stand **behind the baseline**. **The Two-Bounce Rule:** After the serve, the ball must bounce **once on the receiving side**, and the return must bounce **once on the serving side** before anyone may hit a **volley** (hit out of the air). This prevents serve-and-volley dominance. **Non-Volley Zone Rule:** You may **not volley** while standing in the kitchen or touching the kitchen line — even if your momentum carries you in after the shot. You **may** enter the kitchen to play a ball that has already bounced. **Common faults (all result in loss of rally):** - Hitting the ball out of bounds or into the net - Volleying before the two-bounce rule is satisfied - Any NVZ violation during a volley - Letting the ball bounce twice before returning it - Illegal serve motion or foot fault