| 4. |
Serve and Ready Protocol |
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A serve is defined as putting the ball into play at the five-man rod at the beginning of a game, after a point is scored or if the ball is awarded to a player on the five-man rod following a rules infraction. The ready protocol will be used whenever putting the ball into play. |
| 4.1 |
Serve and Ready Protocol |
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The serve. The serve shall begin with the ball stopped at the middle player figure of the five-man rod. The player serving the ball must then follow the ready protocol. |
| 4.1.1 |
Serve and Ready Protocol |
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If the ball is served from a position other than the middle player figure and the violation is discovered before the ball is scored play shall stop and the ball will be re-served by the same team. Once a point is scored, no appeal shall be made. The penalty for subsequent violations is loss of possession to the opponent for serve. |
| 4.2 |
Serve and Ready Protocol |
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Ready Protocol. Before putting the ball into play the player in possession of the ball shall ask the opponent if he is "ready". The direct opponent has three seconds to respond "ready". The player in possession of the ball now has three seconds to begin to put the ball into play. Waiting beyond these time limits will be considered a delay of game (See Rule 25). The player must move the ball from one player figure to another and then wait at least one second before advancing the ball. The player is not required to stop the ball. Time limits begin one second after the ball contacts the second player figure. |
| 4.2.1 |
Serve and Ready Protocol |
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The penalty for beginning to put the ball into play before the opponent responds "ready" is a warning and the ball shall be put into play from its original position. The penalty for subsequent violations is loss of possession to the opponent for serve. |
| 4.2.2 |
Serve and Ready Protocol |
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The penalty for advancing the ball without making it contact two player figures or failing to wait one second before advancing the ball is the opponent's choice to either continue play from the current position (including the goal) or to serve the ball. |