The ball is dropped or bounced to the floor by the server on that side of the service line farthest from the court. The served ball after touching the board must cross to the far side of the service line and land within the court. If it touches the floor on the near side of the service line, it is short; if it touches out of the court on the far side of the service line, it is long. The server may serve these balls over again, but if one “short” and one “long;” or two “short” or two “long” balls are served consecutively by the same player, the server (or the side, if doubles) is out. Then the receiver becomes the server. If a served ball touches the floor outside the side lines, the server or the side is out. A served ball is played on the first bounce only. A returned ball may be played on the first bounce or on the fly. _All balls served or returned must touch the board before touching the floor._ A ball leaving the hand of a player striking opponent before touching wall or floor is a “hinder.” Two hinders by one player in a service is a put-out or a point scored. A ball leaving the board which strikes the player who returned it, or partner, is a put-out or a point for the side struck. A ball leaving the board striking an opponent is a point or put-out in favor of the opposing side of person so struck. All balls are played until decided by the referee. A returned ball must be within the dimensions of the court. Players may block each other fairly, that is, a player may so place the ball that he blocks his opponent, but this must be done before the ball has left his hand. In doubles, no blocking may be done after the ball has left the board. For unfair blocking, a penalty--subtracting from one to five points from score of the offender--may be imposed by the referee. In doubles, the sides alternate in service as well as receiving. No player shall serve or play the same defensive position all the time. Irish Hand Ball Rules I. A ball may be batted with either hand. Foul--Never with both hands. Penalty--For server, loss of hand; for receiver, ace for server. II. The server may stand anywhere in space between ace line and front line. Foul--She must not step over inner line twice in succession while serving. Penalty--Server loses hand. III. A served ball must hit the front wall _before_ it hits either side wall, roof or floor. Foul--If served ball hits side wall, roof or floor before hitting front wall. Penalty--Server loses hand. IV. A served ball may be so played that after hitting front wall it rebounds from a side wall or the back wall, before touching the floor behind ace line. V. Short ball.--If a served ball touches the floor inside the ace line (between that line and the front wall) it is called a short ball. Any number of short balls may be served with good balls in between. Foul--To serve three short balls in succession. Penalty--Server loses hand.