4.2 - Serve in Doubles
(a) Order of Serve. Before the match begins,
each team shall inform the referee of their team’s order of service,
which shall be followed throughout the match. The order of serve may be
changed between games, provided that the referee has been verbally
notified before the first serve of the new game. At the beginning of
each game, when the first server of the first team to serve is out, the
team is out. Thereafter, both players on each team shall serve until
the team receives a handout and a sideout.
(b) Partner's Position. On each serve, the
server's partner shall stand erect with back to the side wall and with
both feet on the floor within the service box from the moment the
server begins the service motion until the served ball passes the short
line. Violations are called foot faults. However, if the server's
partner enters the safety zone before the ball passes the short line,
the server loses service.
(c) Changes of Serve. In doubles, the side
is retired when both partners have lost service, except that the team
that serves first at the beginning of each game loses the serve when
the first server is retired.
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