Rules for a first rally

Serve underhand, diagonally.

Start behind the baseline and send the ball into the opposite service court. In standard play, only the serving side scores.

Let each side bounce once.

After the serve, the receiving team must let the ball bounce; the serving team must also let the return bounce. After those two bounces, volleys are allowed.

Respect the kitchen.

You may stand in the non-volley zone, but you cannot volley while touching it—or let your volley momentum carry you into it.

Call the score before serving.

Doubles calls usually name the serving team’s score, receiving team’s score, then server number. Games commonly go to 11, win by two, but formats vary.