Embedded Files
For official USAPA rules for sanctioned tournament, please refer to https://www.pickleballcanada.org/docs/USAPA_IFP_2018_Rulebook.pdf
For official USAPA rules for sanctioned tournament, please refer to https://www.pickleballcanada.org/docs/USAPA_IFP_2018_Rulebook.pdf
Our Club is a member of Pickleball Canada and we follow their rules pertaining to appropriate paddles for play. Pickleball Canada follows the USAPA specifications for competition paddles based on testing and research. See link below
Our Club is a member of Pickleball Canada and we follow their rules pertaining to appropriate paddles for play. Pickleball Canada follows the USAPA specifications for competition paddles based on testing and research. See link below
http://www.usapa.org/ click on 'Rules and Referees', then 'IFP Paddle Specifications' and 'IFP Paddle Test Results'.
Anyone interested in being a referee, refer to this link below
https://www.pickleballcanada.org/docs/USAPA-IFP- Referee-Handbook.pdf
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Video clip on playing the game:
Video clip on playing the game:
Video clip on the serve:
Video clip on the serve:
COURT - The court dimensions are identical to a doubles badminton court. The size of the court is 20’ x 44’ for both doubles and singles. The net is hung at 36” on ends, and hangs 34” in the middle. Use the doubles badminton court lines on the gymnasium floor and attach the Pickleball net to the badminton/volleyball net standards at a height of 3 feet.
Summary of the game of pickleball provided by Neill
1. The serve must be underhand and travels diagonally to the opposition side. A legal serve can't land in the non-volley zone or on the non-volley zone line. All other lines are a part of the court.
2. The ball must bounce once on both sides of the net before it can be played without a bounce.
3. You are not allowed to play a ball in the air while standing in the non-volley zone or stepping into the non-volley zone as you hit it.
4. You can go in the non-volley zone and play a ball if it bounces in the non-volley zone.
5. You can only score a point if your team is serving. A game is won by the first team scoring 11 points. You must win by at least 2 points (Due to time constraints at CLSA, games are played until first team reaches 11 points).
6. To start a game, only one player on the starting team gets to serve until they lose a rally.
7. The serve then goes to the opposition and the person on the right hand side serves first. If person #1 scores a point, that person moves to the other side and tries to score more points. Person #1 serves until he/she looses a rally. NOTE: Before every serve--the server must call out the score and which server is serving -- ie: #1 or #2. Example: If #1 server is serving and the score is 6 to 5 for his side--- he will call out 6-5-1. Two purposes: first everyone agrees on the score and second it wakes someone up if they are napping.
8. It is not like golf -- good natured ribbing during the game is acceptable.
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Simplified Pickleball Rules
A complete set of rules may be obtained from the United States of America Pickleball Association on their web site (www.usapa.org). However, if you are just learning, you will find the following condensed rules much easier to follow.
Game and Match
.....A match will usually consist of the best 2 out of 3 games to 11. A game is finished when one player or team reaches 11 points and is leading by at least two points. If the score is tied at 10-10, then the game continues until one player or team wins by two points. Players switch sides after the first game. If a third game is needed, the players will switch sides after the first player or team gets to 6 points, and the game will then continue to its conclusion.
.....For consolation events, or when time is short, matches often consist of just one game to 15 points. The winner in this format must also be ahead by two points. In a 15 point game, players should switch sides after one team gets to 8 points, and the game will then continue to its conclusion.
Serving
Pickleball is similar to Volleyball in that a player or team can only score points when serving.
Prior to 2007, players were allowed to step over the baseline with one foot when serving, as long as they kept at least one foot behind the baseline until after they contacted the ball. However, the rule has been changed by the National Pickleball Association (USAPA) so that now both feet must remain behind the baseline until after the ball is struck.
- Players must announce the score prior to serving. Always call the server's score first!
- The serve must be made with an underhand stroke so that contact with the ball is made below waist level.
- Underhand Defined: The arm must be moving in an upward arc and the paddle head shall be below the wrist when it strikes the ball.
- Serves must travel diagonally and land behind the non-volley zone and the baseline of the service court opposite of the serving player.
Each player is allowed only one serving attempt unless it is a “let” serve. A let serve occurs when the serve hits the net and still lands in the correct service court. If this occurs, the serve is played over. Each player will continue to serve until he does not win a point.
Serving in Doubles
- At the start of each new game , only one player on the first serving team is allowed a service turn before giving up the ball to the opponents. Thereafter both members of each team will have a service turn before the ball is turned over to the opposing team.
- In doubles , the player on the right at the start of a service turn, will be the first person to serve for their team and will continue to serve until he or she does not win a point. Then his or her partner will serve until he or she does also does not win a point. Then it is the other team's turn to serve.
- When the serving team scores a point, the server moves to the other side of the serving team’s court. The receiving team never switch sides.
- If the serve rotation is done properly in doubles, the serving team's score will always be even when the player that started the game on the right side is on the right side and odd when that player is on the left side .
Serving in Singles
- In singles, the server will serve from the right when he has an even number of points (0, 2, 6, 10). The server should serve from the left when he has an odd number of points (1, 3, 7, 9). The receiver should adjust their position according to where the server stands.
Non-Volley Zone:
To volley a ball means to hit it in the air without letting it bounce. All volleying must be done with the player’s feet behind the non-volley zone.
- If a player's momentum causes them to step on or over the non-volley line after hitting a volley they have commited a fault and lose the point.
- If a player's paddle, clothing, hat, or any part of their body touches any part of the non-volley zone while hitting a volley or because of their forward momentum after hitting the ball they lose the point!
- A player may jump accross the no-volley line after hitting a volley if they don't touch any part of the non-volley zone including the lines while doing so.
Double Bounce Rule:
Each team must play their first shot off the bounce. That is, the receiving team must let the serve bounce and the serving team must let the return of the serve bounce before playing it. After the two bounces have occurred, the ball can either be volleyed or played off the bounce.
Faults
The ball may only bounce once per side. After the ball is hit by a player, it must travel to the other side of the net.
If the ball hits one of the sidelines or the baseline, it is a playable ball. When a player or team fails to win the rally they are said to have made a fault. Some, but not all of the things that cause a fault are listed below:
- Serving the ball into an incorrect area.
- Hitting the ball out of bounds.
- Volleying the ball before it has bounced once on each side.
- Hitting the ball into the net or hitting the net with your paddle or body.
- Hitting the ball while in the non-volley zone before it is allowed to bounce.
- Touching the non-volley zone with your paddle or clothes while attempting to hit a volley.
- Stepping on or over the non-volley zone line on a follow through.
- Missing the ball when you try to hit it.
- Server swings the paddle with the intent of hitting the ball but misses.
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The Non-Volley Zone (NVZ) or “Kitchen”
A reminder that the Non-Volley Zone line itself is part of the zone. If you volley a ball and your foot touches the line or crosses the line, you are committing a fault. If your momentum on the follow through in playing the shot forces you to touch the zone or line, this is a fault even if the ball has been returned or is a dead ball. If your serve lands on the NVZ line it is a fault. It is not a fault if you lean over the line to volley a ball providing you do not touch the court in the no volley zone.
Indoor pickleball generally uses badminton doubles lines. The badminton short serve line is generally used for the recreational pickleball NVZ line but is not the correct distance from the net. The pickleball NVZ line should be 7ft. from the net to the outside edge of the line. Remember, it is a fault if you or any part of your clothing or equipment touches the non-volley zone including the line.
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Some other less known Rules:
12.A. Carry and Double Hits
Balls can unintentionally be hit twice or “carried”, but this must be during a continuous, single-direction stroke without a definite second push. (rev. 2011)
12.D. Broken/Cracked Ball
Play continues until end of rally and ball is replaced. In a tournament, if referee determines broken/cracked ball affected outcome of rally, referee shall call for a replay.
12.E. Injury During Game
Rally continues to its end despite injury to any player.
12.F. Player Equipment Problem
Rally shall not be stopped if a player loses/breaks paddle or personal item.
12.K. Shots Around Net Post
If a ball hit at an angle bounces in the court and travels beyond the sidelines, a player may return ball around outside of net post. Ball does not need to return over net and there is no restriction on height of return. Try it when situation arises! Watch the shocked expressions!
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A question from a player......
Question:
In a doubles match, the server hit his serve over the net and hit the receiver's partner before the ball touched the ground. The ball would clearly have gone out if it had not hit the receiver's partner. The receiver wanted a re-serve. Is that the correct procedure?
Answer:
No. The server wins the point. Refer to IFP Rules Section 7 Fault Rules. Part of 7.F.
In doubles, if the serve strikes the receiver’s partner, it is a point for the serving team, providing it is not a let serve or a fault serve.
This rule also includes balls that appear to be hit out of bounds: during play, if you catch the ball or try to stop it from heading out of bounds, you lose the rally.
Know the rules. You will become a better player
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Rules of the Game - Quiz
Hi Pickleballers....thanks to Rudi for forwarding me this quiz...try it!! Do you know the rules of the game you play and enjoy.
1) True or False; During the serve, when the ball is struck, the server may have one foot over the serving line and touching the court.
2) True or False; During the serve, when the ball is struck, the server may have one foot over the serving line, but must not be touching the court.
3) Choose A or B: The referee calls the wrong score. The server serves the ball and the receiver interrupts the play by catching the ball and notifying the Ref the wrong score was called.
a. The receiver committed a fault by catching the ball. Server scores.
b. The receiver did not commit a fault because he had not yet returned the ball.
4) Choose A or B: The referee notices the server is in the wrong position, but has not yet served. The referee should:
a. Bring the situation to the attention of the server and have the serving team get in the right position.
b. Wait until the serve has occurred, then call a service fault.
5) Choose correct answer: In games of 11, sides will be switched after:
a. 6 points
b. 7 points
c. 8 Points
d. If opponents choose, sides will not be switched
6) True or False. In games of 11, 15, or 21, If opponents choose, sides will not be switched
Good Luck!
Answers: 1. False (4.D.3)
2. True (4.D.3)
3. B (4.1.4) and
4. B (5.B.6 5.B.10 IFP Comments)
5. A (5.C.3)
6. False (5.C.3/5.C.4/5.C.5)
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