League Rules

League Rules and Match Protocols

It is the responsibility of the team captain and co-captain to abide by the following rules.

1. Each league match consists of (11) lines – Women’s 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, Men’s 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, Mixed 3.0A, 3.0B, 3.5A, 3.5B, 4.0.

2. Each line of the match is best two out of three games to 11, win by 2 points.  If a line goes to three games, teams are to switch sides when a team reaches a score of 6.

3. Home team determines the order of play and court assignments.  Visiting team selects side or serve.

4. Serve / Score Calling - The server must loudly and clearly call the serve before starting their serving motion.  If a wrong score is called,  any player may stop play before the return of serve to correct the score.  The rally shall be replayed with the correct score called.  If the serve has been returned, play shall continue to the end of the rally and the score correction made prior to the next serve.  If a player stops play to identify or ask for a score correction, after the return of serve, they will have committed a fault and shall lose the rally.

5. Lineups must be exchanged BEFORE the match begins. There is no restriction for players to live in Beaufort County.  Players must be 17 years of age to play.  Players may only play in two lines per match, one gender and one mixed doubles. Players with a rating of 4.75 or higher may only play in one line.

6. After match play begins, no lineup changes are allowed.  However, if a player was in the lineup to play in two lines, and is injured or medically retired during their first line of play, another player maybe substituted to play in the injured player's second line of play. The substituted player must be on the teams roster.  If a player in the exchanged lineup is a "no show" for their line, another player on that team's roster, present at the match, may be subsitituted for the "no show' player.

7. Lineups should include each players current DUPR rating, with the current DUPR rating defined as the player’s DUPR rating as of Friday’s at noon (see DUPR ratings).  Players may not play below their DUPR rating.  Failure to adhere to this rule, (e.g. a 4.0 player playing in a 3.5 line) will result in a forfeit of that line.   Players may play up only one level, for example, do not play 3.0 players in 4.0 lines.

8. Mixed doubles matches at the 3.0 and 3.5 levels for the A and B lines are determined by the highest combined rating of the two players. The highest combined rating of the two players will play the A line.  The lower combined rating will play the B line. Any concerns regarding the opposing teams lines of A vs B must be brought forward before either of the matches start.

9. Players whom are not registered for the 2026 Spring League season, not on your roster, or that do NOT have a DUPR rating, may not play in a match.  Players must have completed a signed league player liability waiver.

10. Please allow 15 minutes’ waiting time for late arrivals.  Captains are encouraged to make reasonable accommodations in the match lines order of play.

11. BPC will provide balls for each team at the beginning of the season.  The Home team captain is responsible for bringing balls to the match.  A new ball is not required for each line of the match.

12. Each team is allowed two (2) one minute time outs per game.  A medical time out of 10 minutes is allowed.  If a player cannot resume play after 10 minutes, that player will be retired, the match will be forfeited, and the scores will not be recorded in DUPR.  Coaching is allowed only during a time out or between games.

13. Match scoresheets should be submitted to the league scorekeeper within 24 hours.  Submit to lisamcpb@gmail.com.  Scores will be entered in DUPR and sheets uploaded to the website typically within 24 hours of receipt of sheet, barring any technical issues.

14. Match cancellations due to weather are at the discretion of the two captains.  The league director must be notified immediately of cancelled or interrupted matches.  Matches should be rescheduled as soon as possible, ideally within two weeks of the original match date.  If a match is cancelled, BEFORE the lineup has been exchanged, any player on the team’s roster can play in the re-scheduled match.  If line ups have been exchanged and play has begun, only players in the original lineup may resume play in the re-scheduled match.  Interrupted matches resume at the point in play where the match was delayed.  At the time of a weather delay, the score, server no. player court positions and sides should be noted.

15. Matches that have lines that are forfeited, and not played, will NOT have the line recorded in DUPR.  Matches where a player retires mid-match will be considered a forfeit. The scores will NOT be recorded in DUPR.

16. Team members and spectators should conduct themselves in a manner congruent with the rules of the Beaufort Pickleball Club League and be a positive role model for those who attend or participate and encourage good sportsmanship by showing respect and courtesy to other players and spectators.  Unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated by any player, opponent, captain or spectator, including but not limited to booing or taunting, refusing to shake hands, tap paddles, throwing paddles, or using profane language or gestures.  All written protests regarding game results, players’ unsportsmanlike conduct, or any other unusual circumstances must be submitted to the league director, susibpc@gmail.com and BPC Board President, scluff19@yahoo.com  within 24 hours of the incident in question.

17. Line calls - Players must make fair and honest line calls as per USA Pickleball rules . Players may request a neutral observer to monitor line calls.  This observer will not call every ball, he / she will only make calls on a given call in question.  

18. Player communication - playing partners may communicate verbal cues, such as calling "out", prior to the ball hitting the court. Further, if a player calls a ball out after it hits the court, then subsequently correct their call; play stops and the point or side out goes to the opposing team.  Captains are encouraged to review the USA Pickelball rules regarding Hinderance.

19. Any captain or player who verbally or physically abuses opposing players, captains or any other individual, will be ejected from the match, must leave the facility immediately, and shall cause their team to forfeit that match.

20. If a player intentionally throws their paddle, that player's team will forfeit that line of the match.  When a paddle is thrown, play must be immediately stopped and the incident reported to the captains of both teams.  The captain will notify the player who threw the paddle of the forfeit of the line.

21. Captains are encouraged to monitor their players and counsel their players who exhibit unsafe play. If unsafe play continues, captains are encouraged to not play the unsafe player.  Captains are encouraged to use discretion when setting lineups and be mindful of playing players who are unsafe to others. Captains may submit an unsafe player to the league board for review. In the event of noticeable, intentional unsafe play, a “Captain’s Timeout” maybe called. Both captains should go to the court in question to mitigate the situation.

22. Play is governed by USA Pickleball rules and local modified BPC league rules.  Disputes (scores, calls, faults, servers etc.)  should be settled by the players on the court.  Spectators may not assist in match play, rules interpretation, or settling disputes.  If a dispute cannot be settled, each captain will discuss and settle the dispute.  Disputed scores will revert to the last score agreed upon.

23. During play, match attendees, players or spectators, shall not make verbal cues, line calls or direct players, "coach" during play.  Anyone obstructing play or causing a hinderance will be asked to move from the area. Verbal cues include calling a ball in or out, calling NVZ line faults, calling out rulings or rules interpretations.

24. Once the season has started, defined as date of a team's first league match, players cannot move from one team to another team if they have played a match for their original registered team. Once the season registration window has closed, no players may change teams.

25. Players must play in four matches, on four different dates, not lines, to be eligible to play in the playoffs.

 USA Pickleball Rules 2026 website

 USA Pickelball Rules pdf