- Pcikleball is played either as doubles or singles. Doubles is the most common. Doubles is two players per team.
- The same size court or playing area and rules are used for both Singles and Doubles
- The server’s arm must be moving in an upward arc when the ball is struck
- Paddle contact with the ball must not be made above waist level
- The head of the paddle must not be above the highest part of the wrist at contact
- A drop serve is also permitted in which case none of the above elements apply
- At the time the ball is struck, the server’s feet may not touch the court or outside the imaginary extension of the sideline or centerline and at least one foot must be behind the baseline on the playing surface or the ground behind the baseline
- The serve is made diagonally crosscourt and must land within the confine of the opposite diagonal court
- Only one serve attempt is allowed per server
Service Sequence:
- Both players on the serving doubles team have the opportunity to serve and score points until they commit a fault-except for the first service sequence of each new game
- The first serve of each side-out is made from the right-hand court
- If a point is scored, the server switches sides and the server initiates the next serve from the left-hand court
Two Bounce Rule:
- When the ball lis served, the receiving team must let it bounce before returning, and then the serving team must let it bounce before returning, thus two bounces
- After the ball has bounced once in each team’s court, both teams may either volley the ball (hitting the ball before it bounces) or play it off the bounce
- The two-bounce rule eliminates the serve and volley advantage and extends rallies
Non-Volley Zone:
- The non-volley zone is the court area within 7 feet on both sides of the net
- Volleying is prohibited within the non-volley zone. This rule prevents players from executing smashes from a position within the zone
- It is a fault if when volleying a ball, the player steps on the non-volley zone, including the line and/or when the player’s momentum causes them or anything they are wearing/carrying to touch the non-volley zone including the associated lines
- It is a fault if, after volleying, a player is carried by momentum into or touched the non-volley zone, even if the volleyed ball is declared dead before this happens
- A player may legally be in the non-volley zone any time other than when volleying a ball
- The non-volley zone is commonly referred to as “the kitchen”
Line Calls:
- A ball contacting any line, except the non-volley zone line on a serve, is considered in
- A serve contacting the non-volley zone line is short and a fault
- As subsequent points are scored, the server continues switching back and forth until a fault is committed and the first server loses the serve
- When the first server loses the serve the partner then serves from their correct side of the court (except for the first service sequences of the game as noted earlier in the rules)
- The second server continues serving until his team commits a fault and loses the serve to the opposing team
- Once the service goes into the opposition (at side out), the first serve is fromthe right-handed court and both players on that team have the opportunity to serve and score points until their team commits two faults
- In singles the server serves from the right-hand court when his or her score is even and from the left when the score is odd
- At the beginning of each new game only one partner on the serving team has the opportunity to serve before faulting, after which the service passes to the receiving team
Scoring:
- Points are scored only by the serving team
- Games are normally played to 11 points winning by 2 points
- Tournament games can be played to 15 or 21, still winning by 2
- When the sering team’s score is even, the player who was the first server in the game for that team will be in the right side court when serving or receiving, when that teams score is odd that same player will be in the left-side court when serving or receiving
Faults:
- A fault is any action that stops play because of a rule violation
- A fault by the receiving team results in a point for the serving team
- A fault by the serving team results in the server’s loss of serve or side out
- A fault occurs when any of the following happen
- A serve doesn’t land within the confines of the receiving court
- the ball is hit into the net on the serve or any return
- the ball is volleyed before a bounce has occurred on each side
- The ball is hit out of bounds
- A ball is volleyed from the non-volley zone
- A ball bounces twice before being struck by the receiver
- A player, their clothing, or any part of a player’s pickleball paddle touches the net or the net post when the ball is in play
- There is a violation of a service rule
- A ball in play strikes a player or anything the player is wearing or carrying
- A ball in play strikes any permanent object before bouncing on the court
Determining the serving team:
- Any fair method can be used to determine which player or team has first choice of side, service, or receive. Coin flip, blind team draw, etc may be used.
If you would like a copy of the complete rulebook, you can visit the USAPickleball.org website