Pickleball??
The game with the funny name!
After playing golf one Saturday during the summer, Joel Pritchard, congressman from Washington State and Bill Bell, successful businessman, returned to Pritchard’s home on Bainbridge Island, WA (near Seattle) to find their families sitting around with nothing to do. The property had an old badminton court so Pritchard and Bell looked for some badminton equipment and could not find a full set of rackets. They improvised and started playing with ping-pong paddles and a perforated plastic ball. At first they placed the net at badminton height of 60 inches and volleyed the ball over the net.As the weekend progressed, the players found that the ball bounced well on the asphalt surface and soon the net was lowered to 36 inches. The following weekend, Barney McCallum was introduced to the game at Pritchard’s home. Soon, the three men created rules, relying heavily on badminton. They kept in mind the original purpose, which was to provide a game that the whole family could play together.
Pickleball was created in 1965.
The first rulebook was published in March, 1984 and "the USAPA was formed in 2005 to promote the sport. It maintains the official rules, sanctions tournaments, provides player rankings and produces the annual National Pickleball Tournament. It is run by an Executive Director and a volunteer board of directors supported by thousands of dues-paying members." ~USAPA. In 2020 USAPA rebranded as "USA Pickleball", aligning more consistently it with other US sports governing bodies and our USA Pickleball National Championships. ~USA Pickleball
popularity!
There are more than 4,004,113 total participants that play pickleball. (~SFIA report 2021) Up from more than 2,815,000 participants in the 2017 SFIA report! The average age for all players is 41 years old. (~SFIA report 2019) From 2019 to 2020, there was a 21.3% increase in pickleball participants. In 2020, there were 2,578,000 male pickleball participants and there were 1,193,000 college graduate pickleball participants. (~SFIA report 2021)
Where to play?
There are currently 8,235+ places to play in North America alone. Find locations by clicking "Where/When to play?" or download our "Pickleball Locator" app on the Apple, Google and Amazon Appstore’s.
Pickleball, The Name
Pickleball has a very interesting name, especially since no pickles are used. Accounts of how the name originated differ. (1)According to Joel Pritchard’s wife (Joan), she started calling the game pickleball because “the combination of different sports reminded me of the pickle boat in crew where oarsmen were chosen from the leftovers of other boats”. (2) However, according to Barney McCallum, the game was officially named after the Prichards’ dog Pickles who would chase the ball and run off with it. According to McCallum, “The Pritchards had a dog named Pickles, and you’re having fun at a party, right? So anyways, what the hell, let’s just call it pickleball.” Others claim both accounts may actually be true. In the early years, no official name was assigned to the game. However a year or two after the game was invented, the Pritchards purchased a cocker spaniel and named it Pickles. As the game progressed, an official name was needed and “pickleball” was it. ~USA Pickleball
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2022 USA Pickleball Official Rulebook Index
10 second rule 4.E between games 5.B.2 switching sides 5.B.6 technical warningA referee’s first verbal warningA referee’s Verbal Warning (VW) is an optional, non-penalizing, game management tool. A VW is specific to profanity which has not risen to the penalty level (TW or TF). When used, a referee’s VW is simultaneously administered to all players on the court. Only one VW for profanity is permitted during a match. More of a rule or behavioral violation given to a player or team prior to a technical foulA referee’s assessment of a rule or behavioral violation that results in one point being removed from the score of the offending team unless their score is zero, in which case a point shall be added to the score of the opposing side. A technical foul shall be issued if one technical warning has already been given and a second... More being issued. Points are not awarded for a technical warningA referee’s first verbal warning of a rule or behavioral violation given to a player or team prior to a technical foul being issued. Points are not awarded for a technical warning. More. More/foul 13.G.3.e time outA loud word(s) spoken by a player or line
-> Continue reading 2022 USA Pickleball Official Rulebook Index
SECTION 13 – TOURNAMENT MANAGEMENT AND OFFICIATING
Section 13 – Tournament Management and Officiating 13.A. Tournament Director. A Tournament Director is responsible for the tournament. It is the Tournament Director’s responsibility to designate the officials and their areas of responsibility. 13.A.1. A player may appeal any officiating decision to the Tournament Director or their designee. The Tournament Director, however, retains the final
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SECTION 12 – SANCTIONED TOURNAMENT POLICIES
12. A. Event Categories. Men: Singles and Doubles Women: Singles and Doubles Mixed: Doubles 12.A.1. In events described by gender, only members of that gender shall be allowed to play in that event. 12.A.2. Mixed doubles – A mixed doubles team shall consist of one male and one female player. 12. B. Tournament Game Options. The primary and
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SECTION 11 – OTHER RULES
SECTION 11 – OTHER RULES 11.A. Double Hits. Balls can be hit twice, but this must occur during an unintentional, continuous, single-direction stroke, by one player. After the serveThe initial strike of the ball to start the rallyContinuous play that occurs after the serve and before a fault. More. More, if the stroke is deliberate, or not continuous or not in a single direction, or
-> Continue reading SECTION 11 – OTHER RULES
SECTION 10 – TIME-OUT RULES
SECTION 10 – TIME-OUT RULES A. Standard Time-Out. A player or team is entitled to two time-outs for 11- or 15-point games and three time-outs for a 21-point game. 10.A.1. Each time-out period may last up to 1 minute. 10.A.2. Play may be resumed early if all players are ready. 10.A.3. If a team has
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SECTION 9 – NON-VOLLEY-ZONE RULES
SECTION 9 – NON-VOLLEY-ZONE RULES NON-VOLLEY-ZONE RULES A. All volleys must be initiated outside of the non-volley zoneThe 7-foot-by-20-foot area adjacent to the net and specific to each team’s end of the courtThe area inside the outer dimensions of the baselines and sidelines. More relating to NVZThe 7-foot-by-20-foot area adjacent to the net and specific to each team’s end of the court relating to NVZ faults. All lines bounding the NVZ are part of the NVZ. The NVZ is two-dimensional and does not rise above the playing surface. (See Figure 2-1 and Section 2.B.3.) More faults. All lines bounding the NVZThe 7-foot-by-20-foot area adjacent to the net and specific to each team’s end of the court relating to NVZ faults. All lines bounding the NVZ are part of the NVZ. The NVZ is two-dimensional and does not rise above the playing surface. (See Figure 2-1 and Section 2.B.3.) More are part of the NVZThe 7-foot-by-20-foot area adjacent to the net and specific to each team’s end of the court relating to NVZ faults. All lines bounding the NVZ are part of the NVZ. The NVZ is two-dimensional and does not rise above the playing surface. (See Figure 2-1 and Section 2.B.3.) More. The NVZThe 7-foot-by-20-foot area adjacent to the net and specific to each team’s end of the court relating to NVZ faults. All lines bounding the NVZ are part of the NVZ. The NVZ is two-dimensional and does not rise above the playing surface. (See Figure 2-1 and Section 2.B.3.) More is two-dimensional and does not rise
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SECTION 8 – DEAD BALL RULES
SECTION 8 – DEAD BALLA ball that is no longer in play. More RULES DEAD BALLA ball that is no longer in play. More RULES 8. A. Any action that stops play will result in a dead ballA ball that is noA loud word(s) spoken by a player or line judge(s) to indicate to the referee and/or players that a live ball has not touched in the required court space. The preferred word to indicate a line call is “OUT”. Distinctive hand signals can be used in conjunction with a line call. Words such as “wide”, “long”, “no”, “deep” are also... More longer in playThe point in time when the referee or server (or server's partner per rule 4.D.2) starts to call the score. More. More. 8. B. A faultA rules violation that results in a dead ballA ball that is no longer in play. More and the end of the rallyContinuous play that occurs after the serve and before a fault. More. More called by a referee or player,
-> Continue reading SECTION 8 – DEAD BALLA ball that is no longer in play. More RULES
SECTION 7 – FAULT RULES
SECTION 7 – FAULTA rules violation that results in a dead ball and the end of the rally. More RULES A faultA rules violation that results in a dead ball and the end of the rally. More (and resulting dead ballA ball that is no longer in play. More) will be declared for the following: 7.A. If the serveThe initial strike of the ball to start the rallyContinuous play that occurs after the serve and before a fault. More. More or service return does not bounce before the ball is struck. 7.B. Hitting the ball into the player’s side of the net
-> Continue reading SECTION 7 – FAULTA rules violation that results in a dead ball and the end of the rally. More RULES
SECTION 6 – LINE CALL RULES
6.A. A served ball that clears the non-volley zoneThe 7-foot-by-20-foot area adjacent to the net and specific to each team’s end of the courtThe area inside the outer dimensions of the baselines and sidelines. More relating to NVZThe 7-foot-by-20-foot area adjacent to the net and specific to each team’s end of the court relating to NVZ faults. All lines bounding the NVZ are part of the NVZ. The NVZ is two-dimensional and does not rise above the playing surface. (See Figure 2-1 and Section 2.B.3.) More faults. All lines bounding the NVZThe 7-foot-by-20-foot area adjacent to the net and specific to each team’s end of the court relating to NVZ faults. All lines bounding the NVZ are part of the NVZ. The NVZ is two-dimensional and does not rise above the playing surface. (See Figure 2-1 and Section 2.B.3.) More are part of the NVZThe 7-foot-by-20-foot area adjacent to the net and specific to each team’s end of the court relating to NVZ faults. All lines bounding the NVZ are part of the NVZ. The NVZ is two-dimensional and does not rise above the playing surface. (See Figure 2-1 and Section 2.B.3.) More. The NVZThe 7-foot-by-20-foot area adjacent to the net and specific to each team’s end of the court relating to NVZ faults. All lines bounding the NVZ are part of the NVZ. The NVZ is two-dimensional and does not rise above the playing surface. (See Figure 2-1 and Section 2.B.3.) More is two-dimensional and does not rise above the playing surfaceThe court and the area surrounding the court designated for playing. [quads id=10] More. (See Figure 2-1 and
-> Continue reading SECTION 6 – LINE CALLA loud word(s) spoken by a player or line judge(s) to indicate to the referee and/or players that a live ball has not touched in the required court space. The preferred word to indicate a line call is “OUT”. Distinctive hand signals can be used in conjunction with a line call. Words such as “wide”, “long”, “no”, “deep” are also... More RULES
SECTION 5 – SELECTION OF END, SERVE, RECEIVE, OR DEFER RULES.
5.A. Selection of End, ServeThe initial strike of the ball to start the rallyContinuous play that occurs after the serve and before a fault. More. More, Receive, or Defer. 5.A.1. Any fair method shall be used to determine which player or team has first choice of end, serveThe initial strike of the ball to start the rallyContinuous play that occurs after the serve and before a fault. More. More, receive, or defer (i.e., a 1 or 2
-> Continue reading SECTION 5 – SELECTION OF END, SERVEThe initial strike of the ball to start the rally. More, RECEIVE, OR DEFER RULES.