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 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/foul 13.G.3.e
• time outA 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 10.A.5

Additional Balls 7.N

ApparelA paddle listed as Pass on the USAPA/IFP Approved Paddle List without penalty. More 2.G

• violation 2.G.4

Around the post (ATP) shot

• 11.M; 11.L.3

Ball specifications 2.D

• cracked/broken 11.E
• color 2.D.3

Calling the score 4.D

• singles matches 4.I
• doubles matches 4.J
• wrong score called 4.K

CarryHitting the ball in such a way that it does not bounce away from the paddle but is carried along on the face of the paddle. More 3.A.1

• deliberate carryHitting the ball in such a way that it does not bounce away from the paddle but is carried along on the face of the paddle. More 7.L

Change of ends 5.B

CoachingCommunication of any information, including verbal, nonverbal, and electronic, from someone other than a player’s partner, that a player or team may act upon to gain an advantage or help them avoid a rules violation. More

• defined 3.A.2
• 13.G.1.j
• 3.A.2, 11.P

CourtThe area inside the outer dimensions of the baselines and sidelines. More 3.A.3

• baseline 2.B.1
• centerline 2.B.5
• courtThe area inside the outer dimensions of the baselines and sidelines. More specifications 2.A
• cross courtThe court diagonally opposite of the court from which the ball was last struck. More 3.A.4
• items on courtThe area inside the outer dimensions of the baselines and sidelines. More 11.H
• left/odd courtThe service area on the left side of the court, when facing the net. The starting server in doubles or the singles server should be positioned on the left/odd side of the court when their score is odd. More 3.A.17; 2.B.7
• lines and areas 2.B
• net (see net)
• non-volley zoneThe 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 2.B.3
• right/even courtThe service area on the right side of the court, when facing the net. The starting server in doubles or the singles server should be positioned on the right/even court when their score is even. More 3.A.31; 2.B.6
• service courtThe area on either side of the centerline, including the centerline, sideline, and baseline, excluding the NVZ. More 3.A.36; 2.B.4
• side lines 2.B.2

Dead ballA ball that is no longer in play. More

• definition 3.A.5
• rules 8

Distractions

• definition 3.A.6
• rule 11.J

Double bounceWhen the ball bounces twice on one side before it is returned. More 3.A.7

• Wheelchair play 1
• (see also two-bounce rule)

Double hitHitting the ball twice before it is returned. More

• definition 3.A.8
• allowed 11.A

End selection rules 5.A.1

EjectionA behavior violation so flagrant that it warrants ejection from the tournament by the Tournament Director. The player may stay at the venue but may no longer play in any matches. More 3.A.9

• scoring guidelines 12.F.6
• from tournament 13.M

Equipment prob. (player) 11.G

• item on courtThe area inside the outer dimensions of the baselines and sidelines. More 11.H

ExpelA behavior violation so flagrant that the Tournament Director prohibits the player from playing in any current and any future brackets of the tournament. In addition, the player shall leave the venue immediately and not return for the remainder of the tournament. More 3.A.10; 13.M

• from tournament 13.A.4

FaultA rules violation that results in a dead ball and the end of the rally. More rules 7

• definition 3.A.11
• double bounceWhen the ball bounces twice on one side before it is returned. More 7.E
• non-volley zoneThe 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 9.B to 9.D
• plane of net 7.M; 11.I
• receiverThe player who is positioned diagonally opposite the server to return the serve. Depending on the team’s score, the player who returns the serve may not be the correct receiver. More faults 4.N
• service faults 4.M
• striking permanent objectAny object on or near the court, including hanging over the court, that can interfere with play. Permanent objects include the ceiling, walls, fencing, lighting fixtures, net posts, net post legs, the stands and seats for spectators, the referee, line judges, spectators when in their recognized positions, and all other objects around and above the court. More 7.J
• touching live ballThe point in time when the referee or server (or server's partner per rule 4.D.2) starts to call the score. More 7.H; 7.I
• touching net system or post 7.G
• two-bounce rule 7.A

Forfeit

• defined 3.A.13
• game 13.H
• match 13.I
• scoring guidelines 12.F.6

HinderAny transient element or occurrence not caused by a player that adversely impacts play, not including permanent objects. Examples include, but are not limited to, balls, flying insects, foreign material, players or officials on another court that, in the opinion of the referee, impacted a player’s ability to make a play on the ball. More 3.A.15

• faultA rules violation that results in a dead ball and the end of the rally. More rules 7.M
• dead ballA ball that is no longer in play. More rules 8.C

Incorrect player positions 4.B.9, 4.B.10, 4.B.11

Injury during rallyContinuous play that occurs after the serve and before a fault. More 11.F

• medical time-out 10.B

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 6

• benefit of doubt 6.D.3; 6.D.9
• called promptly 6.D.8; 6.D.10
• called before bounce 6.D.11
• called after bounce 6.D.12
• definition 3.A.18
• point of contact 6.C
• requesting opponent help 6.D.6
• requesting referee help 6.D.3

Live ballThe point in time when the referee or server (or server's partner per rule 4.D.2) starts to call the score. More 3.A.19

Missed shot 11.D

Non-volley zone (NVZ)The 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

• defined 3.A.21
• volleyDuring a rally, a strike of the ball out of the air before the ball has bounced. More momentumMomentum is a property of a body in motion, such as a player executing a volley, that causes the player to continue in motion after contacting the ball. The act of volleying produces momentum that ends when the player regains balance and control of their motion or stops moving toward the non-volley zone. More 9.B; 9.C; 3.A.20
• rules 9

Not ready signals 4.C.1

Net 2.C

• around the net post shot 11.M
• ball spins back untouched 11.L.4
• bottom 2.C.6
• contact with 7.G
• height 2.C.5
• net postsAny object on or near the court, including hanging over the court, that can interfere with play. Permanent objects include the ceiling, walls, fencing, lighting fixtures, net posts, net post legs, the stands and seats for spectators, the referee, line judges, spectators when in their recognized positions, and all other objects around and above the court. More 11.K
• net 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 11.L
• plane of net defined 3.A.25
• specifications 2.C

Paddle

• one paddle 11.N
• paddle possession 11.O

Paddle specifications 2.E

• alterations 2.E.5; 2.E.6
• approved paddle 2.F.1
• grip adjustment 3.A.22
• model designation 2.E.7
• prohibited alterations 2.E.6
• size 2.E.3
• surface 2.E.2
• violation 2.F.1.a

Permanent objectAny object on or near the court, including hanging over the court, that can interfere with play. Permanent objects include the ceiling, walls, fencing, lighting fixtures, net posts, net post legs, the stands and seats for spectators, the referee, line judges, spectators when in their recognized positions, and all other objects around and above the court. More 3.A.24; 7.J; 8.D

Player positions 4.B

• questions to referee 4.B.8

Playing surfaceThe court and the area surrounding the court designated for playing.   [quads id=10] More 3.A.26

Points 4.G

RallyContinuous play that occurs after the serve and before a fault. More 3.A.27

ReceiverThe player who is positioned diagonally opposite the server to return the serve. Depending on the team’s score, the player who returns the serve may not be the correct receiver. More 3.A.28

• receiverThe player who is positioned diagonally opposite the server to return the serve. Depending on the team’s score, the player who returns the serve may not be the correct receiver. More faults 4.N

Referee/line judge removal 13.K.

ReplayAny rally that is restarted for any reason without the awarding of a point or a change of server. More 3.A.29

• Cracked/broken ball 11.E
• 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, officiated play 13.D.3.c
• wrong score called 4.K

Rules challenge 13.A.1

Sanctioned tournament 12

Scoring 4.F

Select side, serveThe initial strike of the ball to start the rally. More, receive, or defer 5.A ServeThe initial strike of the ball to start the rally. More

• calling score 4.D
• definition 3.A.34
• drop serveThe initial strike of the ball to start the rally. More 4.A.6
• first serverIn doubles, the player who shall serve from the right/even service court after a side out, according to the team’s score. More 3.A.12
• horizontal bar w/center base 11.L.5
• identification, starting serverFor each doubles team, the player designated to serve first at the start of the game. In doubles tournament play, the starting server shall wear a visible form of identification determined by the Tournament Director. More 5.A.2
• readiness 4.C
• second serveIn doubles, a term used to describe the condition when a serving team loses the first of its two allocated serves. More 3.A.32
• second serverIn doubles, the first server’s partner. The second server serves after the first server loses serve. More 3.A.33
• service courtThe area on either side of the centerline, including the centerline, sideline, and baseline, excluding the NVZ. More 3.A.36
• service faults 4.M
• service foot faultA rules violation that results in a dead ball and the end of the rally. More 4.L
• serverThe player who initiates a rally. Depending on the team’s score, it is possible that the player who serves may not be the correct server. More 3.A.35
• serving areaThe area behind the baseline and on and between the imaginary extensions of the court centerline and each sideline. More 3.A.37
• starting serverFor each doubles team, the player designated to serve first at the start of the game. In doubles tournament play, the starting server shall wear a visible form of identification determined by the Tournament Director. More 3.A.39 (see starting serverFor each doubles team, the player designated to serve first at the start of the game. In doubles tournament play, the starting server shall wear a visible form of identification determined by the Tournament Director. More)
• volleyDuring a rally, a strike of the ball out of the air before the ball has bounced. More serveThe initial strike of the ball to start the rally. More 4.A.5

Side outThe awarding of the serve to the opposing team after a singles player or doubles team loses its serve. More 3.A.38

Singles

• calling the score 4.I
• player positions 4.B.5

Starting ServerFor each doubles team, the player designated to serve first at the start of the game. In doubles tournament play, the starting server shall wear a visible form of identification determined by the Tournament Director. More

• changing starting serverFor each doubles team, the player designated to serve first at the start of the game. In doubles tournament play, the starting server shall wear a visible form of identification determined by the Tournament Director. More 5.A.2
• definition 3.A.39
• identification band 5.A.3, 13.A.2,
  13.C.4.e

Switching Ends 5.B

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 3.A.40; 13.G.2

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 3.A.41; 13.G.1

Time allowances

• between games 5.B.2; 10.E
• between matches 10.F
• end change during game 5.B.6

Time-out rules 10

• called before serveThe initial strike of the ball to start the rally. More occurs 10.A.4
• before match or game 10.H.1
• blood 10.B.5
• equipment time outA 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 10.D
• extenuating circumstances 10.H.2
• Continuous playContinuous play that occurs after the serve and before a fault. More 10.C
• medical time-out 10.B
• standard time-out 10.A

Tournament management and officiating 13

• appeals 13.F
• forfeiture of game 13.H
• forfeiture of match 13.I
• line judgesAny object on or near the court, including hanging over the court, that can interfere with play. Permanent objects include the ceiling, walls, fencing, lighting fixtures, net posts, net post legs, the stands and seats for spectators, the referee, line judges, spectators when in their recognized positions, and all other objects around and above the court. More 13.E
• player line/fault call responsibilities 13.D
• referee’s duties 13.C
• removal of referee or line judge 13.K, 13.K.1
• rules interpretation 13.J
• 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/foul 13.G
• tournament director 13.A

Two-bounce rule Page 7.A

Two-handed shot 11.C

• ball contacting hands 7.H

VolleyDuring a rally, a strike of the ball out of the air before the ball has bounced. More 3.A.42

Winning the game page 1, 4.H

Withdraw 3.A.43

• scoring guidelines 12.F.7
• tournament rules 12.F.5

Wrong score called 4.K