All rules are as per the official USA Pickleball rules, with minor amendments intended to enhance the playing experience at Cockburn ARC.
Basic Rules
Played in either singles or doubles.
Same size playing area and rules for both singles & doubles.
The Serve
Servers arm must be moving in an upwards direction when hitting the ball.
Contact between the ball & paddle must be lower than the highest part of the wrist.
When the ball is struck, the server’s feet must not be touching the baseline or outside the side-line of the court. One foot must be behind the baseline.
Serves must be made diagonally crosscourt and must land within the confines of the opposite diagonal court.
Only one serve attempt allowed per server.
Serve 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.
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 sequence of the game*).
The second server continues serving until his team commits a fault and loses the serve to the opposing team.
Once the service goes to the opposition (at side out), the first serve is from the right-hand 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 played to 11 points, win by 2.
Two-Bounce Rule
When the ball is 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 (hit the ball before it bounces) or play it off a bounce (ground stroke).
Non-Volley Zone (“The Kitchen”)
This is the court area within 7 feet of both side of the net (from the net to the blue line).
No volleying allowed in this zone to prevent smashing.
It is a fault if, when volleying a ball, the player steps on the non-volley zone. This includes the line and/or when the player’s momentum causes them or anything they are wearing/carrying to touch the non-volley zone. This includes the associated lines.
It is a fault if, after volleying, a player is carried by momentum into or touches 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.
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.
Faults
Fault = 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:
A serve does not land within the court lines on receiving court. | The ball hits the net on serve or a return. |
Ball is volleyed before a bounce occurs for each side on serve. | Ball is hit out of bounds. |
Ball bounces twice before being hit by receiver. | Ball is volleyed in non-volley zone. |
A player, player’s clothing, or any part of a player’s paddle touches the net or the net post when the ball is in play. | 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. |