Basic Rules

  • Pickleball is played either as doubles (two players per team) or singles; doubles is most common
  • The same size playing area and rules are used for both singles and doubles

The Serve

  • 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 the 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 elements above 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 confines of the opposite diagonal court.
  • Only one serve attempt is allowed per server.

Serving 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/even court.
  • If a point is scored, the server switches sides and the server initiates the next serve from the left/odd 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/even 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/even court when his or her score is even and from the left/odd 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.
  • When the serving team’s score is even (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10) the player who was the first server in the game for that team will be in the right/even court when serving or receiving; when odd (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) that player will be in the left/odd court when serving or receiving.

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).
  • The two-bounce rule eliminates the serve and volley advantage and extends rallies.

Line Calls

  • A ball contacting any part of 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.

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 or 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 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.
  • The non-volley zone is commonly referred to as “the kitchen.”

 

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.

 

Determining Serving Team

  • Any fair method can be used to determine which player or team has first choice of side, service, or receive. (Example: coin flip)

Rules

  1. Court and Equipment:
    • Pickleball is typically played on a badminton-sized court (20 feet wide by 44 feet long) for doubles and a smaller court for singles (20 feet wide by 22 feet long).
    • The court is divided into two halves by a net that is 36 inches high at the sidelines and 34 inches high in the center.
    • Players use solid paddles made of wood or composite materials and a plastic ball with holes, similar to a Wiffle ball.
  2. Serving:
    • The server must stand behind the baseline and serve diagonally to the opponent’s service court.
    • The serve must be made underhand with the paddle contacting the ball below the waist.
    • The ball must clear the net and land in the opponent’s service court. If it touches the net and lands in the correct court, it’s called a “let” and the server gets another chance.
    • Both players on the serving team get a chance to serve before a side-out occurs, which means the serve goes to the opposing team.
  3. Scoring:
    • Pickleball is played using a rally scoring system, which means points can be scored by the serving or receiving team.
    • Only the serving team can score points. If they win a rally, they earn a point and the same server continues serving from the opposite service court.
    • Games are typically played to 11 points, and players must win by a margin of two points. However, some variations may use a different scoring system.
  4. Double Bounce Rule:
    • After the serve, both teams must let the ball bounce once on each side before they can hit it in the air (known as the “double bounce rule”).
    • The serving team must let the return of serve bounce, and then the receiving team must let the serve bounce before hitting it back.
    • Once the ball has bounced once on each side, players can either volley it in the air or let it bounce before hitting it.
  5. Non-Volley Zone (Kitchen):
    • There is a 7-foot non-volley zone on each side of the net called the “kitchen.”
    • Players cannot enter the kitchen to volley the ball in the air. They must let the ball bounce before stepping into the kitchen and hitting it.
    • If a player hits the ball while their feet are inside the kitchen without it bouncing first, it’s considered a fault.
  6. Rosters and Team size
    • All teams must have at least 2 players on a team with a maximum of 6. All players must be on the roster and sign a player waver form.
    • Only 2 players from each may be on the court and play per game. Whoever starts the game must finish the game. Players may rotate from game to game but not within a game.
    • If only person from a team arrives for a game it is up to the discretion of the opposing team as to whether or not they wish to play the game. If the full teams does want to play the game will be recorded as a forfeit
    • Teams are allowed to pick up fill in players for the regular season only
  7. Referees
    • Games are self reffed though there will be an on site coordinator to help facilitate play, answer questions, record and reports scores and more.

These are the basic rules of pickleball. Any rules not expressly covered here will fall under the rules of USA Pickleball. The USA Pickleball rule book can be found here: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://usapickleball.org/docs/USA-Pickleball-Official-Rulebook-2023-v2.pdf

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