Faults
2
Serving
1
LEFT / ODD COURT
RIGHT / EVEN COURT
until his / her 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.
• When playing singles, the server serves from the right / even court when his / 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( side out).
Scoring
• The first team to score 11 points, with a two-point lead, wins the game.
• Matches are usually played two out of three games.
• Points are scored ONLY by the serving team.
• 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.
44’
NON- VOLLEY ZONE
NET
4
RIGHT / EVEN COURT
LEFT / ODD COURT
20’
B A S E L I N E
3
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— two bounces.
• After the two bounces occur, players can hit volleys or groundstrokes.
• The two-bounce rule applies at the start of every point.
Non-Volley Zone( NVZ / Kitchen) The court area that extends 7 feet from each side of the net.
• Volleying is prohibited within the NVZ.
• You may enter the NVZ any time EXCEPT when hitting a volley.
• It is a fault if, when hitting a volley, you step onto the NVZ( line included) and / or when your momentum causes you to touch the NVZ.“ You” includes anything you are wearing / carrying, as well.
• It is a fault if, after hitting a volley, momentum carries you or anything you’ re wearing / carrying onto the NVZ( line included). It is a fault even if the volleyed ball is declared dead before this happens.
Line calls— A ball that lands on any line, except the NVZ line during a serve, is in. If a serve hits the NVZ line, it’ s a fault. •
Adapted from the official rules / rules summary that can be found on the USAPA’ s website at usapa. org.
Brighten someone’ s day— take’ em out for a game of pickleball. Form teams and liven up a family reunion. Get the kids away from their electronics. Invite a few friends over for some fun. Coordinate a get-toknow-your-neighbor and / or club member pickleball tournament.
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.
Some of the most common faults …
• Hitting the ball into the net or out of bounds.
• Hitting a volley from inside the NVZ.
• A player( including clothing, paddle, etc.) touching the net or post when the ball is in play.
• A ball striking a player.
• A ball striking a permanent object before bouncing on the court.
• A serve that doesn’ t land in the receiver’ s service court. Serves must clear the NVZ, including the NVZ line.
• Hitting a volley after a serve. A bounce must occur on each side before anyone can hit a volley.( See two-bounce rule.)
• Stepping on the baseline before hitting a serve.
• A server striking the ball before the referee calls the score, in an officiated match.
Pickleball Vocab
Dink— a soft shot hit on a bounce from the NVZ. Dinks are made with the intention of placing the ball in the opposing NVZ either straight across or diagonally crosscourt. Drop Shot— a soft shot hit off a bounce from deep in the court. It’ s intended to land in the opposing NVZ. Fault— any action that stops play because of a rule violation. Groundstroke— a ball hit after a bounce. Let on a Serve— when the ball touches the net on a serve but lands in the receiver’ s proper service court. A serve is replayed in the event of a let. Lob— a lofted shot that sends the ball high overhead and deep. Overhead Smash— a hard overhead shot directed downward into the opposing court, usually as a return of an opposing lob, high return or high bounce. Side Out— when service passes to the receiving team. Volley— a ball hit in the air before it bounces.
JULY / AUGUST 2018 | MAGAZINE 43