RULES
GURU
Q: Dear Guru,
In a recent tournament match, the referee called the
score once I was ready to serve. I served the ball, and
my opponent claimed he was holding up his paddle
indicating he was not ready. The referee warned me
about serving before checking to see if he was ready. Was
it correct for him to give me a warning?
A: The rules for player readiness changed in early 2019
and again in 2020. The USAPA-IFP Rule 4.C. now states
that “Any Player may indicate ‘not ready’ prior to the
score being called.” In sub-paragraph 4.C.2., the Rule
Book goes on to state that “After the start of the score
being called, ‘not ready’ signals will be ignored, unless
there is a hinder.”
In your scenario, a receiver becoming “not ready”
was a fault last year, but in 2020, it can be ignored by a
referee and a server, although the server does still have
10 seconds to actually serve the ball. Should, as you
asked, the referee have given you a warning? Not in 2019
or in 2020. Last year, the referee could assign a fault to
the receiving team and in 2020, the referee would simply
ignore the receiver’s not ready signal.
Q: Dear Guru,
My partner and I stack. Sometimes, especially after a
long rally, we forget who is serving/receiving or if we are
in the right position. So, we are always careful to ask the
referee if we are the right server/receiver and if we are in
the right position. Someone told me we could no longer
ask the referee these questions. Is this true?
A: Your source is partially correct. Under the rules,
which changed in 2019, and again in 2020, to further
clarify the rule, the following should occur:
• If you are the receiving team and you ask if you
are in the correct position, the referee cannot
answer this question (See USAPA-IFP Rule 4.B.10)
but may respond with “You have X points” or “Your
score is X.”
The logic behind changing what referees may answer is
that players should be able to determine their positions
based on the score. Allowing the referee to tell players
whether or not they are in the correct position is a form
of coaching.
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By Bob Unetich
USAPA-CERTIFIED REFEREE
We’d Like to Hear From You!
Send your questions to [email protected].
How Does a Rule
Become a Rule?
By Mark Peifer
USAPA DIRECTOR OF OFFICIATING
The process for creating, modifying, or deleting
a rule is more straightforward than most assume.
There are three distinct steps.
Idea Generation – Every change to a rule must
start somewhere. Most changes come about
because someone has an idea for the change. Those
ideas come to us primarily from players, like you,
who read Pickleball Magazine. The second source of
ideas comes from referees who see issues firsthand
and ask for resolution (actually they are asking for
help!). The third, and least impactful, source of
changes comes from USAPA staff members.
Rule Creation – This might be the biggest
revelation for many. Rules are not written by a bunch
of old white men smoking cigars in a speakeasy in
New Orleans. In fact, even the Rules Committee
rarely write rules. So, who writes them? Initially,
the very players who generated the ideas in the first
place. Then, many review the changes. In 2019 we
had some very insightful referees and players in
the review process, each having a unique ability to
deconstruct a rule and find ways in which the rule
could be exploited unfairly. In short, they help us find
loopholes others would not see. These volunteers
were invaluable in getting the wording right.
Rule Approval – There are three governing bodies
that approve any new rule change: a five-member
USAPA Rules Committee, the International Federation
of Pickleball (IFP) and the USAPA Board of Directors.
There you have it. The Rulebook unveiled... who
is involved and how changes happen. In 2019, more
than 35 of your fellow players were involved in one
or more aspects of creating the 2020 Rulebook. If
you have an idea for the 2021 edition, please send
your ideas to the recording secretary of the Rules
Committee, Don Stanley, at [email protected]. •