RULES
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By Bob Unetich
USA PICKLEBALL-CERTIFIED REFEREE
Questions from readers are always welcome , and as I travel around to various tournaments as a referee , I am often asked questions by players and spectators . Another source of questions is referee training sessions . Over the last couple of years , online referee training has emerged and each week there are several well-attended referee discussion groups meeting online using Zoom and other meeting software .
A couple of months ago , I asked one of the certified referees doing a weekly online session , Bob Swisshelm , if he had some questions that refs and ref students have posed that he felt would be of interest to the community of players who read this magazine . He responded enthusiastically about providing some examples for publication on this page , so I am pleased to present several questions and answers contributed by Certified Referee , Referee Trainer and frequent Tournament Referee Coordinator Bob Swisshelm …
Q . Are quick serves illegal ?
A . Yes , a quick serve , or serving before the opponents are ready , is illegal . The server ( or referee ) has several responsibilities :
A . Must wait until the receiver is ( or should be ) in position and all players are ( or should be ) ready before calling the score . ( 4 . C , 4 . D )
B . Must call the score clearly after the players are ready ( or should be ready ). ( 4 . D )
C . Must call the complete score before the ball is served . ( 4 . A . 1 , 4 . M . 11 )
In 2021 the rules were changed to allow a server to start the service motion while the score is being called . However , the server must wait until the complete score has been called before striking the ball .
In a refereed match , if you serve the ball before the referee starts calling the score , the ball is dead ( 3 . A . 19 ) so it is a replay . If you serve while the referee is calling the score , it is a fault ( 4 . M . 11 ).
Q . What questions can I ask the referee before the serve ? How should the referee respond ?
A . This is covered by rule 4 . B . 8 . Any player may ask about the score , correct server / receiver , or correct position . The specific wording of the questions was removed to give players more flexibility . Referees will stop play , completely answer your question , then re-call the score . They will only answer the question that you ask . Examples :
Player : Is my partner the correct server ? Referee : Yes . Player : Am I the correct server ? Referee : Yes . ( If you are in the incorrect position , the referee will not tell you because you did not ask .)
Player : Who is the correct server ? Referee : Your partner is .
Player : Am I good ? Referee : Yes or no , as appropriate . If the answer is no , you need to ask more detailed questions .
Q . In the new Mini-Singles format , can receivers be out of position ?
A . Yes , but a receiver being out of position will result in a service fault if the server serves to the incorrect side . In Mini-Singles , the receiver ’ s correct position is based on their score , just as the server ’ s correct position is based on the server ’ s score . There are four possible position combinations :
Server Score
Receiver Score
Positions
Even Even Diagonal on right sides Even Odd Straight up on the server ’ s right Odd Even Straight up on the server ’ s left Odd Odd Diagonal on left sides
If the receiver is out of position and the server serves to them , the serve will go into the incorrect service box prior to the receiver striking the ball , so the fault is on the server . If the server recognizes that the receiver is out of position and wants to get an easy point , serve to the correct service box . Since the receiver is on the other side of the court , they probably won ’ t get to it in time . •