RULES
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By Bob Unetich
USA PICKLEBALL-CERTIFIED REFEREE
2023 Rule Changes
The USA Pickleball Rules Committee considered a collection of suggestions for rule changes in 2022 and , as happened last year , several rule changes were approved and sent to the USA Pickleball Board of Directors for final approval .
The Rules Committee considered 78 suggestions from USA Pickleball members this year . I ’ ve highlighted the key rule changes that the committee and USA Pickleball board approved below . Not included are a small number of editorial changes . There was one rule change passed by the Rules Committee that the USA Pickleball board did not approve . In a repeat vote from last year , the one that did not pass related to how players determine if a ball is “ out .” As a result , the wording of Rule 6 . D . 7 remains unchanged .
One change makes it clear that a tournament director can require a clothing change when a player wears clothing that is close to the color of the ball . In a related decision , Rule 2 . G . 4 was amended to permit apparel changes to happen as a non-chargeable time-out .
The issue of having the wrong score called , and the actions required by players , caused controversy in 2022 . For 2023 , the rules basically return to the 2021 wording , which permitted play to be stopped by anyone before the return of serve . I applaud this change to Rule 4 . K .
During 2022 , a player asking basic questions such as “ Are we good ?” caused some confusion about what a referee could say if the player was not the correct server or receiver , or not in the correct position . Under the new versions of 4 . B . 8 and 4 . B . 9 , a referee , or even an opponent in non-officiated play , can identify any or all of the faults . This is another rule change that I applaud .
The spin serve resulting from an intentional hand toss that causes spin becomes illegal in 2023 , and that also applies to the Drop Serve under Rule 4 . A . 6 . b . Eliminating intentional hand-induced spins will change some service motions in 2023 , but I think it makes the game more fair since not every player could perform an effective hand spin serve .
As a ref , I can tell you that enforcing the service motion rules is not easy . The reality is that service motion faults are rare in tournaments , although many refs see serves that are marginal . In 2023 , referees will be able to call for a re-serve if a serve is marginal .
The method of using tiebreakers to decide round-robin winners in sanctioned tournaments was modified to make it easier to decide which team has won .
If a cracked ball has been discovered , the rules have long provided a means of deciding what action can be taken . In 2023 , a “ degraded ” ball can also be replaced if both teams agree .
Finally , it has been decided that an equipment time-out can be taken without a player needing to use a regular time-out , and the time permitted can be of “ a reasonable duration .” This is another welcome change to this ref .
I ’ d like to thank Certified Referee Ken Schoonover of the Rules Committee and Certified Referee Mark Peifer , who chairs the Rules Committee , for helping me understand the rule changes just as soon as they are approved . While I am at it , my thanks to the entire Rules Committee for once again improving the rules while preserving the essence of this great game .