RULES
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A The 2025 Rule Changes
This year , 133 change requests were submitted to the USA Pickleball Rules Committee by May 15 . After extensive review and consideration , the committee decided to recommend 46 rule changes to the USA Pickleball Board of Directors for final approval . The 2025 Rulebook with the approved rules will be available January 1 .
Some recommended changes are simple word replacements , such as changing the word “ should ” to “ shall ” in Rule 6 . C . 4 to more clearly discourage consulting with spectators , and the word “ may ” to “ shall ” in Rule 11 . J regarding distractions so that players understand that they are not permitted to intentionally distract an opponent . Similarly , the committee decided that Rule 4 . A . 2 should use the word “ ball ” instead of “ serve ” to describe what goes over a net starting every rally .
Some represent actual changes to the game , such as 9 . B . 1 , which will define a volley to begin “ when a ball is struck ,” not “ when the swing begins .” This makes a paddle scrape in the NVZ before contact with a ball , under 9 . B . 2 , not a fault . It also means that when exiting the NVZ to hit a volley , it is the placement of your feet when the ball is struck , not at the swing of the paddle .
Most of the changes are not likely to be very controversial , although the change to Rule 10 . C that permits coaching when a rally ends — instead of only at a time-out — is already causing some discussion and it may not be approved by the board . A change to the Technical Warning and Technical Fault rules under a new rule , 13 . G . 4 , enables a tournament director to “ carry over ” a penalty to a team ’ s next match , including a point that might be awarded to the next opponent . Matches sometimes end with a display of frustration that can cause dangerous situations involving flying balls or paddles , so I welcome this rule change . by BOB UNETICH
USA PICKLEBALL CERTIFIED REFEREE
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The new version of Rule 2 . E . 5 . c permits autographs on paddles , and rules 10 . B . 5 , which now deals with blood on a court , and 10 . H . 2 . c , dealing with foreign matter , replace the word “ court ” with “ playing surface ”— a very appropriate wording change .
Here is a very brief summary of the other changes :
1 . There is now a 1-inch tolerance on net-postto-net-post spacing ( Rule 2 . C . 2 ) and a quarterinch tolerance on net height ( 2 . C . 5 ). These are welcome changes to this referee , although in my experience , 1 inch and a quarter inch may be a bit too tight .
2 . Tournament Operations can , using new rule 12 . P , make changes in order to rectify “ operational errors .”
3 . A revised Rule 12 . F . 2 has been amended to agree with Rule 10 . B . 2 . c , which permits a team to use regular time-outs , if available , “ after a medical time-out has expired , to allow more time before the match must be retired .”
4 . Rally scoring can be used in pro doubles brackets according to a new rule , 12 . B . 1 , with scoring done according to Rule 4 . G . Many players are not in favor of doubles rally scoring , so this change may not be approved .
5 . Open Gender brackets are a sanctioned tournament approved format , under Rule 12 . A , permitting men , women and transgender players to compete against each other , making the Rulebook more like the other published USA Pickleball format guidelines .
6 . It is a fault , under new rule 4 . B . 10 , when an incorrect server or receiver hits the ball if the players know who the correct hitter should
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