RULES
GURU
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Q & A by BOB UNETICH
USA PICKLEBALL CERTIFIED REFEREE
’ d Like to Hear From You! Send your questions to rules @ pickleballmagazine. com.
I heard about a player at a tournament receiving a penalty when he threw his paddle out of frustration after his team lost their match. This penalty was imposed on his next match. Please explain how penalties work.
Pickleball is a game requiring good sportsmanship, incorporating the elements of fun, cooperation, courtesy, and competition. That said, there are times when players exhibit unsportsmanlike conduct, such as using profanity, throwing a paddle, or showing aggressive behavior toward another player, a spectator, or an official.
To discourage this kind of behavior during a match, referees will issue a verbal warning, technical warning, or technical foul, depending on the severity of the behavior( Rules 13. G. 1.– 4.).
One verbal warning may be issued to each team during a match for minor infractions. Technical warnings and technical fouls accumulate during a match and will result in a harsher penalty for each successive infraction. Two technical warnings or one technical foul results in a point loss for the offending team. Three technical warnings or a combination of a technical foul and a technical warning results in a game forfeit.
To discourage inappropriate behavior after a match has concluded, Rule 13. G. 4. was added to the Rulebook in 2025. It reads,“ Behavior rising to the level of a warning or foul after the match is over while a player is still on court shall be brought to the attention of the Tournament Director. Based on this information, the Tournament Director may impose a Verbal Warning, Technical Warning, or Technical Foul that will be applied to the offending player’ s next match at the tournament.” This means that now players can receive a penalty even after their match is over. This penalty will be applied to the player’ s next match in the bracket or next event in the tournament.
COUNTERFEIT PADDLES
Counterfeit pickleball paddles have been seen at tournaments, so we asked Riley Burgess, USA Pickleball VP of equipment compliance, about this topic. Riley had this to say:
Counterfeit paddles have become more prevalent in pickleball over the last few years. This is the unauthorized production and sale of paddles with the intention of deceiving consumers. Counterfeiting exists in most consumer products and is difficult to stop, and this is at the root of the issue. Here are some tips on how to arm yourself against accidentally participating in the counterfeiting industry.
Counterfeit Paddle Red Flags
1. If the purchase price of the paddle you are considering is far less than the price listed on the brand’ s official website, it could be counterfeit. 2. If the paddle is being sold on secondary websites in“ used” condition, it could be counterfeit.
3. If the paddle is listed with a brand name, but the image of the paddle itself does not appear to have branding, it could be counterfeit.
Please use these identifiers to ensure that you are purchasing real paddles from real companies.
Of course, recreational players should also follow these tips. While a counterfeit may play OK, it is likely to play differently than the model it tries to copy and that may hurt your game— and it might even make shots more dangerous.
Once again, this page has benefited from the knowledge and experience of certified referees Nancy Kaplan and Joanna Korker, who answered the question posed. Compliance with equipment standards is a topic of growing importance to this sport, and the assistance of Riley Burgess of USA Pickleball is appreciated. •
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