{"id":336,"date":"2025-02-24T06:10:20","date_gmt":"2025-02-24T06:10:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pickleballfederationeurope.com\/?page_id=336"},"modified":"2025-02-25T16:47:51","modified_gmt":"2025-02-25T16:47:51","slug":"basic-rules-summary","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/pickleballfederationeurope.com\/?page_id=336","title":{"rendered":"Basic Rules"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Basic Rules Summary<\/b><\/b>\n <\/h2>\n

The following is an abbreviated form of the rules to give a quick\noverview of how the game is played. If there is a conflict between this summary\nand the official rules, the official rules prevail. <\/h4>\n
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\n Basic Rules\nOverview <\/span>\n
\u2022 Pickleball is played either as doubles (two players per team) or singles; doubles is most common
\u2022 The same size playing area and rules are used for both singles and doubles
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\n The Serve <\/span>\n
\u2022 The server\u2019s arm must be moving in an upward arc when the ball is struck.
\u2022 Paddle contact with the ball must not be made above the waist level.
\u2022 The head of the paddle must not be above the highest part of the wrist at contact.
\u2022 A \u2018drop serve\u2019 is also permitted in which case none of the elements above apply.
\u2022 At the time the ball is struck, the server\u2019s feet may not touch the court or outside the imaginary extension of the sideline or centerline and at least one foot must be behind the baseline on the playing surface or the ground behind the baseline.
\u2022 The serve is made diagonally crosscourt and must land within the confines of the opposite diagonal court.
\u2022 Only one serve attempt is allowed per server.
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\n Service Sequence <\/span>\n
\u2022 Both players on the serving doubles team have the opportunity to serve and score points until they commit a fault *(except for the first service sequence of each new game).
\u2022 The first serve of each side-out is made from the right-hand court.
\u2022 If a point is scored, the server switches sides and the server initiates the next serve from the left- hand court.\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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As subsequent points are scored, the server continues switching back and forth until a fault is committed and the first server loses the serve.
\u2022 When the first server loses the serve the partner then serves from their correct side of the court (except for the first service sequence of the game*).
\u2022 The second server continues serving until his team commits a fault and loses the serve to the opposing team.
\u2022 Once the service goes to the opposition (at side out), the first serve is from the right-hand court and both players on that team have the
opportunity to serve and score points until their team commits two faults.
\u2022 In singles the server serves from the right-hand court when his or her score is even and from the left when the score is odd.
*At the beginning of each new game only one partner on the serving team has the opportunity to serve before faulting, after which the service passes to the receiving team.
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\n Scoring <\/span>\n
\n Traditional Side-Out Scoring
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\u2022 Points are scored only by the serving team.
\u2022 Games are normally played to 11 points, win by 2.
\u2022 Tournament games may be to 15 or 21, win by 2.
\u2022 When the serving team\u2019s score is even (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10) the player who was the first server in the game for that team will be in the right-side court when serving or receiving; when odd (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) that player will be in the left-side court when serving or receiving.
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\n Two-Bounce Rule<\/span>\n
\u2022 When the ball is served, the receiving team must let it bounce before returning, and then the serving team must let it bounce before returning, thus two bounces.
\u2022 After the ball has bounced once in each team\u2019s court, both teams may either volley the ball (hit the ball before it bounces) or play it off a bounce (ground stroke).
\u2022 The two-bounce rule eliminates the serve and volley advantage and extends rallies.
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\n Non-Volley Zone<\/span>\n
\u2022 The non-volley zone is the court area within 7 feet on both sides of the net.
\u2022 Volleying is prohibited within the non-volley zone. This rule prevents players from executing smashes from a position within the zone.
\u2022 It is a fault if, when volleying a ball, the player steps on the non-volley zone, including the line and\/or when the player\u2019s momentum causes them or anything they are wearing or carrying to touch the non-volley zone including the associated lines.
\u2022 It is a fault if, after volleying, a player is carried by momentum into or touches the non-volley zone, even if the volleyed ball is declared dead before this happens.
\u2022 A player may legally be in the non-volley zone any time other than when volleying a ball.
\u2022 The non-volley zone is commonly referred to as \u201cthe kitchen.\u201d
Line Calls
\u2022 A ball contacting any line, except the non-volley zone line on a serve, is considered \u201cin.\u201d
\u2022 A serve contacting the non-volley zone line is short and a fault.\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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\n Rally Scoring <\/span>\n
\u2022 A point is scored after every rally, regardless of which team is serving. This method rewards success after each point.
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\n Faults<\/span>\n
\u2022 A fault is any action that stops play because of a rule violation.
\u2022 A fault by the receiving team results in a point for the serving team.
\u2022 A fault by the serving team results in the server\u2019s loss of serve or side out.
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\n A fault occurs when: <\/span>\n
\u2022 A serve does not land within the confines of the receiving court
\u2022 The ball is hit into the net on the serve or any return
\u2022 The ball is volleyed before a bounce has occurred on each side
\u2022 The ball is hit out of bounds
\u2022 A ball is volleyed from the non-volley zone
\u2022 A ball bounces twice before being struck by the receiver
\u2022 A player, player\u2019s clothing, or any part of a player\u2019s paddle touches the net or the net post when the ball is in play
\u2022 There is a violation of a service rule
\u2022 A ball in play strikes a player or anything the player is wearing or carrying
\u2022 A ball in play strikes any permanent object before bouncing on the court
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\n Determining Serving Team <\/span>\n
\u2022 Any fair method can be used to determine which player or team has first choice of side, service, or receive. (Example: Write a 1 or 2 on the back of the score sheet.)\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n \n \n \n \n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Basic Rules Summary The following is an abbreviated form of the rules to give a quick overview of how the game is played. If there is a conflict between this summary and the official rules, the official rules prevail. Basic Rules Overview  \u2022 Pickleball is played either as doubles (two players per team) or singles; … <\/p>\n

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