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Pickleball Rules

Pickleball Rules

TEAM MAKEUP

  • All players must be registered must have signed the waiver prior to play. Playing with an illegal player could lead to a forfeit.
  • Teams can consist of any mix of genders
  • Players from your roster can only be switched out in between games, unless approved due to injury or other circumstance. Players cannot be subbed out during a game.
  • Substitute players may be allowed from another team. Teams must have at least 1 original roster player to play a match.
  • Substitute players may also be added from outside the league, but must fill out the substitute player waiver first. 
  • Only signed roster players may play in the playoffs. Players must be added to your roster prior to the final game of the regular season to be eligible for playoffs. 
  • Two or more forfeits by a team during the season may result in removal from the league.
  •  If you are unable to make a match, please discuss with your partner and try to get your own sub. You may post in your city's HotMess Sports Facebook Group to help with finding a sub. If the team can not find one please contact league leadership ASAP so we may assist in trying to find one!

Equipment: 
HotMess Sports  provides all equipment necessary to play. Participants are welcome to bring their own paddles/balls.

Team Size

2 v 2 

Before the Game:

  • Teams will decide who serves first by “rock, paper, scissors”
  • Winning team can choose serve or side
  • Teams may add a substitute player to their roster if needed
  • Doubles: 2 players must be on the court or the game will be a forfeit
  • If a team only has 1 player present, they may pick up a player from another team as a “sub player”, but that sub player cannot be on more than one roster and they cannot play as a pickup player for your team more than 1 game day.

The Serve:

  • The server’s arm must be moving in an upward arc when the ball is struck.
  • Paddle contact with the ball must not be made above the waist level.
  • The head of the paddle must not be above the highest part of the wrist at contact.
  • A ‘drop serve’ is also permitted in which case none of the elements above apply.
  • At the time the ball is struck, the server’s feet may not touch the court or outside the imaginary extension of the sideline or centerline and both feet must be behind the baseline on the playing surface or the ground behind the baseline.
  • The serve is made diagonally crosscourt and must land within the confines of the opposite diagonal court.
  • Only one serve attempt is allowed per server.

Gameplay

  • 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).
  • The first serve of each side-out is made from the right-hand court.
  • If a point is scored, the server switches sides and the server initiates the next serve from the left-hand court.
  • As subsequent points are scored, the server continues switching back and forth until a fault is committed and the first server loses the serve.
  • 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*).
  • The second server continues serving until his team commits a fault and loses the serve to the opposing team.
  • 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.
  • There are 3 numbers to call out. First number indicates the serving teams score, second number is the opponents score, third number is who is serving (1st server or after fault 2nd server) The call out must be heard by all players
  • Once you callout the score, you have 10 seconds to serve the ball before it becomes a fault.
  • Teams will alternate sides between games. 
  • Serve or side of the court will be determined in the 3rd game by "rock, paper, scissors)

Two Bounce Rule

  • 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.
  • After the ball has bounced once in each team’s court, both teams may either volley the ball (hit the ball before it bounces) or play it off a bounce (ground stroke).
     

Non-Volley Zone

  • The non-volley zone is the court area within 7 feet on both sides of the net.
  • Volleying is prohibited within the non-volley zone. This rule prevents players from executing smashes from a position within the zone.
  • 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’s momentum causes them or anything they are wearing or carrying to touch the non-volley zone.
  • 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. 
  • A player may legally be in the non-volley zone any time other than when volleying a ball.
  • The non-volley zone is commonly referred to as “the kitchen.”

Line Calls

  • A ball contacting any line, except the non-volley zone line on a serve, is considered “in.”
  • A serve contacting the non-volley zone line is short and a fault.

Faults

  • A fault is any action that stops play because of a rule violation.
  • A fault by the receiving team results in a point for the serving team.
  • A fault by the serving team results in the server’s loss of serve or side out.
  • A fault occurs when:
    • A serve does not land within the confines of the receiving court
    • The ball is hit into the net on the serve or any return
    • The ball is volleyed before a bounce has occurred on each side
    • The ball is hit out of bounds
    • A ball is volleyed from the non-volley zone
    • A ball bounces twice before being struck by the receiver
    • A player, player’s clothing, or any part of a player’s paddle touches the net or the net post when the ball is in play
    • There is a violation of a service rule
    • A ball in play strikes a player or anything the player is wearing or carrying
    • A ball in play strikes any permanent object before bouncing on the court

Scoring:

  • Points are scored only by the serving team.
  • Games are played to 11 points, win by 2.
  • Matches are comprised of 3 games.
  • Matches must end within 45 minutes. If the game is still going on at 45 minutes, the game will stop and whatever the score is of that game will be the final score.
  • Scores must be reported to the league manager.
  • When the serving team’s 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. 

Officiating

  • Games are self-officiated.
  • Players are asked to be honest and play with integrity.
  • If players are found to intentionally and consistently cheat, they may have games forfeited and possibly be asked to leave the league.
  • If a discrepancy occurs, ask all players in the game, and check the league rules.
  • If the discrepancy remains unresolved, ask the league manager for clarification.
  • If there is a disagreement on a call between teams, and a consensus cannot be made, a re-serve will occur. The score remains the same on the re-serve. 

Forfeits
Each match is allotted 45 minutes to play 3 games. If a team does not have both teammates present by the 10 minute mark, the first game (of 3) will be recorded as a loss.

A team will forfeit their match if both teammates do not show up within 15 minutes of their scheduled playing time. If a team shows up within the allotted 15 minutes, that team will not receive extra time to play, and must complete the match in the remaining 35 minute allocated match time. If the results are not determined by the end of the allotted time, final score is recorded as is and the match is over.

PLAYOFFS

  • All teams make the playoffs.
  • Playoffs are best 2 of 3 games in a match.
  • If a team wins the first 2 games in a match, the 3rd game will not be played (for playoffs only).
  • Only the two rostered players may participate in playoffs (subs are not allowed).  If a player is missing they may play with one player.

MISC. RULES

  • Minimum age is 21
  • For league information concerning rules, schedules, rosters and standings, please visit the league website
  • Fighting/Arguing before, during, or after the game, on or off the court, will not be tolerated
  • All players must wear closed toed athletic shoes
  • HotMess Sports  reserves the right to monitor and move individual players from leagues in which they are not of level play
  • No gum, drinks (besides water), or food are allowed on the courts