OFFICIAL PICKLEBALL RULES

1. COURT- The size of the court is 20’ x 44’ for both doubles and singles. The net is hung at 36” on ends, and hangs 34” in the middle.

2. SERVE- Player must keep one foot behind the back line when serving. The serve is made

under hand. The paddle must pass below the waist. The server must hit the ball in the air on the serve. He is not allowed to bounce it, then hit it. The service is made diagonally cross court and must clear the non-volley zone. Only one service attempt is allowed, except if the ball touches the net on the serve and lands in the proper service court (let). Then the serve may be taken over. At the start of each new game, the 1st serving team is allowed only one fault before giving up the ball to the opponents. Thereafter both members of each team will serve and fault before the ball is turned over to the opposing team. When receiving team wins the serve, the player in the right hand court will always start play.

3. VOLLEY- To volley a ball means to hit it in the air without first letting it bounce. All volleying must be done with player’s feet behind the non-volley zone line. NOTE: It is a fault if the player steps over the line on his volley follow through.

4. DOUBLE BOUNCE RULE- Each team must play their first shot off the bounce. That is, the

receiving team must let the serve bounce, and the serving team must let the return of the serve bounce before playing it. After the two bounces have occurred, the ball can be either volleyed or played off the bounce.

5. FAULT-

a. Hitting the ball out of bounds;

b. Not clearing the net;

c. Stepping into the non-volley zone and volleying the ball;

d. Volleying the ball before it has bounced once on each side of the net as outlined in rule

6. SCORING- A team shall score a point only when serving. A player who is serving shall continue to do so until a fault is made by his team. The game is played to 11 points; however, a team must win by 2 points.

7. DETERMINING SERVING TEAM- Players may rally the ball until a fault is made. Winner of the rally has the option of serving first or not serving first.