The RULES

Pickleball can be played as a singles or doubles game. The same court and play area is used for both options.

SERVING: You can use any method you both agree on to decide who serves first, like a coin flip or rock-paper-scissors. It's up to you.

SCORING:

  • Games are played to 11 points, win by 2

  • Tournament games may be played to 15 or 21, win by 2, and will be clarified in the tournament rules

  • Points are only scored by the serving team (this is not a rally-play sport)

  • When the serving team’s score is even, the player who was the first server in the game for that team will be in the right/even court when serving or receiving. When the scoring team’s score is odd, that player will be in the left/odd court when serving or receiving

LINE: a ball contacting any part of any line, except the non-volley zone line on a serve, is considered “IN.” If the ball contacts the non-volley zone line, it is considered a fault.

NON-VOLLEY ZONE: sometimes known as the “kitchen,” this zone is the court area within 7 feet on both sides of the net.

  • Volleying is prohibited within the non-volley zone (to prevent players from smashing their opponents)

  • A player CANNOT step on the non-volley zone, including the line and/or when the player’s momentum causes them to touch the non-volley zone (including the lines). If a player touches the non-volley zone, it is a fault

  • Even if the volleyed ball is delcared dead, it is a fault if a player is carried by momentum into (or touches) the non-volley zone after volleying

  • A player is allowed to legally be in the non-volley zone any time other than when volleying a ball

FAULTS: is considered 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 (aka a side out).

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, the two-bounce rule.

  • 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 (called a ground stroke).

  • The two-bounce rule eliminates the serve and volley advantage and extends rallies.