Pickleball is a fun and fast-growing sport that has gained popularity with players of all ages. As the sport continues to grow, new rules have been developed to ensure fair play and safety.
If you’re a pickleball player, it’s important to know when these new regulations take effect and the ways in which they may have an impact on your game.
This article will explain when the most recent pickleball rules come into effect and how to stay up-to-date with any new changes(see also: Why Did The Pickleball Rules Change?).
What Is Pickleball, And How Is It Played?
Pickleball origins date back to 1965 in Washington State, where three fathers – Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum – created the game as an activity for their families.
The game combines elements from badminton, tennis, and table tennis and can be played both indoors on hard surfaces or outdoors on courts made specifically for pickleball.
Players use specialized paddles, made either from composite material or wood, to hit a plastic ball back and forth over a net placed at the center of the court.
The court area measures 20ft × 44ft, with two service areas in each half of the court, marked in different colors. The doubles version of this game uses the entire width of the court, while singles use only one service area per player on each side.
The objective of pickleball is to score points by serving the ball in such a way that your opponent is unable to return it correctly over the net within reaching distance.
Players must also ensure that their shots land either on their opponent’s side or beyond their reach before returning it correctly across the net into their own side again before consuming too many strokes – meaning they have had more than three chances to return it correctly over the net in total.
A game of pickleball is played on an indoor or outdoor court divided by a net in half. The court is 20x44ft for singles and doubles games.
At each end stands one opposing player for a singles game, and two at each end in doubles. (or four in doubles).
Scoring follows traditional tennis fashion: each time a team wins a rally, points are awarded accordingly, with only one team scoring at any given time – meaning at most 4 points per rally.
Each team serves twice per point until they reach the 11-point mark; if both teams have 10 points, then they battle until one side scores two more points than the other (reaching 12 or higher) to win.
During service exchanges, the ball must pass over the 7ft height net and within the seven feet behind it; when returning serve regularly, no additional server footwork requirements exist beyond keeping your feet inside the court line while throwing it over the net after receiving an opposing strike.
Rules & Regulations
Some of the main rules of pickleball include:
Ball Must Stay In-Play
One of the most important rules in pickleball (see also: What Is The Double Bounce Rule In Pickleball?)is that the ball must stay in play. If the ball touches anything outside the court (such as a wall, fence, or tree), it is out, and a point is awarded to the opposing team.
Faults & Foot Faults
A fault occurs when a player hits the ball incorrectly; for example, if they hit it out of bounds or if their paddle touches the net during a serve. A foot fault occurs when a player steps outside their designated area while serving.
Serves & Returns
The ball must be served diagonally; for example, if the server is on the right side of the court, they must serve to the left side of the opposing team’s court. The opposing team must then return the ball to the right side of the court.
When Do New Pickleball Rules Take Effect?
The rules and regulations of pickleball are constantly being updated by the International Federation of Pickleball (IFP), and any changes took effect on 1st January 2023, meaning players this year will need to be aware of them.
Players need to stay up-to-date on the latest rules so that they can play the game correctly.
Some of the main changes set to come into play include:
Non-Volley Zone
The Non-Volley Zone (NVZ) is a three-foot area directly around the net in which players are not allowed to volley or hit the ball. This rule is intended to reduce aggressive play near the * net and limit the number of volleys per point.
No One-Handed Pre-Spin Serve
The IFP has also announced that the use of a one-handed spin serve will no longer be allowed – this means that you will not be able to put any spin on the ball before it is hit, as this is seen by some to be an unfair advantage.
No Clothing That Matches The Ball
Additionally, players are not allowed to wear clothing that matches the color of the ball. This is because it can be difficult for your opponents to see the ball when it is in flight.
No Visible Carrying Of Extra Balls
When playing in a tournament or other official game, players are not allowed to carry extra balls with them on the court, as this is seen as possibly being distracting to an opponent.
A Player Hit With A Ball Is At Fault
Perhaps confusingly, the IFP has announced that any player that is hit with a ball that was in play will be at fault for the rally and will lose the point, rather than the player who hit the ball.
No Rally Scoring Option
Finally, the IFP has removed the Rally Scoring option – where players can score a point on every rally – from official tournaments and games. This is because it was seen to be too easy for beginners and led to matches going on too long.
Final Thoughts
The new pickleball rules (see also: What Are The Rules For Pickleball Singles?)went into effect on 1st January 2023, meaning that they will be applicable to the new season. To ensure that you are playing the game correctly, it is important to stay up-to-date on all the latest rules and regulations.
Hi, I’m Michael Walter, and I am a Pickleball enthusiast. I work as a High School Physical Education Teacher, so I have an expansive knowledge of sports and its impact on physical health.
When I first took a position at my current school, one of the many things I wanted to implement in the curriculum was Pickleball.
Pickleball is a fantastic sport to keep yourself active, healthy, keep your blood pumping, and to start a good sense of competitiveness and team work.
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