UCSF Pickleball League Rules
- All matches will be doubles format and will be self-officiated. If any disputes, the site manager will decide.
- We are playing best of 5 games or the team who is winning by the time limit.
- Games will be played to 11 points, must win by 2. There is a cap of 15 points for all games.
- Switching players can only take place between games. Whoever starts a game must finish a game.
- Exception: If a player becomes injured and is unable to continue, another player may enter.
- Match start times are 6:15 pm, 7:10 pm, 8:05 pm
- Matches will last 50 minutes. After which the teams playing in the next hour will have a 5-minute warmup before the start of their match.
All gameplay rules will follow Pickleball Rules listed below.
Pickleball Rules
The following is an overview of how the game is played. You may choose to play by these rules or if the team you are playing against have some modifications, that is also acceptable.
The Serve
- The server's arm must be moving in and 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.
- 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 at least one foot 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.
Serving Sequence
- 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.
- 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.
- The first serve of each side-out is made from the right side of the court.
- If a point is scored, the server switches sides and the server initiates the next serve from the left side of the 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, which is called side-out.
- Once the service goes to the opposition (at side out), the first serve is from the right side of the court and both players on that team have the opportunity to serve and score points until their team commits two faults.
Scoring
- Points are scored only by the serving team.
- Games will be played to 11, win by 2. There will be a point cap of 15 for all games.
Two-Bounce Rule
- When the ball 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).
- The two-bounce rule eliminates the serve and volley advantage and extends rallies.
Non-Volley Zone/Kitchen
- 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 including the associated lines.
- 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 part of 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.
Determining Serving Team
- Any fair method can be used to determine which player or team has first choice of side, service, or receive. (Example: rock, paper, scissors, or coin flip)
