Pickle Ball

Object of the game

The object of the game is to hit the ball back and forth over a net to make the opposing team commit a fault and be the first team to reach 11 points.

Some general rules:

1. A player may not touch the net, go over or under the net, or reach across the net to hit the ball on the other team’s side.

2. A ball may not come to rest or be carried on the racquet.

3. If a ball hits the net on its way across during play (not on the serve) the rally continues.

4. The ball/speeder may only be hit 1 time on each side of the net.

5. If the ball/birdie hits a player, it is a fault on that player.

6. Some racquets are very fragile. Striking anything other than the birdie or correct ball is a point for the other team (**school rule only, not official rule)

Serving for Pickleball:

1. The serve must travel diagonally (cross court) to be good.

2. A serve that touches the net and lands in the proper court is called a let serve and is re-served. A serve that is totally missed may be tried again.

3. On a serve the racquet must contact the ball below the waist.(shaft of racquet and ball must be below waist)

4. The server should call out the score before each serve.

5. All lines are considered in bounds.

6. The server will start from the side they are already on and then switch sides with his partner for every serve until his or her team loses serve. The server also switches sides each time they win a rally.

Game Specifications

Net height - 3 feet

  1. In a real game the score goes to 11. If a score becomes 10-10, the winning team must win by 2 points.
  2. After the serve, the ball must bounce 1 time on each side of the net before a hit (smash) can be made in which the ball doesn’t bounce on your side.
  3. Service alternates after a fault is made by the serving team.
  4. The ball may not bounce 2 times on your side. (fault)
  5. When serving the server should have 1 foot behind the end line.

Vocabulary:

Fault – A fault is any action that stops play because of a rule violation.

Groundstroke – Hitting the ball after one bounce.

Let – A serve that hits the net cord and lands in the service court.

Rally – Continuous play that occurs after the serve and before a fault.

Volley – Hitting the ball in the air, during a rally, before the ball has a chance to bounce onto thecourt.