Pickleball Rules

A complete doubles team consists of two (2) players, but a minimum of one (1) player is required to start a game. By game time, all teams must have at least the minimum number of their players at the court and ready to play. If a doubles team shows up with only one (1) player, they may play either 1 versus 2 of the other team or 1 versus 1, at the fully present team of two’s discretion. 1v2 will follow normal doubles rules, with both sides of the court in play, and the (1) player having two service rounds instead of one to compensate for their missing partner's service round.

Each doubles team is allowed a maximum of three (3) players on their roster. Roster size is (3) to prevent forfeits, but only (2) players may play in a game as there are no substitutions once the game has started.

The team that first wins two (2) games in a match first shall win that match. Games are played with traditional Pickleball scoring. Teams may only win points on their serves, and must announce the score prior to serving in the format: Their score-Opponent Score-Number of server. After losing a serving point, the second server may serve from the opposite side of the court. After the second server loses a serving point, the other team begins serving. Games are played to eleven (11) points and teams must win by two points to win the game. A team must win by two (2) games, and there is no game cap. Forty-five minutes are allotted to complete a match. If the match is not completed at the end of the time allotted, the team leading the match shall be the winner.

The Intramural Sports Program will not supply pickleballs or rackets. Teams must provide a ball for warm-ups and match play. If neither team provides a playable ball, the match shall result in a double forfeit.

The legal playing area includes all court area on either side of the center (net) line up to the fences surrounding the court. The line is considered in.

The server’s arm must be moving in an 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. A ‘drop serve’ is also permitted in which case none of the elements above apply. 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. The serve is made diagonally crosscourt and must land within the confines of the opposite diagonal court. If the ball lands in the kitchen or on the line of the kitchen, the ball is out. If the ball hits the net and lands in, the ball is in and there is no redo of the serve. Only one serve attempt is allowed per point.

If the ball contacts a player's body while in play, that player's team will lose the point. Simultaneous continuous touches are allowed, but only one player may touch the ball before returning it over the net. Touching the net will result in losing the point. Balls can only bounce once before the point is declared over. A ball touching the line is considered in.

A player shall not contact any part of the net or its supports while the ball is in play except with long hair. When the ball is driven into the net so that it causes the net or its supports to contact an opposing player, this is not an infraction as long as they did not contact the net by their own impetus.

Players or teams switch ends of the court. This means that after every game is complete, they switch sides.

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 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). Volleying prior to the second bounce (i.e. the serving team volleying the return of the serve) is illegal and will result in a loss of point.

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. 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. A player may step into the non-volley zone to hit the ball if it bounces in the non-volley zone. The non-volley zone is commonly referred to as “the kitchen.”

Fighting of any kind will not be tolerated by IM Sports. Involvement in a fight includes an automatic, minimum, 365-day suspension. Involvement includes but is not limited to: instigation, retaliation, physical or mental intimidation and being an accessory to a fight. Participants who are not currently in the game can not enter the floor to break up a fight. Participants who leave the bench area during a fight will be ejected from that contest and can face a suspension of up to five years.