Table of Contents:
Rule I
The Game
Rule II
The Court
Rule III
The Equipment
Rule IV
Serve Regulations
Rule V
Playing Regulations
Rule VI
Officiating
RULE 1.1 TYPES OF GAMES
PADDLEBALL MAY BY PLAYED BY TWO PLAYERS (SINGLES), OR FOUR PLAYERS
(DOUBLES)
RULE 1.2 DESCRIPTION
PADDLEBALL IS PLAYED WITH AN N.P.A. APPROVED PADDLE MADE OF WOOD
OR SOME OTHER COMPOSITION MATERIAL AND AN OFFICIAL PADDLEBALL.
RULE 1.3 OBJECTIVE
THE OBJECT IS TO WIN THE RALLY BY SERVING OR RETURNING THE BALL
SO THE OPPONENT IS UNABLE TO RETURN THE BALL TO THE FRONT WALL
BEFORE IT TOUCHES THE FLOOR TWICE.
RULE 1.4 POINTS
POINTS ARE SCORED ONLY BY THE SERVING SIDE WHEN IT SERVES AN ACE
OR WINS A RALLY.
RULE 1.5 MATCH
A GAME IS WON BY THE FIRST SIDE SCORING 21 POINTS
A MATCH IS WON BY THE FIRST SIDE WINNING TWO GAMES.
IN THE EVENT EACH SIDE WINS A GAME, A THIRD GAME "TIE BREAKER"
WILL BE WON BY THE SIDE FIRST SCORING 11 POINTS IN ROUNDS PRECEDING
THE SEMI-FINALS. FOR THE SEMI-FINALS AND FINALS A TIE-BREAKER
WILL BE 21 POINTS. IN ROUND ROBIN EVENTS A TIE-BREAKER WILL BE
PLAYED TO 21 POINTS.
RULE 2.1
THE STANDARD FOUR-WALL COURT IS 40 FEET LONG, 20 FEET WIDE WITH
FRONT AND SIDE WALLS 20 FEET HIGH, A BACK WALL AT LEAST 12 FEET
HIGH AND A CEILING. A LINE MIDWAY BETWEEN AND PARALLEL WITH THE
FRONT AND BACK WALLS DIVIDES THE COURT IN THE CENTER AND IS CALLED
THE SHORT LINE. A LINE FIVE FEET IN FRONT OF THE SHORT LINE AND
PARALLEL TO IT IS CALLED THE SERVICE LINE. THE AREA BETWEEN THE
SERVICE LINE AND THE SHORT LINE IS CALLED THE SERVICE ZONE. A
LINE 18 INCHES FROM AND PARALLEL WITH THE SIDE WALL AT EACH END
OF THE SERVICE ZONE IS CALLED THE SERVICE BOX. VERTICAL LINES
3 INCHES FROM THE FLOOR, MARKED ON EACH SIDE WALL, FIVE FEET BACK
OF THE SHORT LINE ARE CALLED RECEIVING LINES. ALL LINES ARE
1-1/2 INCHES WIDE AND ARE AN APPROPRIATE DISTINGUISHING COLOR.
RULE 3.1 THE PADDLE
THE PADDLE IS MADE OF WOOD OR OF A COMPOSITION MATERIAL, AND SHALL
BE NO LONGER THAN 17-1/4 INCHES LONG AND WEIGH BETWEEN 12-16 OUNCES.
A SAFETY THONG IS ATTACHED TO THE HANDLE AND MUST BE WORN AROUND
WRIST DURING PLAY. PADDLES WITH METAL RIMS ARE NOT PERMITTED
IN TOURNAMENT PLAY.
RULE 3.2 THE BALL
THE OFFICIAL BALL IS THE PENN BALL. WHEN DROPPED FROM A HEIGHT
OF 6 FEET, IT SHOULD REBOUND APPROXIMATELY 3-1/2 FEET.
RULE 3.3 THE UNIFORM
SHIRT, SHORTS, AND SOCKS SHALL BE LIGHT IN COLOR. PLAYERS MAY
NOT PLAY WITHOUT SHIRTS OR SHOES. LONG PANTS ARE PROHIBITED FOR
TOURNAMENT PLAY.
RULE 4.1 SERVE
THE SERVE SHALL BE DETERMINED BY A TOSS OF A COIN - WITH THE LOSER
OF THE TOSS SERVING FIRST IN THE SECOND CAME. IF A THIRD GAME
IS PLAYED, THE SERVER OF THE FIRST GAME WILL HAVE FIRST SERVE
IN THE THAT GAME. IN INFORMAL PLAY, CONTESTANTS CAN REBOUND THE
BALL FROM THE FRONT WALL WITH THE PLAYER LANDING CLOSEST TO THE
SHORT LINE WINNING THE SERVE.
RULE 4.2 POSITION OF SERVER
THE SERVER MAY SERVE FROM ANYWHERE IN THE SERVICE ZONE WITH NO
PART OF EITHER FOOT EXTENDING BEYOND EITHER LINE OF THE SERVICE
ZONE. THE SERVER MUST START AND REMAIN IN THE SERVICE ZONE UNTIL
THE SERVED BALL HAS PASSED THE SHORT LINE. STEPPING ON THE LINE
IS ALLOWED. VIOLATIONS ARE CALLED "FOOT FAULTS". DURING
THE SERVE, THE SERVER'S PARTNER IS REQUIRED TO STAND WITHIN THE
SERVICE BOX WITH HIS BACK AGAINST THE WALL AND BOTH FEET ON THE
FLOOR UNTIL THE BALL PASSES THE SHORT LINE. FAILURE TO TAKE THIS
POSITION DURING A SERVE IS A FOOT FAULT. IF, WHILE IN LEGAL POSITION,
A PLAYER IS HIT BY A SERVED BALL ON THE FLY, IT IS A DEAD BALL
GIVING THE SERVER ANOTHER SERVE. IF HIT BY THE SERVE WHEN OUT
OF THE BOX, IT IS A SERVE-OUT. A BALL PASSING BEHIND A PLAYER
LEGALLY IN THE BOX IS A HINDER. A DEAD BALL SERVE DOES NOT ELIMINATE
A PREVIOUS FAULT ON THAT PARTICULAR SERVE.
RULE 4.3 METHOD OF SERVING
THE BALL MUST BE DROPPED TO THE FLOOR WITHIN THE SERVICE ZONE
AND STRUCK WITH THE PADDLE ON THE FIRST BOUNCE, HITTING THE FRONT
WALL FIRST AND REBOUNDING BACK OF THE SHORT LINE, EITHER WITH
OR WITHOUT TOUCHING ONE SIDE WALL.
RULE 4.4 SERVICE IN DOUBLES
IN DOUBLES THE SIDE STARTING EACH GAME IS ALLOWED ONLY ONE SERVE-OUT.
THEREAFTER, IN THAT GAME, BOTH PLAYERS ON EACH SIDE ARE PERMITTED
TO SERVE UNTIL A SERVE-OUT OCCURS. THE SERVICE ORDER ESTABLISHED
AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH GAME MUST BE FOLLOWED THROUGHOUT THAT
GAME. SERVERS DO NOT HAVE TO ALTERNATE SERVES TO THEIR OPPONENTS.
SERVING OUT OF ORDER OR THE SAME PLAYER SERVING BOTH SERVES IS
A SERVE-OUT.
SERVE REGULATIONS CONTINUED
RULE 4.5 READINESS FOR SERVE
THE BALL SHALL NOT BE SERVED UNTIL THE OPPONENT IS READY. THE
SERVER IS REQUIRED TO PUT THE BALL INTO PLAY WITHIN 10 SECONDS
AFTER THE REFEREE CALLS THE SCORE. FAILURE TO DO SO RESULTS IN
A SERVE-OUT.
RULE 4.6 ILLEGAL SERVES
THE SERVE IS LOST IF TWO ILLEGAL SERVES ARE MADE IN SUCCESSION.
AN ILLEGAL SERVE CANNOT BE PLAYED. THE FOLLOWING ARE ILLEGAL
SERVES:
Ø SHORT SERVE - A SERVED BALL WHICH HITS THE FLOOR BEFORE
CROSSING THE SHORT LINE
Ø LONG SERVE - A SERVED BALL REBOUNDING FROM THE FRONT
WALL TO THE BACK WALL BEFORE HITTING THE FLOOR
Ø CEILING SERVE - A SERVED BALL REBOUNDING FROM THE FRONT
WALL AND HITTING THE CEILING BEFORE HITTING THE FLOOR
Ø TWO SIDE SERVE - A SERVED BALL REBOUNDING FROM THE FRONT
WALL AND HITTING BOTH SIDE WALLS BEFORE HITTING THE FLOOR
Ø OUT OF COURT SERVE - A SERVED BALL GOING OUT OF THE COURT
Ø MASK (SCREEN) SERVE - A SERVED BALL WHICH AFTER HITTING
THE FRONT WALL PASSES THE SERVER 17 INCHES OR CLOSER.
RULE 5.1 RETURN OF SERVICE
THE RECEIVER(S) MUST REMAIN BEHIND THE RECEIVING LINES (5 FT.
BEHIND THE SHORT LINE) UNTIL THE BALL CROSSES THE SHORT LINE.
A LEGALLY SERVED BALL MUST BE RETURNED ON THE FLY OR AFTER THE
FIRST BOUNCE TO THE FRONT WALL EITHER DIRECTLY OR AFTER TOUCHING
THE SIDE WALL(S), CEILING, OR BACK WALL. A RETURN TOUCHING THE
FRONT WALL AND FLOOR SIMULTANEOUSLY IS NOT A GOOD RETURN.
FAILURE TO LEGALLY RETURN THE SERVICE RESULTS IN A POINT FOR THE
SERVER.
RULE 5.2 DEAD BALL HINDERS
DEAD BALL HINDERS RESULT IN THE RALLY BEING REPLAYED.
IN DOUBLES, BOTH PLAYERS ON A SIDE ARE ENTITLED TO A FAIR AND UNOBSTRUCTED CHANCE AT THE BALL. IT IS NOT A HINDER WHEN A PLAYER HINDERS HIS/HER PARTNER. OTHER INTERFERENCE - ANY UNINTENTIONAL INTERFERENCE WHICH PREVENTS AN OPPONENT FROM HAVING A FAIR CHANCE TO SEE OR RETURN THE BALL.
RULE 5.3 AVOIDABLE HINDERS
AN AVOIDABLE HINDER RESULTS IN AN "OUT" OR A POINT DEPENDING
UPON WHETHER THE OFFENDER WAS SERVING OR RECEIVING. AN AVOIDABLE
HINDER IS DEFINED AS:
¨ FAILURE TO MOVE. DOES NOT MOVE SUFFICIENTLY TO ALLOW OPPONENT'S
SHOT.
¨ MOVING INTO THE BALL. MOVES IN THE WAY AND IS STRUCK BY
THE BALL JUST PLAYED BY THE OPPONENT.
¨ BLOCKING. A PLAYER MOVES INTO A POSITION TO BLOCK AN OPPONENT'S
SHOT.
¨ PUSHING. DELIBERATELY PUSHING OR SHOVING AN OPPONENT DURING
A RALLY.
PLAYING REGULATIONS CONTINUED
RULE 5.4 WET BALL
ON THE SERVICE AND DURING PLAY, THE BALL AND THE PADDLE MUST BE
DRY.
RULE 5.5 REPLAY OF POINT
PLAY SHALL STOP AND THE POINT SHALL BE REPLAYED WHEN: A) ANY
FOREIGN OBJECT ENTERS THE COURT OR B) THERE IS SOME OTHER TYPE
OF OUTSIDE INTERFERENCE.
RULE 5.6 BROKEN BALL OR EQUIPMENT
IF A BALL BREAKS DURING PLAY, THE RALLY IS REPLAYED. IF A PLAYER
BREAKS A PADDLE, LOSES A SHOE, OR OTHER EQUIPMENT, TIME SHOULD
NOT BE CALLED UNTIL AFTER THE POINT HAS BEEN DECIDED, PROVIDED
THE PADDLE AND/OR EQUIPMENT DOES NOT STRIKE AN OPPONENT OR INTERFERE
WITH ENSUING PLAY.
RULE 5.7 REST PERIODS BETWEEN GAMES
A TWO-MINUTE REST PERIOD IS ALLOWED BETWEEN GAMES ONE AND TWO.
A TEN-MINUTE PERIOD IS ALLOWED BETWEEN THE SECOND AND THIRD
GAME DURING WHICH TIME PLAYERS ARE ALLOWED TO LEAVE THE COURT.
RULE 5.8 TIME OUTS
PLAY SHALL BE CONTINUOUS FROM THE FIRST SERVE OF EACH GAME UNTIL
THE GAME IS CONCLUDED. THE EXCEPTION BEING THAT DURING A GAME
EACH PLAYER IN SINGLES, OR EACH SIDE IN DOUBLES - EITHER DURING
SERVING OR RECEIVING - MAY REQUEST A TIME-OUT NOT TO EXCEED THIRTY
SECONDS DURING WHICH TIME ALL PLAYERS MUST REMAIN ON THE COURT.
NO MORE THAN TWO TIME-OUTS PER GAME SHALL BE ALLOWED EACH PLAYER
IN SINGLES OR EACH TEAM IN DOUBLES. DELIBERATE DELAY SHALL RESULT
IN A POINT OR SIDE-OUT AGAINST THE OFFENDER.
RULE 5.9 SAFETY
THE SAFETY THONG MUST BE AROUND THE WRIST AT ALL TIMES. THE PADDLE
MAY NOT BE SWITCHED FROM ONE HAND TO THE OTHER. BOTH HANDS ON
THE PADDLE TOGETHER MAY BE USED IN STRIKING THE BALL.
RULE 5.10 INJURIES
IN A MATCH, PLAY MAY BE SUSPENDED FOR UP TO 15-MINUTES FOR AN
INJURY. IF THE INJURED PLAYER IS UNABLE TO CONTINUE, THE MATCH
IS FORFEITED. IF THE MATCH IS RESUMED AND MUST THEN BE STOPPED
AGAIN FOR THE SAME PLAYER, THE MATCH IS FORFEITED.
RULE 6.1 TOURNAMENT OFFICIALS
WHEN REQUESTED, TOURNAMENT MATCHES WILL BE CONDUCTED WITH A REFEREE.
RULE 6.2 THE REFEREE
THE REFEREE'S PRE-GAME DUTIES:
1. BRIEF ALL PLAYERS AND OFFICIALS ON THE RULES AND LOCAL PLAYING
REGULATIONS
2. CHECK THE PLAYING AREA FOR SUITABILITY FOR PLAY
3. CHECK THE PLAYING EQUIPMENT AND UNIFORM OF PLAYERS AND APPROVE
SAME
4. CHECK AVAILABILITY OF OTHER NECESSARY EQUIPMENT SUCH AS EXTRA
BALLS, TOWELS, SCORECARDS, PENCIL
5. INTRODUCE PLAYERS, TOSS COIN FOR CHOICE OF SERVING OR RECEIVING
OFFICIATING CONTINUED
RULE 6.3 REFEREE'S POSITION
WHENEVER POSSIBLE, THE REFEREE SHALL TAKE A POSITION IN CENTER
AND ABOVE THE BACK WALL OF COURT.
RULE 6.4 GAME DUTIES
DURING A MATCH THE REFEREE SHALL DECIDE ON ALL QUESTIONS THAT
ARISE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RULES. THE REFEREE IS RESPONSIBLE
FOR THE ENTIRE CONDUCT OF THE MATCH INCLUDING:
1. LEGALITY OF THE SERVE AND ITS RETURN.
2. CALLING OF DEAD BALL HINDERS, AVOIDABLE HINDERS AND FAULTS.
3. PREVENTING ANY UNNECESSARY DELAY DURING MATCH.
4. ANNOUNCING WHEN A POINT IS MADE OR SERVER IS OUT .
5. CALLING THE SCORE - PRIOR TO EACH SERVE THE REFEREE SHOULD
CALL THE SCORE GIVING THE SERVER'S SCORE FIRST.
6. CALLING FOR A FORFEIT OF THE MATCH.
RULE 6.5 MATCH FORFEITED
MATCHES MAY BE FORFEITED WHEN:
1) A PLAYER REFUSES TO ABIDE BY THE REFEREE'S DECISION
2) A PLAYER FAILS TO APPEAR FOR A SCHEDULED CONTEST WITHIN 15
MINUTES
3) A PLAYER IS UNABLE TO CONTINUE PLAY FOR PHYSICAL REASONS
RULE 6.6 FINAL DECISIONS
THE DECISION OF THE REFEREE IS FINAL
RULE 6.7 FINAL SCORE
THE REFEREE SHALL APPROVE THE FINAL SCORE AFTER ANNOUNCING THE
NAME OF THE WINNER OF THE MATCH AND THE SCORES OF ALL GAMES PLAYED.
THE REFEREE WILL IMMEDIATELY INFORM THE TOURNAMENT DESK OF THE
RESULTS OF THE MATCH.
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