Presented by:
Dereck R. Prince, USA Pickleball Association Certified Referee 303-807-0798 | dereck@PickleballGameStats.com

General:

move all timing faults to a consistent point in time: the actual serve of the ball
removed the "chess match" between referees and players and lets the game be decided

on the skill of the players only

Applying to both Recreational and Competitive/Tournament Play

LetServeReplays:

• no longer valid
• why? To prevent possible conflict between referees and players (or among players

when no referee is present) when a let is called as well as possible cheating • ball MUST be played as normal
• if play is stopped or the ball is not returned, it is a fault
TheDropServe:

• COMPLETELY OPTIONAL!
• provisional: on a one-year trial and may/may not be removed after the year • the ball:

 can be held and dropped from as high as the player can reach
-  CANNOT be thrown down (i.e., downward force cannot be applied)
-  CANNOT be tossed upward either
-  can land ANYWHERE inside or outside of the baseline
-  can be dropped or re-dropped again and again (if, for example, it hits an
  
  imperfection on the court and takes a weird bounce) as long as it happens
  
  within the 10 seconds
   can bounce more than once
  
  • after the ball bounces, NOTHING MATTERS (e.g., contact point, upward motion, etc.) except the feet
  
  • receiver must see the release or else the serve MUST be replayed
  • player can impart any type of spin as the ball is hit
  • serve can be with either a forehand or backhand motion
  • server CAN be in motion as long as the serve happens within the 10 seconds • server may switch styles during a game without penalty
TheCOVIDServe:

• slinging the ball up into the air before/to initiate the serve is NOT a fault • ball MUST be hit by the paddle before it touches the ground
• all the rules of a normal serve apply

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4. CallingtheScore:

• can be done while the server's arm is in motion
• MUST be completed before the ball is actually struck
• can be called by either teammate, not only the server; however, that person MUST

continue calling the score for the entire duration of the game, else it is a fault
• if an inadvertent score is called by the original server, the rally MUST be replayed

with no penalty

5. WrongScoreCalled:

• no fault/penalty!
• players have until the Third Shot to ask for a correction
• ball must be served again
• after the Third Shot, play must continue until the end of the rally and a correction

must be made on the next serve, otherwise it is a fault if play is stopped

6. LineCalls:

players should not call the ball “out” unless they can CLEARLY see a space between the line and the ball as it hits the ground
no replay simply because the receiving player did not clearly see the ball out
a player may overrule the opponent(s) TO THEIR OWN DISADVANTAGE

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Applying to Competitive/Tournament Play, Refereed or Not

1. LineCalls:

• may be appealed to the referee: if he/she did not see it CLEARLY, the ball is IN • may also be appealed to the opponent(s) if the referee also did not see it

CLEARLY
• the verdict of the last person(s) to whom the appeal was made will stand

2. AppealsandOverrules:

• players can overrule a line judge's call to their own disadvantage
• players can also overrule a referee's call to their own disadvantage
• players can appeal ANYTHING done by the referee to the Head Referee or the

Tournament Director

3. QuestionsfortheReferee:

when a question is asked, the referee MUST stop play, answer the question, and

recall the score (right now, the 10-second count continues even though the referee

is answering a question)
a player may now also ask “Am I in the correct position?” and receive a “Yes, you

are” or “No, you’re not” answer

4. ErrorsofOmission:

• referee can correct an error at the end of a game BEFORE THE NEXT SERVE!
• referee can recall the players to the court to correct an error at the end of a match

(e.g., an out-of-position player or the incorrect server/receiver) BEFORE THE SCORESHEET IS TURNED IN!

5. Timeouts:
- players may request one/all of their upcoming timeout(s) between games ahead of time
- they don't have to be on the court to call them
- if not used, they are rescinded without penalty
  
  6. ChangeofEnds:
  
  • is now a one-minute referee timeout • coaching is permitted
  
  7. ChangeofStartingServerBetweenGames:
  
  • no penalty, even if the referee or opposing team was NOT notified
  • only if the starting server/receiver is NOT wearing the proper identification will a
  
  fault be called
  
  8. ServingBEFOREtheRefereeCallstheScore:
  
  • ball is dead, therefore no fault/penalty
  • player will be advised to wait for the score to be called • ball must be served again

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9. Penalties:
A. Verbal Warning (for profanity):

• issued to ALL teams
• only one per game
• establishes the threshold for that referee
• does not HAVE to be given before a Technical Warning or a Technical Foul

B. Technical Warnings:

• a Technical Warning can be given for unsportsmanlike conduct due to paddle- throwing issues

C. Technical Fouls (recommended by the pro player committee):

• a point is DEDUCTED from the offending team
• if the offending team has 0 points, a point is ADDED to the score of the other team • puts the burden of correcting player positions on the offending team
• when teams change ends, if the serving team gets a Technical Foul and a point is

deducted, the teams do NOT go back to their original positions

Game/Match Forfeit:
- three strikes (a combination of Technical Warnings and Technical Fouls) = a Game Forfeit
- score recorded as {GameWinningPoints}-0
- in games to 15 or 21 points = an immediate Match Forfeit!
- four strikes = a Match Forfeit
- if a player cannot continue due to a medical issue, this is ruled a "Retirement" as
  
  opposed to a "Forfeit"
Egregious Behavior Accountability (recommended by the pro player committee):

• the sole domain of the Tournament Director • Tournament Ejection:

 can be done for injurious behavior anytime during the tournament

 player may stay at the venue but may not play in any more events • Venue Expulsion:

 player must leave the venue IMMEDIATELY!