SUGGESTED USA PICKLEBALL RULE CHANGES FOR 2024
Rule Submission Title | Incorrect player or position |
---|---|
USAP Board Vote | Failure Confirmed |
USAP Rules Committee Vote | Failed |
USAP Rules Committee Vote Reason | The change could have the effect of restricting one team's rights due to a signature from the other team. We do not want to compensate for that problem by requiring both teams to sign the scoresheet, which would impact every match in a tournament to solve a very infrequent occurrence. The current timing has not caused significant issues. |
Existing Rule # | 4.B.10 |
Proposed Rule Change | 4.B.10. Incorrect Player or Position. When an incorrect server or player position is discovered after a rally or game |
Original Rule Text | 4.B.10. Incorrect Player or Position. When an incorrect server or player position is discovered after a rally, game, or match has ended, the offending team can be faulted until the next serve occurs or prior to the scoresheet being returned to the tournament operation’s desk. A point scored during the rally by the offending team will not count. Any previous points scored by the incorrect server or with players in the incorrect positions will stand. |
Reasoning Behind Suggested Change | The existing rule allows an inordinate amount of time for the discovery of an incorrect player or position. During a match, the most time the players and referee would have to identify such a fault would be two minutes, the time allowed between games. The current rule allows for much more time because it includes the time it takes for the scoresheet to be returned to the tournament desk. At some venues, this could be in excess of 4-5 minutes. Furthermore, should such a fault be discovered after several minutes, it means the referee, and possibly the tournament desk personnel, would have to track down all the players to return to the court to resume play. Thus the total elapsed time before play resumes could be much longer. This would be not only an inconvenience to players and referee but also a gross interruption of the flow of play, something that the Officiating Handbook stresses. (10.C. Continuous Play. Play should be continuous, although players are permitted to quickly take a drink or towel off in between rallies as long as, in the judgment of the referee, the flow of the game is not adversely impacted. The referee shall call the score when play should be resumed.) Also, the last sentence of the current rule is redundant and can be deleted. |
Scenarios In Which the Rules Applies | Team A scores the match-winning point and celebrates with one another and their fans while the referee is completing the appropriate scoresheet markings. They then go to the referee and initial the scoresheet. Meanwhile, Team B players converse with one another and decide that Team A's server for the final rally was the incorrect server. They appeal to the referee. Upon review of the scoresheet, the referee either: |
Rule Book Year | 2024 |
Rule Change ID | 1035 |
Date Created | April 11, 2023 |
View Comments | View Comments |