SUGGESTED USA PICKLEBALL RULE CHANGES FOR 2024

Rule Change Process | Submit A Rule Change

Rule Submission TitleIn Play/Live Ball
USAP Board VotePassed
USAP Rules Committee VotePassed
USAP Rules Committee Vote ReasonFor the reasons indicated in the proposal. Also change Rules 7.G, 11.i, and 11.k to use 'live' to correlate with the correct useage of the terms 'Live ball' and 'In play'.
Existing Rule #Section 3 - Definitions
Proposed Rule Change

3.A.19. Live Ball – The timeframe from when the referee or server (or server's partner per rule 4.D.1) starts to call the score.

3.A.X. Ball In Play – The timeframe during which a rally is played, from the hit of the ball to make the serve until the ball becomes dead.

7.I. A live ball in play that is stopped by a player before it becomes dead (e.g., catching or stopping a ball in flight before it makes contact with the playing surface). The fault is on the player who stopped the ball.

Original Rule Text

3.A.19. Live Ball/In Play – The point in time when the referee or server (or server's partner per rule 4.D.1) starts to call the score.

7.I. A live ball that is stopped by a player before it becomes dead (e.g., catching or stopping a ball in flight before it makes contact with the playing surface). The fault is on the player who stopped the ball.

Reasoning Behind Suggested Change

Live ball and in play are different spans of time and therefore should be defined differently.

Rule Book Year2024
Rule Change ID1210
Date CreatedMay 15, 2023
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