USA Pickleball Rule Changes

13.H.1 Fault – Player Contacts Opponent or Opponent’s Court. When a player legally crosses the plane of the net and that player or anything that is worn or carried by the player contacts their opponent or the opponent’s end of the court while the ball is live, it is a fault against the player.

13.H.1 Fault – Player Contacts Opponent or Opponent’s Court. When a player or anything that is worn or carried by the player contacts their opponent or the opponent’s end of the court while the ball is live, it is a fault against the player.

The current rule doesn't designate who's at fault because, in this situation, you would always have two players potentially at fault. Traditionally if a player passes the plane of the net to make a play on the ball and he touches his opponent, it is a fault on that player but the current rule doesn't specify that.

Player A hits the ball and it lands on player B's court just past the net. Due to wind or spin it crosses back over the plane of the net. Player B legally crosses the plane of the net to hit the ball but touches player A in the process. If the referee determines player A didn't obstruct player B then it would be a fault on player B. The current rule does not specify who's at fault.