USA Pickleball Rule Changes

10.C.5 Fault – Ball Hits Permanent Object After Landing. When a player fails to return a ball that has bounced in the player’s court before the ball contacts a permanent object, it is a fault against that player unless the permanent object is any part of a crossbar, or any other part of the net support system within the court boundaries, in which case the rally must be replayed per rule 13.B.2.

OR

13.B.2 Replay – Ball Affected by Net Support System. When a returned ball crosses the net and contacts any part of a crossbar, or any other part of the net support system within the court boundaries, before or after the ball bounces, the rally must be replayed. If the ball bounces in the player’s court before such contact, it is a fault against that player per rule 10.C.5.

10.C.5 Fault – Ball Hits Permanent Object After Landing. When a player fails to return a ball that has bounced in the player’s court before the ball contacts a permanent object, it is a fault against that player.

13.B.2 Replay – Ball Affected by Net Support System. When a returned ball crosses the net and contacts any part of a crossbar, or any other part of the net support system within the court boundaries, before or after the ball bounces, the rally must be replayed.

Section 2 Definitions

Permanent Object. Any object on, above, or near the court that can interfere with play. Examples include, but are not limited to ceilings, walls, fencing, lighting fixtures, net posts (including connected wheels, arms, and legs). Net cable or rope on top of the net post, and other net support construction. Stands and seats for spectators, the referee, line judges, spectators when in their recognized positions, and all other objects around and above the court.

There is a clear conflict in the rules regarding the correct outcome when a ball trickles over the net, bounces, and then contacts a crossbar or another part of the net support system. Rule 13.B.2 indicates that in such an event “the rally must be replayed.” However, Rule 10.C.5 is clear that “when a player fails to return a ball that has bounced in the player’s court before the ball contacts a permanent object, it is a fault against that player.”  The definition of “Permanent Object” includes “any object on, above, or near the court that can interfere with play” and provides “Net cable or rope on top of the net post, and other net support construction” as examples of a permanent object. Therefore, contrary to Rule 13.B.2, under Rule 10.C.5, a ball that trickles over the net, bounces, and contacts the crossbar or other part of the net system, results in a fault on the player that failed return the ball before that contact occurred.

With the recreational group that I help to coordinate, I am asked several times a week to explain the rule that applies to balls that come over the net and contact the crossbar, before or after bouncing. For a ball that contacts the crossbar prior to bouncing, the answer is clear that is it a replay since under Rule 10.C.5 a fault only applies if the ball bounces and then hits the crossbar and Rule 13.B.2 is clear that "the rally must be replayed" if the ball hits the crossbar before bouncing.  However, given the definition of “Permanent Object” and the conflicting language of Rule 10.C.5 and Rule 13.B.2, there is no clear answer as to the correct ruling in the current rule book for when a ball bounces and then contacts the crossbar.

I am hoping that USA Pickleball can clear up this conflict with its 2027 rules. I’ll leave it to the USA Pickleball to determine what should be the proper result when this situation occurs on the courts. In our group, we replay the rally pursuant to Rule 13.B.2 when the ball bounces and then contacts the crossbar, although some players point to Rule 10.C.5 and claim that it should be a fault.

For the most part, I’m indifferent to how this is resolved. Because of that indifference, I have proposed alternative revisions depending on how USA Pickleball believes this should be resolved. If USA Pickleball determines that a ball coming over the net, bouncing, and then contacting a crossbar should result in a replay, Rule 10.C.5 should be amended by adding the following to the end of that rule, “, unless the permanent object is any part of a crossbar, or any other part of the net support system within the court boundaries, in which case the rally must be replayed per Rule 13.B.2.”

Alternatively, if the USA Pickleball determines that this situation should result in a fault, then Rule 13.B.2 should be amended by deleting the words “or after” and adding, “If the ball bounces in the player’s court before such contact, it is a fault against that player per Rule 10.C.5.” to the end of Rule 13.B.2.

As described above, the situation in which this issue arises most often is when a ball hits the top of the net, trickles over, bounces on the court, and then makes contact with the crossbar or other form net support structure. Although Rule 13.B.2 appears to make it clear that this should result in a replay, the language of Rule 10.C.5 creates an ambiguity that leads some to believe that a player's failure to return the ball that bounces on the player's court before the ball contacts a permanent object, including the net's crossbar should result in a fault being called.