See the Reasoning field to see the many original and proposed rule changes next to each other for comparison

See the Reasoning field to see the many original and proposed rule changes next to each other for comparison

Overview

The intention of this change is to provide options to tournament directors to use rally scoring for either singles or doubles events.  Rally scoring will just be another option, not a replacement for side-out scoring.

This change provides a specific set of instructions on how to administer rally scoring, along with the suggested changes to the rules to support both side-out and rally scoring. The specific scoring instructions were selected with these concepts in mind

• They will not require a change to the existing scoresheet
• They will preserve the concepts of correct server/receiver and correct position
• They will be simple enough so that recreational players can use them without having a referee present.
• We will maintain similar concepts between side-out and rally scoring. Examples:  Starting servers can only be changed between games.  Referees will not notify players if they are the incorrect server or out of position.

Approval options:  There is a lot of detail in this change.  We received feedback that previous rally scoring suggestions did not pass because they were not detailed enough.  We have attempted to be as complete as possible.  Although we hope that the entire suggestion is approved, we expect that the rules committee might want to consider approving only parts of the suggestion, or make some adjustments, such as:

• Start with rally scoring only for singles
• Use another scoring approach
• Change the scoring target (21 points)
• Consider some of the options that are used by MLP ( allow changes to the even/odd players during a time-out, have the ref notify players if they are out of position, switch to side-out scoring when a team gets to 20). These options are not included in this proposal.

Rally scoring overview:

Singles: The winner of the rally gets a point. Servers serve from the right when their score is even and from the left when their score is odd

Doubles:

• The starting (banded) server will always serve/receive from the right. The non-banded partner will always serve/receive from the left.
• Stacking is allowed.

Partners alternate serving during their side out.

• Serving teams who lose a rally also lose their service (side-out)
• The winner of a rally gets a point.
• All games are to 21 win by 2. ( Best 2/3, consolation bracket, Gold medal consolation game)
• Teams can win a game while receiving
• 2 timeouts per game

=======================================

Rule changes.

=======================================

Current

Section 1:

Points are scored only by the serving side when the server or the

Server’s team wins the rally, or the opposing side commits a fault.

The server continues to serve, alternating service courts, until the

serving side loses the rally or commits a fault.

Proposed (Rally Scoring)

Section 1:

Side-out Scoring

Points are scored only by the serving side when the server or the

Server’s team wins the rally, or the opposing side commits a fault.

The server continues to serve, alternating service courts, until the

serving side loses the rally or commits a fault.

Rally Scoring

A point is awarded after each rally to the team that won the rally.  If the serving team won the rally, the team continues to serve. In doubles, the partners alternate serving during their side-out. If the receiving team won the rally, they are awarded a point and the serve (side-out).

-----------------------

Current

3.A.31. Right/Even Court - The service area on the right side of the court, when facing the net. The starting server in doubles or the singles server should be positioned on the right/even court when their score is even.

Proposed

3.A.31. Right/Even Court - The service area on the right side of the court, when facing the net. The starting server in doubles (side-out scoring) or the singles server should be positioned on the right/even court when their score is even. With doubles rally scoring, the starting server always serves and receives from the right side of the court.

--------------------------------------------------

Current

4.B.6. Doubles. Both players… (section continues…)

4.B.7

4.B.8

Proposed

4.B.6.  Doubles with side-out scoring: Both players on a …

The rest of 4.B.6 remains the same.

4.B.7. Doubles with rally scoring:

4.B.7.a. Once the service team loses a rally, they also lose their serve (side-out).

4.B.7.b. At the start of each side out, the service starts from the side based on the singles rules in 4.B.5.

4.B.7.c. Doubles team members alternate serving during their side out.

--------------------------------------------------

Current

4.F. Scoring. A singles player or doubles team scores points only when serving. Points may also be awarded when technical fouls are called against the opposing side and their score is 0.

Proposed

4.F. Scoring.

4.F.1 Side-out scoring: A singles player or doubles team scores points only when serving. Points may also be awarded when technical fouls are called against the opposing side and their score is 0.

4.F.2 Rally scoring: After each rally, the winner of the rally receives a point. Points may also be awarded when technical fouls are called against the opposing side and their score is 0.

--------------------------------------------------

Current

4.G. Points. A point is scored by serving the ball and winning the rally.

Proposed

4.G. Points. When using side-out scoring, a point is scored by serving the ball and winning the rally. When using rally scoring, a point is scored by winning the rally.

--------------------------------------------------

Current

4.I. Calling the Score in Singles Matches. The proper sequence for calling the score is server score, then receiver score as two numbers. (e.g. “one – zero”)

4.J. Calling the Score in Doubles Matches. The score is called as three numbers. The proper sequence is: serving team’s score – receiving team’s score – the server number (one or two). Example: “five – four – two”.  To start each game, the score will be called as “zero – zero – two”.

Proposed

4.I. Calling the Score in Singles matches and in Doubles matches with Rally Scoring. The proper sequence for calling the score is server score then receiver score as two numbers (e.g. “one – zero”)

4.J. Calling the Score in Doubles Matches with Side-Out Scoring.  The score is called as three numbers. The proper sequence is: serving team’s score – receiving team’s score – the server number (one or two). Example: “five – four – two”.  To start each game, the score will be called as “zero – zero – two”.

--------------------------------------------------

Current

5.B.3. In a match with two out of three games to 11 points, in game three, the teams will switch ends when the 28 USA PICKLEBALL Official Rulebook (2022) first team reaches a score of 6. Serve remains with the player holding serve.

Proposed

5.B.3. In a match with two out of three games, in game three, the teams will switch ends when the first team reaches the middle score of the game. Examples: In a game to 11, the switch will occur at 6. In a game to 21, the switch will occur at 11. Serve remains with the player holding serve.

--------------------------------------------------

Current

5.B.5. In a game to 21 points, the teams will switch ends when the first team reaches a score of 11. Serve remains with the player holding serve.

Proposed:

5.B.5. In a match with a single game to 21 points, the teams will switch ends when the first team reaches a score of 11. Serve remains with the player holding serve.

Or, rewrite 5.B to

5.B. Change of Ends

5.B.1. In matches with a single game, teams will switch ends when the first team reaches the middle score of the game. Examples: Games to 11 switch at 6; Games to 15 switch at 8;  Games to 21 switch at 11.  Serve remains with the player holding serve.

5.B.2. In matches with multiple games, teams will switch ends between games and in the middle of the last game, following the guidance in 5.B.1

5.B.3. End Change Time-Out. One minute is allowed to switch ends during a game. Rule 10.A.5 shall be used to continue play.

5.B.4. Once the end change point has been scored, a technical foul resulting in the loss of a point for the serving team shall have no impact on the completion of the end change.

--------------------------------------------------

Current

10.A. Standard Time-Out. A player or team is entitled to two time-outs for 11- or 15-point games and three time-outs for a 21-point game.

Proposed

10.A. Standard Time-Out.  For side-out scoring, a player or team is entitled to two time-outs for 11- or 15-point games and three time-outs for a 21-point game. For rally scoring, a player or team is entitled to two time-outs for a 21-point game.

--------------------------------------------------

Current

12.B. Tournament Scoring Options. The recommended tournament scoring option is best two of three games to 11 points, win by 2 points. Other options include: best three of five games to 11 points, one game to 15 or one game to 21. All formats win by 2 points. Round Robins may also use one game to 11, win by 2, as long as the bracket has six or more teams.

Proposed

12.B. Tournament Scoring Options. The recommended tournament scoring option is best two of three games to 11 points, win by 2 points. Other options include: best three of five games to 11 points, one game to 15 or one game to 21. All formats win by 2 points. Round Robins may also use one game to 11, win by 2, as long as the bracket has six or more teams. For rally scoring, scoring options are one game to 21, best two of three games to 21, or best three of five games to 21.

--------------------------------------------------

Current

12.C.2. Double Elimination. The first player or team to score the match-winning point by at least a 2-point margin wins. A loss will put the loser into the consolation bracket. Players or teams are eliminated after one loss in the consolation bracket. The winner of the consolation bracket will play the winner of the winner’s bracket for the championship. If the winner of the consolation bracket defeats the winner of the winner’s bracket, then a tie-breaker match to 15 must be played to determine the gold/first-place and silver/second-place medals. The loser of the consolation bracket final will receive the bronze/third-place medal.

Proposed

12.C.2. Double Elimination. The first player or team to score the match-winning point by at least a 2-point margin wins. A loss will put the loser into the consolation bracket. Players or teams are eliminated after one loss in the consolation bracket. The winner of the consolation bracket will play the winner of the winner’s bracket for the championship. If the winner of the consolation bracket defeats the winner of the winner’s bracket, then a tie-breaker match with a single game must be played to determine the gold/first-place and silver/second-place medals. The loser of the consolation bracket final will receive the bronze/third-place medal.

--------------------------------------------------

Current

12.C.5. Non-Pool Play. The participants are seeded based on the results of the Round Robin and play either a single or double elimination medal round format of 2 of 3 games to 11, one game to 15, or 1 game to 21. Each format is win by 2 points.

Proposed

12.C.5. Non-Pool Play. The participants are seeded based on the results of the Round Robin and play either a single or double elimination medal round format of 2 of 3 games to 11, 2 of 3 games to 21 (rally scoring), one game to 15, or 1 game to 21. Each format is win by 2 points.

--------------------------------------------------

Current

13.H.3. For match formats either 1 to 15 or 1 to 21, a game forfeit is equivalent to a match forfeit.

Proposed

13.H.3. For match formats that consist of a single game, a game forfeit is equivalent to a match forfeit.

--------------------------------------------------

Current

13.H.4. If the match is a two-out-of-three (or three-out-of-five) game format, a referee may impose a game forfeit when a player fails to report to play 10 minutes after the match has been called to play. A match forfeit will be imposed when a player fails to report to play 15 minutes after the match has been called to play. If the match is a 1 to 15 or 1 to 21 format game, the match forfeit occurs when the player fails to report to play 10 minutes after the match has been called to play. The Tournament Director may permit a longer delay if circumstances warrant such a decision.

Proposed

13.H.4. If the match is a two-out-of-three (or three-out-of-five) game format, a referee may impose a game forfeit when a player fails to report to play 10 minutes after the match has been called to play. A match forfeit will be imposed when a player fails to report to play 15 minutes after the match has been called to play. If the match consists of a single game, the match forfeit occurs when the player fails to report to play 10 minutes after the match has been called to play. The Tournament Director may permit a longer delay if circumstances warrant such a decision.