LIST OF SUGGESTED PICKLEBALL RULE CHANGES FOR PREVIOUS YEARS

Rule Change Process

Rule Submission TitleClean up wording of 4.B.6.B to properly differentiate among Starting Server and First Server and correct positions
USAP Board Voting StatusFailed
USAP Rules Committee Voting StatusFailed. Although this may be marginally better wording, this is not a rule change. Most of the issues with people not understanding the rule result in having a discussion to help them understand the concept involved in the rule. The proposed change won't drastically reduce the potential confusion.
Existing Rule #4.B.6.b
Proposed Rule Change

NEW WORDING FOR 4.B.6.b.

4.B.6.b. When the team’s score is even (0, 2, 4 ...), the team’s starting server will be the 1st server and correct position
is at the right/even serving area. When the team’s score is odd (1, 3, 5...), the teams's non-starting server will be the 1st server and correct position is at the right/ even serving area.

Original Rule Text

4.B.6.a. At the start of each side out, service begins
in the right/even serving area.

4.B.6.b. When the team’s score is even (0, 2, 4 ...),
the team’s starting server’s correct position
is at the right/even serving area. When the
team’s score is odd (1, 3, 5...), the starting
server’s correct position is at the left/odd
court.

4.B.6.c. After each side out, service begins with the
player correctly positioned on the
right/even side of the court according to the
team’s score. This player is referred to as
“Server 1” and the partner is “Server 2.”

Reasoning Behind Suggested Change

This is a change in wording only and not a rule CHANGE.  4.B.6.b needs to be cleaned up because as it currently stands it is factually incorrect.  I HIGHLIGHTED the later part of 4.B.6.b in the Original Rule Text section to show the incorrect part.

When the team’s score is odd (1, 3, 5...), the starting
server’s correct position is at the left/odd court.

This flows from 4.B.6.a and refers to after a side out.  When the new serving team score is ODD after a side out, the STARTING SERVER has NO correct position.  (Stacking, for example).  The starting server (banded player) can stand anywhere they want on their own side of the net.

The wording I propose helps to clearly define the relationships to score, starting and non-starting servers, and 1st servers.

I realize this also makes parts of 4.B.6.c redundant.

Scenarios In Which the Rules Applies

After a side out.  Clears up what player on new serving team actually has a CORRECT POSITION.

Rule Book Year2023
Rule Change ID517
Date CreatedJune 20, 2022
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