| Rule Submission Title | 6.C.5. Requesting that Opponent make a line call |
|---|---|
| USAP Board Vote | Disapproved |
| USAP Rules Committee Vote | Disapproved |
| USAP Rules Committee Vote Reason | The proposal to make disagreement among partners consistent by having the result always favor the other team is faulty. That premise is valid when a receiving team (e.g., Team A) cannot make a call on their end or disagrees on whether the ball was "in" or "out". In that case, the current rule properly says the ball is ruled "in" to the benefit of the opponent (Team B). However, Rule 6.C.5 addresses when Team A asks Team B for their opinion whether the ball was in or out on Team A's end. The proposed premise that doubt in this case will always favor the opponent must not apply in all cases. For example, if Team A did not see the ball land or isunsure of the call on their end, by rule the ball is "in". If Team A then asks Team B for their opinion and Team B disagrees with each other (B1 says "out" and B2 says "in"), then under the current rule, the "in" ruling will stand. This proposal would say that the ruling would now be "out" because their disagreement would favor their opponent, which is not appropriate. The current rule is adequate and appropriate. |
| Existing Rule # | 6.C.5. |
| Proposed Rule Change | 6.C.5. A player/team may ask the opponent’s opinion to make the line call on the player’s end of the court. If requested and the opponent makes a clear “in” or “out” call, it must be accepted. If the opponents cannot make a clear “in” or “out” call, then the ball is ruled as being “in” on the receiving team.If the opponents clearly disagree, with one making a clear “in” call an the other making a clear “out” call, then the ball is ruled “out” on the receiving end of the court. The moment the receiving player/team asks for the opponent's opinion, they lose their right to make any subsequent "in" or "out" call for that rally. The receiving team/player may also appeal to the referee to make a clear call. If the referee cannot make a clear call, the outcome of the opponent’s ruling will stand. |
| Original Rule Text | 6.C.5. A player/team may ask the opponent’s opinion to make the line call on the player’s end of the court. If requested and the opponent makes a clear “in” or “out” call, it must be accepted. If the opponents cannot make a clear “in” or “out” call, then the ball is ruled as being “in” on the receiving team. The moment the receiving player/team asks for the opponent's opinion, they lose their right to make any subsequent "in" or "out" call for that rally. The receiving team/player may also appeal to the referee to make a clear call. If the referee cannot make a clear call, the outcome of the opponent’s ruling will stand. |
| Reasoning Behind Suggested Change | This proposal follows the pickleball premise that contradictory line call rulings should be resolved in favor of the opponent. |
| Scenarios In Which the Rules Applies | If team A is facing the net (or has their view blocked for any reason) when team B hits a ball that lands on team A’s end of the court, but team A does not see the ball land, team A may ask team B to make a line call. At that point one B player may state that the ball was “in” while the other may state that ball was “out”. In this case it would not be consistent with line calling guidelines that the resolution would be a call that the ball was “in”, benefitting team B. Situations where a team does not or cannot see a ball when it lands on their end of the court are common during play. Asking the opponents to make a line call is certainly a legitimate option, but it should follow the same principles which apply to the receiving team when the receiving team is making a line call. This rule would apply every time an opponent is asked to make a line call and there is clear doubt. |
| Rule Book Year | 2025 |
| Rule Change ID | 1842 |
| Date Created | May 15, 2024 |
| View Comments | View Comments |
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