Incorrect Server and Receiver Faults

3.A.31 Receiver – The player who is positioned diagonally opposite the server to return the serve. The correct receiver in doubles is the player whose correct position is diagonally opposite the correct server as determined by the player’s score and starting position in the game.Depending on the team's score, the player who returns the serve may not be the correct receiver.

3.A.38 Server – The player who initiates a rally by serving the ball. The correct server in doubles is the player whose correct position is determined by their score and starting position in the game (see Rule 4.B.6.b).Depending on the team's score, it is possible that the player who serves may not be the correct server.

4.B.1 Server and Receiver. The correct server must serve from the correct service area (see Rules 4.B.5 and 4.B.6). The correct receiver must receive the serve.The correct server and receiver and their positions are determined by the score and the players starting positions in the game.

4.A.2 Placement. The server must serve to the service court diagonally opposite their correct position(the court diagonally opposite the server). The serve may clear or touch the net and must clear the NVZ and the NVZ lines. The serve may land on any other service court line.

4.B.7 Partner Positions. In doubles, with the exception of the correct server (see 4.A.4), there is no restriction on the position of any player, as long as all players are on their respective team’s side of the net. They can be positioned on or off the court. The correct server must serve from the correct service court and the correct receiver must receive the serve.

4.B.9 (No change) The referee will confirm and correct, if necessary, that all players are in the correct position and the correct server has the ball before calling the score.

4.B.9.a10. If the referee or a player stops a rally in progress to correctly identify a player/position error, the rally shall be replayed.If the correct server and correct receiver are in their correct positions when the score is called, it is a fault on a player who serves or receives incorrectly, even if the rally is completed before the fault is called. The fault must be called before the next serve.

If the correct server or correct receiver is not in their correct position when the score is called, the referee or a player may stop the rally in progress to identify the player/position error and the rally shall be replayed. If the correct server or correct receiver is not in their correct position when the score is called and the rally is played out, the rally shall stand.

If a player stops a rally and incorrectly identifies a player/position error, it is a fault on the player who stopped the rally. If the referee stops a rally in progress and incorrectly identifies a player/position error, the rally shall be replayed.

4.B.9.a. 4.B.10. . If the referee or a player stops a rally in progress to correctly identify a player/position error, the rally shall be replayed.

If the correct server and correct receiver are in their correct positions when the score is called, it is a fault on a player who serves or receives incorrectly, even if the rally is completed before the fault is called. The fault must be called before the next serve.

If the correct server or correct receiver is not in their correct position when the score is called, the referee or a player may stop the rally in progress to correctly identify the player/position error and the rally shall be replayed.

If a player stops a rally and incorrectly identifies a player/position error, it is a fault on the player who stopped the rally.

If the referee stops a rally in progress and incorrectly identifies a player/position error, the rally shall be replayed.

4.B.9.b. (renumber) If a player/position error is identified after the rally has played out, the rally shall stand.

4.B.9.a. If the referee or a player stops a rally in progress to correctly identify a player/position error, the rally shall be replayed. If a player stops a rally and incorrectly identifies a player/position error, it is a fault on the player who stopped the rally. If the referee stops a rally in progress and incorrectly identifies a player/position error, the rally shall be replayed.

4.B.9.b. If a player/position error is identified after the rally has played out, the rally shall stand.

Intentional circumvention of the last sentence in rule 4.B.7 should not be allowed:

4.B.7. Partner Positions. In doubles, with the exception of the server (see 4.A.4), there is no restriction on the position of any player, as long as all players are on their respective team’s side of the net. They can be positioned on or off the court. The correct server must serve from the correct service court (should be “serving area”), and the correct receiver must receive the serve.

It should be a fault for the incorrect player to serve or receive the ball or serve from the incorrect serving area after the referee has affirmed the correct player positions. These actions are violations of rule 4.B.7.

1. Player A2 is correctly serving from the left serving area to Player B2. Team B is stacking so Player B1 is positioned at the NVZ line outside the court while Player B2 is positioned diagonally opposite the server in the left serving area. All players are in their correct positions to begin the rally. Player A2 serves a ball that bounces in the left service court very near Player B1. Player B1 then returns the serve since he is closer to the ball than Player B2. Since Player B1 is not the correct receiver, a fault would be called against Player B1 for returning the serve. (Under current rule 4.B.9.a, the rally would be stopped and replayed. There would be no penalty against Player B1 for violation of rule 4.B.7.)

2. After Player B1 asks who is the correct server, the referee states Player A1 is serving from the right side to Player B1. Player A1 lines up correctly to serve to Player B1. All players are in their correct positions, although Player B2 is standing close to Player B1 at the baseline. The referee waits a few seconds and then calls the score since no “not ready” signal is displayed by Player B2. Player A1 serves down the middle to Player B1’s backhand. Since Player B1 has a weak backhand, Player B2 steps in and powers a winning return with his strong forehand. Since Player B2 is not the correct receiver, the referee immediately calls a fault against Player B2 for returning the serve. (Under current rule 4.B.9.b, Team B would win the rally since it is complete, despite the incorrect player returning the serve in violation of rule 4.B.7.)