| Rule Submission Title | No score called same as wrong score called. |
|---|---|
| USAP Board Vote | Disapproved |
| USAP Board Vote Reason | The score is required to be called. No score call is a dead ball scenario and therefore there is no rally to replay. |
| Existing Rule # | 4.K. |
| Proposed Rule Change | 4.K. Wrong Score Called or Score Uncalled. If the wrong score is called, or no score is called, the referee or any player may stop play before the return of serve |
| Original Rule Text | 4.K. Wrong Score Called. If the wrong score is called, the referee or any player may stop play before the return of serve to correct the score..... |
| Reasoning Behind Suggested Change | Failure to call the score before serving is currently not addressed in the rule book, and using current rules to deduce consequences leads to conflicting views. 4.D. states that "The score shall be called...". However, failure to call the score cannot be a fault, since per 8.E. "Other than non-volley zone violations, a fault may only be committed when the ball is live." Calling the score out loud is a vital component of service, confirming player readiness and mutual agreement of the score and server order. Serving without first calling the score has the potential of causing a disruption of play. It should therefore be treated accordingly, giving players the same options in responding as when a wrong score is called.
Whether or not this particular submission is accepted, no score called should be addressed somewhere in the rule book.
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| Scenarios In Which the Rules Applies | Server A1 serves without audibly calling the score. Receiver B1 catches or stops the ball in flight (a legal exception to 7.I.), and returns the ball to A1. The rally is replayed with the correct score audibly called out before the serve. Players may also choose to continue play and have the rally results stand. The other applicable conditions of 4.K. would apply. Note: 3.A.20. would require revision. 3.A.20. Live Ball – The period of time that begins when the referee or server (or server's partner per Rule 4.D.1) starts to call the score and ends when the ball becomes dead. If no score is called, the ball is live at the hit of the ball to make the serve (See also 3.A.1 “Ball in Play.”) |
| Rule Book Year | 2026 |
| Rule Change ID | 2120 |
| Date Created | April 16, 2025 |
| View Comments | View Comments |
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