7.N. Ball from pocket fault; 13.D.1.d to match

7.N. If an additional ball that a player was carrying falls on the playing surface during play, a fault shall be declared. In non-officiated matches, players may carry an additional pickleball(s) as long as such ball(s) is not visible to their opponent(s) during play, and is a fault that is enforceable by the faulting player, team or the opponents. During officiated matches, players may not carry additional pickleball.If an additional ball the a player was carrying falls on the playing surface during play, a fault shall be declared.

13.D.1.d. For non-officiated matches, if a player believes an opponent has committed any type of fault other than a service foot fault, or non-volley zone fault,or ball dropping out of a pocket fault (7.N.) as noted in Section 7 - Fault Rules, they may mention the specific fault to the opponent(s) upon completion of the rally but they have no authority to enforce the fault. The final decision on fault resolution belongs to the player that allegedly committed the fault. (Exceptions: 4.A.4, 4.L., 7.N., and Section 9)

7.N. In non-officiated matches, players may carry an additional pickleball(s) as long as the ball(s) is carried in a way that the ball(s) is not visible to their opponent(s) during play. If an additional ball the a player was carrying falls on the playing surface during play, a fault shall be declared.

13.D.1.d. For non-officiated matches, if a player believes an opponent has committed any type of fault other than a service foot fault or non-volley zone fault as noted in Section 7 - Fault Rules, they may mention the specific fault to the opponent(s) upon completion of the rally but they have no authority to enforce the fault. The final decision on fault resolution belongs to the player that allegedly committed the fault.

According to a recent Tuesday Night Referee Zoom call, the original purpose of rule 7.N. was to prevent intentional tossing of a ball out of a pocket (or if hidden in a hand) to create and hinder and replay when a player is just unable to return a ball.   

It seems a player using this behavior to avoid the loss of a rally could also occur during officiated play.  The handbook specifies that referees are to collect all the extra balls, and that it is a referee error with a replay, if a ball falls from a pocket during an officiated match.  However, there is no actual rule requiring that players do not carry an extra ball during officiated play.  As such, there is no rule that states a player could not, for example during a time out, grab an extra ball, place it in their pocket, and later use it to the advantage as described above, to create a replay whey the player(s) are just unable to return a well placed shot by their opponent.  

This change in sequence of wording in the rule, would make it a fault to drop a ball out of a pocket during both officiated and non-officiated play. 

This rule change would establish that this unsportmanship behavior, that of creating a hinder to force a replay, to always be a fault, regardless if it occurs during officiated or non-officiated play.  And I believe that it should be a meaningful penalty (fault), enforceable during non-officiated play, for either intentionally or not intentionally, as determining intent is impossible, to cause a play stoppage for having a ball “fall out” of a pocket.  

The modification of 13.D.1.d, adding 7.N. And the E(xceptions of 4.A.4, 4.L. 7.N. and section 9) additions are recommended to clarify 13.D.1.d, to be more specific and clear which faults an opponent has some authority to enforce, will be also addressed in a different rule change submission.  

All types of play, but especially pertinent to tournaments.