| Rule Submission Title | Two Bounce Rule enforceable in non-officiated play |
|---|---|
| USAP Board Vote | Disapproved |
| USAP Board Vote Reason | Expanding the faults that players can immediately call on an opponent will be detrimental to the game. The same case could be made for countless other possible faults. It will only slow the game down and invite gamesmanship since these faults cannot be enforced and are subject to agreement by the player that allegedly committed the fault. |
| Existing Rule # | 13.D.1.d |
| Proposed Rule Change | 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, two bounce rule 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 (Exceptions: 4.A.4, 4.L., 7.A., and Section 9). 13.D.1.c. Players may call non-volley zone faults, two bounce rule faults, and service foot faults on the opponent’s end of the court. Claims of non-volley zone faults, two bounce rule faults, or service foot faults must be called as soon as the fault is detected. If there is any disagreement between teams about the called fault, a replay shall occur. |
| Original Rule Text | 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. 13.D.1.c. Players may call non-volley zone faults and service foot faults on the opponent’s end of the court. Claims of non-volley zone faults or service foot faults must be called as soon as the claimed fault is detected. If there is any disagreement between teams about the called fault, a replay shall occur. |
| Reasoning Behind Suggested Change | Given that the “Two Bounce Rule. After the ball is served, each side must make one groundstroke prior to volleying the ball”, is noted in Section 1 - The Game, as being one of the unique features of the game of pickleball, the Two Bounce Rule, as written and specified later by Fault Rule 7.A., rating it such importance to be listed as the first fault in section 7, is a rule that should be enforced and enforceable in all forms of play, officiated and non-officiated. Adding the exceptions to the final sentence in 13.D.1.d that states that there is no authority to enforce faults in non-officiated play does have exceptions, and adding them at the end of this statement, clarifies such. |
| Scenarios In Which the Rules Applies | Non-officiated Play. I have personally seen instances during non-officiated play at a tournament, where the serving team intentionally volleyed the 3rd shot of a rally, violating rule 7.A, playing pickleball as if they were playing tennis, taking advantage of the fact that rule 7.A., the Two Bounce Rule, is currently not enforceable in non-officiated play per 13.D.1.d. The player willing to intentionally violate 7.A. to their advantage, is usually a player that also willingly violates 13.D.1.a, 13.D.1.b as well as 13.D.1.d. Relying always on good sportsmanship, unfortunately, especially in tournaments, often favors those players that do not have good sportsmanship. |
| Rule Book Year | 2026 |
| Rule Change ID | 2152 |
| Date Created | April 19, 2025 |
| View Comments | View Comments |
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