Rule Submission TitleHarmonizing wrong position and wrong score ruling
USAP Board VoteDisapproved
USAP Board Vote ReasonThis rule has changed multiple times over the years, which has caused confusion. The current timing is appropriate.
Existing Rule #4.k
Proposed Rule Change

4.K Wrong Score Called. If the wrong score is called, the referee or a player may stop the rally in progress to identify score error and the rally shall be replayed. If the wrong score is called and the rally is played out, the rally shall stand. If a player stops a rally and incorrectly identifies a score error, it is a fault on the player who stopped the rally. If the referee stops a rally in progress and incorrectly identifies a score error, the rally shall be replayed. If the wrong score is called, the referee or any player may stop play before the return of serve to correct the score. The rally shall be replayed with the correct score called. After the return of serve, play shall continue to the end of the rally and the score correction made before the next serve. After the return of serve, a player who stops play to identify or ask for a score correction will have committed a fault and shall lose the rally. A player who stops play after the serve to identify or ask for a score correction when the score was correctly called will have committed a fault and shall lose the rally.

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. The rally shall be replayed with the correct score called. After the return of serve, play shall continue to the end of the rally and the score correction made before the next serve. After the return of serve, a player who stops play to identify or ask for a score correction will have committed a fault and shall lose the rally. A player who stops play after the serve to identify or ask for a score correction when the score was correctly called will have committed a fault and shall lose the rally.

Reasoning Behind Suggested Change

The distinction between a player being out of position and an incorrect server score can lead to problems in certain situations, as the former can be called at any point during a rally, while the latter must be called before the return is made (see case below).

The intent is to have the 4.K language be similar to that of 4.B.10

4.B.10. 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 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.

 

Scenarios In Which the Rules Applies

A referee incorrectly announces the score, leading to the wrong player serving. After returning the serve, the receiver halts play and explains their reasoning to the referee. The receiver's explanation could be one of two possibilities:

  1. "Server out of position/Wrong server." This is a valid response based on the erroneously called score. This response would result in a replay of the point under 2025 rules.
  2. "The score was called incorrectly." This response would result in a fault being assessed against the receiver under 2025 rules.

I believe this distinction is arbitrary. The language should be consistent when addressing both scenarios: an incorrect score being announced and players being out of position.

Thank you for your consideration

Rule Book Year2026
Rule Change ID2201
Date CreatedMay 7, 2025
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