Rule Submission TitleWrong score called
USAP Board VoteApproved with Amendment
USAP Board Vote ReasonAs documented in submission. The amendment is necessary to establish the correct intent, which is that the return of serve is the latest that play can be stopped to correct a wrong score call. ‘Or’ would mean play could be stopped after the return of serve as long as the ball is not dead yet. If the ball is going to become dead before the return of serve, play must be stopped before the ball becomes dead. Once the ball is dead, the rally is in the books and the wrong score call is irrelevant.
Existing Rule #4K
Proposed Rule Change (edited)

2026 Rule:
6.F Challenging the Score Call. A player may stop a rally to ask for a score correction before the return of serve is hit and before the ball becomes dead.
6.F.1 Replay – Incorrect Score Called. When an incorrect score is called and the rally is stopped before the return of serve and before the ball becomes dead, the rally must be replayed with the correct score called.
6.F.2 Fault – Correct Score Called. When a player stops a rally to challenge a correct score call, it is a fault against the player who stopped the rally.
6.F.3 Fault – Late Challenge to Score Call. When a player stops a rally to ask for a score correction after the return of serve is hit, it is a fault against the player who stopped the rally.
6.F.4 Incorrect Score Identified After Rally. When an incorrect score was called and the rally is completed, the result of the rally stands, and the score must be corrected before the next serve.
2025 Rule:

Change 'or' to 'and' to read "and before the ball becomes dead"

Proposed Rule Change

4.K If the wrong score is called, the referee or and player may stop play before the return of serve or becomes dead to correct the score. (remainder of the rule is unaffected)

Original Rule Text

4.K. If the wrong score is called, the referee or any player may stop play before the return of serve to correct the score. (remainder of the rule is unaffected)

Reasoning Behind Suggested Change

Allows further clarification for both referee and player as to when a replay is justified as opposed to a fault or loss of serve.

Scenarios In Which the Rules Applies

Referee calls the score 5-3-2. It should have been 5-3-1. Server serves the ball into the net. Ball becomes dead. Server says,  “Hey Ref, you called the wrong score.” Server is correct. Should it be a replay. Should the server be granted a replay even though the question to the Ref happened AFTER the ball became dead or should the server have asked the question BEFORE the ball becomes dead.

Rule Book Year2026
Rule Change ID2308
Date CreatedMay 20, 2025
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