| Rule Submission Title | 7.N. Additional ball visible or dropped. |
|---|---|
| USAP Board Vote | Approved with Amendment |
| USAP Board Vote Reason | The proposed change to clarify “in play” makes the rule more precise. The amended language is for editorial efficiency. |
| Existing Rule # | 7.N. |
| Proposed Rule Change (edited) | 2026 Rule: 24.B Extra Ball. An extra ball carried by a player during a rally must not be visible to the opponent and must remain in possession of the player. 2025 Rule: 7.N. In non-officiated matches, players may carry an extra pickleball. It is a fault if the ball is visible to an opponent or falls onto the playing surface while the ball is live. |
| Proposed Rule Change | 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 carried ball(s) is not visible to their opponent(s) while the ball is live |
| Original Rule Text | 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 that a player was carrying falls on the playing surface during play, a fault shall be declared. |
| Reasoning Behind Suggested Change | In current 7.N. the phrase "during play" is unclear as to whether it means the Live Ball period beginning with the start of the score call, or the Ball in Play period beginning with the strike of the serve.
In the current rule book "during play" appears in two other contexts, both referring to the Live ball period.
1) Hinders. It is clear that hinders can be called anytime the ball is live. (4.C.2. "After the start of the score being called, “not ready” signals will be ignored, unless there is a hinder..."). "During play" is found in hinder rule 11.L.5.d. "Any malfunction of a net system *during play* shall be considered a hinder". For example, a sudden loss of net tension anytime the ball is live would be a valid hinder.
2] Server Identification — Rule 13.A.2. "In all USA PICKLEBALL-sanctioned tournaments, the Tournament Director will provide some method of identifying each team’s starting server for each game. This identification must be visible to all on the court *during play*..... ." Logic dictates that identification should be visible when the score is called, the Live ball period.
Regarding 7.N., a player should not be allowed to expose or drop an additional carried ball while calling the score and preparing to serve. Rather than assigning a fixed meaning to "during play", a simpler clarification for 7.N. would be to specify that 7.N. applies to the Live ball period.
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| Scenarios In Which the Rules Applies | As the score is being called a player drops a ball from his pocket. This is a fault. |
| Rule Book Year | 2026 |
| Rule Change ID | 2347 |
| Date Created | May 26, 2025 |
| View Comments | View Comments |
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