| Rule Submission Title | 12.B.1.c. Scoring the Game-Winning Point |
|---|---|
| USAP Board Vote | Approved with Amendment |
| USAP Board Vote Reason | This provides a helpful clarification recently affirmed in Casebook #5-25. The amended rules also incorporate editorial improvements. The revision to Rule 4.H also clarifies that it applies to side-out scoring as well. This clarification is consistent with the existing rules on point scoring. A point that is gained or lost due to a technical foul is not considered to have been 'scored' because of playing a rally; therefore, it is appropriate for such a point adjustment to end a game, regardless of which team was serving or receiving. Additionally, the provisional option to use rally scoring is amended to remove the limitation that the game-winning point can only be scored when serving. The amended rules 4.F.1, 4.G.1, and 12.B..1.c will allow a point to be scored on every rally, including a rally where the receiving player or team is at game point. A game can now be won by the player or team that wins a rally when their opponent was serving. The Committee believes that this will improve the rally scoring option, that players largely do not favor the current rule and will embrace this change, and that no other sport that uses rally scoring, to their knowledge, has a comparable scoring limitation. |
| Existing Rule # | 12.B.1.c. |
| Proposed Rule Change (edited) | REVISE CURRENT 13.G.3.d: A called technical warning or technical foul shall have no effect on server change or side out. A point adjustment due to assessment of a technical foul that results in a game-winning score shall apply regardless of who was serving and receiving during the preceding rally. AMEND CURRENT 12.B.1.b: Point Scoring. A point is scored by the player or team that wins a rally. DELETE CURRENT 12.B.1.c. REVISE CURRENT 4.F: Scoring. A singles player or doubles team scores points only when serving. Points may also be awarded when technical fouls are called against the opposing side and their score is 0. A point adjustment due to assessment of a technical foul that results in a game-winning score shall apply regardless of which team was serving or receiving in the preceding rally. REVISE CURRENT 4.F.1: (Provisional Rule) Rally Scoring Option. A player or team scores a point for each rally won, except as provided for in Rule 13.G.3.d. |
| Proposed Rule Change | 12.B.1.c Scoring the Game-Winning Point. |
| Original Rule Text | 12.B.1.c Scoring the Game-Winning Point. The game-winning point can only be scored by the serving player or team. When a player or team is at game point and the opponent serves and loses the rally, it is a side out and no point is awarded. |
| Reasoning Behind Suggested Change | A player or team can win a game with the awarding of a point because of a technical foul charged against their opponent. It does not matter if they are serving or not. |
| Scenarios In Which the Rules Applies | n/a |
| Rule Book Year | 2026 |
| Rule Change ID | 2378 |
| Date Created | May 29, 2025 |
| View Comments | View Comments |
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