Rule Submission TitleRevision to 11.E. Broken or Cracked Ball
USAP Board VotePassed
USAP Rules Committee VotePassed
USAP Rules Committee Vote ReasonFor the reasons indicated in the proposal.
Existing Rule #11.E. Broken or Cracked Ball.
Proposed Rule Change

11.E. Broken, Cracked, Degraded or Soft Ballor Cracked Ball. If any player suspects the ball is or becomes broken, cracked, degraded, or soft after the serve, play must continue until the end of the rally.

In officiated matches, players may appeal to the referee before the next serve occurs to determine if a ball is broken, cracked, degraded, or soft. If, in the judgment of the referee, a broken or cracked ball impacted the outcome of a rally, the referee will call for a replay with a replacement ball. If both teams agree that the ball is degraded or soft, the ball will be replaced, but there is no replay of the prior rally.

In non-officiated matches, if both teams agree, players may replace a ball that has broken, cracked, degraded, or become soft before the next serve occurs. In only the case of a broken or cracked ball, if the players agree the broken or cracked ball impacted the prior rally, a replay occurs. If the players do not agree that a broken or cracked ball impacted the outcome of the prior rally, the prior rally stands as played. If both teams agree that the ball is degraded or soft, the ball will be replaced, but there is no replay of the prior rally.

Original Rule Text

11.E. Broken or Cracked Ball. If any player suspects the ball is or becomes cracked after the serve, play must continue until the end of the rally.

In officiated matches, players may appeal to the referee before the next serve occurs to determine if a ball is degraded, soft, broken or cracked. If, in the judgment of the referee, a broken or cracked ball impacted the outcome of a rally, the referee will call for a replay with a replacement ball. If both teams agree that the ball is degraded or soft, the ball will be replaced, but there is no replay of the prior rally.

In non-officiated matches, if both teams agree, players may replace a degraded, soft, broken, or cracked ball before the next serve occurs. In only the case of a cracked ball, if the players agree the cracked ball
impacted the prior rally, a replay occurs. If the players do not agree that a cracked ball impacted the outcome of the prior rally, the prior rally stands as played

Reasoning Behind Suggested Change

The current rule title only mentions Broken or Cracked Ball, but the body of the rule then discusses degraded and soft balls.  Broken and cracked balls are dealt with differently than degraded and/or soft ball.  The rule also talks about the way these scenarios are remedied in officiated and non-officiated matches.  It seems to me that the two different circumstances should be discussed more specifically in two separate parts of the rule.

Rule Book Year2024
Rule Change ID1186
Date CreatedMay 9, 2023
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