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Play rules

General Game Rules:

This is a recreational and friendly matches with church friends. Be kind and respectful.

All applicable USA Pickleball Rules apply.

Team must call out the score before each serve as USA Pickleball rule guideline

Teams should not >30 seconds on resolving any dispute. If in doubt, RE-SERVE & MOVE-ON

If needed, escalate to the referee and a QUICK decision will be made. REMEMBER, HAVE FUN!

If you have doubts on the game, please take to the referee before the game for clarifications.

The WINNING Team is responsible for reporting the game score to the score keeper (Score Keeping Desk)

RESPECTFUL, SPORTSMANSHIP, PROPER ETIQUETTE, BE SAFE & HAVE FUN👍

Some simple reminders on the rules to be kept for everyone :

Serve Rule

Server must call out the current score before serve the ball. If disagreement, it should be resolved immediately.

As recreation play, we will not enforce every aspect of the serve rule but the following will be enforced

The server must stand behind the baseline, serving diagonally into the opposite side box & inside the court sideline and the first white bottom line in RHCCC courts (not the final / normal bottom line since not enough room at the back).

The server CAN NOT toss the ball up, but we will allow a very minor upward ball movement during the DROP

The server is to drop the ball and NOT drop with power to force a high bounce

The ball must serve with 100% crossing the kitchen line on the opposite service box

For the serve touch the net, it will count as normal and continue to play with all the rules in place (no re-serve)

Kitchen Line, Dink, & Volley Rules

RHCCC court kitchen line is the RED LINE behind the first white line.

2025 rule applies in that the volley starts when the paddle makes contact with the ball,

you can enter the kitchen (non-volley zone) at any time during a game, but you cannot volley the ball (hit it in the air) while inside it or touching the kitchen line

you cannot touch the net, net posts, or the opponent’s court, with your paddle or any part of your body during a follow-through while the ball is live

Overhead Smash

Be aware of the opponent’s ability to protect one-self when you smash HARD. We are not here to injure or hurt anyone (even accidentally)

If you smash hard toward the side lines, it is often difficult to determine an OUT call. “Benefit of the doubt” rule applies.

If the receiving side does call OUT against your judgment, you have to accept the call. If the OUT calls are getting out of control, please call the referee to monitor that game.

OUT CALL

Players are responsible for line calls on their own side of the court, calling "out" only if they see a clear space between the ball hitting the ground and the court line.

Any ball touching any part of the line is considered "in". If a player cannot confidently call a ball "out," it is in.

Player cannot call OUT before the ball hits the ground outside of the court (it is ONLY considered Partner Communication).

Catching the ball in the air with your hand or paddle and CALL OUT is a foul.

Game observers (except the Referees) should not & cannot shout OUT calls.

Below are the USPA official rule on this as reference,

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