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Rule 1. The
Game
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1.1. Players. The game may
be played by two or four persons.
1.2. Game. A
game shall be won by the first side scoring 21 points, or by a score
determined by the tournament director (i.e. 15, 25, 30)
1.3. Match. A match shall be won by a side winning the
majority of the games.
1.4. Scoring. only the team serving may score serving
points. When the receiving team makes an out, the serving team is
awarded one point.
Rule 2. Court and Equipment
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2.1. Court.
The court shall be the fair playing surface of the wall and floor.
2.2. Wall.
The wall shall be 20 feet in width from the outside edge of one side
line to the outside edge of the other side line, and 16 feet high
including any top line.
2.3. Floor.
The floor shall be 20 feet in width between the outside edges of the
sidelines which shall be perpendicular to the wall lines. It shall be 34
feet from the wall to the back edge of the long line. The side lines
should be extended at least 3 feet further from the wall, than the long
line. There should be a minimum of at least 6 feet of floor outside each
sideline and 10 feet in back of the long line to allow sufficient
movement area for the players.
2.4. Short
Line. There shall be a short line running parallel with the wall between
the side lines, with its back edge 16 feet from the wall.
2.5. Service
Markers. There shall be service markers (lines) at least 6 inches long,
parallel to and midway between the long and short lines, extending
inward from the side lines. The imaginary further extension and joining
of these markers indicate the service line.
2.6. Lines.
All lines shall be 1 1/2 inches in width.
2.7. Service
Area. The service area is the floor area bounded by the short line, side
lines, and service lines.
2.8. Receiving Area. The receiving area is the floor area in back of the
short line, bounded by and including the long and side lines.
2.9. The Ball. The ball shall be rubber with a 1 7/8 inch
diameter with a 1/32nd inch variance. The weight shall be 2 3/10 ounces
with a 2/10th-inch variance. The rebound shall be 44 inches to 52 inches
from a 70 inch drop at 68 degrees Fahrenheit.
2.10. The
Paddle. The paddle can be no longer than 17 1/2 inches and no wider than
9 inches. The paddle cannot have any stringing, such as that of a tennis
racquet. Any paddle having a metal or exposed wood edge must be covered
with enough tape to fully cover the edge of the paddle. The surface of
the paddle may also be taped with an adhesive type material, but no
rough textured surface can be created. A paddle found unfit to play by a
referee will not be permitted for use in any tournament.
2.11. Attire. All players are requested to wear proper attire, preferably
light or white in color. Doubles teams must wear matching attire. The
tournament director will rule on any controversial attire.
Rule 3. Officials
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3.1. Officials. For all championship matches, there shall be a referee, four
linespersons and a scorer.
3.2. Referee. The referee shall:
A) have
exact knowledge of the playing rules, tournament regulations, and their
proper enforcement and be responsible for the proper conduct of the
game.
B) decide
upon all questions in accordance with the rules. The referee may
exercise the option of consulting with the tournament director on all
aspects of the rules.
C) decide on
all questions and interpretations not covered in these rules.
D) check the
playing area for suitability of play and establish any local ground
rules relative to any deficiencies in the playing area.
E) check the
players attire and equipment.
F)
administer penalties in accordance with the rules.
G)
administer forfeitures when
a) a player engages in un-sportsmanlike conduct;
b) a player leaves the court with out the referee's permission;
c) a team fails to report for play (normally 15 minutes is allowed).
H) introduce
players and toss coin for choice of serving or receiving.
3.3. Linesperson. There shall be a linesperson for each of the side lines,
the short line, and the long line. The linesperson shall:
A) stand facing the line he/she is to call.
B) call "out" if the ball strikes the wall or floor off
the court.
C) call faults on their respective lines.
D) call decisions as quickly as is consistent with
accuracy.
E) be confident; however, feel free to yield to the
referee on an appeal request. (see rule 12)
3.4. Scorer.
The scorer shall keep an accurate record of the score and shall keep the
contestants informed as to the progress of the game. He shall announce
the score after allowing the players time to return to their position on
the court.
Rule 4. Safety
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4.1. Introduction. The game of One-Wall Paddleball is such that there must be
great concern for the safety of all of the participants. It is,
therefore, imperative to exercise an extreme degree of caution at all
times. Because of the potential for dangerous situations, this committee
includes an entire section of safety rules and regulations, thereby
demonstrating the importance we place on playing and conducting a safe
Paddleball game. It is the intent of this safety section to discourage
or eliminate any reckless or wild player from participating in this
sport. Safety is a primary concern in this sport and will be considered
as such in any judgments that may arise.
4.2. Stopping Play. The referee will stop the play whenever he believes there
is danger of a player being struck.
4.3. Striker's Obligation. If, in the judgment of the referee, a striker has
a reasonable view of his opponent, , and the opponent does not move into
the area of the striker's swing, it shall be the striker's obligation at
all such times to avoid hitting his opponent with the paddle. Failure to
do so will result in one or more of the penalties listed in Rule 11, at
the discretion of the referee.
4.4. Safety
Block. A striker must call "block" whenever he believes there is danger
of hitting his opponent in the course of a normal swing. Upon the
"block" call the striker must refrain from hitting the ball. Any player
hitting in a situation where there is an obvious potential for injury
will be penalized at the discretion of the referee in accordance with
the penalties listed in Rule 11. The player calling "block" must be in
position to have returned the ball. The referee must then rule on the
block call. If the referee confirms the call, the point will be
replayed. If the referee denies the call, the player or side who made
the call will lose a point or service.
4.5. Back
swing Contact. If an opponent unintentionally causes contact with a
player's back swing, a block will be called.
4.6. Moving
into Swing. Penalties, as listed in Rule 11, will be administered to any
player moving into the swinging area of the striker regardless of intent
or lack of intent or whether or not actual contact is made. (see Rule
9.1).
4.7. Follow
Through Contact. If a player contacts an opponent in the course of a
normal follow-through, one or more of the following may occur at the
referee's discretion :
A) play will continue and no call will be made because neither player
reacted significantly to the contract.
B) the play will stand.
C) the play will be stopped.
D) penalties will be invoked due to violation
Rule 5. Service
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5.1 Service.
A) To decide which player shall serve first in singles, a coin is tossed
and called. The winner of the toss may elect to serve or receive.
B) To decide which team shall serve first in doubles, a coin is tossed
and called.
The winners have the choice of the following: a) To serve
first and be retired after making only one out, b) To receive first with
the conditions stated in a) applying to the opposing team. If the teams
are playing a match , the choice of serving or receiving first shall
alternate from team to team with each new game.
5.2 Service
Order. After the team which serves first is retired, the partners of
each team will serve in successive order (one after the other).
5.3 Side
Out. In doubles, the first server on a team will serve until his team
makes one out. The second server will then serve until his team makes a
second out. The side will then be retired and the opposing team will
serve. In singles, each server will be retired after making one out.
5.4. Serving
Position. The server must stand and remain within the service area at
all times when in the act of serving (from his starting position to his
concluding move.) Violation will be a fault except as in Rule 5.4 (A).
A) The serving team cannot step backward beyond the
service markers until the return of service. To do so will result in a
loss of service.
B) Only the server's paddle may extend over the short
line and side lines.
C) A fault will be called if the server's paddle extends
over the imaginary service line.
5.5. Legal
Service. In serving the ball, the ball is required to hit the wall first and then rebound into the receiving area. Failure
to do so will be an out except as in Rule 6.4 and 6.5.
5.6 Service
Bounces. The server shall be permitted no more than three bounces before
serving. Violation will result in a fault. In serving, the ball is
required to be bounced on the floor and struck on the first rebound.
Violation is a fault.
5.7. Service
Miss. If the server strikes at the ball and misses it, he will be out.
5.8. Partner's Position. In doubles, the server's partner must stand off the
court, between the extensions of the short line and the service line,
while his teammate is serving. Violation will be a fault.
5.9. Partner's Service Entry. In doubles, the server's partner must not enter
the court until the served ball passes him. Violation will be a fault.
5.10. No
Service Restriction. In doubles, a served ball may pass on either side
of the server's body. For singles service, refer to Rule 14.
5.11. Behind
Partner's Back. A served ball may pass between the server's partner and
short line.
5.12. Continuity of Play. Service must commence within five seconds after the
score has been announced. Violation is a fault. The receiving team must
also be ready to play in the same five seconds or a penalty may be
administered.
Rule 6. Faults
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6.1 Two
Consecutive Faults. Two consecutive faults will be an out.
6.2. Fault
Elimination. A fault will remain with a server until a point or an out
is achieved. Blocks do not cancel faults. The following will cause the
penalty of fault against the server.
A) Foot Fault. Stepping out of the service area before
completing the serve. Refer to Rule 5.4.
B) Short Fault. Serving the ball in the court not past
the short line. Refer to Rule 5.5.
C) Long Fault. Serving the ball between and including the
side lines past the long line. Refer to Rule 5.5.
6.3. Service
Bounces. A) Bouncing more than three times before serving is a fault)
Not striking the ball on the first rebound from the ground while serving
is a fault. Refer to Rule 5.6.
6.4. Server's Paddle. If the server's paddle extends over the service line it
is a fault.
6.5 Between
the Legs. A served ball passing between the legs of the server or his partner will be a fault.
6.6. Partner's Position. The server's partner not standing off the court
between the extensions of the service line and the short line while his
partner is serving is a fault. Refer to Rule 5.8.
6.7. Partner's Service Entry. If the server's partner enters the court before
the served ball has passed him, it will be a fault. Refer to Rule 5.9.
Rule 7. Receiving Service
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7.1. Receiver's Position. The receiving team can stand anywhere behind the
service line and its extensions.
7.2. Returning Service. The player who is going to return a served ball must
strike at the ball and complete his follow-through before crossing the
service line with his body or paddle. Violation will be an out.
7.3. Returning Longs. The receiving team must allow all long faults which
they do not wish to play to bounce. Any contact with a ball on the fly
will be considered an attempt to play the ball.
7.4. Missed
Fly Return. A served fly ball, struck at and entirely missed by the
receiver, which strikes long, is a long fault.
Rule 8. General.
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8.1. Legally
Played Ball. A fairly played ball will be one that is struck improper
turn on a fly or on one bounce and hits the fair playing surface of the
wall and floor, respectively. Violation will be an out.
8.2. Rally
Order. Opposing teams must alternately strike the ball. Any team hitting the ball consecutively will be out.
8.3. Out
Overrides Block. A team which is struck with its own ball will be out,
even if a block call has been made, except when neither receiver has a
chance to play the ball.
8.4. Double
Swing. A team may swing and miss any number of times at a ball until it
has bounced twice.
8.5. Hand
and Paddle. The paddle hand from the wrist down will be considered part
of the paddle.
8.6. Switching. The player is allowed to switch the paddle from hand to hand.
8.7. Loss of
Paddle.
A) Should a player lose his paddle, he is out.
B) Should a paddle be accidentally dislodged from a player's hand by an
opponent, the play will stop and the rally replayed.
8.8. Late
Appeal. Once a ball is served, no appeal can be entered in reference to
any prior play.
8.9. Substitutions. Substitution of partners is not permitted once a
tournament has started.
8.10. Conversation between Players. Conversations between players on the court
shall be kept at a minimum. Excessive conversation will be penalized.
8.11. Time-Outs. A player or team is entitled to three one-minute time-outs in
a game, or as many as the tournament director designates. Ten-second
time-outs may be requested from the referee for wiping hands, glasses,
or tying laces. Ten-second time-outs are awarded at the referee's
discretion, and abuse of the request will result in a penalty. Time-outs
may be taken consecutively.
8.12. Rest
Periods. A five-minute period is allowed between the first and second
game. Ten minutes is allowed between the second and third game. The
winning team upon completion of a semi-final match has
the option of resting for one hour before playing the final match.
8.13. Interruption of Play. Play should be interrupted for reasons outside the
game (i.e. stray ball, etc.), the rally will stop upon the referee's
call to stop and any fault shall remain.
8.14. Passing Your Opponents. When a ball rebounds off the wall and passes
both opponents, who have no chance for a play, and then hits the
striking team without bouncing, the referee shall rule whether or not
the ball would have landed fair or out. If the ball is judged to have
landed fair, the point will be awarded to the striking team. Otherwise,
the striking team will be out. Similarly, if the ball passes both opponents, bouncing
fair, and then hits either one of the striking team, the point will go
to the striking team.
8.15. Ball Hitting Opponent. A block will be granted if a
team strikes a ball and that ball on the way to the wall hits an
opponent without bouncing, and the referee then judges that the ball
would have been fair on the wall and floor. If the referee judges
otherwise, the striking team is out.
8.16. Intentional Loss of Ball. Any player intentionally hitting or throwing
the ball out of the playing area may be penalized, including forfeiture
of the game, at the discretion of the referee.
8.17. Major
Penalty Rules. If a fault on a serve is followed by an out call, the out
will prevail. Refer to Rule 8.3.
Rule 9. Blocks
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9.1. Illegal
Movement. When a player on a team which is striking, or has just struck
the ball, moves in a manner which gives his team an advantage by causing
interference with the opponent's ability to play, see, or move to the
ball, the referee will call a halt to play and call an out on the team
which made the illegal movement. (See Rule 4.6 also). Please note that
only the referee can halt play for illegal movement. Play must continue
until the call is made.
9.2. Safety
Block. Refer to Rule 4.4.
9.3. Granting a Block. To call a block, a player must be in a position with
body and paddle to strike the ball fairly, and he must do so in the
absence of the referee's confirmation of the block call. If it is a
safety block call, the player will refrain from striking at the ball and
the referee will rule on the correctness of the call. (See Rule 4.4.)
9.4. Between
the Legs. A ball passing between the legs of an opponent will be a block
only when the striker has a reasonable chance for a play and calls
"block". 9.5. Backward Movement. The opposing team must give full
freedom to a player moving in a backward direction in pursuit of the
ball. Intentional violation will be an out. Accidental violation will be
a block.
9.6. Taking
Position. A player will be called out if he moves alongside or in front
of an opponent while his partner is striking the ball.
9.7. Vision
Block. No block shall be granted by the referee when a player's body
blocks an opponent's vision of, or ability to strike the ball, that
player shall be called out. (See Rules 4.6 and 9.1)
9.8. Blocking the Ball. A player will be called out if he intentionally uses
his body or his paddle to prevent a ball from reaching the wall.
9.9. Blocking Pursuit of the Ball. If a player deliberately moves to block an
opponent's pursuit of the ball, the player is out.
9.10. Moving
into Swing. Refer to Rule 4.6.
9.11. Cutting Down Wall. Any movement that cuts down an opponent's opportunity
to play the ball to the wall will be called out.
9.12. Pushing Off. A player will be called out if he intentionally pushes or
pushes off an opponent.
9.13. Accidental Bumping. If a player, after striking the ball accidentally,
bumps an opponent and in so doing prevents him from playing the next
shot, a block will be called. However, if the ball is out, the player is
out.
9.14. Major
Penalty Prevails. A ball must land fair even after a block call made. An
out ball is always an out ball regardless of any other call. (See Rule
8.17).
Rule 10. Outs or Points.
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10.1. Outside Ball. After the serve, any ball in play which strikes outside
the side lines or past the long line is an out or point.
10.2. Not
Hitting Wall. Any ball hitting the floor before the wall will be out.
10.3. Improper Return. If a player fails to legally and properly return the
opponent's play, it shall be an out or point scored against him.
10.4. Hitting Twice. Refer to Rule 8.2.
10.5. Loss
of Paddle. Refer to Rule 8.7.
10.6. Serving Out of Turn. Refer to Rule 5.2.
10.7. Illegal Service. Refer to Rule 5.2.
10.8. Service Miss. Refer to Rule 5.7.
10.9. Two
Consecutive Faults. Refer to Rule 6.1.
10.10.
Illegal Receiving. A receiver crossing the service line with his body or
paddle before completing his follow-through will be out. Refer to Rule
7.2.
10.11. Delay
of Game. Refer to Rule 8.17.
10.12. Excessive Conversation. Refer to Rule 8.10.
10.13. Taking Position Illegally. Refer to Rule 9.6.
10.14. Illegal Movement. Refer to Rule 9.1.
10.15. Intentional Backward Blocking. Refer to Rule 9.5.
10.16. Pushing Off. Refer to Rule 9.12.
10.17. Cutting Down Wall. Refer to Rule 9.11.
Rule 11. Penalties
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11.1.
Removal from tournament.
11.2 . Loss
of game.
11.3. Loss
of service or one or more points accompanied by a warning.
11.4. Warning.
Rule 12. Appeal Play
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12.1 If, in the course of a game, a player disagrees with the call of an
official, he may approach the head referee and request an appeal play.
Should the head referee feel there is merit for the request, he will
then ask the official who made the disputed call if he/she will yield
the call. If the official refuses, the head referee will inform the
player that the appeal has been disallowed. Play will continue with no
further discussion or comment. If the official yields his/her call, the head referee may
consult with one or more officials to reach a decision on the play. All
officials are encouraged to yield to an appeal request whenever any
doubt exists in their minds as to the accuracy of a call made or if the
play went unobserved by the linesperson involved. Players shall not
discuss calls with linespersons at any time. Any person doing so will be
penalized at the discretion of the referee.
Rule 13.
Injuries
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13.1. If a
player becomes injured or unable to continue to play due to conditions
other than an injury caused by an opponent, he shall be allowed an
injury time-out not to exceed five minutes. If after five minutes, play
has not resumed, that player or side shall default the game. If this
occurs during a match, the player or side will default if they fail to
report to play the next game by the normal time period allowed between
games in a match.
13.2. If a
player is injured by an opponent, and that opponent has been
disqualified, the injured player or side will be awarded the win.
However, if he is unable to play any of his subsequent matches he or his
side will default.
13.3. If a
player is injured by an opponent and the referee declares no violation
or disqualification and the injured player after five minutes cannot
resume play, he or his side shall default. If this occurs during a
match, the player of his side will default if he fails to report to play
the next game by the normal time period allowed between games in a
match.
Rule 14. Singles Service
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14.1. One
Serve. In tournament play, only one service is permitted. Any fault
therefore, results in an out.
14.2. Defining major service area, minor service area, and automatic fault
area. The position of the server's feet from the start to the conclusion
of his/her serve shall divide the court into three areas: the major
service area, the minor service area, and the automatic fault area.
Automatic Fault Area. The automatic fault area will be
determined by drawing two imaginary lines perpendicular to the wall and
parallel to the side lines which pass through the extreme right and left
foot positions of the server.
If the server moves from his starting position to another
point where the serve is completed, the entire area from start to finish
will be an automatic fault area.
Major Service Area. The major service area of the court
will be the larger of the two areas to either the left or right of the
automatic fault area.
Minor Service Area. The minor service area of the court
will be the smaller of the two areas to either the left or right of the
automatic fault area. If, in the opinion of the referee, the server
during his serve (from start to finish) creates two relatively equal
areas on either side of the automatic fault area, both areas will be
considered minor service areas.
14.3. The
server has the option to serve to either the major or minor service
area.
14.4. The
server must designate to his opponent and the referee when serving to
the minor serving area. This will be done by pointing to the minor
service area. Violation will be a fault.
Rule 15. Limit on Appeals.
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15.1 (The tournament director may or may not invoke the following rule for
any or all games in a tournament at his discretion.) Play must be
continuous at all times and in accordance with the rules. Any pause in
play to question or dispute a call by a linesperson or the referee shall
be deemed an appeal, whether or not the appeal is made only to the
referee as the rule stipulates. In a 15 point game, each side is limited
to two appeals, and in a game of 21 or more points, each side is limited
to three appeals. Once a side has exhausted their appeals, they may not
halt play to question, dispute, or appeal any further calls in that
game. Failure to abide by this rule will result in a penalty as outlined
in Rule 11.
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