Pickleball Usapa.org

What Is Pickleball? A fun paddle sport created for all ages and skill levels that combines many elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis. Played both indoors or outdoors on a badminton- sized court and a slightly modified tennis net. The rules are simple and the game is easy for beginners to learn, but can develop into a quick, fast-paced, competitive game for experienced players.

Historical Timeline 1965 – After playing golf one Saturday during the summer, Joel Pritchard and Bill Bell returned to Pritchard’s home on Bainbridge Island, WA to find their families sitting around with nothing to do. The property had an old badminton court so Pritchard and Bell looked for some badminton equipment and could not find a full set of rackets. They improvised and started playing with ping-pong paddles and a perforated plastic ball.

Historical Timeline The following weekend, Barney McCallum was introduced to the game at Pritchard’s home. Soon, the three men created rules, relying heavily on badminton. They kept in mind the original purpose, which was to provide a game that the whole family could play together – USAPA “was organized to perpetuate the growth and advancement of pickleball on a national level.” The first rulebook was published in March, 1984.

Historical Timeline 2001 – The game of pickleball was introduced for the first time in the Arizona Senior Olympics through the efforts of Earl Hill. The tournament was played at Happy Trails RV Park in Surprise, AZ and drew 100 players. It was the largest event ever played to that point. Over the next few years the event grew to nearly 300 players – The first USAPA National Tournament for players of all ages was held in Buckeye, Arizona, November 2-8, The tournament drew almost 400 players from 26 states and several Canadian provinces.

The Name Pickleball has a very interesting name, especially since no pickles are used. Accounts of how the name originated differ. (1)According to Joel Pritchard’s wife (Joan), she started calling the game pickleball because “the combination of different sports reminded me of the pickle boat in crew where oarsmen were chosen from the leftovers of other boats”. (2) However, according to Barney McCallum, the game was officially named after the Prichards’ dog Pickles who would chase the ball and run off with it.

Equipment Players will need pickleball paddles, a net, and a pickleball. The paddle is smaller than a tennis racquet but larger than a ping-pong paddle. The ball itself is unique, with holes through it like a wiffle ball and there are different ball models intended for indoor and outdoor play.

Gameplay Pickleball is played either as doubles (two players per team) or singles; doubles is most common. The same size playing area and rules are used for both singles and doubles. Players use a coin toss to determine who will serve first. The winner of the coin toss will have the option to choose side or to serve or receive.

Gameplay The Serve o The serve must be made underhand. o Paddle contact with the ball must be below the server’s waist. o The serve is initiated with at least one foot behind the baseline; neither foot may contact the baseline or court until after the ball is struck. o The serve is made diagonally crosscourt and must land within the confines of the opposite diagonal court. o Only one serve attempt is allowed, except in the event of a let (the ball touches the net on the serve and lands on the proper service court; let serves are replayed).

Gameplay Scoring o Points are scored only by the serving team. o Games are normally played to 11 points, win by 2. o Tournament games may be to 15 or 21, win by 2. o When the serving team’s score is even (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10) the player who was the first server in the game for that team will be in the right-side court when serving or receiving; when odd (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) that player will be in the left-side court when serving or receiving.

Gameplay o Points are scored only on the serve. The receiving side cannot score a point. o At the start of the game, the player on the right side serves. o If a point is scored, the server moves to the left side and serves to the opposite court. o Each time that a point is scored, the players on the serving side alternate from the right to left or left to right. o That player continues to serve until the serve is lost by losing a rally. o Players on the serving team do not alternate sides unless a point is scored.

Gameplay o The receiving side never alternates sides. o When the first server loses the serve, the serve goes to the second server on the side. o When the second server loses the serve, the serve goes to the other team. o When the receiving team wins a service turn, the player on the right serves first and continues to serve and alternates sides each time that a point is won. o That pattern continues throughout the game.

Gameplay o Call the score in the order of server’s score, receiver’s score, and then the server number. o For example if the score of the serving team is 3 and the score of the receiving team is 6, and the second server on the side is serving, the score would be announced as Some players might say “second” for the server number, for example 3-6- second.

Gameplay o It is important to call the score including the server number prior to each serve. That helps the players to keep the server and the score straight. o When you announce, as part of the score, that you are the first server, everyone on the court knows that when you lose the serve, the serve goes to your partner. o When you announce that you are the second server, everyone knows that when you lose the serve, the serve goes to the other team.

Gameplay Singles Scoring o Singles scoring is very similar except that there is no second server. The serve is always done from the right side when the server’s score is even and from the left side when the server’s score is odd. Note that it is the server’s score that matters, not the combined score of server and receiver.

Rules Video : Line Calls o A ball contacting any line, except the non-volley zone line on a serve, is considered “in.” o A serve contacting the non-volley zone line is short and a fault.

Rules Double-Bounce Rule o When the ball is served, the receiving team must let it bounce before returning, and then the serving team must let it bounce before returning, thus two bounces. o After the ball has bounced once in each team’s court, both teams may either volley the ball (hit the ball before it bounces) or play it off a bounce (ground stroke).

Rules Non-Volley Zone o The non-volley zone is the court area within 7 feet on both sides of the net. o Volleying is prohibited within the non-volley zone. o It is a fault if, when volleying a ball, the player steps on the non-volley zone, including the line. o A player may legally be in the non-volley zone any time other than when volleying a ball.

Rules Faults o A fault is any action that stops play because of a rule violation. o A fault by the receiving team results in a point for the serving team. o A fault by the serving team results in the server’s loss of serve or side out.

Rules A fault occurs when: o A serve does not land within the confines of the receiving court o The ball is hit into the net on the serve or any return o The ball is volleyed before a bounce has occurred on each side o The ball is hit out of bounds o A ball is volleyed from the non-volley zone o A ball bounces twice before being struck by the receiver o A player, player’s clothing, or any part of a player’s paddle touches the net or the net post when the ball is in play o There is a violation of a service rule o A ball in play strikes a player or anything the player is wearing or carrying

Strategies o Face the player who will hit the ball, not the non-volley line. You will be in a better position to hit the ball. o Keep you paddle high, near your chest. It’s easier to react to hard shots at you. o Keep the ball in play. 75% of all rallies are won or lost because of unforced errors, many of them at the baseline. o Return serves soft and deep, that gives you time to get to the non-volley line. o Don’t try to make hard serves or serves near the side lines o Don’t short hop the ball at the baseline. Stand back a little to get a higher bounce.

Strategies o Keep both feet behind the baseline when serving or receiving a serve. o Try to stay in the middle of your side of the court. Don’t take your partner’s shots away. o Learn to “Dink” the ball proficiently, be patient. o Don’t try to make a “kill” shot unless it’s really there to make. o Know when to hit the ball hard or softly. It’s not about power. o Work on a cross-court dink.

Court o A pickleball court is the same size as a badminton court and measures 20×44 feet. o In pickleball, the same court is used for both singles and doubles play. o The net height is 36 inches. The court is striped similar to a tennis court with right and left service courts and a 7-foot non-volley zone in front of the net.

Court