Pickleball Rules
General Overview
- Self-Referee: Players are responsible for making their own calls during the game. A Hive Athletic Court Manager will be on-site to help clarify any rules or disputes, but they will not serve as referees.
- Team Requirements: Each team must have a minimum of 2 players to start the game.
- Game Format: Matches are best out of 5 games, played within a 45-minute time frame.
- Player Rotation: Teams with more than 2 players can rotate in on a serve or alternate games. All rostered players present must play at least once during the match.
- Score Reporting: Teams are responsible for reporting their scores to Hive Athletic Court Manager
Game and Match Play
- Matches: A game ends when a team reaches 11 points and leads by at least 2 points. If the score ties at 10-10, the game continues until one team wins by 2 points, with a cap at 15 points (e.g., if the game reaches 14-14, the next point wins).
- Switching Sides: Players must switch sides after each game.
- Serving: Each player has only one serving attempt unless it’s a “let” serve (a serve that hits the net and lands in the correct service court). In this case, the serve is replayed. The player continues serving until they fail to win a point.
- Announcing Score: Players must announce the score before serving, with the server’s score stated first.
- Serve Sequence: Both players on a team have the chance to serve before the serve turns over to the other team. The player on the right serves first, and servers switch sides after each point.
Faults
- Serving Faults: Serving the ball into the incorrect area, or missing the ball entirely when attempting to serve.
- Gameplay Faults:
- Hitting the ball out of bounds.
- Volleying the ball before it has bounced once on each side.
- Hitting the ball into the net or touching the net with the paddle or body.
- Volleying from within the non-volley zone (“the kitchen”) before the ball bounces.
- Stepping on or over the non-volley zone line during a follow-through.
- Missing the ball when attempting to hit it.
Basic Rules (USA Pickleball Guidelines)
- Doubles Play: Pickleball is played as doubles (two players from the same team). The court size and rules are the same for singles and doubles.
- Non-Volley Zone: The non-volley zone is within 7 feet of the net. Volleying is not allowed within this zone. It’s a fault if momentum carries a player into the zone after volleying.
- Two-Bounce Rule: The ball must bounce once on each side after the serve before it can be volleyed. This rule extends rallies and removes the serve-and-volley advantage.
- Line Calls: A ball touching any part of the line (except the non-volley zone line during a serve) is considered “in.”
Playoffs
- Playoff Qualification: 50% of teams qualify for the playoffs.
Tiebreakers:
- Winning Percentage
- Head-to-Head Record
- Record against other playoff-qualifying teams.
- If still tied, a coin toss will determine seeding.
The Serve
- Serving Motion: The server’s arm must move in an upward arc, striking the ball below waist level. The paddle head must be below the wrist at contact. A ‘drop serve’ is also permitted.
- Serving Position: The server must stand behind the baseline, and the serve must land diagonally in the opposite court.
- Serve Attempts: Each server has only one attempt, unless a let occurs.
Scoring
- Scoring System: Points are only scored by the serving team. For 45-minute matches, a game ends at 11 points with a 2-point lead, or 15 points max.
- Score Announcement: The server’s score is announced first, followed by the receiver’s score.
Forfeits
- If you know in advance that your team is going to forfeit a game, we encourage you to call (201-528-5129) or email (info@hiveathletic.com) our office, so that we can notify your opponent and update your standings online.
Waivers
- In order to participate in the league, each participant must sign the online waiver. Waivers are provided and must be completed and submitted in no later than the first night of play. Players must sign the waiver in order to be eligible for playoffs.
- PLAYER ELIGIBILITY:
- Players who have been placed on the roster and signed the waiver are eligible for playoffs. A formal protest may be filed before a playoff game if an opposing player’s eligibility is in question. The player in question will be required to provide his/her player information (name, address, phone #) in writing to a HIVE ATHLETIC staff member prior to the start of the game. This qualifies as an official protest. Any protest made during a game or after a game will NOT be considered a formal protest. The game will then be played in its entirety as scheduled. If the protest is proven to be legitimate, it will result in the forfeiture of the game in question.
SPORTSMANSHIP:
The idea of HIVE ATHLETIC is to have fun. We hope that all participants keep that in mind when becoming involved. Although the games may become intense, you still can be competitive while maintaining good sportsmanship. With this said, any behavior deemed unacceptable by staff may result in suspension and/or ejection from a game or the league. Abuse of staff will not be tolerated. HIVE ATHLETIC reserves the right to remove a player from a game or a league if they are considered to be bringing down the quality of the league. HIVE ATHLETIC will not tolerate fighting! Fighting will be an automatic ejection from any game and in most cases ejection from the league for the remainder of the season.
LEAGUE CANCELLATION/RAINOUT:
Please call our weather hotline for the most up to date information on any cancellations (201-528-3271). Leagues may be postponed due to existing weather conditions, dangerous or unplayable field conditions, facility constraints, etc. HIVE ATHLETIC staff makes every effort to play all scheduled games, thus we will not cancel games until absolutely necessary. Therefore, if you are calling concerning a decision on a cancellation, remember we will not have an answer until close to the start of the league. HIVE ATHLETIC will then email/text all of the captains to let them know if possible. It is then the site, HIVE ATHLETIC staff will attempt to contact those teams still scheduled to play the remainder of the league day/night. Depending on the time of cancellation, some teams will have to be notified on site or not at all. If we do cancel, follow next week’s schedule (ex. If April 13 is canceled teams should follow the April 20 schedule for their next game). The games that are canceled will be made up towards the end of the season. In extreme circumstances, HIVE ATHLETIC reserves the right to move games or weeks to an alternative location or schedule games on days other than your regularly scheduled league day/night if necessary.
SPORTSMANSHIP:
The idea of HIVE ATHLETIC is to have fun. We hope that all participants keep that in mind when becoming involved. Although the games may become intense, you still can be competitive while maintaining good sportsmanship. With this said, any behavior deemed unacceptable by staff may result in suspension and/or ejection from a game or the league. Abuse of staff will not be tolerated. HIVE ATHLETIC reserves the right to remove a player from a game or a league if they are considered to be bringing down the quality of the league. HIVE ATHLETIC will not tolerate fighting! Fighting will be an automatic ejection from any game and in most cases ejection from the league for the remainder of the season
LEAGUE CANCELLATION/RAINOUT:
Please call our weather hotline for the most up to date information on any cancellation (201-528-3271). Leagues may be postponed due to existing weather conditions, dangerous or unplayable field conditions, facility constraints, etc. HIVE ATHLETIC staff makes every effort to play all scheduled games, thus we will not cancel games until absolutely necessary. Therefore, if you are calling concerning a decision on a cancellation, remember we will not have an answer until close to the start of the league.
If a game is postponed, HIVE ATHLETIC will change the weather hotline immediately. HIVE ATHLETIC will then email/text all of the captains to let them know if possible. It is then the captains’ responsibility to inform all teammates of the cancellation. If a league is canceled on site, HIVE ATHLETIC staff will attempt to contact those teams still scheduled to play the remainder of the league day/night. Depending on the time of cancellation, some teams will have to be notified on site or not at all. If we do cancel, follow next week’s schedule (ex. If April 13 is canceled teams should follow the April 20 schedule for their next game). The games that are canceled will be made up towards the end of the season. In extreme circumstances, HIVE ATHLETIC reserves the right to move games or weeks to an alternative location or schedule games on days other than your regularly scheduled league day/night if necessary