Surrey Pickleball follows US Amateur Pickleball Association (USAPA) guidelines as the official rules and specifications for pickleball play, The 2025 USAPA rulebook can be found here.THE BASICS Pickleball is played on a badminton-size court: 20’ x 44' with a centre net that is 36" high at the ends and 34" high in the centre. It is played with a paddle (resembling and over-sized table tennis paddle) and a ball that resembles a wiffle ball (a hard plastic ball with holes). The ball is served diagonally (starting with the right-hand service-square if a serving team has an even score, the left-hand for an odd score). Points can only be scored by the side that serves. Players on each side must let the ball bounce once before volleys are allowed, and there is a seven-foot no-volley zone ("kitchen") on each side of the net, to prevent “spiking.” The server continues to serve, alternating service courts, until the serving team faults on the service or loses the rally. The first side scoring eleven points and leading by at least two points wins. Pickleball can be played with singles or doubles. THE SERVE Serves are to be made diagonally, alternating each serve. The serve must clear the seven-foot non-volley-zone ("kitchen") in front of the net and land in the diagonal service court. Except for the first serve of a game, each member of the serving team gets one serve. Serves should always be done underhand with the paddle below the waist. The ball should be hit into the air without being bounced. Alternatively (new in 2021), the ball may be dropped (not thrown up or down) and may be hit after it bounces, with no restrictions on paddle placement. The server must keep both feet behind the back line prior to contacting the ball. The serving side will continue to serve until the there is a service fault or loss of rally, at which time either the serving team's second server will serve or, if both players have served, the service will be given to the opposing side. If the ball touches the net but still lands within the appropriate service court, the serve is considered in (new for 2021). VOLLEYS To volley means to hit a ball in the air without first letting it bounce. In Pickleball, this can only be done when the player’s feet are behind the non-volley zone line (seven feet behind the net). DOUBLE BOUNCE RULE Each team must play their first shot off of the bounce. That is, the receiving team must let the serve bounce and the serving team must let the return of the serve bounce before playing it. Once these two bounces have occurred, the ball can either be volleyed or played off the bounce. FAULT A fault is committed when the ball:
NEW! - MLPLAY™ - an innovative coed team competition for men and women.THE BASICS Minor League Pickleball is an innovative coed team competition where teams of 4 players (2 women and 2 men) compete against each other in an engaging format, with twists on traditional match-ups and scoring for games, matches, and tiebreakers. Teams compete against each other in Matches using the MLPlay™ format: In theMLPlay™ format team matches are composed of four 15-point games, one women’s doubles, a men’s doubles, and the final two games consisting of mixed doubles. If both teams are tied at 2-2 after the 4 games are played, they’ll go to a Dreambreaker™! In a Dreambreaker™ one person chosen from each team plays singles against the other team’s player, until someone gets to 11 and wins by 2 points.
MLPLAY GUIDELINES
NEW! - Queen & King of the Court, a fast-paced and fun way to mix players and keep games going.THE BASICS Players are divided onto two sides of the court: the “King/Queen” side and the “Challenger” side. Start: Challengers serve first to the King/Queen side. Play: Games are typically played to 7, 9, or 11 points (win by 1). Only the serving side can score. Rotation:
The pair that holds the court the longest (or accumulates the most points depending on format) are the winners. This format encourages quick games, constant rotation, and lets players of all levels face different opponents. |