Pickleball is new to LexSSC! If you have any comments or suggestions on rules or setup please contact us via email!

Officiating:

1. This is a self officiated league. 
2. Players must agree upon calls (most calls should be made on the side of the court the ball is on).
3. If there is any confusion on calls we strongly encourage replaying the point.  Please be honest and show good sportsmanship.  
4. LexSSC will provide 1 field manager that you must report scores to after the conclusion of your time slot.

 The Start of Play:

1. Team captains will play rock, paper, scissors. The winner can choose to serve first or the side of the court they prefer.

Equipment and Field of Play:

1. LexSSC will provide the balls and paddles
   
1. WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE GETTING YOUR OWN PADDLE. 
2. The field of play is rectangular, 44 feet long by 20 feet wide, divided into 2 halves by a center dividing net.
3. Each half has a line that is 7 feet away and parallel with the net. This indicates a Non-Volley Zone or “The Kitchen”

Teams/Substitutions:

1. Each team consists a minimum of 3 paid players (2 play at a time).- There are no gender restrictions.
2. Players 1,2,3 will rotate games accordingly.  All players on site must play in at least one game.  The extra player is also a substitute due to players being out certain weeks.  This saves your team from having to forfeit games. (For forfeitures ruling see forfeit section).
3. You can have as many people on your team as you want but just know the more you have, the less playing time there will be. (We suggest signing up multiple teams if you have multiple people interested in participating).

Game Duration:

1. Matches will be 60 mins.
1. Teams will play as many games as possible within that 60 mins.
2. If a team decides to quit during that 60 mins, it will be recorded as a 5-0 defeat. *Not a forfeit.
3. Games will be to 11 points and win by 2 or first to 15.

Serving:

1. The ball is served underhand and diagonally to the opponent's service court.
2. Player A serves → If Team AB wins the point, Player A switches positions with Player B and serves. This continues until Player A faults. After Player A faults, Player B serves. After Player B faults, the serve goes to the other team.
3. The serve CAN bounce before making contact with the servers paddle.
4. Serves must cross the non-volley line on the opponent's side.
5. If the serve lands in the non-volley zone or on the non-volley line, it is considered a fault, and the other team gets the ball.
6. Serves must be made underhand and below the waist.
7. The server must be positioned behind the baseline and on their quadrant of the court.
8. Only one serve attempt is allowed.
9. Let serves are now considered IN play.
10. The Double-Bounce Rule
1. 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.
2. After the ball has bounced once in each team’s court, both teams may either hit the ball before it bounces or play it off a bounce.
11. Any ball that lands on the line is considered IN.

Scoring:

1. Serve to score.
2. A point is scored if the returning team fails to return the ball or if the returning team commits a fault.

Faults:

1. A fault is any action that stops play because of a rule violation.
2. The ball is hit into the net on the serve or any return.
3. The ball is volleyed before a bounce has occurred on each side.
4. The ball is hit out of bounds.
5. A ball is volleyed from the non-volley zone.
6. A ball bounces twice before being struck by the receiver.
7. 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.
8. There is a violation of a service rule.
9. A ball in play strikes a player or anything the player is wearing or carrying.
10. A ball in play strikes any permanent object before bouncing on the court.

Non-Volley Zone aka "The Kitchen":

1. The non-volley zone is the court area within 7 feet on both sides of the net.
2. Volleying is prohibited within the non-volley zone. This rule prevents players from executing smashes from a position within the zone.
3. It is a fault if, when volleying a ball, the player steps on the non-volley zone, including the line and/or when the player’s momentum causes them or anything they are wearing or carrying to touch the non-volley zone including the associated lines.
4. It is a fault if, after volleying, a player is carried by momentum into or touches the non-volley zone, even if the volleyed ball is declared dead before this happens.
5. A player may legally be in the non-volley zone any time other than when volleying a ball.

Forfeits:

1. Teams have until 10 minutes past the designated start time to field the minimum requirement (2).
2. A forfeit will be scored 5-0 (F). 
3. Please notify us early if you have to forfeit. If we have enough notice it gives us a chance to find a replacement team for your opponent to play or can allow others to practice and utilize the courts.

League Schedule:

1. All teams are scheduled for 6 matches minimum.
2. The top teams will make the single-elimination tournament on the 7th week.
1. The number of teams that qualify will vary depending on the number of teams in the league and court space available.

Playoffs:

1. Rosters will be checked at the beginning of games.
2. Tournament Format:
1. A single-elimination tournament will be played on week 7 on the same day of the week that the league is scheduled.
2. The top teams qualify for playoffs.
1. The number of teams will vary depending on the total number of teams in the league and available court space.
3. Each match is best of 3 games.