Key Rules & Etiquette

BCPA Court Etiquette Code of Conduct

• Be competitive, but respectful.
• Promote sportsmanship and inclusiveness.
• Don’t make players feel unwelcome by refusing to play with them.
• Be a good partner - encourage don’t disparage.
• Try to maintain a positive attitude: Life is Good, Pickleball makes it Better!
• Don’t coach another player unless requested - tips and suggestions for improvement are coaching.
• Tone down the self criticism, this is discouraging to many partners.
• Try to play with as many different players as you can each session. (This is why we have kept our unique stacking rules and we think it works terrifically well.)
• Don’t target players with the ball - while a valid competitive shot - BCPA is recreational.
• Always follow the USA Pickleball “honor code” for calling balls/lines (Section 8 below). If you didn’t see the ball out it is IN! Balls on the other side of the net are not your call.
• When a spectator, also be welcoming, supportive and encouraging to all players.
• Know and enforce the club rotation rules for BCPA play sessions.
• Remember that spectators cannot make calls.
• If there is a Rules question, consult an experienced player. A recheck of the Official Rules of USA Pickleball and the Local Rules below can be useful.

USA Pickleball stuff

The list of USA Pickleball Approved Paddles and Balls is updated as they test new products appearing on the market. It is strongly recommended that you only use Approved paddles and balls for your play. The loaner paddles and the BCPA balls we use for regular play are all Approved.

USA Pickleball Association official rules shall govern play. Please download a summary of the most recent rule changes and a copy of the complete 2026 Rules. Please note that the changes to the Official rules are effective beginning January of the year promulgated. Especially for new players, download a copy of the Basic Rules Summary

The Key Rules below have been updated from the Official USA Pickleball Rules of 2026.

Main Rules on Serving. (Sections 6 & 7)

• 6.C. The entire score must be called before the server hits the ball.

• 7.A Server Positioning. When the serve is hit, the server must be in compliance with Rules 7.A.1, 7.A.2 and 7.A.3.
  • 7.A.1 Grounded. At least one of the server’s feet must be in contact with the correct serving area when the serve is hit.
    • 7.A.1.a Fault – Server Not Grounded. When both server’s feet are off the playing surface when the serve is hit, it is a fault against the server.
  • 7.A.2 Outside Court. Neither of the server’s feet is allowed to be in contact with the court when the serve is hit.
    • 7.A.2.a Fault – Server Contacting Court. If a server’s foot is in contact with the court when the serve is hit, it is a fault against the server.
  • 7.A.3 In Serving Area. Neither of the server’s feet is allowed to be in contact with the playing surface outside the correct serving area when the serve is hit.
    • 7.A.3.a Fault – Server Outside Serving Area. If a server’s foot is in contact with the playing surface outside the correct serving area when the serve is hit, it is a fault against the server.

• 7.B Ball Release. The server must comply with Rules 7.B.1 through 7.B.3 when releasing the ball to make the serve.
• 7.B.1 Release from Hand or Paddle. The server must release the ball using only one hand or only the paddle.
• 7.B.2 No Manipulation or Spin Upon Release. Some natural rotation of the ball is expected during any release of the ball. The server must not manipulate the ball to add spin with any part of the server's body or the paddle prior to hitting the ball to make the serve, except that the server may allow the ball to roll off the face of the paddle by gravity. Spin may be applied to the ball upon contact by the paddle.
  • 7.B.2.a Replay – Manipulation or Spin Added. When the receiver determines that the server has imparted manipulation or spin during the release of the ball, the receiver may call for a replay, but only before returning the serve.
• 7.B.3 Visible Release. The server’s release of the ball must be visible to the receiver.
  • 7.B.3.a Replay – Ball Release Not Visible. When the receiver cannot see the release of the ball, the receiver may call for a replay, but only before the return of serve.

• 7.C Volley Serve. The service motion for a volley serve must comply with Rules 7.C.1 through 7.C.4.
  • 7.C.1 Upward Arc. The server’s paddle must be moving in a clear upward arc when the paddle contacts the ball.
  • 7.C.2 Paddle Head. The highest point of the paddle head must clearly not be above the highest part of the server’s wrist joint when the paddle contacts the ball.
  • 7.C.3 Ball Height. The ball must clearly be no higher than the server’s waist when the paddle contacts the ball.
  • 7.C.4 Forehand or Backhand. The serve can be made with a forehand or backhand motion.
  • 7.C.5 Fault – Illegal Volley Serve. When the server violates Rule 7.C.1, 7.C.2, or 7.C.3, it is a fault against the server.

These volley serve rules are illustrated in this picture. The ball is below the waist and the paddle head is below the wrist. In this picture the paddle head is just barely below the wrist and is in jeopardy of being called a fault. Most experienced players keep the paddle head well below the wrist so there is no question.

• 7.D The Drop Serve. A drop serve is made by dropping the ball and hitting the ball with the paddle after the ball bounces on the playing surface. The service motion for a drop serve must comply with Rules 7.D.1 through 7.D.5.
  • 7.D.1 Release Position. The server must release the ball from a natural (unaided) height.
  • 7.D.2 Release Force. When releasing the ball, the ball must not be propelled in any direction or in any manner prior to hitting the serve.
  • 7.D.3 Number of Bounces. Before the server hits the ball to make the serve, there is no restriction on how many times the ball can bounce.
  • 7.D.4 Bounce Location. Before the server hits the ball to make the serve, there is no restriction on where the ball bounces on the playing surface.
  • 7.E.5 Fault – Serve Hits Receiver or Receiver’s Partner. When a served ball contacts the receiver or receiver’s partner or anything that is worn or carried by either, before landing, it is a fault against the receiver.

• 7.E Serve Placement. The server must serve to the service court diagonally opposite their correct position. (See Rule 14.B.3 for mini-singles.) The served ball must clear the opponent’s non-volley zone, with or without touching the net, and land in the correct service court.
  • 7.E.1 Fault – Serve Lands Out of Bounds. When a served ball lands outside the correct service court, it is a fault against the server.
  • 7.E.2 Fault – Serve Lands in Non-Volley Zone. When a served ball lands in the non-volley zone, it is a fault against the server.
  • 7.E.3 Fault – Serve Hits Permanent Object. When a served ball contacts a permanent object before landing, it is a fault against the server.
  • 7.E.4 Fault – Serve Hits Server or Server’s Partner. When a served ball contacts the server or server’s partner or anything that is worn or carried by either, it is a fault against the server.
  • 7.E.5 Fault – Serve Hits Receiver or Receiver’s Partner. When a served ball contacts the receiver or receiver’s partner or anything that is worn or carried by either, before landing, it is a fault against the receiver.

Rules on Line Calling (Section 8)

• 8.A Line Calling Responsibility. Players are responsible for making "out" calls for all lines on their end of the court. In doubles, either or both partners may make a line call.
• 8.B “In” Ball. A served ball that clears the opponent’s non-volley zone line and lands in the correct service court is "in." A ball returned by a player that lands on the opponent’s end of the court is "in."
• 8.C "Out" Ball. A served ball that does not land in the correct service court on the opponent’s end of the court, including one that lands on the non-volley zone line, is "out." Any other ball that lands outside the court is "out."
• 8.D Code of Ethics for Line Calling. When making line calls, players must strive for accuracy and operate under the principle that all questionable calls must be resolved in favor of the opponent. The opponent gets the benefit of the doubt on line calls made. Any ball that cannot be promptly called "out" must be considered "in."
• 8.E Line Call Certainty. Players must not call a ball "out" unless they can clearly see a space between the line and the ball when it lands.
• 8.F "Out" Call and Signal. Players must promptly signal an "out" ball audibly by voice, visibly by a hand signal, or both.
  • 8.F.1 Valid Line Call. Any "out" call made by a player after the ball lands is a line call.
  • 8.F.2 Dead Ball. A line call results in a dead ball and play must stop.
  • 8.F.3 Out Call Timing. If a player returns the ball, their "out" call must be made before the ball is hit by the opponent or before the ball becomes dead; otherwise, play continues. If a player does not return the ball, an "out" call made promptly will be recognized, even if the ball becomes dead before the "out" call is made.
  • 8.F.4 Partner Communication. While the ball is in the air, any communication between partners about whether a ball might land out is considered player communication, not a line call.
• 8.G Overriding a Call. Players may override a partner’s line call, their own line call, or an "in" ruling to their own disadvantage.
• 8.H Partner Disagreement (Doubles). When partners disagree on a line call, then conflict exists, and the team's call will be "in."
• 8.I Requesting Opponent’s Opinion. A player may defer to the opponent any line call that the player is responsible for making by asking the opponent’s opinion up until the next serve is hit. When the opponent makes a clear "in" or "out" decision, the opponent’s decision will stand. When the opponent does not make a definitive call, the player’s call will stand or when no call was made by the player, the ball will be considered "in." After asking the opponent, the player and the player’s partner lose the opportunity to make the line call, except to override the call to favor the opponent.
• 8.J Spectator Involvement. Spectators must not be consulted on any call.

Non-Volley Zone Infraction (Section 11)

• 11.A Allowable Contact. All volleys must be initiated outside of the non-volley zone. A player, or anything in contact with the player, may contact the non- volley zone at any time except during the act of volleying a ball.
  • 11.A.1 Fault – Non-Volley Zone Contact While Volleying. When a volleying player or anything that has contact with the volleying player (including the player’s partner) contacts the non-volley zone, it is a fault against the player.
  • 11.A.2 Fault – Non-Volley Zone Momentum. When a volleying player’s momentum causes the player to contact anything (including the player’s partner) that is in contact with the non-volley zone, even after the ball becomes dead, it is a fault against the volleying player.
  • 11.A.3 Fault – Failure to Exit the Non-Volley Zone Before Volleying. After contacting the non-volley zone, when a player volleys a ball before both feet contact the playing surface completely outside the non-volley zone, it is a fault against the player.