Pickleball Rules, Safety & Court Etiquette

Play Safe. Play Fair. Have Fun!

At Pagosa Pickleball Club, we believe pickleball is about more than winning points. It's about staying active, making friends, enjoying a little friendly competition, and having fun on the courts.

Whether you're new to pickleball or have been playing for years, following a few simple guidelines helps create a safe, welcoming, and enjoyable experience for everyone.

We encourage all players to familiarize themselves with the basic rules of pickleball, practice good sportsmanship, and be considerate of others sharing the courts.

Court Safety

Safety comes first. A little awareness goes a long way toward preventing injuries and keeping games moving.

• Wear appropriate court shoes. Choose shoes designed for court sports that provide good traction and lateral support.
• Avoid backing up whenever possible. Turn and move sideways rather than running backward to retrieve a lob.
• Stay on your court. Never run onto another active court to retrieve a ball.
• Call "BALL ON!" If a ball rolls onto an active court, alert the players immediately.
• Stop play when a stray ball enters your court. Wait until the ball is safely retrieved before resuming play. Replay the rally.
• Return stray balls safely. Identify the player waiting for the ball, make eye contact, and return it directly to them. Never roll or hit a ball across an active court.
• Consider protective eyewear. Eye protection can help reduce the risk of injury from an unexpected ball or paddle.

Remember: No point is worth an injury. When in doubt, stop play.

Court Etiquette & Sportsmanship

Pickleball is known for its friendly, social atmosphere. Let's keep it that way!

Be Welcoming and Respectful

• Introduce yourself to players you haven't met.

• Welcome newcomers and help them feel comfortable.
• Be patient and encouraging with players who are learning.
• Compliment good shots and great rallies, including those made by your opponents.
• Thank your partner and opponents at the end of every game.
• Keep conversations and disagreements respectful.

Make the Game Enjoyable for Everyone

• In recreational play, be willing to play with people of different skill levels.
• When playing with less experienced players, adjust your shots to encourage enjoyable rallies.
• Avoid repeatedly targeting a weaker player, particularly when playing against a team with different skill levels.
• Use good judgment when hitting hard shots toward less experienced players.
• Remember that recreational pickleball isn't always about winning.

Respect Other Players

• Avoid unsolicited coaching. If someone asks for advice, keep it brief and constructive.
• Make your own fault calls, including kitchen violations.
• Respect your opponents' line calls, even when you disagree.
• Give players space and avoid unnecessary distractions during rallies.

Sharing the Courts

When courts are busy, cooperation helps everyone enjoy more playing time.

• Follow the posted court schedules and any organized play guidelines.
• When your game ends, promptly leave the court so the next group can play.
• Call out "COURT!" when your court becomes available, if others are waiting.
• If you're next to play, have your group ready to move onto the court.
• During Open Play, be willing to rotate partners and opponents. It's an opportunity to meet new people and enjoy different styles of play.
• Be considerate of players waiting for a court.

Our goal is simple: fair opportunities to play and a positive experience for everyone.

Pickleball Rules: The Basics

New to pickleball? Here's a quick overview of the rules you'll use most often.

For complete rules, visit the USA Pickleball Official Rulebook.

Game & Match Scoring

Pickleball can be played as singles or doubles, although doubles is the most common format.

Under traditional scoring:

• Games are generally played to 11 points.
• A team must win by at least two points.
• Only the serving team can score points.
• Tournament games may be played to 15 or 21 points, depending on the event format.

Some events use rally scoring, where a point is awarded after every rally, regardless of which team served. Check the event's rules before playing.

Serving

Every rally begins with a serve.

• The server must announce the score before serving.
• The serve must travel diagonally into the opponent's service court.
• The serve must clear the kitchen, including the kitchen line.
• It may touch the center line.
• The server gets one attempt to make a legal serve.
• If the serve touches the net and lands in the correct service court, play continues.

Two Ways to Serve

Volley Serve

The ball is struck before it bounces.

• The server's arm must move in an upward arc.
• Contact with the ball must occur below waist level.
• The paddle head must not be above the wrist at contact.

Drop Serve

The server releases the ball and lets it bounce before striking it.

The ball cannot be thrown upward or propelled downward to create the bounce. The volley-serve paddle-motion restrictions do not apply to a drop serve.

For either serve, the server must follow the applicable foot-position requirements. At contact, neither foot may touch the court or be outside the imaginary extensions of the sideline or centerline, and at least one foot must be on the playing surface behind the baseline.

Serving in Doubles

In doubles, both partners generally have an opportunity to serve before the serve passes to the opposing team.

The exception is the first serving team of each game, which gets only one server before the first side-out.

• The first server begins on the right side.
• When the serving team scores, the server switches sides.
• The receiving team does not switch positions when the opposing team scores.
• When the first server loses a rally, the second server takes over.
• When the second server loses a rally, the serve passes to the opponents.

Calling the Score

In doubles, the score is announced using three numbers:

Serving team's score – Receiving team's score – Server number

For example: 5 – 3 – 2

This means the serving team has five points, the receiving team has three, and the second server is serving.

At the beginning of a game, the score is called 0 – 0 – 2.

Serving in Singles

Singles scoring is simpler.

• Serve from the right side when your score is even.
• Serve from the left side when your score is odd.
• The receiver positions themselves diagonally across from the server.

The Two-Bounce Rule

One of pickleball's most important rules is the two-bounce rule.

• The receiving team must let the serve bounce before returning it.
• The serving team must let the return bounce before hitting it.

After those two bounces, players may hit the ball either after a bounce or out of the air.

This rule helps create longer rallies and prevents the serving team from immediately rushing the net.

The Non-Volley Zone (Kitchen)

The kitchen is the seven-foot area on either side of the net.

A volley means hitting the ball before it bounces.

• You cannot volley the ball while standing in the kitchen or touching the kitchen line.
• You cannot enter the kitchen because of your momentum after hitting a volley.
• Your paddle, clothing, or anything you're carrying cannot touch the kitchen during a volley.
• You may enter the kitchen to hit a ball that has bounced.
• You may remain in the kitchen when not volleying.

Remember: You can stand in the kitchen. You just can't volley from it.

Faults

A fault occurs when a player or team violates a rule during play.

Common faults include:

• Hitting the ball out of bounds.
• Hitting the ball into the net.
• Allowing the ball to bounce twice before returning it.
• Volleying before the two-bounce rule has been satisfied.
• Volleying while touching the kitchen or kitchen line.
• Touching the net while the ball is in play.
• Making an illegal serve.
• Being struck by a ball that is still in play.

A ball that touches a boundary line is generally considered in, except that a serve touching the kitchen line is a fault.

Line Calls & Fair Play

Good line calls are an important part of good sportsmanship.

• Make line calls on your own side of the net. Don't call your opponents' shots out.
• Call "OUT!" clearly and promptly when a ball lands outside the court.
• Use a hand signal when helpful, particularly when players may have difficulty hearing.
• Give your opponents the benefit of the doubt. If you cannot clearly determine that a ball was out, the ball is in.
• Ask your opponents for help if you didn't see where the ball landed. If they make a definitive call, accept their decision.
• Call your own faults, including kitchen violations and other faults you know you've committed.

When there's uncertainty, favor fair play over winning the point.

Keep Learning, Keep Playing!

Whether you're learning the basics, improving your skills, or competing in tournaments, understanding the rules and practicing good court etiquette makes pickleball more enjoyable for everyone.

At Pagosa Pickleball Club, we want every player to feel welcome, safe, and excited to return to the courts.

See you on the courts!

For more information, visit:

USA Pickleball — Official Rules

USA Pickleball — Rules Summary