The LBI Pickleball at the Beach Tournament is an MMP USA Pickleball sanctioned event and will have referees for just about every match, but mandatory for matches before the medal rounds and medal matches. You must have a valid USA Pickleball Association membership to register and it must not expire before the last day of the tournament. Teams are not considered registered until both team members are registered and paid. Partners have 5 days to register, otherwise the team will be placed on the waitlist. Players will not be able to play lower than their UTPR rating. You certainly can play up a level. Please play at the skill level where you play in rec play. If you have any questions or problems registering please email me at: AndreaMarcellBook@gmail.com.
REFEREE & RULES SUMMARY
PLAYER INSTRUCTIONS
Please carefully read this important information in its entirety.
All 2024 USA Pickleball Rules Apply
Key points of the 2024 USA Pickleball rules are summarized below for your convenience. However, as a player, you are responsible for being familiar with the rules in their entirety.
SIGNIFICANT NEW RULES FOR 2024
Correcting Server, Receiver and Player Position Errors (4.B.9)
Faults for incorrect server, incorrect receiver and player position errors are eliminated. The referee will now correct any such player errors before calling the score. Rule 4.B.9 is the primary rule text. Several other rules have been modified or deleted to correlate with this change.
Draping Net (2.C.6/11.L.5.b)
Rule 2.C.6 calls for a replay when a ball goes over the net and hits a net that is draped on the ground (except on a serve) but only if the referee determined that the ball was affected by the draped net. This rule, and Rule 11.L.5.b for temporary nets, now call for a replay without qualification. A determination that the ball was affected by the draped net is now not required in officiated or non-officiated play.
Catch or Carry Ball on the Paddle (7.L)
Rule 7.L now makes catching or carrying a ball on the paddle a fault without having to determine that the catch or carry was deliberately done.
Conceding a Rally (13.E.4/13.E.5)
Rule 13.E.5 calls for a reply when a player overrules to their detriment a line judge's 'out' call as 'in.' The player or team may now choose to concede the rally to their opponent if they determine they would have been unable to return the 'in' ball.
Similarly, Rule 13.E.4 calls for a replay when the referee overturns a line judge's out call as in. The player or team who benefited from the referee's ruling may now choose to concede the rally to their opponent if they determine they would have been unable to return the 'in' ball.
Medical Time-Outs (10.B.2.c)
A player is now allowed to use available standard time-outs after the 15-minute medical time-out has expired to allow more time before the player must retire from the match.
Paddle Specifications (2.E.2/2.E.5.a/2.E.5.c)
Paddle specifications have been updated to address new and emerging paddle technology and features to clarify the alterations that players are allowed to make to certified paddles.
1. Players must play with a USA Pickleball-approved paddle. You are responsible for ensuring that the paddle you play with is listed on the Approved Paddle List posted on the USA Pickleball website.
2. Players are responsible for calling all the lines on their end of the court. However, in officiated matches, the referee is responsible for calling service foot faults, non-volley zone foot faults, and short serves. Please make all “out” calls loudly, clearly, and promptly, even if they are obvious. The Code of Ethics for Line Calling requires that you give the opponent the benefit of any doubt.
3. You may ask the referee to make a ruling on any line call (appeal). The referee will only make a ruling if he/she clearly saw the ball land. Otherwise, the appealed call will stand.
4. Starting server bands will be provided for doubles events and must be worn by each starting server so that is visible to the referee and the opponents. Failure to wear the band will result in a forfeit of the match.
5. Referees, and servers in self-officiated matches, will make sure all players are ready (or should be ready) before calling the score.
6. The server must not hit the ball to serve until after the entire score has been called. Serving while the score is being called (live ball) will result in a fault. Serving before the score call begins (dead ball) will result in a replay.
7. After the score is called, the server has 10 seconds to serve the ball. Failure to do so will result in a fault.
8. Before the serve is hit, players may ask the referee who is the correct server or receiver, whether they are in the correct position, or to confirm the score, BUT it's now the referee's responsibility to correct you. If there is an officiating error, the rally will be replayed. If the referee or a player stops a rally in progress to correctly identify a player/position error, the rally shall be replayed. If a player stops a rally and incorrectly identifies a player/position error, it is a fault to the player who stopped the rally. If the referee stops a rally in progress and incorrectly identifies a player/position error, the rally shall be replayed. If a player/position error is identified after the rally has played out, the rally shall stand. If the rally played out and no one caught an error, you played it in good faith and the rally stands.
9. In officiated matches, the referee will pay close attention that each player's service complies with USA Pickleball requirements. The ball release must also be visible to the referee and the opponent.
For a volley serve, when the ball is hit:
a. The server’s arm must be moving in an upward arc.
b. The highest point of the paddle head must not be above the highest point of the server’s wrist.
c. The ball must not be above the server’s waist.
For a drop serve, the ball must be dropped from the hand or paddle, with no force added, from an unaided height.
10. Any double hit can be hit twice, but this must occur during a continuous, single-direction stroke.
11. Players may quickly hydrate and towel off between rallies within the flow of the game.
12. Players may call a hinder if they are distracted by a ball, person, or object coming into their playing area. Hinders deemed to be valid by the referee will result in a replay. The referee will not stop play due to a ball in the playing area unless it becomes a safety issue.
13. Players may only receive coaching from someone other than their partner during a time-out. This includes between games and during end changes.
14. Any player may call a time-out before the server hits the ball to serve. Each team has two 1-minute (standard) time-outs per 11-point or 15-point game and three time-outs are available in games to 21 points. Time-outs cannot be called during rallies. Time-outs for a game may be requested and used during the between game time-out before the game begins.
15. There is a 2-minute break (time-out) between games.
16. In the third game of a 2-out-of-3 game match, and in games to 15 or 21 points, teams
have a 1-minute time-out to change ends of the court (at 6, 8, or 11 points, respectively).
17. Each player may request one medical time-out per match to address injuries and medical conditions. When a player requests a medical time-out, medical personnel (or the Tournament Director) will be summoned to assess whether the need is valid. If the request is deemed not valid, the requesting player will be charged a standard time-out (if available) and issued a technical warning. If the player has no remaining time-outs, a technical foul will be issued (resulting in a 1-point score adjustment).
18. In accordance with the USA Pickleball Concussion Protocol, any player sustaining a head injury will not be permitted to resume play without a written release from a licensed health care professional.
Rev. 1/1/23
19. Players requesting to see the Head Referee or Tournament Director to challenge a referee’s ruling will be charged a standard time-out and be issued a technical warning if the referee’s ruling is correct. If no time-out is available, a technical foul will be issued (resulting in a 1-point score adjustment).
20. When 15 seconds remain before starting or resuming play, the referee will give a 15 second warning. The referee will call “time in” and the score when the players are, or should be, ready.
21. In self-officiated matches, any player may request a referee if the player believes that a rule is being consistently violated or when players are not able to resolve a dispute quickly and easily.
22. Players are expected to exhibit good sportsmanship at all times. Any action deemed by the referee to be unsportsmanlike will result in a verbal warning, technical warning, or a technical foul against the offending player. A game will be forfeited if the player or team receives a technical warning and a technical foul, or three technical warnings, during a match. The match will be forfeited if the equivalent of four technical warnings is obtained.
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PRE-MATCH BRIEFING with REFEREES
Before play begins for each match, the referee or a match starter will hold a briefing with all players to:
Inspect player paddles.
Inform players of the match format.
Identify starting servers and ensure visibility of the starting server identification.
Use a fair method for players to choose service and ends to start the match.
Remind players to make loud, clear, and prompt calls. (Line calling responsibilities
covered in #2 and #3 above so they are not required to be covered in the briefing.)
Notify players of any court abnormalities and approved rule modifications.
Review major rule changes for 2024.
Answer questions about player instructions and rules.
Allow players to warm up as time permits. Five minutes for first match of the day, 3 minutes for all remaining matches.
