JAM rules for Pickleball

Pickleball

JAM is for Everyone – Inclusion Statement

Our program offerings are designed to be inclusive for all members of the JAM community. Our goal is to create a welcoming gender policy that uplifts and supports each player where they are at. To ensure we can offer something for everyone, our programs may be offered in the following formats: Mixed-Gender, Women's, Men's, and Open.

Many of our league rules specify gender-based roster requirements, the goal of which is to ensure that each player has an equal opportunity to be included in gameplay.

Everyone participating in a JAM program is welcome to compete based on their gender identity and gender expression; regardless of their gender assigned at birth. Members whose gender identity does not align with the binary man/woman construct are welcome to play in all our mixed-gender and open programs.

Nonbinary, trans, genderqueer, and all other players who identify as a gender minority can count towards the roster minimums for either men or women in our mixed-gender leagues.

Game Time

All pickleball matches are approximately 55 minutes in length. Please arrive early to ensure you get the full use of your allotted time. Regardless of when your game begins your game will always end on time to allow succeeding games to begin at their scheduled time.

Defaults: Teams will default a match if they cannot provide a full team 15 minutes after the scheduled start of their match.

Games

Games are hard-capped at eleven (11) points, meaning you do not have to win by two (2)
Teams play best of 3 sets
Ie: If Team 1 wins 2 sets and Team 2 wins 1 set, report the score as 2-1 for Team 1
It is best of 3, but make sure to play all three sets and report scores.

Players

Teams are comprised of two (2) players on the court at a time. No gender minimums required.
Defaults: Teams will default a match if they cannot provide a full team 15 minutes after the scheduled start time.
Player Rotation: The 2 players that start each game for their team are the ONLY players that can play during that particular game. Substitute players must wait until the next game before rotating.

Playing Area

All pickleball games will take place on a regulation size pickleball court

Equipment/Field Set-Up

The facility will be responsible for setting up the field. This is a big job, feel free to give them a hand! The facility will have paddles onsite. You can bring your own paddle if wish, just make sure it is similar in size to those used by the club.

Pickleball Basics

Check out this video to help explain the basics of the game.

Scoring

Scoring can be confusing, so feel free to check out this video: Pickleball Scoring | What you need to know to get started
The first rule of etiquette in pickleball is that the server should announce the score.
The sequence for announcing the score is as follows; serving team’s score first, opponents score second and server number third. So if the server announces 3, 4, 1, the serving team has 3 points, the opposing team has 4 points and server number 1 is serving. If the serving team wins a point, the score would be 4, 4, 1. The serving team switches courts after winning a point but the receiving team stays as is.
Only the serving team can win points.

Faults

When the ball is not served in the service court or is served to the wrong side of the court (not diagonally).

The ball is served or returned outside the boundaries of the court.
Player steps in the NVZ or NV line when making a volley.
Any player hit by the ball has committed a fault (balls hitting the paddle hand below the wrist are considered legal).
Failing to hit the ball before it bounces twice.

Calling Points and Faults

This is a self-officiated game. Players make their own calls. Please make calls as honestly and fairly as possible.
If an agreement cannot be reached, please redo the serve.

Non-Volley Zone (“NVZ”, aka ‘The Kitchen’)

This is the rectangular area immediately in front of the net.

Players may not play the ball in the air (“volley”) in this area. It must bounce first
You may not step on the NV line or into the NVZ, even after your shot.
You can step into the zone if the ball bounces in there first.

The Serve

To start the game, teams may decide to rally for serve playing the ball three times over the net before it is in play. Often, one team just decides to start. The team serving first gets only one serve their first time. This rule helps prevent “blow” out games with one team getting a large number of points to start. The server making the first serve should announce 0, 0, 2. The score is 0, 0, and because the team gets only one serve, the server is number 2. When the serve switches to the other side, that team gets two serves and play continues that way until a score of 11 is reached.
The player that is standing in the right-hand service area of the serving side always starts.
The ball must be served UNDERHAND, below the waist. Feet must be behind the service line.
Ball must travel diagonally, bouncing inside of the OPPOSING service area.
The ball must bounce twice – once on the receivers’ side and once on the servers’ side of the court – before players can begin hitting the ball in the air (“volleying”).
During these two bounces, the servers may not move up to the net.
Receivers may move up to the net only once they’ve returned the serve.
The server only receives one fault before losing serve. This does not include “lets” (when the ball hits the net and lands properly beyond the no-volley zone.)
If a serving team wins a point, the same server serves, but switches sides from the side the served from the previous point
Each team gets a maximum of two (2) serves, one by each player, given that the first serve is successful.

Sportsmanship

Remember to have fun and treat your opponents well -- these people may eventually be your teammates!