Guelph Pickleball relies upon a spirit of sportsmanship that places the responsibility for fair play on the player. Highly competitive play is encouraged, but never at the expense of mutual respect among competitors, adherence to the agreed upon rules, or the basic joy of play. Protection of these vital elements serves to eliminate unsportsmanlike conduct from the Pickleball court. Actions such as taunting opposing players,  belligerent intimidation, intentional infractions, or other “win-at-all costs” behavior are contrary to the spirit of the game and must be avoided by all players.

At the end of each game, a spirit score is to be awarded to the opposing team on a scale from 1 to 5 (half scores are permitted). The team as a whole should have input on what spirit score should be awarded to the other team. At the end of the season, there will be a spirit trophy and prizes awarded to the team with the highest spirit average. In addition, if two teams are tied in points at the end of the season, then the team with the highest spirit point average will be placed higher. All teams should try to follow the guidelines set out below in order to keep the system equal for everyone.

Spirit rating = 5

The other team was a great team and we really enjoyed playing against them. They showed up on time and showed great sportsmanship throughout the game. During the game they played by the rules, but if we had a dispute they were open to discuss. This was one of the best spirited teams we have played against, and we are really looking forward to playing against them again.

Spirit rating = 4

The other team was a fun team and we enjoyed playing against most of their players. They showed up on time and showed decent sportsmanship throughout the game. During the game they generally played by the rules, but if we had a dispute they were pretty receptive to discuss. Not a bad team to play against.

Spirit rating = 3

The other team was an O.K. team and we enjoyed playing against only a few of their players. They showed up late and/or showed poor sportsmanship throughout the game. During the game, they really didn’t play by the rules and really didn’t want to learn them either. The captains should discuss what happened so it doesn’t happen again. This wasn’t a fun game and our captain will add a brief comment to the score submission explaining the low spirit score.

Spirit rating = 2

The entirety of the other team was not fun to play against. They showed up very late and/or showed very poor sportsmanship throughout the game. During the game they didn’t play by the rules and didn’t want to learn them either.  The captains should discuss what happened so it doesn’t happen again. This wasn’t an enjoyable game and our captain will explain what happened in the score submission.

Spirit rating = 1

The other team was terrible to play against. We did not enjoy playing against any of their players. They showed up very late and/or showed horrible sportsmanship throughout the game. During the game, they were very negligent of the rules and of the safety and enjoyment of our team. They had no desire to learn the rules. This is the least spirited team we have ever played against. Our captain is going to send a report to the league convener explaining what happened.

Any team that defaults a game (because they do not have enough players) will receive a spirit score of 4 for the game and the non-defaulting team will not receive a spirit score (their spirit average will not be affected).  

1. Player Requirements/Equipment

• Teams are comprised of 2 players on the court at all time. No gender minimum required.
• Each player must sign a waiver before his/her first game. Note: If you add a player to your team throughout the year, that player must sign a waiver before they play, even if it is only for one game.
• Players must wear clean, non-marking, indoor shoes (no outdoor shoes or bare feet are allowed).
• Players are encouraged to bring their own paddle, but are allowed to borrow a paddle at the start of the season.
• First set of teams are responsible for setting up the net, last set of teams are responsible for taking down the net and storing it away.

2. Start Time/Default

• Please arrive 15 minutes early to ensure that your games start on time.
• If a team does not meet the minimum requirement 10 minutes after the official match start, they will default the first game by a score of 11-0. If the minimum requirement is not met 20 minutes after the match begins, then they will default all matches for the night (4 games)
• No matter what time your game begins your game will always end on time to allow the succeeding games to begin at their scheduled time.
• The 2 players that start each game are the only players that can play during that particular game. Substitute player must wait until the next game before rotating.

3. The Serve

• Teams can use any suitable means to determine who gets to serve first or pick a side.
• Service alternates between team for the start of each game, 
• The serving player should announce the score before each serve
• Announce the serving team’s score first, followed by the opponents score and then the server number. For example, 10-9-2 (indicates that the score is 10-9 for the serving team and they are on their second serve)
• 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.
• All serves must be underhand and contacted clearly below the waist
• The head of the paddle must not be clearly above the highest part of the wrist at contact.
• A ’drop serve’ is also permitted in which case none of the elements above apply
• Drop Serves: The server should simply release the ball and let gravity run its course. Players may not force the ball down to create a higher bounce, spin or any other type of manipulation.
• At the time the ball is struck, the server’s feet may not touch the court or outside the imaginary extensions of the sideline or centerline.
• The serve is made diagonally crosscourt and must land within the confines of the opposite diagonal court.
• On a serve, the ball must clear the kitchen (if it lands on the non-volley zone line, it is considered out) however, if the ball hits the center or outer boundary lines, it is considered in.
• If the served ball touches the net, and lands in the correct service-court area it is considered fair
• Only one serve attempt is allowed per serve.
• All games are self-refereed. Any disputes will be discussed amongst the two team captains. Please play honestly and call your own infractions (in the kitchen, net, etc). If a dispute cannot be settled the point should be re-served.

4. Service Sequence

• Both players on the serving doubles team have the opportunity to serve and score points until they commit a fault (except for the first serve sequence of each new game)
• The first serve of each side-out is made from the right-hand court
• If a point is scored, the server switches sides and the server initiate the next serve from the left-hand court.
• As subsequent points are scored, the server continues switching back and forth until a fault is committed and the first server loses the serve.
• When the first server loses the serve the partner then serves from their correct side of the court (except for the first service sequence of the game)
• The second server continues serving until his team commits a fault and loses the serve to the opposing team.
• Once the service goes to the opposition (at side out), the first serve is from the right-hand court and both players on that team have the opportunity to serve and score points until their team commits two faults

5. Scoring

• You will play 2 games to 11 points (games are hard-capped at 11 points meaning you do not have to win by two) against two teams per night or 60 minutes total (whichever comes first). If time expires before the game is complete (30 minutes against each team), the team that is leading when the time expires will be declared the winner (a total of 5 combined points must be played for the game to count).  If the game is tied or didn’t get past 5 combined points it will count as a tie in the regular season.
• In the playoffs, if teams split their matches, then plus/minus counts.  If the game is still tied then play a single “rally point”, served by the team in control of the serve.
• Pickleball scoring is not rally-point, teams can only score with they have the serve.
• If teams have the same number of points (winning percentage is to be used instead of points in the event that teams have played an unequal number of games) at the end of the season, the tiebreaker is as follows:
  • Highest spirit score average
  • Head to head (If the two teams tied played each other, the winner of the games places higher)
  • Wins and losses counting only games against common opponents
    Flip a coin
• It is the responsibility of both team captains to submit the score of the games and spirit scores online by 5:00pm the following day.

6. Two Bounce Rule

• 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
• After the ball has bounced one in each team’s court, both teams may either volley the ball (hit the ball before it bounces) or play it off a bounce (ground stroke)
• The two-bounce rule eliminates the serve and volley advantage and extends rallies

7. Non-Volley Zone

• The non-volley zone is the court area within 7 feet on both sides of the net
• Volleying is prohibited within the non-volley zone. The rule prevents players from executing smashes from a position within the zone
• 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.
• 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.
• A player may legally be in the non-volley zone any time other than when volleying a ball.
• The non-volley zone is commonly referred to as “The Kitchen”

8. Line Calls

• A ball contacting any line, except the non-volley zone line on a serve, is considered “in”
• A serve contacting the non-volley zone line is short and a fault

9. Faults

• A fault is any action that stops play because of a rule violation
• A fault by the receiving team results in a point for the serving team
• A fault by the serving team results in the server’s loss of serve or side out.
• A fault occurs when:

• • A serve does not land within the confines of the receiving court
  • The ball is hit into the net on the serve or any return
  • The ball is volleyed before a bounce has occurred on each side
  • The ball is hit out of bounds
  • Ball touches the side walls
  • Ball is caught and held on the paddle and then slung during the execution of a stroke
  • Ball is hit more than once by the same team (double hit)
  • A ball is volleyed from the non-volley zone
  • A ball bounces twice before being struck by the receiver
  • 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
  • There is a violation of a service rule
  • A ball in play strikes a player or anything the player is wearing or carrying
  • A ball in play strikes any permanent object before bouncing on the court

10. Referees

• All games are self-officiated (no referees), therefore, teams are required to call their OWN violations, and are expected to be honest and keep a high level of sportsmanship at all times. If you feel that your opponent is not being accountable, your team captain may politely intervene to discuss fouls called or uncalled. We rely on your spirit of sportsmanship and honesty to keep the matches pleasant for all. If there is a dispute, please re-serve the point.

11. Playoffs

• Championship games are 2 games. If teams split their matches, then plus/minus counts.  If the game is still tied then play a single “rally point”, served by the team in control of the serve.
• Playoff Eligibility: Each player must play at least half of the regular season games in order to be eligible to play in the playoffs, unless it has been cleared with the league convener. This prohibits teams from adding “ringers” to their teams for the playoffs.

12. Weather Conditions

• In the event the facility is closed all games are cancelled.

• CANCELLATION POLICY: In the event that games are cancelled due to closures or other issues, the following policy will be applied:
  • • First Cancellation: Games are not rescheduled or refunded.
    • Second Cancellation: Games will be rescheduled as extra games on the night that they play or on another available date. If neither of these scenarios is viable, a partial team credit will be applied in the following season.
    • Third Cancellation or more: Games will be rescheduled as extra games on the night that they play or on another available date. If neither of these scenarios is viable, a partial team credit will be applied in the following season.
    • If a game is cancelled partway through a game, the halfway point of the game must be reached (6 points by one team) in order for the game to count towards the league standings. 
    • If the halfway point of the night has been reached, it is considered a complete set of game (not a cancellation)

13. Abuse/Alcohol:

• Any abuse, whether it be physical, sexual, or mental is not acceptable in any manner. If any of these types of abuse are reported, the player or team will receive a verbal warning. If a second incident occurs, the player or team will be asked to leave the league or tournament without refund. Teams are responsible for other teammates’ actions; as a teammate, please encourage good sportsmanship at all times. Perpetual Motion Sports & Entertainment Inc. reserves the right to eject a player or team without a warning and without a refund. The Guelph Pickleball League is to be enjoyable and fun for everyone, let’s keep it that way.
• Alcohol is not permitted at any game or event; offenders will be asked to leave the league without refund. Playing while intoxicated is also prohibited.
• Hard smashing is discouraged in our pickleball leagues, please respect the level of your opponents