Pickleball League 

The rules governing this intramural sport activity are derived from USA Pickleball and rules unique to the UVM Intramural Sports Program.  This rules sheet is not meant to be all-inclusive; rather it is a summary of the more common rules, policies, and procedures used by the Intramural Sports Program. All team managers and players are responsible for reading this document and understanding the rules, policies, and procedures prior to participating in this activity.

General/Eligibility

Team Participation: Individuals may only play on one team in the Pickleball League. This league is open and has no gender restrictions.

Identification: All players MUST present a UVM Cat Card to the IMS Supervisor prior to each game. Players who do not have their Cat Card will be subject to the terms of the Campus Recreation ID Policy.

Liability Waivers: All players should sign the online waiver when they registered on IMLeagues. Those who have not, may fill out a copy on site.

Team Rosters: The official team roster consists only of those individuals who are eligible and who have signed the official online IMLeagues roster/waiver. Individuals must be listed on the official online IMLeagues roster. Confirming that all players are listed on the official online IMLeagues roster is the responsibility of the Team Manager. 

Communication with Staff: All players should seek out campus recreation staff regarding rule enforcements or to ask a clarifying question. All matches are self-officiated by the teams playing. Any serious disputes should result in the teams replaying the point. Rules clarification should be done through the sport program supervisor on-duty.

Sportsmanship: All participants are expected to respect their opponents, equipment, and the game. Disrespectful statements, continual badgering, or boisterous gestures may be considered un-sportsmanlike conduct and could result in a warning or ejection from our facility/league. Team managers are encouraged to demonstrate positive sportsmanship and be leaders of the team. All protests must come from the team captain or the acting captain of that contest. Teams will not receive a refund in the event that an unsportsmanslike situation takes place.

Equipment: Pickle-ball®, is played on a  regulation sized pickleball court (similar in dimensions to badminton) The ball is served diagonally (starting with the right-hand service-square), and points can only be scored by the side that serves. Paddles will be provided. You may use your own paddle, but must use IMS balls.

The Court: All lines are considered in if a ball makes contact, with the exception of the non-volley zone line (aka the kitchen) when a ball is served. All games are played in the MAC.

GamePlay

Serving: Serves are to be made diagonally, starting with the right-hand service-square and alternating each serve. The serve must clear the seven-foot non-volley-zone in front of the net and land in the diagonal service court.  The service is made underhand with the paddle contacting the ball below the waist from behind the line. The Server may hit the ball in the air or may do a drop shot, whereas they bounce the ball and hit it. Only one serve attempt is allowed, if the ball touches the net on the serve and lands in the proper service court it is considered live and must be played. If it strikes the net and does not land in the proper service court, that player loses their serve. 

Scoring: A team shall score a point only when serving. A player who is serving shall continue to do so until a "fault" is made by their team. If playing doubles, each player on a team shall keep serving until their team makes a "fault", then the serve moves to the opposing team - this is called a Side Out. Each game is played to 11 points, however a team must win by 2 points. For the league, teams will play 3 games within the 45 minute time slot. Each match is played to "11", then rotate to a new opponent. The onsite supervisor will let you know your opponents.

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 once in each team’s court, both teams may either volley the ball (hit the ball before it bounces) or play it off a bounce (groundstroke).

Fault

A fault is committed when the ball: 

  • Touches any part of the non-volley zone on the serve (including the line).
  • Is hit out of bounds
  • Does not clear the net
  • Is volleyed from the non-volley zone
  • Is volleyed before a bounce has occurred on each side
  • player or anything connected to them strikes the net while the ball is in play

Volleys

To volley means to hit a ball in the air without first letting it bounce. In Pickle-ball®, this can only be done when the player’s feet are behind the non-volley zone line (seven feet behind the net). Note: It’s a fault if the player steps over the line on their volley follow-through.

Non-Volley Zone ("The Kitchen")

  • 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. This rule prevents players from executing smashes from a position within the zone.
  • It is a fault if, when volleying a ball, the player steps in the non-volley zone, including the line, and/or when the player’s momentum causes him/her or anything the player is 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.


Game Time is Forfeit Time! All intramural events are tightly scheduled based on facility availability to allow for maximum participation, so keeping the games on schedule is very important. Please have your team at the field checked-in and ready to play by your exact game time. Game time is forfeit time! If one team is late/is not present, the team's captain that is present and has the minimum number of participants required ready to play will be given two options (once a decision is made it cannot be changed):

  • Take the forfeit immediately
  • Give the team five (5) minutes to show with a penalty of (5-0). The game will begin with only the remaining amount of time.

Reserve Clause: the IMS Staff reserves the right to make time adjustments to accommodate scheduling conflicts

Never played before? Check out how to play pickleball here!