Programs & Services: Intramural Sports

Intramural Pickleball

Sport leagues and tournaments for the entire McMaster community, beginner to advanced, individual or team: We want to play with you!  
 

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Intramural Pickleball

Activities include: Pickleball

Fall Leagues

  • When are leagues and tournaments in this sport offered? What PlayStyles are available?
    Check the Sport Calendar on the 'SPORTS' tab of our Intramural Sports page.
  • Who can play Intramural Sports at McMaster? How do I register?
    Check the 'REGISTER' tab of our Intramural Sports page.
  • Accessible
  • Registration Required

Intramurals Pickleball - Doubles Rules

Team Requirements

Each doubles team must have two players present for he match to be official. If less than two players are present, the match will be defaulted. The two participants may be of any sex as this is an open league.

Default/Forfeits

 

A 7 minute default rule will apply. If the player(s) are not present 7 minutes after the beginning of the first game the team will forfeit their game 11-0. If the team is still not present at the 14 minute mark, the game will be officially a default and the official score will 22-0, with the game being won at 2 set to 0.

 

Playing The Game

General Play & Scoring

Matches consist of 2 games to 11 points. Matches are win by two, with a cap at 15 points. If the teams split set, then the winner will be determined by a 3rd game.

Boundaries

The game is played using a badminton doubles sized court. Should the ball land on or outside of the lines, the other team is awarded the rally.

Serving

The ball is served with an underhand stroke so that contact with the ball is made below waist level in an upward arc. The server hits from behind the baseline on one side of the center line and aims diagonally to the opponent’s service zone. The ball must bounce on each side of the net once before volleying can occur.

Scoring

**ONLY THE SERVING SIDE MAY SCORE A POINT*

If the serving side commits a fault, the other team will not receive a point, but will take serving possession. 

Faults:

  • Not serving into the correct diagonal zone
  • Not hitting the ball beyond the net
  • Not hitting after the 2nd bounce on one side of the net
  • Hitting the ball out of bounds
  • Volleying the ball on the service return
  • Volleying the ball on the first return by the serving side
  • Stepping into the non-volley zone (aka the “kitchen”) in the act of volleying the ball.

Volleys

A player may enter the non-volley zone to play a ball that bounces and may stay there to play balls that bounce. The player must exit the non-volley zone before playing a volley. Volleying means that you have hit the ball in the air without letting it bounce first.