INTRAMURAL PICKLEBALL RULES

Refer to the Intramural Sports Handbook for further information outlining the SDSU Intramural Sports Program.

RULE I                PRE-SEASON PROCEDURE

SEC. 1                        Registration

All registration and roster additions will be done through the FusionPlay App. Captains will create an account, choose a league that best fits their team’s playing ability, and enter their teammates information. Teams are placed in leagues on a first come first serve basis. 

Free Agent: Free agents register through the FusionPlay App. Free agents are players who do not already have a team to play on. Free agents are not guaranteed a spot on a team if they request to join one.  

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SEC. 2                Forfeit Fee and Defaults

A team forfeits the game when they do not have the minimum number of players present at game time.  The team will be given a loss and charged the forfeit fee ($40 for leagues and $25 for Tournaments).  If the team forfeits two or more times in a season, they will be charged for each forfeit and will become ineligible for playoffs. 

        Default: If you know your team will not be able to meet the minimum number of players required to avoid a forfeit, a team has the option to take a Default. To avoid being charged a forfeit fee, come to the Aztec Recreation Center and fill out a default form. The default form must be filled out 24-48 business hours prior to your scheduled game. You will still be given a loss for the game, but it will not count as a forfeit, therefore the $40 fee will not be assessed. Default requests are accepted over the phone, email or in person.

SEC. 3                Captain’s Responsibilities

As a team captain, you accept full responsibility for both yourself and your entire team. This includes ensuring that your team is prepared and present for the three scheduled league games when the schedule releases. While your personal attendance as captain is not required for your team to participate, it is your duty to coordinate and confirm that your team will play their scheduled game.

Failure to show up for a scheduled game will result in a forfeit fee, which will be strictly enforced. If you become aware that your team cannot attend a game, it is imperative that you notify the Intramural Sports office by emailing imsports@sdsu.edu with at least 24 to 48 hours' notice prior to the scheduled game. This policy applies without exceptions per SEC. 2 above

Your role as captain is critical to maintaining the integrity and flow of the league. Please take these responsibilities seriously to ensure a positive Intramural Sports experience for all.

RULE II                PLAYING PROCEDURES

SEC. 1                Number of Players

Teams shall consist of two (2) players on the court.  Two players will be need to start for doubles play.

SEC. 2                Aztec Recreation Center Membership

Prior to all games, participants must sign a participation agreement.  This agreement is located on the reverse of the score sheet.  The Team Captain is responsible for monitoring the completion of his/her team’s participation agreement.  No player may participate in any Intramural Sports contest without prior purchase of an Aztec Recreation Center membership or Day Use Pass.

ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST PRESENT A PICTURE I.D. BEFORE PARTICIPATING.  NO EXCEPTIONS!  NO I.D., NO PLAY!

Acceptable forms of identification include:

Red ID’s or government issued ID’s such as a driver’s license or passport will be accepted.

SEC. 3                Equipment 

Athletic shoes are required at all times.  

SEC. 4                Team Roster

Rosters are limited to 3 individuals.  Teams may add players up to the point that (1) the roster limit has been reached or (2) until the roster addition deadline has passed.  A player must have played in at least one regular-season game to be eligible for the post-season playoff tournament.   Roster additions can be conducted by the team captain on the registration site.  Additions must be done by noon of game day or noon of Friday for a weekend game for those changes to be reflected on the game roster.  

All players not listed on the roster are ineligible to participate.  Players may only participate on one team within the same league (Open A and Open B are classified as the same league (Open)).  The team captain/manager is responsible for monitoring the liability waiver/team roster.

SEC. 5                Starting Time

At least two (2) players must be ready to start at game time.  Game time is forfeit time.  

SEC. 6                Length of Game

A regulation game shall consist of best two out of three sets.

RULE III        THE GAME

SEC. 1                Serve

a. Player must keep one foot behind the back line when serving. The serve is made underhand. The paddle must pass below the waist.  

b. The server must hit the ball in the air on the serves. He/She is not allowed to bounce it, and then hit it. 

 c. The service is made diagonally cross court and must clear the non-volley zone. Only one serve attempt is allowed, except if the ball touches the net on the serve and lands in the Proper service court. Then the serve may be taken over.  

d. At the start of each new game, the 1st serving team is allowed only one fault before giving up the ball to the opponents. Thereafter, both members of each team will serve and fault before the ball is turned over to the opposing team.  

e. When receiving team wins the serve, the player in the right-hand court will always start play. 

SEC. 2                Volley

1. To volley a ball means to hit it in the air without first letting it bounce.  

2. All volleying must be done with player’s feet behind the non-volley zone line.  

3. It is a fault if the player steps over the line on his volley follow through.  

SEC. 3                Fault

1. Hitting the ball out of bounds  

2. Not clearing the net  

3. Stepping into the non-volley zone and volleying the ball  

d. Volleying the ball before it has bounced once on each side of the net.

SEC. 4                Scoring

1. A team shall score a point only when serving. 

2. A player who is serving shall continue to do so until a fault is made by his team. 

3. The game is played to 11 points; however, a team must win by 2 points. 

SEC. 5                Determining the Serving Team

1. Players may toss a coin or rally the ball until a fault is made.  

b. Winner of the toss or rally has the option of serving first or not serving first.

RULE IV        GAME SITUATIONS

SEC. 1                Doubles Play

a. Player in RIGHT HAND court serves diagonally across court to receiver in opposite RIGHT HAND court. The ball must clear the non-volley zone and land in the RIGHT-HAND serving court. The receiver must let the ball bounce before returning the serve. Serving team must also let the return bounce before playing it. After the two bounces have occurred, the ball may then be either volleyed or played off the bounce until a fault is made.  

b. If the fault is made by the receiving team, a point is scored by the serving team. When the serving team wins a point, its players will switch courts on their side and the same player will continue to serve. When the serving team makes its first fault, players will stay in the same court and the second partner will then serve. When they make their second fault they will stay in the same courts and turn the ball over to the other team. Players switch courts only after scoring.  

1. A ball landing on any line is considered good. 

SEC. 2                Singles Play

All rules apply with the following exception: When serving in singles, each player serves from the RIGHT-HAND court when his/her score is 0 or an even number, and then from the LEFT-HAND court when his/her score is odd numbered. 

RULE V        ADDITIONAL RULES

SEC. 1                Forfeits

Game time = forfeit time.  If a team does not meet the minimum number of players required for a game, they will forfeit that contest.  The score for that game will be recorded as 3 to 0 in favor of the winning team.

SEC. 2                Dugouts/Fans

All spectators must remain in the stands and are not permitted on the courts. The actions of a team’s spectators may carry negative consequences for that team, including but not limited to: poor sportsmanship rating, forfeiture of game or removal from league altogether.

RULE VII        UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT

SEC. 1                Player Conduct

Actions that are potentially dangerous to participants, spectators, game Officials or Supervisors and/or conduct that is detrimental to the mission of the Intramural Sports Program will not be tolerated.

No player(s) may physically intimidate or verbally abuse Intramural Sports Staff.  Violations of this nature are considered unsportsmanlike conduct and at the discretion of the game Official or Supervisor may result in an ejection.  Any player ejected from a contest may not participate in his/her team’s next two full games.

SEC. 2                Aggressive Acts

Acts of aggression or physical violence will not be tolerated.  These include but are not limited to throwing a punch, kicking an individual or any other aggressive act.  Any player guilty of such an act immediately before, during or after an Intramural Sports contest shall be expelled from further participation in Intramural Sports for one calendar year (365 days).

SEC. 3                Sportsmanship Ratings

In order for a team to advance into the playoffs, it must receive an average sportsmanship rating of 3.5 or better during the regular season. During the playoffs a team must receive a sportsmanship rating of 3.5 or better EACH GAME to advance to the next round. Teams that fail to earn a 3.5 or better sportsmanship despite winning their game will result in that team automatically forfeiting their next round. 

Sportsmanship ratings will be based on the following criteria and are given after each Intramural contest:

5 points:        Team displays excellent sportsmanship while treating opponent with respect. Players demonstrate excellent sportsmanship at all times. Team respects Intramural Sports Officials and Supervisors and accepts their decisions without gesture or argument. Maintains an attitude of complete cooperation with staff. Players always display self-control.

4 points: Team displays good sportsmanship. Team plays hard but within the

        rules. Team respects Intramural Sports Staff and generally accepts their decisions without gesture or argument. Mostly cooperative with game Officials and opponent. Team Captain able to control his/her players.

3 points:        Team competes without incident; wins without boasting, loses without excuses, and does not display any poor conduct. Neither cooperative nor disruptive towards staff. Team Captain unable to control all players on his/her team.

2 points: Team has a player or coach who is ejected for abusive language or remarks. There is persistent questioning of game Officials’ judgment in the game and/or repeated arguing. Spectators, clearly related to the team, fail to cooperate with the Intramural Sports Staff.

1 point:         Team has a representative (player or coach) who is ejected for fighting.

Players are so antagonistic that the game cannot be played with proper order and control. Representatives of the team display uncooperative nature to Intramural Sports Staff. Players disregard warnings of unnecessary roughness by game Officials.

RULE VII          BLOOD RULE

Whenever a participant suffers a laceration or wound where bleeding occurs, the player must leave the game and take necessary action(s) to stop the bleeding and prevent it from occurring again before re-entering the game.  If a participant’s uniform becomes stained with blood, it must be removed before re-entering.  The participant may use another number without penalty.

A team may call a thirty-second time-out if it wishes to keep the player in the game, otherwise the player must be removed and he/she may not re-enter until the next dead-ball after the situation has been corrected.  The Intramural Staff on duty shall have final approval on any situation relating to blood.

RULE VIII          INSURANCE

Participation in the Intramural Sports Program is completely voluntary.  All participants run the risk of possible injury due to the inherent risks involved in the sport of basketball.  Individuals are strongly encouraged to have a physical examination and purchase health and accident insurance prior to participation.

THE AZTEC RECREATION CENTER HAS NO INSURANCE FOR ITS PARTICIPANTS.  INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATE AT THEIR OWN RISK.

In the case of an injury during a scheduled contest, participants should immediately notify a staff member, game official, or site supervisor.

Updated: May 2024