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Cornell University

Recreational Services

Pickleball Doubles Rules

Description

  • Pickleball is a racket or paddle sport where two (singles) or four (doubles) players hit a perforated, hollow plastic ball with paddles over a 34-inch-high (0.86 m) net until one side is unable to return the ball or commits an infraction. Pickleball is played indoors and outdoors.

Illustration of pickleball lines and pickleball serving positions

Location

  • All games will be played at the pickleball courts located beside Risley Hall.

Format

  • This is a team activity with two players per team playing on the court.
  • FOR OPEN RECREATIONAL
    • Open Rec teams will receive two additional regular season games.
    • There are no playoffs or t-shirt prizes for Open Rec
  • FOR OPEN COMPETITIVE, FRATERNITY, AND WOMEN'S
    • Teams will be placed in a round-robin pool play for the regular season.
    • The top half from each pool will be placed into a single-elimination playoff bracket.

Officials and Staff

  • On-site personnel and professional staff reserve the right to rule on situations not specified in the rulebook or IM Participant Handbook when safety and sporting behavior are involved.
  • The officials have absolute control of the game. Their decision will be final and are not to be disputed by members of either team.
  • Any participant that refuses to abide by Intramural Sport rules, policies, or instructions from Intramural Student and Professional Staff cannot participate and may be removed from the playing area.

Eligibility

  • All individuals must have an active ID from Cornell University, overseen at Day Hall.
  • Club Players - No team may have more than
    • One (1) club player on an Open Rec team
    • Two (2) club players on an Open Comp, Fraternity, or Women's team
  • All individuals may play on:
    • One open competitive team
    • One open recreational team, and
    • One single-sex team (Women's or Fraternity)

Forfeit Procedure

If a team fails to have the required number of participants at the scheduled match time, the opposing team who is present will have the following options:

  1. Take the win by forfeit at that time. No contest will be played.
  2. Give the opponent ten (10) minutes for the minimum amount of players to arrive. The following will occur if this option is chosen:
    • The team present will immediately lead the game 6-0 in the first set.
    • Game commences once the minimum amount of players arrive and check-in with IM Staff.
    • Game will immediately start with the time remaining on the running clock.
    • If the opposing team is not ready to play (having the minimum number of players here and checked in) ten (10) minutes after the scheduled game time, IM Staff will declare the game a forfeit for the waiting team.

A forfeit fee of $20 will be applied to the team captain bursar account if a team forfeits. Teams with two forfeits will be removed from the league and ineligible for playoffs.

Default Procedure

A team may default a game if the team is unable to field the minimum amount of players for their scheduled game.

  • Teams can default their game by contacting the IM Sports Office prior to 4:00pm the Friday before games on the weekend.
  • All teams have one default per season per activity. Using a second or subsequent default will be counted as a forfeit.
  • Defaults will not be rescheduled, and teams using a default will have the game count as a loss.
  • A default will not be charged a forfeit fee.

General Rules

  • Proper attire must be worn for intramural sport activities. Items that may not be worn during activities may include, but are not limited to:
    • Casts and exposed metal braces.
    • Any clothing or items that may be deemed potentially injurious or advantageous.
  • Religious and medical identifications/devices must be approved by the Director of Intramural Sports prior to the contest, and must be secured.
  • Players bleeding or that have blood on clothing will be prohibited from participation until appropriate measured have been administrated.

Specific Rules

The USA Pickleball rulebook shall govern play for all intramural pickleball matches with the exceptions listed in the rules.

  • Matches are best two (2) out of three (3) to eleven (11) points.
  • You can only score a point when your team is serving.
    • There is NO RALLY SCORING.
  • Serving must be done underhanded, and with contact occurring below the waist
  • Serves must travel diagonally and land between the non-volley zone and the baseline of the court opposite the serving player.
  • Each player is allowed one (1) serving attempt.
    • Exception: If the ball hits the net and lands in the correct service court, the serve will be played over.
  • At the start of the game, only one player on the first serving team is allowed a service turn before giving up the ball to the opponents.
    • BOTH members of the team will have a service turn before the ball is turned over to the opposing team.
  • When the serving team scores a point, the server moves to the other side of the court.
    • The receiving team NEVER switches sides.
  • The serving team's score will always be even when the player serves on the right side and odd when serving on the left side.
  • Double Bounce Rule - each team must play their first shot off the bounce.
    • The receiving team must let the serve bounce before playing it.
    • After those first two bounces, the ball can be played off the bounce or directly out of the air.
  • No-Volley Zone - a player may not step on or over the no-volley line after hitting a volley.
    • PENALTY: Team loses the point.
  • A player may jump across the no-volley line after hitting a volley if they do not touch any part of the no-volley zone line while hitting the ball.
  • The ball may only bounce once (1 time) on a team's side.
    • Multiple bounces result in the loss of the point.

Score Reporting

All games are self-monitored and require the winning team to contact Intramural Sports and report the scores of the match. Forfeit wins must be reported as well.

  • Ex: Team Green wins 11-3, 11-8 (2-0)
  • Ex: Team Blue wins 11-9, 8-11, 11-7 (2-1)
  • Ex: Team Yellow wins by forfeit. Team Red did not show.

Teams must report score to intramurals@cornell.edu in order to receive credit for the win. Teams have until Monday, 10:00am to report scores to the Intramural Sports office. Failing to report the score results in a forfeit loss and a forfeit fee will be assessed to the team's captain.

Sporting Behavior Points

Sporting behavior ratings will be determined by the accumulation of unsporting acts and penalties for individuals and teams during the activities' season. Any acquisition of unsporting behavior conduct fouls during a contest will be added to an individual's and team's unsporting behavior foul total for the activity's season.

The following will be in effect for the activity:

  • The accumulation of TWO (2) unsporting behavior conduct fouls in a game by an individual will result in the ejection of the individual from the game, as outlined in the Intramural Participant Handbook.
  • The accumulation of THREE (3) total unsporting behavior conduct fouls by an individual during an activity's season will result in the dismissal of the individual from the activity for the remainder of the season, as outlined in the Intramural Participant Handbook.
  • The accumulation of FOUR (4) unsporting behavior conduct fouls by a team in a game will result in the team forfeiture of the contest, as outlined in the Intramural Participant Handbook.
  • The accumulation of FIVE (5) total unsporting behavior conduct fouls by a team during an activity's season will result in the dismissal of the team from the activity for the remainder of the season, as outlined in the Intramural Participant Handbook.

Accumulations of unsporting behavior conducts do not reset during playoffs.

  • If an individual or team meets the prior criteria during playoffs, they will be subject to dismissal during playoffs.

Additional actions may be taken depending upon the infractions outlined in Section IX., Disciplinary Procedures, as outlined in the Intramural Participant Handbook.