RULES OF THE GAME OF AUSTRALIAN RACQUETBALL

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

            RULE                                                                                PAGE

 

  1.       THE GAME - HOW PLAYED.                                               2

  2.       THE SCORE.                                                                          2

  3.       POINTS - HOW SCORED.                                                    2

  4.       THE SERVICE.                                                                       2

  5.       THE PLAY.                                                                             6

  6.       GOOD RETURN.                                                                   6

  7.       LET.                                                                                        7

  8.       POINTS - HOW WON.                                                         7

  9.       HITTING AN OPPONENT WITH THE BALL.                     7

10.       FURTHER ATTEMPTS TO HIT THE BALL.             9

11.       APPEALS.                                                                              10

12.       INTERFERENCE                                                                    11

13.       LET, WHEN ALLOWED.                                                       14

14.       BROKEN / SUBSTITUTED BALL.                                        16

15.       WARM UP.                                                                             16

16.       CONTINUITY OF PLAY - INCLUDING INJURY.              17

17.       CONDUCT ON COURT.                                                       20

18.       CONTROL OF MATCH.                                                       21

19.       DUTIES OF A MARKER.                                                      22

20.       DUTIES OF A REFEREE.                                                      22

APPENDIX 1              GUIDELINES                                                 24

APPENDIX 2.             DEFINITIONS.                                               34

APPENDIX 3              RECOGNISED MARKER’S CALLS.            38

APPENDIX 4              RECOGNISED REFEREE’S CALLS.            39

APPENDIX 5             CODE OF CONDUCT.                                  40

APPENDIX 6.             SPECIFICATIONS.                                        41

 

RULES OF THE GAME OF AUSTRALIAN RACQUETBALL

 

GENERAL NOTE:

 

The use of the word “shall” in the rules indicates compulsion and the lack of any alternative.  The word “must” indicates a required course of action, with considerations to be taken into account if the action is not carried out. The word “may” indicates the option of carrying out the action.

 

 

1.       THE GAME - HOW PLAYED:

 

(a)        SINGLES

The game of Singles Racquetball is played between two players, each using a    standard racquet, with a safety strap secured around the wrist, with a standard          ball, in a court constructed to Australian Racquetball standard dimensions.

 

(b)        DOUBLES

            The game of Doubles Racquetball is the same as Singles Racquetball, except that           the doubles game is between four players, divided into two teams of two players      each.

 

 

2.       THE SCORE:

           

A match shall consist of the best of three games. Each game is to 21 points, in that the player who scores 21 points wins the game except that, on the score being called 20 all, the player who scores 2 more points wins the game

 

NOTE:            Games and Matches may be altered in format as decided by the Match &                           Pennant, or Tournament, or Competition Committees, to suit their own                                     particular requirements.

 

 

3.       POINTS - HOW SCORED:

           

            After service each completed rally results in a point being scored by the winner of          that rally.

 

 

4.       THE SERVICE:

 

(a) Singles:

           

4.1       The right to serve first is decided by the spin of a racquet or the toss of a coin, or a call by the marker. The server continues to serve until the opponent wins a rally, whereupon the opponent becomes the server. This procedure continues throughout the match. At the commencement of the second and third games, the winner of the previous game serves first.

 

            4.2       The server stands with both feet entirely in front of the “service line”, the                                    receiver with both feet behind the “service line.”

 

4.3       Good service:

 

4.3.1    For the service to be good - there must be no “footfault” and the ball, before being struck, shall be bounced on the floor in front of the “service line” and struck with an underarm action. It shall be served directly onto the front wall above the “tin” so that on its return, unless volleyed, it reaches the floor behind the “service line”. Should a player, having dropped the ball, make no attempt to strike it, it may be dropped again for that service.

 

NOTE:            A player with the use of only one arm may utilise the racquet to drop the                            ball before striking it.

 

4.3.2    A service is good when it is not a “fault” (Rule 4.4) or does not result in the server losing his service (Rule 4.5).

 

4.4       A service is a “fault”:

 

4.4.1    If at the time of striking the ball the server fails to have both feet entirely in front of the “service line” (called a “footfault”) – see 4.5.7 below.

 

4.4.2    If the bounce of the ball on the floor by the server is on or behind the “service line.”

 

4.4.3    If the first bounce of the ball on the floor, after it has struck the front wall on the serve, is on or in front of the “service line”.

 

4.4.4    If the ball, after being struck by the server, either with or without touching the side wall, touches the back wall on the full, including the junction of the back wall and the floor (“the nick”).

 

4.4.5    If the server serves one “fault”, they shall serve again. The receiver cannot play a second service “fault”.

 

4.5       The server loses the service

 

                        4.5.1    If two consecutive “faults” are served.

 

4.5.2    If the ball touches the walls, ceiling, or any object suspended from the walls or ceiling before being struck by the server.

 

 4.5.3     If the server makes one or more attempts to strike the ball, but fails to do so

 

4.5.4    If in the opinion of the referee, the ball is not “correctly struck”. (See Appendix 1 - Definitions).

 

4.5.5    If the ball is served onto or below the “tin” (including the “fault line” forming part of the “tin”), or onto or above the “out of court line” or against any part of the court before touching the front wall.

 

4.5.6        If the ball, before it has bounced more than once on the floor, or before it has been struck at by the receiver, touches the server or anything worn or carried by the server, whether the service was otherwise good or a “fault”.

 

4.5.7    If at the time of striking the ball the server fails to have both feet entirely in front of the “service line” (a footfault) and any of 4.5.2 to 4.5.6 above apply.

 

4.6       The server shall not serve until the marker has completed calling the                               score.

 

 

NOTE:             a)          The marker must not delay play by delaying the call of the score. However, if the server serves or attempts to serve prior to the calling of the score, the Referee shall stop play and require the server to wait until the call has been completed.

                       

b)         A serve shall NOT be treated differently to any other stroke during a rally, with respect to “lets and penalties” as provided in accordance with the rules.

 

(b) Doubles:

 

4.7 The Service:

 

4.7.1    The service for the doubles game of Racquetball includes all the service rules as for the singles game, as well as the following, 4.7.2 to 4.7.6 inclusive.

 

                        4.7.2    Choice of server;

At the beginning of the first game, the serving team shall decide which of them is to serve, thereafter alternating with their partner at the beginning of each game. When the combined total of points for the 2 teams in the third game reaches 15 points both teams shall finally change servers. At the commencement of service the server shall elect to serve either to receiving zone C or D, which includes their respective zones B. Thereafter the server shall serve alternately to zones D or C in succession whilst that team holds service.

 

                       

 

4.7.3        Server’s Position;

 

The server shall stand with both feet entirely in front of the “service line”             (zone A).

 

                        4.7.4    Server’s Partner’s Position;

The server’s partner shall stand with both feet entirely within the “box” (zone B), on the opposite side to the receiver, until the server strikes the ball.

 

                        4.7.5    Receivers’ Positions;

The receivers shall decide which of them will receive from zone C and who shall receive from zone D. The receivers must continue to receive service from their selected zones whilst the serving team is the server in an unbroken succession (ie until there is a change of service). When service is broken, the receivers may elect to change zones.

                       

4.7.6    Only the intended receiver may return service.

 

NOTE:            The receiver and the receiver’s partner may stand anywhere behind the                              “service line”, except in the server’s partner’s zone B, (provided that their               position does not infringe Rule 12 - Interference), until the ball has been                          struck by the server.

 

4.8       THE COURT AND ITS ZONES:                                                                    

 

      FRONT WALL  

 

 

      ZONE     A     

 

 

        SERVICE LINE                                            

 

          THE BOX                                    THE BOX

 

          ZONE   B                                      ZONE   B

C

          E       L

         N       I

          T       N

          R       E

E

    ZONE   C                              ZONE   D

       

BACK   WALL

4.9              A service is a fault (doubles only);

 

4.9.1        As for Singles (rule 4.4 above) plus;

 

4.9.2    If the server serves to the incorrect receiving zone.

 

4.9.3    If, at the time of the server striking the ball, both of the server’s partner’s feet are not entirely within the appropriate zone B “box”, called a “footfault”.

 

4.9.4    If the server’s partner serves the ball.

 

4.9.5    “Three wall serve.”  If the ball, before being struck by the receiver, touches both side walls on the full.

 

4.10          The receiving team loses the point;

 

4.10.1    As for Singles (rule 4.5 above) plus;

 

4.10.2    If the receiver’s partner returns the ball.

 

 

5.       THE PLAY:

 

            After a good service has been delivered, the players (or doubles partners) shall return the ball alternately until one fails to make a good return, or on a call by the   marker or the referee. The ball then ceases to be in play.

 

 

6.       GOOD RETURN:

 

(a) Singles

A return is good if the ball, after rebounding from the front wall on the serve and before it has bounced more than once on the floor, is “correctly struck” by the         striker onto the front wall above the “tin” either directly or via sidewall(s) and/or the back wall without first touching the floor or any part of the striker’s body or clothing, or the opponent’s racquet, body or clothing, and provided the ball is not hit “out of court”.

 

(b) Doubles

As for the singles except that the terms “striker” and “opponent” shall include their respective partner.

 

NOTE:            It shall be considered NOT a good return, if the ball touches the “tin”                                before or after it hits the front wall, or if the racquet is not in the player’s                              hand at the time the ball is struck, or if the ball is carried for a prolonged                                  time on the racquet. (See Appendix 2 - Definitions “correctly struck”).

 

 

7.       LET:

 

A let is an undecided rally.

 

            7.1       A rally shall immediately cease on the striker’s call of “let please”.

 

            7.2       The service or rally in respect of which a “let” is allowed shall not count                                     and the server shall serve again.

 

            7.3       A “let” shall not cancel a previous “fault”. The marker shall call “one                              fault” before the second service is made.

 

 

8.       POINTS - HOW WON:

 

A player wins a point;

 

            8.1       When the player is the receiver and the server loses the service in                                              accordance with rule 4.5.

 

            8.2       If the opponent fails to make a good return of the ball, unless a let is                               allowed

 

            8.3       If the ball touches an opponent or anything worn or carried when the                             opponent is the non-striker, except as is otherwise provided by rules 6

                        (Good Return), 9 (Hitting Opponent), 10 (Further Attempts) and 13.1

                        (Striker Obscures Opponent).

 

            8.4       If a point is awarded to the player by the referee, as provided for in the                          Rules.

           

 

9.       HITTING AN OPPONENT WITH THE BALL:

 

NOTE:            The practice of hitting an opponent with the ball is considered contrary to the conduct of the game and a player should be reprimanded if, in the opinion of the Referee, it was avoidable. A Referee shall not hesitate to apply the penalties under the Rules if this practice is continued.

 

If the ball, before reaching the front wall, hits the striker’s opponent or racquet, or anything worn or carried by the opponent, the ball shall cease to be in play.

 

9.1       A POINT SHALL BE ALLOWED to the striker if the ball would have made a good return and would have struck the front wall without first touching any other wall, except in accordance with Rule 9.2.

 

 

 

9.2       A LET SHALL BE ALLOWED (SINGLES ONLY) IF:

 

                        9.2.1    The striker hits the opponent(s), or anything worn or carried by the                                opponent(s) with the ball after the following “loss of sight shots”;

           

a)         Turning, or;

                                   

b)         Striking the ball between the striker’s legs, or;

 

                                    c)         Striking the ball behind the striker’s back, or;

 

d)         Striking the ball after allowing it to pass behind the striker’s body.

.

See Note to Referees “Summary of Rule 9.2.1.”

 

9.2.2    The striker, about to enter a situation covered by Rule 9.2.1, chooses not to continue the rally due to the possibility of striking the opponent and in the opinion of the Referee, is able to make a good return.