13.A. Tournament Director.
A Tournament Director is responsible for the tournament. It is the Tournament Director’s responsibility to designate the officials and their areas of responsibility.
13.A.1. A player may appeal any officiating decision to the Tournament Director or their designee. The Tournament Director, however, retains the final decision-making authority while following the applicable rule in the Official Rulebook.
13.A.2. In all USA Pickleball-sanctioned tournaments, the Tournament Director will provide some method of identifying each team’s starting server for each game. This identification must be visible to all on the court during play. Refusal to wear this identification will result in forfeit of the match.
13.A.3. The Tournament Director should check to ensure that planned support (e.g., first aid, tournament volunteers, etc.) is available.
13.A.4. The Tournament Director has the authority to expel any player from the tournament for misconduct.
13.B. Tournament Briefing.
Before the tournament, the Tournament Director shall brief players and referees on any unique features, abnormal local conditions, or hazards associated with the courts.
The briefings may include but are not limited to court distances that are not uniform (such as the distance from end line to back fence or barrier), low ceilings, existence of overhangs, court repairs, or damage that could affect the play of the ball.
If possible, the players should be notified in writing as part of the pre-tournament instructions. The referees shall be briefed upon arrival at the venue by the Tournament Director or their designee.
13.B.1. The Tournament Director may not implement or impose any rule that is not provided in the USA Pickleball Rulebook. If the Tournament Director desires an exception to any rule because of physical limitations of the court or local conditions, the USA Pickleball Managing Director of Officiating must grant permission before the tournament.
13.C. Referee Duties.
The referee is responsible for all decisions related to procedural and judgment calls during the match. Players may appeal any decision of the referee to the Tournament Director or their designee.
13.C.1. The referee calls non-volley-zone infractions, short serves, and service foot faults.
13.C.2. If the players or line judges make the line calls and there is a disputed line call, the players may request that the referee determine the line call. If the referee cannot make the line call, the player’s or line judge’s call will remain. If doubles partners appeal a line call that they disagree on and the referee cannot make the call, the ball will be declared “in.” Note: A player may choose to overrule a line call to their disadvantage (See Rule 6.C.11).
- 13.C.2.a. Spectators should not be consulted on any calls.
13.C.3. Before each match begins, the referee must:
- 13.C.3.a. Check on preparation of the court with respect to cleanliness, lighting, height of the net, court markings, and hazards.
- 13.C.3.b. Check on availability and suitability of necessary materials for the match, such as balls, score sheets, pencils, and the timing device (stopwatch).
13.C.4. Before each match begins, the referee must meet with players at courtside to:
- 13.C.4.a. Inspect paddles for irregularities.
- 13.C.4.b. Point out approved rule modifications, court abnormalities and non-standard court conditions that could be potential safety issues, including but not limited to court repairs or seams, different distances from end lines to back fences, and spectators and their seating.
- 13.C.4.c. Instruct players on line-calling duties of the referee, line judges, and players. Note: This requirement may be satisfied by the pre-match player instructions provided by the Tournament Director.
- 13.C.4.d. Use any fair method to determine the initial selection of end, serve, receive, or defer.
- 13.C.4.e. Ensure the starting servers for each team are wearing the official identification. Refusal to wear the identification will result in forfeit of the match.
13.C.5. During the match, the referee must:
- 13.C.5.a. Recheck the net height and position if the net is disturbed.
- 13.C.5.b. Call the score to start each rally. Calling the score indicates to each side that play is ready to resume.
- 13.C.5.c. Call “point” after each is awarded.
- 13.C.5.d. Appropriately annotate the score sheet after each rally is completed or time-out is called.
- 13.C.5.e. In doubles matches, call “second server” (or “second serve”) after the first server’s team loses the rally.
- 13.C.5.f. Call “side out” when appropriate.
- 13.C.5.g. Enforce time-out procedures. (See Section 10.)
- 13.C.5.h. Maintain player conduct. In USA Pickleball tournaments, the referee is empowered to call verbal warnings, technical warnings, technical fouls, and to forfeit a game or match based on a defined combination of technical warnings and/or technical fouls. The referee may also recommend an ejection to the Tournament Director.
13.D. Player Line and Fault Call Responsibilities.
13.D.1. Non-Officiated Play.
- 13.D.1.a. In the spirit of good sportsmanship, players are expected to call any type of fault on themselves or their partner as soon as the fault is committed or detected. The fault call must happen before the next serve occurs.
- 13.D.1.b. Players make all line calls, non-volley zone fault calls, and service foot fault calls on their end of the court.
- 13.D.1.c. Players may call non-volley zone faults and service foot faults on the opponent’s end of the court. Claims of non-volley zone faults and service foot faults on opponents must be called as soon as the claimed fault is detected. If there is any disagreement between teams about the called fault, a replay shall occur.
- 13.D.1.d. For non-officiated matches, if a player believes an opponent has committed any type of fault other than a service foot fault or non-volley zone fault as noted in Section 7 – Fault Rules, they may mention the specific fault to the opponent(s) upon completion of the rally but they have no authority to enforce the fault. The final decision on fault resolution belongs to the player that allegedly committed the fault.
13.D.2. Officiated Play.
- 13.D.2.a. Players call baseline, sideline, and center service line on their end of the court.
- 13.D.2.b. In the spirit of good sportsmanship, players are expected to call faults on themselves as soon as the fault is committed or detected. The fault call must happen before the next serve occurs.
13.D.3. Officiated Play with Line Judges.
- 13.D.3.a. Players call center service line on their end of the court.
- 13.D.3.b. Except for center service line calls, player’s line calls are not valid in matches with line judges, except to overrule a call to disadvantage their own team (See Rule 6.C.11). Players may appeal a line call made by the line judge to the referee. (See Rule 13.F.)
- 13.D.3.c. If the line judge(s) and referee cannot make a line call, the rally shall be replayed.
13.E. Line Judges.
13.E.1. The Tournament Director shall determine which medal matches will use line judges. Line judges are recommended, but not required.
13.E.2. Line judges will make the assigned line and foot fault calls within their jurisdiction and will signify by loudly calling “out” (or “service foot fault”) and showing the “out” signal (outstretched arm pointing in the out-of-bounds direction).
13.E.3. If a line judge shows the “blocked/blinded” signal, the referee can make the call immediately if they clearly saw the ball land. If the referee cannot make the call, the referee shall canvass other appropriate members of the officiating team to assist in making the call.
13.E.4. Upon appeal, if a referee overrules a line judge’s “out” call as “in,” a replay will occur, unless the team that benefitted from the referee’s call chooses to concede the rally.
13.E.5. If a player disagrees with a line judge’s “out” call that benefited their team, the player may overrule the “out” call as “in” per rule 6.C.11. A replay will occur, unless the team that made the call to their detriment chooses to concede the rally.
13.F. Appeals.
Appeals to the referee regarding judgment calls (e.g., line calls, double bounce, etc.) shall be decided by the referee. The referee may consult players or line judges to decide the outcome of the appeal.
13.F.1. In a match without line judges, if a player appeals a line call to the referee, the referee shall make a call if they clearly saw the ball land “in” or “out.” If the referee is unable to make the call, the original call will remain. If no call was made, the ball will be considered “in.”
13.F.2. A referee’s decision will result in a point awarded, a service loss, or a replay.
13.F.3. Only rally-ending line calls may be appealed. Any player may appeal a rally-ending line call to the referee before the next serve occurs. A match ending line call appeal must be requested before the scoresheet is initialed.
13.G. Verbal Warnings, Technical Warnings, and Technical Fouls.
13.G.1. Verbal Warning and Technical Warnings. The referee is empowered to issue a single verbal warning to each player/team or call technical warnings. Actions or behavior that shall result in a verbal or technical warning:
- 13.G.1.a. Objectionable language directed at another person.
- 13.G.1.b. Profanity (audible or visible) used for any reason. The referee will determine the severity of any violation.
- 13.G.1.c. Arguing aggressively with the officiating team, other players or spectators in a way that disrupts the flow of play.
- 13.G.1.d. Ball abuse (aggressively or purposely breaking or stepping on the ball) or striking the ball between rallies.
- 13.G.1.e. Taking time between rallies in a way that unnecessarily disrupts the flow of play.
- 13.G.1.f. Repeatedly appealing line calls such that the flow of play is disrupted.
- 13.G.1.g. Challenging the referee’s decision or ruling and losing the challenge (e.g., referee’s ruling was correct) and a timeout is assessed. (Verbal Warning not applicable)
- 13.G.1.h. Requesting a medical time-out without a valid medical condition (time-out assessed) as determined by medical personnel or the tournament director if no medical staff is present. (Verbal Warning not applicable)
- 13.G.1.i. Actions that are considered minor unsportsmanlike behavior, including but not limited to making repeated questionable ‘out’ calls that, upon appeal, are reversed (overruled) by the referee.
- 13.G.1.j. Except during time-outs and in-between games, receiving coaching from anyone other than a partner.
13.G.2. Technical Fouls. The referee is empowered to call technical fouls. When a technical foul is called, one point shall be removed from the score of the offending player/team unless their score is zero, in which case, a point shall be added to the score of the opposing side. Actions or behavior that shall result in a technical foul (without a technical warning being issued beforehand):
- 13.G.2.a. Aggressively or recklessly throwing a paddle in frustration or anger, with negligent disregard of the consequences, and does not strike a person or damage property.
- 13.G.2.b. A player using extremely objectionable language, or profanity, regardless of to whom or what it is directed.
- 13.G.2.c. Making a threat or challenges of any nature toward or against any person.
- 13.G.2.d. Challenging the referee’s decision or ruling and losing the challenge (e.g., referee’s ruling was correct) and no timeout is available. (Verbal Warning not applicable)
- 13.G.2.e. Any other actions that are considered extreme unsportsmanlike behavior.
- 13.G.2.f. Requesting a medical time-out without a valid medical condition, and the team (or player in a singles match) has no time-outs remaining. (Verbal Warning not applicable)
- 13.G.2.g. Deliberately throwing or hitting a ball that is not in play with negligent disregard of the consequences which inadvertently hits a person.
13.G.3. Effect of Technical Fouls and Technical Warnings. The assessment of a technical warning or technical foul shall be accompanied by a brief explanation of the reason.
- 13.G.3.a. A technical warning shall not result in a loss of rally or point awarded.
- 13.G.3.b. Once a technical warning has been issued, a second technical warning for any reason, given to the same player/team during the match, will result in a technical foul being issued to the player/team.
- 13.G.3.c. If a referee issues a technical foul, one point shall be removed from the score of the offending player/team unless their score is zero, in which case a point shall be added to the score of the opposing side. After the point is removed or awarded, the player or team losing or awarded the point must move to the correct position(s) that reflects their score.
- 13.G.3.d. A called technical warning or technical foul shall have no effect on server change or side out.
- 13.G.3.e. Verbal warnings, technical warnings and technical fouls may be assessed any time the players are at the court. This includes during warm-up time. Play shall not be stopped to assess a warning or foul. The assessment of the warning or foul shall be applied after the rally has ended.
13.G.4. Behavior raising to the level of a warning or foul after the match is over while a player is still on court shall be brought to the attention of the Tournament Director. Based on this information, the Tournament Director may impose a Verbal Warning, Technical Warning, or Technical Foul that will be applied to the offending player’s next match at the tournament.
13.H. Game Forfeit.
The referee will impose a game forfeit when either of the following occurs:
13.H.1. After one technical warning has been assessed and the subsequent issuance of a technical foul listed in Rule 13.G.2.
13.H.2. After one technical foul has been assessed in accordance with Rule 13.G.3.b. or Rule 13.G.2. and the subsequent issuance of another technical warning for any reason.
13.H.3. For a match format that is one game to 15 or 21, a game forfeit is equivalent to a match forfeit.
13.H.4. For a match format that is two-out-of-three or three-out-of-five games, a referee may impose a game forfeit when a player/team fails to report to play 10 minutes after the match has been called to play. A match forfeit will be imposed when a player/team fails to report to play 15 minutes after the match has been called to play. If the match format is a one game to 15 or 21, the match forfeit occurs when the player/team fails to report to play 10 minutes after the match has been called to play. The Tournament Director may permit a longer delay if circumstances warrant such a decision.
13.I. Match Forfeit.
13.I.1. The referee will impose a match forfeit based on a combination of Technical Warnings or Technical Fouls when either of the following occurs:
- 13.I.1.a. The combined issuance of two technical warnings and a technical foul listed in Rule 13.G.2.
- 13.I.1.b. After one technical foul has been assessed in accordance with Rule 13.G.3.b or Rule 13.G.2 and the subsequent issuance of a second technical foul for any reason.
- 13.I.1.c. Behavior that shall result in a match forfeit that is not due to a combination of Technical Warnings or Technical Fouls.
- 13.I.1.c.1 Making deliberately aggressive physical contact with an opponent, official or spectator.
- 13.I.1.c.2 Aggressively or recklessly striking or throwing a ball or paddle out of frustration or anger that puts an individual or facility property at risk or in danger.
13.I.2. The Tournament Director may impose a match forfeit for failure to comply with the tournament or host facility’s rules while on the premises, or for improper conduct on the premises between matches, or for abuse of hospitality, locker room, or failure to comply with other rules and procedures.
13.J. Challenging Referee Rulings or Decisions.
If a player disagrees with a referee’s ruling or decision, that player may challenge the referee’s ruling or decision by asking for the Head Referee, Tournament Director, or the Tournament Director’s designee. If the referee’s ruling or decision is determined to be correct, the player or team will lose a time-out and be given a technical warning (see 13.G.1.g). If no time-outs are available and the referee’s ruling is correct, the player/team will be given a technical foul (see 13.G.2.d). When the referee’s ruling or decision is incorrect, the ruling will be reversed and, if applicable, the rally will be replayed.
13.K. Removal of a Line Judge.
The referee may remove a line judge for any reasonable cause, based on either the referee's own observation or that of the players. If the referee decides to replace a line judge based on their own observation, the referee's decision is final. The players may also petition the referee to remove a line judge, providing all players agree. If the referee does not agree, the referee must consult with the Tournament Director for a final decision. If a line judge is removed, the Tournament Director will appoint a replacement.
13.K.1. Removal of a Referee. If all players agree, they may petition the Tournament Director for a referee removal. The Tournament Director retains the final discretionary authority on the removal of a Referee. If a Referee is removed, the Tournament Director will appoint a replacement.
13.L. Non-Officiated Play.
Any player may request a referee or Tournament Director if:
13.L.1. The player reasonably believes that a rule is being consistently and deliberately violated by their opponent.
13.L.2. A situation arises where players are not able to quickly and easily resolve a dispute.
- 13.L.2.a. If any player believes a paddle is not USAP approved or does not otherwise comply with all paddle rules, the player is allowed to summon the Head Referee or Tournament Director to determine if the paddle is legal for play.
13.M. Ejections and Expulsions.
The Tournament Director may eject a player from the tournament for flagrant and particularly injurious behavior that, in the opinion of the Tournament Director, impacts the success of the tournament. An ejection can occur due to actions any time the player is at the tournament venue and may include, but is not limited to:
13.M.1. Using ethnic, religious, racial, sexist, or homophobic slurs.
13.M.2. Injury to a player, official, or spectator through an act of paddle or ball abuse.
13.M.3. Spitting or coughing on a person.
13.M.4. Not exhibiting “best effort.” This includes but is not limited to, defaulting, forfeiting, or not giving best efforts in matches, whether for their own benefit or otherwise.
Note: In addition to an ejection, the Tournament Director also has the option to expel the player from the tournament venue.