Pickleball is still a fairly new sport, and the rules can be confusing when you first start. If you have beginner pickleball students who need to know the basics, these videos (many from USA Pickleball-certified referee Maddie Toren) will teach you everything you need to know about the basics of pickleball rules.
Pickleball rules: The definitive beginner's resource to how to play pickleball
Besides hitting the ball over the net, how do you play pickleball? Wanting to join the ranks of pickleball addicts, but don’t know the first thing about it? Watch this video for a quick tutorial on pickleball rules and other tips for how to play pickleball.
Learn more: 7 basic rules of pickleball
How to keep score in pickleball
USA Pickleball ref Maddie Toren will teach you how to keep score in pickleball, including when and how to serve, where each team should stand during different pieces of the game, how to call the pickleball score, and the basics of pickleball scoring. Keeping track of a pickleball score can be really confusing at first, but Maddie will break it down so you will know exactly how to call the score during your next pickleball game.
Learn to play pickleball in 5 minutes
If you want to learn to play pickleball, this video has everything you need to know about playing pickleball in five minutes. Learn more about pickleball rules, pickleball scoring, player positioning, pickleball court dimensions, the pickleball kitchen (or non-volley zone), and the difference between a volley and dink shot (and when you can and can’t hit those specific pickleball shots). This video is an intro to pickleball to learn everything you need to know to get started playing.
Learn more about how to play pickleball here
Understanding when a pickleball is "in" or "out"
USA Pickleball ref Maddie Toren will teach you the official pickleball rules about when the ball is "in" or "out" in both official and recreational pickleball play. Plus, whose job is it to make pickleball line calls and what happens if there is a dispute?
Learn more about pickleball line calls
Top 10 most confusing pickleball rules: Momentum, redos, & when *can* you step in the kitchen?
The rules of pickleball can be really confusing, whether you are a brand new player or have been playing pickleball for years. When can you be in the pickleball kitchen? What is the pickleball momentum rule? What is an in line and what is an out line in pickleball? And when can you call a redo on a pickleball play? Here are 10 confusing rules of pickleball that beginner pickleball players most often have questions about.
Pickleball line rules & etiquette: Calling the ball “in” or “out”
Pickleball line call rules are different from most other sports. Learn more about which team calls pickleball line rules, what is an “in” ball and what is an “out” ball, and what happens if you didn’t clearly see the pickleball when it landed? Danea and Barrett Bass will go over what you need to see to call a ball in or out and when your partner, or your opponent, can overrule your call.
Approved pickleball paddles, balls, and apparel
USA Pickleball ref Maddie Toren will teach you about the approved pickleball paddles, pickleball balls, and pickleball apparel you can wear in official events. She will also teach you the things you cannot wear, how to find if your pickleball paddle is USAPA-approved, and what pickleballs cannot be used.
Broken or cracked pickleball: Rules for non-officiated & officiated matches
USA Pickleball ref Maddie Toren will teach you everything you ever wanted to know about a broken pickleball ball. She will teach you the rules for both non-officiated and officiated pickleball matches, what constitutes a broken or cracked ball, and what are your rights when you suspect a ball is broken or cracked?
Partner court positioning during the pickleball serve or return
USA Pickleball ref Maddie Toren will take you through partner court positioning during the serve or return. Learn more about where your pickleball partner is allowed to stand while you are serving or while you are waiting for the return of serve, and where are they not allowed to be?
What is a pickleball hinder vs. distraction?
USA Pickleball ref Maddie Toren will teach you about the differences between a pickleball hinder vs. a pickleball distraction: How are they different, how do they each affect your game, and what are your rights as a pickleball player on the court during a hinder vs. a distraction?
7 random rules of the pickleball court
USA Pickleball ref Maddie Toren will take you through some random pickleball rules you may not know, including using two paddles, injuries during a rally, broken paddles, missing the ball during a swing, and more.
What happens if a pickleball ball bounces back over the net (without being touched)?
USA Pickleball ref Maddie Toren will teach you about the plane of the pickleball net, including when you can and cannot cross over the plane of the net, does what you are wearing or touching count, and an important exception to this rule.
How permanent objects may affect the pickleball game
USA Pickleball ref Maddie Toren will teach you about permanent objects in pickleball: What is a permanent object, how does this change your pickleball game, and what happens if your game is affected by a permanent object?
How to serve legally: Learn the 2 pickleball serves
USA Pickleball ref Maddie Toren will take you through ways to serve legally in pickleball, including the volley serve and drop serve. What can and can't you do during your pickleball serve, according to the official USA Pickleball rules, including spin, location of your paddle and wrist, and other pickleball serve requirements.
Read the full rules for legal pickleball serving here
Where to stand on the pickleball court as the server
USA Pickleball ref Maddie Toren will teach you where to stand on the pickleball court during your serve, including when the rules apply (at the moment your paddle hits the ball), where your feet can be, how to serve, and where the ball must land during the pickleball serve. She will also explain where you can stand after the moment your pickleball paddle hits the ball. If you are new to pickleball, this video will teach you everything you need to know about the pickleball serve.
The pickleball 2-bounce rule & when can you volley the ball?
USA Pickleball ref Maddie Toren will teach you when you can volley the pickleball during each rally. The pickleball two-bounce rule is one of the most important rules in pickleball, and it has a lot to do with when you can volley the ball. Maddie will take you through when you can volley the ball, when you can't, and what the pickleball two-bounce rule is.
Pickleball rules: Around-the-Post (ATP) shot
USA Pickleball ref Maddie Toren will teach you about the pickleball Around-The-Post (ATP) shot, including what it is, the official rules about when it is legal (and when it is not), and how the pickleball net affects this rule. See examples of the Around-The-Net shot in pickleball and learn how you can integrate it into your pickleball game.