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?
Pickleball line calls (Rule 6)
Except for the serve, any ball in play that lands in the correct court or touches any court line is “in” (Rule 6.A.).
During the serve, the ball must clear the non-volley zone (kitchen) and the non-volley zone line (kitchen line) (Rule 6.B.).
The ball must also land crosscourt from the server, between (or on) the baseline, center line, and sideline (but outside the kitchen and kitchen line) (Rule 6.A.).
Players are responsible for calling the lines on their end of the court (Rule 6.C.1.).
Any ball that cannot be called “out” will be considered “in” (Rule 6.C.3.).
A player cannot claim a replay because the ball was not seen or there is uncertainty (Rule 6.C.3.).
When playing in tournaments, a player who does not make a call may appeal to the referee to make the call if they did not clearly see the ball (Rule 6.C.3.).
If the referee is unable to make the call, the ball is “in” (Rule 6.C.3.).
The moment the receiving player or team appeals to the referee, they lose their right to make a subsequent “in” or “out” call for that rally (Rule 6.C.3.).
In doubles play: If one player calls the ball “out” and the partner calls it “in,” then doubt exists and the team's call will be “in (Rule 6.C.8.).
Spectators should never be consulted on any line call (Rule 6.C.4.).
These are only some of the line call rules of pickleball. Learn more about all line calls here.
If you would like to learn more details about these rules refer to the official rulebook at USAPickleball.org.
Maddie Toren is a pro pickleball official and the first-ever teen-certified referee. This is Episode 8 of “10 Rules All Beginner Pickleball Players Should Know: Part 1.”