All games in the world, talk of football rugby, cricket, and car racing among many other always have their unique and special designed rules which often must be followed for a better play. Some of them might appear or sound quite tough and cunning but without strict adherence to them, you may end up losing even to a weak team.
Racquetball gaming is no exception to such rules. Hence, when training it is always essential to fully internalize all these rules to always have your victory clean against the fighting team. This article outlines in detail some of the key rules you need to keep at your fingertips whenever you are playing racquetball.
This classification of these rules based on;
• The game
• Serving regulations
• Playing regulations
The game rules of racquetball
1. All game participants must adhere to the policies and procedures documented in the Intramural Handbook.
2. Match Scoring: Best 2 out of 3 games rules the match’s winner.
3. Game Time: Each match takes one hour.
4. Time Outs: Every participant is assigned one time-out per game, one-minute in length.
5. Rest Period between Games: A rest period of two-minute is allowed between game one and two. Players are not permitted to leave the court. A ten-minute rest period is allowed between the second and third game during which time players are allowed to leave the court.
6. Game Scoring: Every game will be played to 15 points, participants need not win by 2. Serving sides scores when they serve an ace or wins a rally. The third game will be played to 11 points.
7. Rights and Duties of Participants: The participants are accountable for officiating their individual match.
Serving Regulations
1. Violation: A violation of the service is called a foot fault and is an illegal serve. Two illegal serves in succession results in a serve-out.
2. Serve-out: loss of serve.
3. Screen Serve: A served ball that hits the front wall and on the rebound passes so close to the server that it prevents the receiver a clear view of the ball
4. Serve: Person listed first on the schedule will serve first.
5. Fake or Baulk Serve: Non-continuous movement of the racquet towards the ball as the server drops the ball for the purpose of serving.
6. Readiness: Serves shall not be made until the receiving side is ready.
7. Illegal Serves or Dead ball Serves Any two illegal serves in succession results in a serve-out.
8. Serve-out Serves The following result in a serve-out.
9. Short Serve: A served ball that hits the floor before crossing the short line.
10. Long Serve: A served ball rebounding from the front wall to the back wall before hitting the floor.
11. Ceiling Serve: A served ball rebounding from the front wall and hitting the ceiling before hitting the floor.
12. Two-side serve: A served ball rebounding from the front wall and hitting two or more walls before hitting the floor.
13. Foot Fault: The server stepping out of the service zone before the ball passes the short line or server’s partner in doubles not staying in the service box as required.
14. Non-front Wall Serve: Any served a ball that does not strike the front wall first.
15. All served ball must hit the front wall prior to hitting any other wall. Should a served ball hit a side wall first it is a fault?
16. Missed Served Attempt: Any attempt to strike the ball that results in a total miss or in the ball touching any part of the server’s body.
17. Touched Serve: Any served a ball that on the rebound from the front wall touches the server or their racquet, or any ball intentionally stopped or caught by the server.
18. Illegal Hit: An illegal hit includes contacting the ball twice, carrying the ball or hitting the ball with the handle of the racquet or part of the body.
Playing Regulations
Return of Service:
1. Failure to legally return the service results in a point for the server.
2. A legally served ball must be returned on the fly or after the first bounce be returned to the front wall directly or indirectly after hitting the sidewall(s), ceiling, or back wall. A returned ball touching the front wall and floor simultaneously is not a good return and result in a point for the server.
3. The receiver must remain at least five feet in back of the short line until the server strikes the ball.
4. Playing the ball: A legal return of service or of an opponent’s shot is called a rally. The following rules must be observed. Failure to do so results in a serve-out or point.
5. A hinder cannot be called if you swing.
6. The ball must be hit with the racquet on one or both hands.
7. In returning a service on the fly, no part of the receiver’s body or racquet may cross the short line before making the return.
8. In attempting a return, the ball must be touched only once. If a player swings at the ball but misses it, the player or partner may take another attempt to return the ball until it touches the floor for the second time.
9. In doubles, both partners may swing at and simultaneously strike a ball.
10. Hitting the ball with the arm, hand or any other body part is prohibited.
11. A player must allow the opponent an opportunity to play the ball from any part of the court.
12. Continuity of Play: Play shall be continuous from the first serve of each game until the game is concluded except for timeouts. Deliberate delays shall result in a point or side-out against the offender.
13. Unintentional Hinders: It is a hinder if a player unintentionally interferes with an opponent preventing them from having a fair opportunity to hit the ball. Each player must get out of their opponent’s way immediately after the participant has struck the ball, failure to do so result in a replay of the point.
14. A player must give their opponent a fair opportunity to get to and strike at the ball. If a player in attempting to get into position goes the wrong direction and their opponent stands still this does not constitute a hinder.
15. A player must give the opponent a fair view of the ball, however, interference with the opponent’s vision following the flight of the ball is not a hinder.
16. Broken Ball or Racquet: If a ball or racquet breaks during play, the point is replayed.
17. Prior to each serve the server shall call out the score, giving the server’s score first.
18. A player must allow the opponent to play the ball to any part of the front wall, either sidewall or back wall
19. Unnecessary interference with an opponent or unnecessary crowding, even though the opposing player is not actually prevented from reaching or striking the ball, is a hinder.
20. Intentional Hinders: the result is a serve-out or point.
21. A player failing to move sufficiently to allow his opponent a fair shot.
22. Intentionally pushing an opponent during play.
23. Blocking the movement of an opponent by moving into his path.
24. Wet Ball: On the service and during play, the ball and racquet must be dry.
25. Injuries: In case of a serious injury on a player, the game can be suspended for about 5 minutes before it resumes. The match becomes fortified.
Leave a Reply