Pickleball doubles league rules

1. Organisation

The League is organised and delivered by Warwick Active. The league will be managed by the Warwick Sport Tennis Development Officer. The Tennis Development Officer and the league activator will have final say on all matters of the league.

2. Squads

The squad may consist of between 4 and 10 players, with a minimum of 4 players forming a team for each match.
Once the team captain has paid/registered the team, all other team members are required to sign up. The captain will be emailed about this process after registering their team.
Teams with unregistered players may potentially be removed from the league. Random spot checks will take place throughout the league to ensure all participants are registered.

3. General Rules

Unless stated, play will follow the Pickleball England RulesLink opens in a new window
A team will consist of 4 players, where each pair plays the opposing pair.
A team will consist of 4 players, where each pair play both pairs of the opposing side, after which the two pairs split to form two new pairs which play only one rubber each, this giving a total of six rubbers. Each player must play three rubbers. The result of the match shall be a draw if each team wins three rubbers.
Each match will be best of 3 sets, with each set being first to 11 points, win by 2.
3 points will be awarded for a win, 1 for a draw and 0 for a loss.
If a team of 4 cannot be fielded, the opposition will get a walkover (11-0,11-0) and 3 points.
Pickleball Specific Rules:
- The serve:
  - The serve is made diagonally crosscourt and must land within the confines of the opposite diagonal court.
  - Only one serve attempt is allowed per server.
- Serving Sequence:
  - Both players on the serving doubles team have the opportunity to serve and score points until they commit a fault *(except for the first service sequence of each new game).
  - The first serve of each side-out is made from the right/even court.
  - If a point is scored, the server switches sides and the server initiates the next serve from the left/odd court.
  - As subsequent points are scored, the server continues switching back and forth until a fault is committed, and the first server loses the serve.
  - When the first server loses the serve the partner then serves from their correct side of the court (except for the first service sequence of the game*).
  - The second server continues serving until his team commits a fault and loses the serve to the opposing team.
  - Once the service goes to the opposition (at side out), the first serve is from the right/even court and both players on that team have the opportunity to serve and score points until their team commits two faults.
  - In singles the server serves from the right/even court when his or her score is even and from the left/odd when the score is odd.
  - *At the beginning of each new game only one partner on the serving team has the opportunity to serve before faulting, after which the service passes to the receiving team.
- Scoring:
  - Points are scored only by the serving team.
  - Games are normally played to 11 points, win by 2.
  - When the serving team’s score is even (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10) the player who was the first server in the game for that team will be in the right/even court when serving or receiving; when odd (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) that player will be in the left/odd court when serving or receiving.
- Two-bounce Rule:
  - When the ball is served, the receiving team must let it bounce before returning, and then the serving team must let it bounce before returning, thus two bounces.
  - After the ball has bounced once in each team’s court, both teams may either volley the ball (hit the ball before it bounces) or play it off a bounce (ground stroke).
  - The two-bounce rule eliminates the serve and volley advantage and extends rallies.
- Line Calls:
  - A ball contacting any part of any line, except the non-volley zone line on a serve, is considered “in.”
  - A serve contacting the non-volley zone line is short and a fault.
- Non-volley Zone:
  - The non-volley zone is the court area within 7 feet on both sides of the net.
  - Volleying is prohibited within the non-volley zone. This rule prevents players from executing smashes from a position within the zone.
  - It is a fault if, when volleying a ball, the player steps on the non-volley zone, including the line and/or when the player’s momentum causes them or anything they are wearing or carrying to touch the non-volley zone including the associated lines.
  - It is a fault if, after volleying, a player is carried by momentum into or touches the non-volley zone, even if the volleyed ball is declared dead before this happens.
  - A player may legally be in the non-volley zone any time other than when volleying a ball.
- Faults:
  - A fault is any action that stops play because of a rule violation.
  - A fault by the receiving team results in a point for the serving team.
  - A fault by the serving team results in the server’s loss of serve or side out.
Equipment and referees:
- All matches will be played using pickleball balls which will be provided by Warwick Sport. Pickleball bats will be available if necessary.
- All matches will be self-officiated between teams with an organiser there to assist when possible.

3. Fixtures

All fixtures for the term will be uploaded onto Playwaze by the League Activator.
If a team cannot make a fixture, they must inform the organisers as soon as possible and at least 72 hours before the match. Failure to do so will result in a walkover for that match and the match will not be rescheduled.
The date, time and location of the fixture can only be changed with the permission of the League organisers.

4. Results

Results will be entered by the league activator not team captains.
League position shall be decided upon:
- Total league points obtained.
- Points difference
- Matches won.
- Head-to-head record between the two tied teams.

5. Disputes

In the case of a dispute teams should first contact the League Activator.
If there is disagreement with the decision of the League Activator or Tennis Development Officer, the matter shall be referred to the Active Wellbeing Manager, who’s decision is final.

6. Conduct

Team captains are encouraged to report any misconduct to the Tennis Development Officer overseeing the league.

Should a team, or players from a team, indulge in any actions that are deemed by the organisers to be detrimental to the good spirit of the league, then the organisers are entitled to take appropriate action. This may include, but is not limited to, suspension of players, loss of points, exclusion from the competition with no refund given and referral to the University’s student conduct team. Please refer to our Active Leagues code of conduct.

7. League refunds

Refunds will not be issues for teams failing to attend fixtures at any point during the time allocated for the league.
Refunds will only be issued if Warwick Sport has to cancel the entire Active League before its commencement.

8. Contact

Initial contact should be made to the relevant League Activator.
If you have any further questions on the league, contact warwickactive@warwick.ac.ukLink opens in a new window

I’ve signed up, what happens next?

Please email your team’s name towarwickactive@warwick.ac.uk

Your League Activator will be in contact via email once the sign-up deadline has passed to provide information around the captain’s meeting, first fixture dates, format etc.

The provisional league start date is included in the details of your booking.