Summer 2024 Pickleball Switch League (Tuesdays)

SWITCH LEAGUE FORMAT

• Players sign up individually for the switch league. A switch league is a fun and social twist to the popular ladder league.
• Just like the word switch, players will be paired with three other players on a court making a group of 4. After each game to 11 points (win by 2) players will switch partners within their group.
• Player rankings during a switch league are based upon your winning percentage (the ratio of points won to total points possible).
• Each week, players will play 6 games.
• The next week the players will be placed in totally different groups.
• Scoresheets will be provided to each group of four, so they can keep track of their total points. After the end of each match, the groups will submit their scoresheets to the on-site league supervisor to update the rankings.
• Top players will make the playoffs.
• Players who miss three or more weeks in the switch will be ineligible for playoffs.
• Paddles will be provided to those players who need to borrow paddles. Players may bring their own paddles. Balls will be provided each week.

SUBSTITUTION RULES

• Teams are only permitted to substitute a player between games.

SERVING

A team chooses service, side or receive for the start of the first game by winning Rock/Paper/Scissors.

• Points are scored only by the serving side when the server or the server’s team wins the rally, or the opposing side commits a fault.
• The server continues to serve, alternating service courts, until the serving side loses the rally or commits a fault.
• Paddle contact with the ball must not be made above the waist level.
• At the time the ball is struck, the server’s feet may not touch the court and neither foot may contact the baseline or court until after the ball is struck.
• 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.
• A serve contacting the non-volley zone line is short and a fault.
• A let is awarded when the server hits the net on a serve and the ball makes it past the kitchen into the return area.
• On the serve, if the ball strikes the perimeter line of the kitchen, this is ruled as a kitchen ball and is considered a fault on a serve.

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.
• *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.

PLAYING THE BALL

• 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.
• The non-volley zone is the court area within 7 feet on both sides of the net commonly referred to as “the Kitchen.”
• Volleying is prohibited within the non-volley zone (the Kitchen). 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 to touch the non-volley zone including the 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.
• A ball contacting any part of any line, except the non-volley zone line on a serve, is considered “in.”
• You may play the ball around the net if the ball and momentum of the player takes them to the sideline. In this instance the ball doesn’t need to go over the net.

SCORING

• The score is announced in three’s. The first number is the team serving’s points. The second number is the receiving team’s points. The third number is server number
• The serve always starts on the right side. 0-0-2
• Once the sideout point happens and the serve shifts to the opposing team, It is now announced 0-0-1. Once the serving team misses. It’s the second server's opportunity. 0-0-2.
• If the second server scores a point. The score is now 1-0-2.
• When the serving team scores a point the server moves to the other side to serve. The receiving team does not move.
• Once the serving team misses, it then returns to the opposing team where the player on the right side starts the serve with the score, 0-1-1.

FORFEIT POLICY

If your team forfeits a game during the season, the following rules apply:

• First Offense: Loss of game. Score marked: 11-0, 11-0.
• Second Offense: Loss of game and lost ability to make playoffs.
• Third Offense: Removal from the league.
• If you know in advance that your team is going to forfeit a game, we encourage you to contact us so we can inform your opponent.
• Teams have until ten minutes past the designated start time to field a full squad (or the league minimum of players required according to rules). If at that time a team is unable to field a legal team, they forfeit the game. The teams may utilize the playing field during their allotted time to play an unofficial game. The official score will be marked as a loss with the respective forfeit score.

OFFICIALS

• Pickleball is a self officiated game. SPORTSKIND will provide a league coordinator to help with court location, resolving disputes and collecting scores.
• Only the team captain from each team may approach the coordinator to ask for clarification/resolve a dispute.

SPORTSMANSHIP

• We enforce a “Zero Tolerance Policy” in regards to behavior of players, managers, and fans. Taunting, trash talking, or abusive language will not be tolerated.  Officials and league staff will have the right to reprimand or eject players, managers, or fans depending on the severity of the situation. Abusive behavior toward the official will not be tolerated. An ejection carries a one game suspension (including the current game). In extreme cases, the player will be asked to leave the premises without refund. The severity of the punishment will be based on the discretion of the official and league staff.
• Only CAPTAINS of respective teams are allowed to approach the staff with questions or concerns in a respective manner. Teams charging the field of play to question or complain a call will be subject to automatic forfeit for that game.
• Alcohol and smoking is not allowed on playing fields.
• Any rules not covered or protests will be handled by the League Coordinator.
• There will be no refunds allowed for rain delays or cancellations.  If the league is postponed due to weather, we will reschedule to a later date.  There will be no refunds if you are not able to furnish a team on the makeup date.
• Pickleball is played in the rain if at all possible unless the Official or Facility Representative decides it is necessary to postpone due to dangerous playing conditions or lightning.  If lightning occurs, all attempts will be made to resume play 30 minutes after the last lightning flash is viewed and the official deems it safe to resume play. The games will resume as scheduled if at all possible, or shortened if necessary.

LEAGUE AUTHORITY

• FIGHTING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.  ANY INSTANCES OF FIGHTING MAY RESULT IN A TEAM FORFEIT OF THE TOURNAMENT WITHOUT REFUND AND POSSIBLE EXPULSIONS FROM FUTURE TOURNAMENTS.
• ALL DECISIONS OF THE LEAGUE STAFF ARE FINAL.  THE LEAGUE STAFF SHALL ALSO HAVE THE FINAL AUTHORITY TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO GAME SCHEDULES, GAME DURATION. AND OTHER ASPECTS OF THE RULES OR OF THE LEAGUE.