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RULES GURU
By Christine Barksdale USAPA Managing Director of Athletic Competition
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We ’ d Like to Hear From You !
Submit your questions to editors @ thepickleballmag . com .
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Q : Dear Guru , |
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Q : Dear Guru ,
I hope this is a rare occasion and does not really need to be addressed . During a recent singles match , I attempted to hit the ball during my serve but completely missed . How embarrassing ! Is that considered a side out or do I get another chance ? In golf , if your intention was to hit the ball and you missed it , it is considered a stroke .
A : While it may seem rare to completely miss the ball during the service motion , it does happen ! It occurs so often that 4 . M . 3 specifically addresses this situation . Much like golf ’ s rule , if the server misses the ball when trying to hit it , it is a fault . In your singles example , it would also be a side out . advice coaching ?
“ go team ”
“ use your lob ”
“ nice shot ”
I was playing in a match without referees . My opponent called the score “ 5-7 ” when they were really up 7-5 . I raised my paddle to stop the point . My opponent did not notice and served the ball . I caught it , telling him that the score called was incorrect . He proceeded to tell me that he called “ 7-5 ” and that they were taking this point since I caught the ball . They said a returner cannot become “ unready .” Is this true ?
A : While it is true that a player cannot become unready ( Rule 4 . C . 2 .), the player was not committing a fault by catching the ball before returning it to correct the score IF the score was called incorrectly ( Rule 4 . K . 1 .). However , in a match without a referee it is the server ’ s word against the receiver ’ s word . Without a referee present or other valid way to prove how the score was called , refer to Rule 4 . E . 3 ., “ A receiver who attempts to return a serve shall be considered to have been ready , whether or not contact with the ball was made .” Since no effort was made , and as a show of good sportsmanship , replaying the point is an appropriate solution . If , however , the receiver had returned the ball then decided to stop play , that would be a fault and a point issued to the server ( Rule 4 . K . 3 .).
Q : Dear Guru ,
I was at a tournament cheering on a friend . At one point , I yelled to her , “ Feet , feet , move your feet ,” to encourage her , as she was very fatigued . The opposing team said , “ That ’ s coaching .” When does encouragement become coaching ? Would my comment be considered coaching ?
A : Great question and , yes , sometimes it can be tricky to know what would constitute coaching . Giving advice , like “ Move your feet ,” “ Use your lob ,” “ Call a time-out ,” would be considered coaching . Encouragement is more like cheering , e . g ., “ Nice shot ,” “ Way to go ,” “ Go team ,” etc . See Rule 11 . N . for details . •
JULY / AUGUST 2018 | MAGAZINE 23