Clubs and Activities » St. Joe's Pickleball Rules Summary » 2025 Pickleball Rules

2025 Pickleball Rules

 

1. Scoring

  • Rally scoring: A point is awarded on every rally.
  • Games are to 11 points, win by 2 — or whoever is leading after 10 minutes.

 

2. Serving

  • Serve must be underhand, contact below the waist.
  • Serve diagonally cross-court, landing beyond the non-volley zone (kitchen).
  • One serve attempt per turn.
  • The serving team continues to serve until they lose a rally.
 

3. Double Bounce Rule

  • The ball must bounce once on each side before players can hit a volley.
  • (Serve → bounce → return → bounce → open play)
 

4. Non-Volley Zone (Kitchen)

  • No volleying while standing in the kitchen or touching its line.
  • You may enter the kitchen after the ball bounces.
 
5. Faults
  • A fault ends the rally and gives the point to the opponent or ends your team’s serve:
  • Hitting out of bounds
  • Volleying from the kitchen
  • The ball bounces twice
  • Hitting into the net or under the net
  • Serve lands in the kitchen or out
 

6. Match Duration

  • Each match is 10 minutes long, no stoppages unless for injury.
  • Highest score at the buzzer wins (no overtime unless in final round).

 

7. Tie-Breakers for Pool Play
If 2+ teams are tied after pool play:

  • Head-to-head result
  • Point differential
  • Total points scored
  • Coin flip
 
8. Conduct
  • Good sportsmanship is required.
  • Disputes will be resolved by the event staff.
  • Poor conduct may result in disqualification.