USAPA Pickleball Rules

The current rules are available on the USAPA website (www.usapa.org ).

The rules below are for historical purposes and reflect the proposed and approved changes to the 1999 rules.

The following sections are provided courtesy of the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA) from the Official Tournament Rulebook. The 1999 Rules are from the United States of America Pickleball Association (U.S.A.P.A.).

1999 U.S.A.P.A. Rules USA Pickleball Association Recommendations Approved Changes
Effective Date
Section 1 -- The Game    
Section 2 -- Court and Equipment   May 2006
Section 3 -- Definitions   Dec 2007
Section 4 -- Service Rules June 2006 Jan 2007
Nov 2007
Section 5 -- Service Sequence Rules September 2006 May 2007
Section 6 -- Line Call Rules Sept 25th 2006 May 2007
Section 7 -- Fault Rules Dec 22nd, 2006 Nov 2007
Section 8 -- Dead Ball Rules Dec 22nd, 2006 Nov 2007
Section 9 -- Non-volley Zone Rules Jan 31st, 2007 Nov 2007
Section 10 -- Scoring - Game - Match Rules Feb 13th, 2007 (only formatting changes) Nov 2007
Section 11 -- Time-out Rules Feb 19th, 2007 Nov 2007
Section 12 -- Other Rules May 12th, 2007  
Section 13 -- Recommended Tournament Format June 21st, 2007  
Section 14 -- Tournament Management and Officiating July 16th, 2007  
Section 15 -- Tournament Division Categories July 16th, 2007  
Section 16 -- Pickleball Playing Tips    
Section 17 -- Game Variations    
Section 18 -- Code of Ethics for Line-Calling See Section 6 Recommendations (September 2006) May 2007
Moved to Section 6
Addition defining 'Out Calls' July 27th, 2007