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Sections 4 - 12 --
Modifications
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4.0-11.0 -- RULE MODIFICATIONS
The following sections (4.0 through 11.0) detail the additional or
modified rules that apply to variations of the singles game described
in Sections 1 through 3.
4.0 Doubles
5.0 One Serve Game
6.0 Multi-bounce
7.0 One-wall and Three-wall play
8.0 Wheelchair
9.0 Visually Impaired
10.0 Deaf
11.0 Men's Professional
12.0 Women's Professional
4.0 -- DOUBLES
The USRA's rules for singles also apply in doubles with the
following additions and modifications:
- 4.1 -- Doubles Team
- 4.2 -- Serve in Doubles
- 4.3 -- Fault Serve in Doubles
- 4.4 -- Out Serve in Doubles
- 4.5 -- Return in Doubles
Rule 4.1 DOUBLES TEAM
- (a) A doubles team shall consist of two players who meet either
the age requirements or player classification requirements to
participate in a particular division of play. A team with different
skill levels must play in the division of the player with the higher
level of ability. When playing in an adult age division, the team
must play in the division of the younger player. When playing in a
junior age division, the team must play in the division of the older
player.
- (b) A change in playing partners may be
made so long as the first match of the posted team has not begun.
For this purpose only, the match will be considered started once the
teams have been called to the court. The team must notify the
tournament director of the change prior to the beginning of the
match.
Rule 4.2 SERVE IN DOUBLES
- (a) Order of Serve. Before the match
begins, each team shall inform the referee of their team’s order
of service, which shall be followed throughout the match. The order
of serve may be changed between games, provided that the referee has
been verbally notified before the first serve of the new game. At
the beginning of each game, when the first server of the first team
to serve is out, the team is out. Thereafter, both players on each
team shall serve until the team receives a handout and a sideout.
- (b) Partner's Position. On each serve, the
server's partner shall stand erect with back to the side wall and
with both feet on the floor within the service box from the moment
the server begins the service motion until the served ball passes
the short line. Violations are called foot faults. However, if the
server's partner enters the safety zone before the ball passes the
short line, the server loses service.
- (c) Changes of Serve. In doubles, the side
is retired when both partners have lost service, except that the
team which serves first at the beginning of each game loses the
serve when the first server is retired.
Rule 4.3 FAULT SERVE IN DOUBLES
- (a) The server's partner is not in the service box with both feet
on the floor and back to the side wall from the time the server
begins the service motion until the ball passes the short line.
- (b) A served ball that hits the doubles partner while in the
doubles box results in a fault serve.
- (c) In open division play, if a
serve hits the non-serving partner while standing in the box, the
server will be allowed one more opportunity to hit a legal serve.
Hitting the non-serving partner twice, results in an out.
- (d) In open division play,
consecutive faults -- either (i) a screen serve followed by hitting
the non-serving partner or (ii) hitting the non-serving partner
followed by a screen serve -- results in an out.
Rule 4.4 OUT SERVE IN DOUBLES
- (a) Out-of-Order Serve. In doubles, when either partner serves
out of order, the points scored by that server will be subtracted
and an out serve will be called: if the second server serves out of
order, the out serve will be applied to the first server and the
second server will resume serving. If the player designated as the
first server serves out of order, a sideout will be called. The
referee should call "no serve" as soon as an out-of-order
serve occurs. If no points are scored while the team is out of
order, only the out penalty will have to assessed. However, if
points are scored before the out of order condition is noticed and
the referee cannot recall the number, the referee may enlist the aid
of the line judges (but not the crowd) to recall the number of
points to be deducted.
- (b) Ball Hits Partner. A served ball that hits the doubles
partner while outside the doubles box results in loss of serve.
Rule 4.5 RETURN IN DOUBLES
- (a) The rally is lost if one player hits that same player's
partner with an attempted return.
- (b) If one player swings at the ball and
misses it, both partners may make further attempts to return the
ball until it touches the floor the second time. Both partners on a
side are entitled to return the ball.
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5.0 -- ONE SERVE
The USRA's standard rules governing racquetball play will be
followed but only one serve is allowed. Therefore, any fault serve is
an out serve, with a few exceptions [noted separately below, and within
the text rules cited].
Rule 3.9 FAULT SERVES
[Screens]
(i) In open division play, if a serve is called a screen, the server will be allowed one
more opportunity to hit a legal serve. Two consecutive screen serves
results in an out.
Rule 4.3 FAULT SERVES IN
DOUBLES
[Serve hits partner]
(c) In open division play, if a serve hits the non-serving partner while
standing in the box, the server will be allowed one more opportunity
to hit a legal serve. Hitting the non-serving partner twice, results
in an out.
[Consecutive faults]
(c) In open division play, either (i) a screen serve followed by hitting the
non-serving partner or (ii) hitting the non-serving partner followed
by a screen serve, results in an out. |
6.0 -- MULTI-BOUNCE
In general, the USRA's standard rules governing racquetball play
will be followed except for the modifications which follow.
Rule 6.1 BASIC RETURN RULE
In general, the ball remains in play as long as it is bouncing.
However, the player may swing only once at the ball and the ball is
considered dead at the point it stops bouncing and begins to roll.
Also, anytime the ball rebounds off the back wall, it must be struck
before it crosses the short line on the way to the front wall, except
as explained in Rule 6.2.
Rule 6.2 BLAST RULE
If the ball caroms from the front wall to the back wall on the
fly, the player may hit the ball from any place on the
court--including past the short line--so long as the ball is still
bouncing.
Rule 6.3 FRONT WALL LINES
Two parallel lines (tape may be used) should be placed across
the front wall such that the bottom edge of one line is 3 feet above
the floor and the bottom edge of the other line is 1 foot above the
floor. During the rally, any ball that hits the front wall
- (i) below the 3-foot line and
- (ii) either on or above the 1-foot line must be returned before
it bounces a third time. However, if the ball hits below the 1-foot
line, it must be returned before it bounces twice. If the ball hits
on or above the 3-foot line, the ball must be returned as described
in the basic return rule.
Rule 6.4 GAMES AND MATCHES
All games are played to 11 points and the first side to win two
games, wins the match. |
7.0 -- ONE-WALL & THREE-WALL PLAY
In general, the USRA's standard rules governing racquetball play
will be followed except for the modifications which follow.
Rule 7.1 ONE-WALL
There are two playing surfaces--the front wall and the floor. The
wall is 20 feet wide and 16 feet high. The floor is 20 feet wide and
34 feet to the back edge of the long line. To permit movement by
players, there should be a minimum of three feet (six feet is
recommended) beyond the long line and six feet outside each side line.
- (a) Short Line. The back edge of the short line is 16 feet from
the wall.
- (b) Service Markers. Lines at least six inches long which are
parallel with, and midway between, the long and short lines. The
extension of the service markers form the imaginary boundary of the
service line.
- (c) Service Zone. The entire floor area inside and including the
short line, side lines and service line.
- (d) Receiving Zone. The entire floor area in back of the short
line, including the side lines and the long line.
Rule 7.2 THREE-WALL WITH SHORT SIDE WALL
The front wall is 20 feet wide and 20 feet high. The side walls
are 20 feet long and 20 feet high, with the side walls tapering to 12
feet high. The floor length and court markings are the same as a four
wall court.
Rule 7.3 THREE-WALL WITH LONG SIDE WALL
The court is 20 feet wide, 20 feet high and 40 feet long. The
side walls may taper from 20 feet high at the front wall down to 12
feet high at the end of the court. All court markings are the same as
a four wall court.
Rule 7.4 SERVICE IN THREE-WALL COURTS
A serve that goes beyond the side walls on the fly is an out. A
serve that goes beyond the long line on a fly, but within the side
walls, is a fault. |
8.0 -- WHEELCHAIR
Rule 8.1 CHANGES TO STANDARD RULES
In general, the USRA's standard rules governing racquetball play
will be followed, except for the modifications which follow.
- (a) Where USRA rules refer to server, person, body, or other
similar variations, for wheelchair play such reference shall include
all parts of the wheelchair in addition to the person sitting on it.
- (b) Where the rules refer to feet, standing or other similar
descriptions, for wheelchair play it means only where the rear
wheels actually touch the floor.
- (c) Where the rules mention body contact, for wheelchair play it
shall mean any part of the wheelchair in addition to the player.
- (d) Where the rules refer to double bounce or after the first
bounce, it shall mean three bounces. All variations of the same
phrases shall be revised accordingly.
Rule 8.2 DIVISIONS
- (a) Novice Division. The novice division is for the beginning
player who is just learning to play.
- (b) Intermediate Division. The Intermediate Division is for the
player who has played tournaments before and has a skill level to be
competitive in the division.
- (c) Open Division. The Open Division is the highest level of play
and is for the advanced player.
- (d) Multi-Bounce Division. The Multi-Bounce Division is for the
individuals (men or women) whose mobility is such that wheelchair
racquetball would be impossible if not for the Multi-Bounce
Division.
- (e) Junior Division. The junior divisions are for players who are
under the age of 19. The tournament director will determine if the
divisions will be played as two bounce or multi-bounce. Age
divisions are: 8-11, 12-15, and 16-18.
Rule 8.3 RULES
- (a) Two Bounce Rule. Two bounces are used in wheelchair
racquetball in all divisions except the Multi-Bounce Division. The
ball may hit the floor twice before being returned.
- (b) Out-of-Chair Rule. The player can neither intentionally jump
out of the chair to hit a ball nor stand up in the chair to serve
the ball. If the referee determines that the chair was left
intentionally it will result in loss of the rally for the offender.
If a player unintentionally leaves the chair, no penalty will be
assessed. Repeat offenders will be warned by the referee.
- (c) Equipment Standards. To protect playing surfaces, the
tournament officials will not allow a person to participate with
black tires or anything which will mark or damage the court.
- (d) Start. The serve may be started from any place within the
service zone. Although the front casters may extend beyond the lines
of the service zone, at no time shall the rear wheels cross either
the service or short line before the served ball crosses the short
line. Penalties for violation are the same as those for the standard
game.
- (e) Maintenance Delay. A maintenance delay is a delay in the
progress of a match due to a malfunction of a wheelchair,
prosthesis, or assistive device. Such delay must be requested by the
player, granted by the referee during the match, and shall not
exceed 5 minutes. Only two such delays may be granted for each
player for each match. After using both maintenance delays, the
player has the following options:
- (i) continue play with the defective equipment,
- (ii) immediately substitute replacement equipment, or
- (iii) postpone the game, with the approval of the referee and
opponent.
Rule 8.4 MULTI-BOUNCE RULES
- (a) The ball may bounce as many times as the receiver wants
though the player may swing only once to return the ball to the
front wall.
- (b) The ball must be hit before it crosses the short line on its
way back to the front wall.
- (c) The receiver cannot cross the short line after the ball
contacts the back wall.
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9.0 -- VISUALLY IMPAIRED
In general, the USRA's standard rules governing racquetball play
will be followed except for the modifications which follow.
Rule 9.1 ELIGIBILITY
A player's visual acuity must not be better than 20/200 with the
best practical eye correction or else the player's field of vision must
not be better than 20 degrees. The three classifications of blindness
are B1 (totally blind to light perception), B2 (able to see hand
movement up to 20/600 corrected), and B3 (from 20/600 to 20/200
corrected).
Rule 9.2 RETURN OF SERVE AND RALLIES
On the return of serve and on every return thereafter, the player
may make multiple attempts to strike the ball until
- (i) the ball has been touched,
- (ii) the ball has stopped bouncing,
or
- (iii) the ball has passed the short
line after touching the back wall. The only exception is described
in Rule 9.3 below.
Rule 9.3 BLAST RULE
If the ball (other than on the serve) caroms from the front wall
to the back wall on the fly, the player may retrieve the ball from any
place on the court -- including in front of the short line -- so long as
the ball has not been touched and is still bouncing.
Rule 9.4 HINDERS
A dead-ball hinder will result in the rally being replayed without
penalty unless the hinder was intentional. If a hinder is clearly
intentional, an avoidable hinder should be called and the rally awarded
to the non-offending player or team. |
10.0 -- DEAF
In general, the USRA's standard rules governing racquetball play
will be followed except for the modifications which follow.
Rule 10.1 ELIGIBILITY
An athlete shall have a hearing loss of 55 db or more in the
better ear to be eligible for any deaf tournament. |
11.0 -- MEN'S
PROFESSIONAL
[International Racquetball Tour/IRT]
In general, competition on the International Racquetball Tour [IRT]
will follow the standard rules governing racquetball established by the
USRA, except for the modifications which follow.
Rule 11.1 GAME, MATCH
All games are played to 11 points, and are won by the player who
scores to that level, with a 2-point lead. If necessary, the game will
continue beyond 11 points, until such time as one player has a 2-point
lead. Matches are played the best three out of a possible five games to
11.
Rule 11.2 APPEALS
The referee's call is final. There are no line judges, and no
appeals may be made.
Rule 11.3 SERVE
Players are allowed only one serve to put the ball into play.
Rule 11.4 SCREEN SERVE
In IRT matches, screen serves are replayed.
Rule 11.5 COURT HINDERS
No court hinders are allowed or called.
Rule 11.6 OUT-OF-COURT BALL
Any ball leaving the court results in a loss of rally.
Rule 11.7 BALL
All matches are played with the Penn Pro ball. The first, third,
and fifth (if necessary) games of the match are started with a new ball.
Rule 11.8 TIMEOUTS
- (a) Per Game. Each player is
entitled to one 1-minute timeout per game.
- (b) Between Points. The player has
15 seconds from the end of the previous rally to put the ball in
play.
- (c) Between Games. The rest period
between all games is 2 minutes, including a fifth game tiebreaker.
- (d) Equipment Timeouts. A player
does not have to use regular timeouts to correct or adjust
equipment, provided that the need for the change or adjustment is
acknowledged by the referee as being necessary for fair and safe
continuation of the match.
- (e) Injury Timeout. Consists of two
7½ minute timeouts within a match. Once an injury timeout is taken,
the full 7½ minutes must be used, or it is forfeited. Each player
is entitled to one 1-minute timeout per game.
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12.0 -- WOMEN'S
PROFESSIONAL
In general, competition in the Ladies Professional Racquetball
Association [LPRA] will follow the standard rules governing racquetball
established by the USRA, except for the modifications which
follow.
Rule 12.1 GAME, MATCH
All games are played to 11 points, and are won by the player who
scores to that level, with a 2-point lead. If necessary, the game will
continue beyond 11 points, until such time as one player has a 2-point
lead. Matches are played the best three out of a possible five games to
11.
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