Pickleball is a paddle sport that over the last 50-plus years
A player or team can only score a point when they’re serving. The player or team continues serving until they make a fault, at which point the other team will take over the service. A team can score a point on a serve when the ball lands in the service area and the opposing team is either unable to make contact with the ball or hits it out of bounds or into the net.
If the ball is successfully returned and a volley ensues, only the service team gains a point when the opposing team hits the ball out of bounds or is unable to make a return volley on a ball that drops in fair play. Each fault is worth one point to the serving team.
2.1. Scoring
A singles player or doubles team scores points only when serving. Points may also be scored when technical fouls are called against the opposing side.
2.2. Points
A point is scored by serving the ball and winning the rally.
2.3. Winning the game
The first side scoring the winning point wins.
2.4. Calling the score in singles matches
The proper sequence for calling the score is server score then receiver score as two numbers; e.g., “one – zero.”
2.5. Calling the score in doubles matches
The score is called as three numbers in doubles matches. The proper sequence for calling the score is: serving team’s score – receiving team’s score – the server number (one or two), (e.g., “zero – one – one”). To start each game, the score will be called as “zero – zero – two.”
2.6. Wrong score called
2.6.1. If the server or referee calls the wrong score, any player may stop play before the return of serve to ask for a correction.
2.6.2. After the score has been called, a player who stops play to challenge the score when there is no error will have committed a fault.
2.6.3. A player who stops play after the return of serve will have committed a fault and shall lose the rally.
