A New year, a new rule book

There have been a few changes, please click the button above for the complete rulebook or keep reading for some highlights from the most recent changes.

2025 Pickleball Rulebook

Rule changes for 2026

With a proposed effective date of January 1, 2026, here are a few of the more notable pickleball rule changes:

NOTE: The 2026 Rulebook will be posted to the Pickleball Canada website once the translation to French is complete.  In the meantime, it is available in English only through the USAP website at:  https://usapickleball.org/docs/rules/USAP-Official-Rulebook.pdf

Feel free to contact Karen Rust (karenrust9@gmail.com), Head Referee, with your rules questions.

Line Calls – must be prompt but may be made after the ball becomes dead.   (for example, the ball lands close to the baseline, bounces up and immediately hits the player)

  • 8.F.3 Out Call Timing.

    If a player returns the ball, their “out” call must be made before the ball is hit by the opponent or before the ball becomes dead; otherwise, play continues. If a player does not return the ball, an “out" call made promptly will be recognized, even if the ball becomes dead before the “out” call is made.

Line Calls ‘Doubt’ changed to ‘Conflict’

  • 8.H. Partner Disagreement (Doubles). When partners disagree on a line call, then conflict exists, and the team's call will be “in.”

Rally Scoring – every rally ends with a point awarded  (no more freezes).  This means the receiving team can win the game on the final rally. For example, if the score is 13-14 and the serve goes into the net, the receiving team would win 15-13.

  • 14.A.2 Point Scoring.

    A point is scored by the singles player or doubles team that wins each rally.

Retirements – If one member of a doubles team decides to retire, the other partner can continue to play.  The opposing team will serve to the empty court (serve must be ‘good’ to earn a point). Non-retired partner may not return the serve.  Only the non-retired partner will serve; once per end change.

  • 21.C.9 Match Retirement.

    A match retirement is imposed when a player is not able to continue play after the 15-minute medical time-out period expires. A player may use their available standard time-outs to allow more time before the match must be retired (Rule 21.A.4). In doubles, if the retiring player's partner decides to continue, the match will resume following all applicable rules. The retiring player must leave the playing surface.

Spectators – must not be consulted on any calls.  (previously ‘should not’)

  • 8.J Spectator Involvement. Spectators must not be consulted on any call.

Clearly – has been added to the Volley Serve service motion rules

  • 7.C.1 Upward Arc. The server’s paddle must be moving in a clear upward arc when the paddle contacts the ball.

  • 7.C.2 Paddle Head. The highest point of the paddle head must clearly not be above the highest part of the server’s wrist joint when the paddle contacts the ball.

  • 7.C.3 Ball Height. The ball must clearly be no higher than the server’s waist when the paddle contacts the ball.

Wheelchair Users and Adaptive Play – This section has been extensively revised in collaboration with the respective communities.