How to play padel?

Rulebook

SCORE IN A GAME

When a couple wins its first point it will be called 15, by winning the second point will be called 30, the third point will be called 40 and the fourth point won will be called game, unless both partners have won three points each, when the score will be called deuce. The next point is called advantage for the winner (service or return), and if he wins again, he wins the game. In case of losing the point they will go back to deuce, and so on until one of the partners has won two consecutive points.

The couple who first wins 6 games, always with a minimum lead of 2, will win the set. In case of a tie at five games, two more games must be played, until it is won 7-5, but if there is a tie at 6 games, the tie-break will be applied.

Matches will be played to the best of three sets (a couple needs to win two sets to win the match).

In case of winning one set each (draw), and always having stated it previously, a third set can be played without applying the tie-break. So, if there is a tie at six games, the couple that gets two games of difference will win.

SUDDEN DEATH OR TIE-BREAK

During the tie break, points are scored: 0, 1, 2, 3, etc.

The first to reach 7 points will win the tie-break, as long as they do it with a two-point advantage. In this way, the couple will win the game and the set. If necessary, the tie-break will continue until this margin is achieved.

The tie-break will begin with the service of the player who is entitled to do so, following the order established in the set. They will do it from the right side of their court, playing just one point. Consequently, always respecting the service order previously mentioned, two points will be played, starting from the left side and so on.

The tie-break’s winner will win the set by 7-6.

In the next set, the player of the couple that has not started servicing during the tie-break will be the one to start doing it in this new set.

TIME

The Chief Referee will forfeit the match (WO) to the pair who is not ready 10 minutes after the scheduled time for the beginning of the match, except in cases that the Chief Referee considers that this delay is due to force majeure.

The courtesy rally with the rivals, which is compulsory, shall be of 5-minute. The rule says that the match must be continuous from the moment that it starts (when the first service takes place) until the match finishes. Therefore, the match will never be cancelled or delayed with the purpose of allowing a player to recover or receive instructions or advice.

Between points the maximum time allowed is twenty (20) seconds.

When players switch sides at the end of a game, a maximum of ninety (90) seconds will be permitted. After the first game of each set and during the tie-break, the match will be continuous and players shall switch sides without a rest.

A rest of one hundred twenty (120) seconds maximum shall be granted at the end of each set.

The previous times start at the time a point is over and they end when the following point is served.

If due to circumstances beyond the control of the player, his clothing, footwear or necessary equipment breaks or needs being replaced, a reasonable additional time will be granted for the player to solve the problem.

If announced before the game, a limited number of breaks to go to the toilet or changing clothes may be allowed.

During the tie-break, 20 seconds will be granted to switch sides.

If a game must be suspended for circumstances beyond the players (rain, power failure, accident, etc..). To restart the match, the couples shall be entitled to a complimentary knock-up according to the following:

a) Up to five minutes of suspension there is no knock-up

b) 6 to 20 minutes of suspension, three minutes knock-up

c) More than 21 minutes of suspension, five minute knock-up

The match will start exactly where and how the suspended one ended. That means with the same game and score, the same player in the service, the same location in the court and the same relation between the order of services and remains.

If the suspension is due to the lack of light, the match shall be cancelled when the number of games is even in the set being played, so that when restarted, both couples are on the same side that when the suspension occurred.

When a player is injured or affected by a treatable medical condition, 3 minutes shall be granted for its care or recovery, being able to receive it again in the next two changeovers, but within the authorized time. If the suspension occurs during a changeover, the player may receive medical treatment during the suspension, which will be of 3 minutes, being able to receive it again in the next two changeovers, but within the authorized time.

Medical care can only be provided once for each player. This right cannot be transferred to the partner.

In case of an accident that is not a direct result of the game, affecting either players, the Chief Referee, following its own criteria, will be able to grant a period of time that does not exceed 15 minutes in any case.

A player with a bleeding wound cannot continue the game.

PLAYERS’ POSITION

Each couple will be placed in each of the court’s sides divided by the net. The player that hits the ball to start the game is the one who serves (server) and the one who receives and returns is the returner.

The returning player can be placed anywhere on the court, as his partner and the partner of the server do.

CHOOSING SIDE AND SERVICE

Choosing side and the right to be the server or return in the first game will be decided by draw. The draw’s winner couple will be able to choose between:

a) To serve or return. In this case the other couple will choose side

b) The side. In this case the other couple will choose the right to serve or return

c) Ask their opponents to choose first

d) The ball bounces out of the receiving box, which includes the boundary lines (the lines are good).

e) The ball hits the server, its partner or any object that they bring with them.

f) The ball bounces in the opposite receiving box and touches the metal mesh that delimits the court before the second bounce.

g) If the ball bounces in the opposite receiving box and goes directly through the door in a court that does not have a security zone or external play.

THE SERVICE RETURN

a) The returning player must wait for the ball to bounce inside its receiving box and hit it before it bounces on the ground for a second time.

b) The couple that returns the serve in the first game of each set will decide which of its two members will start returning. The same player will continue returning the first service of every game until the set finishes.

Each player will return the serve during the game alternatively and once the order has been decided, it cannot be altered during that set or tie-break but may do so at the beginning of a new one.

If during a game or a tie-break the returning order is disturbed by the couple that returns the service, it has to be continued in that way until the end of the game or tie-break in which the mistake occurred. In the following games of that set, the couple will adopt the position initially chosen at the beginning of the set.

c) If the ball hits the returning player or its partner, or their blade before bouncing, it will be considered a server’s point.

The player that during the game considers that a situation qualified in the regulation as “let” has been produced, shall notify it immediately to the Chief Referee and not let the point in dispute continue. If he/she does not notify it, he/she will lose the right to do it again later.

Once the “let” has been requested, it is up to the Referee to decide if it is precedent. If it was not, the petitioner would lose the point.

SERVICE REPETITION OR SERVICE LET

The service shall be repeated (let) if:

a) The ball hits the net or the posts that hold the net (if they are inside the playing area) and then falls into the receiver’s box, as long as it does not touch the wire mesh before the second bounce.

b) If the ball, after hitting the net or the posts (if they are inside the playing area) hits any opponent or accessory that they are wearing.

c) It is executed when the receiver is not ready (Rule 6, paragraph k).

If the “let” occurred in the first service, it must be repeated. If it occurs in the second service, the server will only have right to a one more serve.

POINT REPETITION OR LET

A point in dispute is let if:

a) The ball breaks during the game

b) Any foreign element to the match that is being played invades the space of the court

c) In general, any stoppage of the game due to unexpected and alien situations to players

Once the “let” has been requested, it is up to the Referee to decide if it is precedent. If it was not, the petitioner would lose the point.

INTERFERENCE

It is considered as an interference when a player commits an act, whether intentional or unintentional, that disturbs its opponent to execute a stroke.

The Referee, in the first instance, will grant the point to the opponent, and in the second instance will order the repetition of the point, “let”, when the disturbing player has won it before.

BALL IN PLAY

The ball will be hit in turn by each of the couples.

The ball is in play from the moment a valid service is effectuated until the let or the point is decided.

If the ball in play hits any of the elements of the court after having bounced on the floor of the appropriate side, it will remain in play and must be returned before it bounces on the floor twice.

The inner faces of the walls, the metal mesh that closes the court, the floor, the net and the posts that hold the net are considered as elements of the court. The frame of the electro welded meshes will always be considered a wire mesh.

LOST POINT

A couple will lose the point in the following situations:

a) If a player’s partner, its blade or any other object carried, touches any part of the net, including the posts, or the opponent’s area, including the metallic mesh, while the ball is in play.

Authorized game out of the court. From the 0.92 meters, and only when the game is authorized outside the court, the vertical post between gates is considered neutral zone for the four players, who may touch or grip it.

b) If the ball bounces two times before being returned.

c) When the ball, after having bounced correctly in one’s own court, goes beyond the superior limits (outside perimeter) of the court (end and laterals) or by the gate.

d) If the ball is given back before it has passed over the net.

e) If a player returns the ball, either directly or first hitting the walls of his field so that it hits the net or the posts and then, directly into any of the walls of the contrary court, the metal mesh or any external object that is not located on opponent’s ground.

f) If a player hits the ball twice (double hit)

g) If after having hit the ball, one of the members touches the player, its couple or any other object that they have on them.

h) If the ball hits any of the members of the couple or their equipment, excepting the blade, after having been hit by the opponent team.

If a player hits the ball and it touches any of the metal meshes or his own court or any object foreign to the court positioned on the own ground.

If one of the players throws the blade against the ball and touches it.

If the ball passes over the net while the point is being played.

l) While returning the ball, only a player can hit it. If both members of the team, hit the ball simultaneously or consecutively, will lose the point.

NOTE: It is not considered double hit when two players try to hit the ball at the same time but only one touches it and the other just hits the blade of his partner.

m) If the player hits the ball with one or both feet out of the court, unless this game is authorized.

n) The player commits a fault in a second service

GOOD RETURN

The return will be correct:

a) If the ball, after being hit, is volleyed by either player of the opposing couple or hits their body or any part of their clothing or the blade itself.

b) If the ball, after being hit, bounces directly on the opposite side’s ground or impacts first on the own side’s wall and then bounces directly on the opposite side.

c) If the ball bounces on the opposite side and touches the wire mesh or one of the walls.

d) If as a result of the direction and force of the hit, the ball bounces on the opposite court and goes beyond the limits of the track, or hits the ceiling or lighting bulbs, or any object foreign to the elements of the court.

e) If the ball hits the net or its posts and afterwards it hits the opposite court.

f) If the ball in play hits some object alien to the game located on the opposite court (e.g. another ball).

g) If after bouncing in the own court, the ball returns to the thrower’s court and is hit on the opposite court, as long as the player or any part of his clothing or the blade has not touched the net, its posts or the opponent’s field and the ball fulfils what has been indicated above in points a) to f)

h) If the ball is hit, its return will be considered valid if the player has not hit it twice, if the impact takes place in the same movement and does not vary substantially the natural direction of the ball.

i) It will be considered a good return if the ball bounces in the corner of the opposite side of the ground formed by one of the walls and the floor. (The ball familiarly called “egg” is considered valid).

j) Authorized game out of the court. If the ball is hit from the exterior of the court, the devolution will be valid if it follows what has been indicated in the rules above.

GAINED POINT

a) If the ball after bouncing in the opposite court, goes outside through a hole or breakdown of the metal net or it is coupled in the net.

b) If the ball, after bouncing in the opposite court, stays still on the flat horizontal surface of a wall.

AUTHORIZED PLAY OUTDOORS

Players are allowed to leave the court and hit the ball from the outside whenever the court meets the established conditions in the following sections: The Court, Security Area and External Play.

REPLACEMENT OF THE BALLS

The event organizers must announce in advance the following:

a) brand and model of the balls to be used;

b) number of balls to be used in the game (2 or 3);

c) ball change policy, if any.

Ball changes, if any, can be made by choosing one of the following alternatives for each match:

After a certain odd number of games. The courtesy rally counts as two games and the tie-break counts as one for the ball change. A ball change will not be executed at the beginning of a tie-break. In this case, the ball change will be delayed until the beginning of the second game of the next set.
At the beginning of a set.

Whenever the balls are replaced after a certain number of games but not in the correct sequence, the mistake will be solved when the couple that should have served with the new set of balls, does it again. Afterwards, the balls will be changed so that the number of games between turnovers is the originally planned.

When a ball is lost, broken, or for any other circumstances it is sufficiently deteriorated so as to be different to the other ones, the referee must assure that the replacing ball is in the same conditions as the other balls in game. Otherwise, the full set of balls will need to be changed.