Line Judge Test

Welcome to the Line Judge Test!

This new 2021 40-question review is a tool for pickleball line judges and referees to test their knowledge of the USA Pickleball line judge best practices contained in the . Passing the Line Judge Test is a prerequisite to applying for USA Pickleball Referee Certification. Answers to all questions can be found in the 2021 Officiating Handbook or USA Pickleball/IFP Rulebook.

Pick a time to take the test when you can complete all the questions without interruption because the test will automatically close after 30 minutes. The test will also close when you click the “Submit” button at the end of the test, so answer all questions before submitting the test.

Upon completion, your score will be displayed. Since line judging plays such an important role in officiating, 90 percent is a passing score.

You can take the test as often as you like. So, if you do not obtain a passing score, re-read the 2021 Officiating Handbook and re-take the test. Each time you will receive a follow-up email containing your test score.

Being a line judge is an enjoyable way to give back to the sport you love!

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1. (#33)
At the end of a match, line judges should not leave their posts until released by the referee.

True

False

2. (#26)
Balls that land “in” routinely do not necessitate a call. However, if the ball landed close to the line and the referee and/or player(s) cast a questioning glance in the line judge's direction, the line judge should respond firmly with an “in” hand signal.

True

False

3. (#5)
As a player serves the ball, his foot contacts the baseline at the same time his paddle contacts the ball. This is a foot fault and the line judge should loudly call "foot fault."

True

False

4. (#15)
A delayed line call can raise suspicion of a line judge’s credibility.

True

False

5. (#30)
If a ball is obviously out, you still are expected to call “out” and give the "out" hand signal.

True

False

6. (#7) (NEW in 2021)
If a line judges notices a wrong server, wrong receiver, or a player is out of position, at the end of the rally, the line judge should clasp their hands over their head.

True

False

7. (#19)
During the serve, a foot fault occurs when:

A. At least one foot is in contact with the baseline and/or court surface when the paddle contacts the ball

B. At least one foot is in contact with the playing surface on the opposite side of the imaginary extension of the centerline when the paddle contacts the ball

C. At least one foot is in contact with the playing surface outside the imaginary extension of the sideline when the paddle contacts the ball

D. All of the above

8. (#44)
What should a line judge do when they see this situation when the ball is contacted?

A. Nothing (no fault).

B. Give the "In" ball signal.

C. Call "Foot fault" and raise hand.

D. Raise hand.

9. (#9)
If a ball bounces close to the line, but the ball is not “out,” the line judge should without hesitation loudly call “in.”

True

False

10. (#4)
As a line judge, when you cannot clearly see if a ball lands “in” or “out,” you should:

A. Make the call to the best of your ability, even though you are not certain

B. Listen for the nearest player or spectator to make the call and then go with whatever he says

C. Place your hands over your eyes to signal to the referee that your view was blocked

D. Both A and B are correct

11. (#41)
The line judge shown below is signaling:

A. "Out" ball.

B. Ready.

C. Coaching

D. Out of position player.

12. (#45)
When the ball is served, what should the sideline judge do in the situation shown below:

A. Nothing (no fault).

B. Give the player out of position signal.

C. Call "Foot fault" and raise their hand.

D. Raise their hand.

13. (#22)
Players have the option to appeal a line judge’s call to the referee.

True

False

14. (#48)
When the ball lands, the picture below indicates the ball has bounced:

A. In.

B. Out.

C. Not sure.

15. (#14) (NEW in 2021)
When a line judge notices coaching by a spectator other than during time-outs or between games, the line judge should extend their arms upward in a "V" motion.

True

False

16. (#35)
If a line judge is challenged by a player, she should:

Consult other line judges for their opinions

Confidently re-state her call

Show the blocked signal

17. (#12)
It is okay to carry on a conversation with the person seated next to you, as long as it doesn’t distract you from your line judging duties.

True

False

18. (#31)
Line judges are allowed to check their mobile devices throughout the match as long as the phone does not ring.

True

False

19. (#6)
A player/team may overrule a line judge's call if it is to their own disadvantage.

True

False

20. (#16)
The baseline judge, along with the referee, can call service foot faults and make line calls for the assigned baseline.

True

False

21. (#32)
A line judge should only focus on the edge of her assigned line. They should ignore all other action on the court.

True

False

22. (#13)
The proper “in” signal is:

A. An arm outstretched inward in the direction of the court surface

B. Both arms outstretched inward in the direction of the court surface with the palms facing up

C. Both arms outstretched forward and downward with the palms facing down

D. One arm pointing up and outward away from the court surface

23. (#47)
When the ball lands, the picture below indicates the ball has bounced:

A. In.

B. Out.

C. Not sure.

24. (#21)
A player may overrule a line judge's line call if it is to their own team's disadvantage.

True

False

25. (#42)
The line judge shown below is signaling:

A. "In" ball.

B. Ready.

C. Coaching.

D. Out of position player.

26. (#8)
As soon as your spouse qualifies for the Gold Medal match, you should volunteer to be one of the line judges.

True

False

27. (#10)
A line judge should be positioned where she:

A. Has an unobstructed view down the assigned line

B. Can look through a fence rather than over it

C. Can hold open the flap to see through an opening in the windscreen

D. Both B and C are correct

28. (#43)
The line judge shown below is signaling:

A. "In" ball.

B. Ready.

C. Coaching.

D. Out of position player.

29. (#40)
In the picture below, the server's left foot is touching the baseline when the server is starting his service motion. If he lifts his foot off the baseline just before serve contact, should the referee call a fault?

Yes.

No.

30. (#3)
Sideline judges should call "foot fault" if the player makes contact with the sideline of the non-volley zone while or immediately after volleying the ball.

True

False

31. (#27)
When six line judges are used, the sideline judges are responsible for making line calls on their side of the net. However, each should watch the entire length of the sideline – baseline to baseline – in case the view of the sideline judge on the opposite end is blocked.

True

False

32. (#46)
When the ball lands, the picture below indicates the ball has bounced:

A. In.

B. Out.

C. Not sure.

33. (#24)
Overruled line calls are rare if the line judge is following the standards and procedures. But, if an overrule occurs, you should forget it and continue to make calls as you see them.

True

False

34. (#36)
Line judges may solicit opinions from players to determine a call.

True

False

35. (#37)
Line judges should not officiate matches when the following are playing:

A. Close friends

B. Double’s partners

C. Relatives

D. All of the above

36. (#17)
If the bottom of the ball touches your assigned line, the ball is considered "in."

True

False

37. (#39)
During time-outs, line judges are allowed to quickly check their cell phones.

True

False

38. (#25)
Depending on the circumstances, the referee has the authority to direct a line judge to sit or stand on one side of the court or the other.

True

False

39. (#51)
The responsible sideline judge is blocked from seeing the ball land. As a sideline judge, you saw the ball bounce as shown below. If the referee asked your opinion on the ball, your call would be:

A. “In” because you see the bottom of the ball is touching the line (Rule 6.B).

B. “In” because you do not see a space between the line and the ball (Rule 6.D.7).

C. “Out” because you see the bottom of the ball is not touching the line (Rule 6.C).

D. Not sure.

40. (#2)
The line judge shown below is signaling:

A. "Out" ball.

B. Ready.

C. Coaching.

D. Out of position player.

41. (#38)
During a time-out, line judges are allowed to leave the court for a restroom break.

True

False

42. (#34)
If requested by the referee, line judges can assist the referee with the following calls:

A. Double bounces

B. Balls touching a player

C. Non-volley zone violations

D. All of the Above

43. (#1)
The line judge shown below is signaling:

A. Sun in eyes.

B. Blocked view.

C. Time-out.

D. Out of position player.

44. (#23)
For each ball that lands out of bounds, the line judge for that designated line should:

Loudly call the ball out

Immediately call the ball out

Immediately signal with an arm outstretched in the out-of-bounds direction

All of the above

45. (#18)
The sideline judge is responsible for making sideline calls on the assigned sideline and service foot faults associated with the imaginary extension of that sideline.

True

False

46. (#50)
During time-outs and in between games, it is acceptable for line judges to converse about non-game related issues with players.

True.

False.

47. (#49)
In the picture shown below, on the serve, the server's right foot is allowed to be "on or touching" the imaginary extension line of the centerline.

True.

False.

48. (#28)
Sideline judges should call “foot fault” if a player makes contact with the no-volley zone and does not establish contact outside the no-volley zone sideline with both feet before volleying the ball.

True

False

49. (#11)
At the beginning of each game and after time-outs and other breaks in the game, line judges should be in position and ready to resume play without the referee having to get their attention.

True

False

50. (#20)
If a line judge makes an "out" line call that ends the rally, the referee may immediately overrule the line judge's call (without an appeal from a player) if the referee clearly saw that the ball landed "in".

True

False

You have come to the end of the Line Judge Test. If you would like to return to any questions to review your answers, please use the “Previous” buttons at the bottom of each page. If you are ready to submit the test, please click the “Submit” button below.

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Line Judge Test

Line Judge Test