Player Test

Welcome to the Player Test!

This 2020 50-question rules test is designed as a fun exercise for players who mainly participate in non-officiated play. Although the rules are the same for recreational and tournament play, when there is no referee to enforce the rules that job falls on the players and rests with their ability to self-enforce.

So, if you want to test your knowledge of the IFP/USA Pickleball rules, give this test a try. A reference to the related section in the IFP/USA Pickleball Rules is included at the end of each question, but don’t spoil your fun. Complete the test and see which questions you miss before referring to the rulebook.

Pick a time when you can complete the entire test without interruption because the test will automatically close after 50 minutes. Each question is scored after you select an answer. The test will close when you click the “Submit” button at the end of the test, so answer all questions before submitting the test.

You can take the test as often as you like, so study up and take it again if you desire. Each time you will receive a follow-up email containing your test score so you can track your improvement. Before long you’ll be scoring 100%. To challenge yourself even more, try the Referee Test.

Have fun and good luck!

Note: If a test question has a "NEW in 2020" notation, this refers to either a new rule being added, or that an existing rule was revised

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1. (#14) (NEW in 2020)
At the time the ball is struck, the server's feet may not touch the court or outside the imaginary extension of the sideline or the centerline and both feet must be on the playing surface or ground behind the baseline. [Rule 4.A.3.]

True

False

2. (#38) (NEW in 2020)
After a rally has concluded, a player/team may appeal to the referee that the opponents committed a distraction. If the referee determines that the distraction impacted the outcome of the rally, a fault shall be called. [Rule 11.J.]

True

False

3. (#37) (NEW in 2020)
If you ask your opponent's opinion about whether a ball was “in” or “out,” you must accept their opinion. Once you ask for the opponent's opinion, you lose any right to make a subsequent "in" or "out" call for that rally. [Rule 6.D.6.]

True

False

4. (#2)
A serve landing on any correct service court line, except the non-volley zone line, is considered in play and should be returned by the receiving team. [Rule 6.A.]

True

False

5. (#19)
The lines that surround the non-volley zone are part of the non-volley zone. [Rule 3.A.22.]

True

False

6. (#71) (NEW in 2020)
The referee may call a referee time-out to address extenuating circumstances that may require an extended interruption of play. [Rule 10.H.2]

True

False

7. (#36) (NEW in 2020)
Players may call faults on themselves or line calls to their disadvantage during or after the completion of a rally. [Rule 6.D.13.]

True

False

8. (#24)
The serve is a “let” and will be replayed if: [Rule 4.A.9 & 4.O.1.]

A. The serve strikes the top of the net and is otherwise good

B. The served ball hits the net and strikes the receiver or the partner of the receiver

C. Both A and B are correct

D. None of the above

9. (#39)
During an extended exchange of crosscourt dinks, your opponent suddenly steps in the non-volley zone and then onto the adjacent out-of-bounds area so he can get closer to the net to smash a volley return. Is this legal? [Rule 9.D.]

A. No, you can never volley a ball after stepping in the non-volley zone

B. No, this maneuver is legal only if you jump across the non-volley zone, without stepping into it

C. Yes, as long as both feet make contact with the area outside the non-volley zone before the ball is struck

D. Both A and B are correct

10. (#29)
If a served ball hits the net and strikes the receiver or the receiver's partner before hitting the court surface, it is a point for the serving team. [Rule 4.A.9.]

True

False

11. (#56)
A fault shall be declared if a player, or anything the player is wearing or carrying, crosses the plane of the net, or the extended plane of the net, before striking the ball. [Rule 11.I] If a ball has bounced and crosses back over the plane of the net, then a player may cross the plane of the net without first contacting the ball. [Rule 11.I.1]

True

False

12. (#43)
Your opponent hits a powerful overhead to the sideline. You suspect that it might have been “out,” but you’re not certain. What are your options? [Rule 6.D.3. & 6.D.6.]

If there is a referee, ask if they saw the ball

Ask your partner if she saw it

Ask your opponents if they saw it

All of the above are correct

13. (#70)
There is no rule which states that during the serve, the server must release the ball before paddle contact. [Section 4.]

True

False

14. (#16)
A ball that cannot be called "out" will be considered "in". [Rule 6.D.3.]

True

False

15. (#4)
In singles play, when the score is 7 – 10, the server will serve from the right-hand court. [Rule 4.B.5.b.]

True

False

16. (#3) (NEW in 2020)
A ball in play that contacts a permanent object after it has bounced on the court will result in a dead ball and the player who hit the ball shall win the rally. [Rule 8.E.]

True

False

17. (#15) (NEW in 2020)
The Service Motion is defined as "The movement of the server's arm to serve the ball. The service motion may consist of a forward swing only or be a combination backswing and continuing forward swing." [Rule 3.A.38.]

True

False

18. (#21)
You must have possession of the paddle when it makes contact with the ball. [Rule 11.P.]

True

False

19. (#64)
Any player on the receiving team may call a time-out after the score has been called, but, the time-out must be called before the service motion has started. [Rule 10.A.3]

True

False

20. (#46) (NEW in 2020)
The term First Server refers to a doubles player who will serve from the right court after a side out dependent upon the team's score.
The term Starting Server is the doubles player designated to serve first at the start of the game. The Starting Server shall wear the visible form of identification. [Rules 3.A.12 and 3.A.41]

True

False

21. (#59) (NEW in 2020)
After the start of the score being called, "Not Ready" signals will be ignored. This means a player showing a "Not Ready" signal after the score has started to be called will neither be honored nor punished. [Rule 4.C.2]

True

False

22. (#50)
When the score is 8-6-2, the receiver's partner must always stand in the left-hand court. [Rule 4.B.7.]

True

False

23. (#20)
When an incorrect server or player position is discovered after a rally, the offending team can be faulted until the next serve occurs. Once the next serve occurs, any previous points scored by the incorrect server, or incorrect server position, will stand. [Rule 4.B.11.]

True

False

24. (#55) (NEW in 2020)
Players are responsible for line calls on their side of the net. If the opponents hit a ball close to a line, the player or team that is supposed to make the line call may appeal to the referee without making a call. Once they appeal to the referee, they lose the right to make any subsequent "in" or "out" call for that rally. (6.D.3.)

True

False

25. (#11)
Which of the following will be declared a fault when you volley a ball and you teeter (or "windmill") just outside the non-volley zone? [Rule 9.C.]

Your momentum causes you to touch your partner who is standing in the non-volley zone

Your partner, who is standing inside the non-volley zone, pushes you back

Your partner, whose toe is on the non-volley zone line, pulls you back from falling into the non-volley zone

All of the above

26. (#26)
You legally volley the ball, then begin to lose your balance. To avoid stepping into the non-volley zone (NVZ), you jump up and over the corner and into the out-of-bounds area adjacent to the NVZ. While the ball is still in play, your momentum then carries you into the net post, which is also out of bounds. [Rule 7.G.]

This is a fault because the non-volley zone line projects vertically and you violated this projected line

This is not a fault because you did not violate the non-volley zone

This is a fault because you cannot touch the net or net post while the ball is in play

This is not a fault because the touched post was out-of-bounds

27. (#10)
If, while the ball is in the air, the receiving team yells "out", "no", "bounce it" or any other word/phrase to communicate to their partner that the ball may be out, it shall be considered a line call and play should stop. [Rules 6.D.11. & 6.D.12.]

True

False

28. (#42) (NEW in 2020)
It is a fault if any player on the serving team asks if they are in the correct position before the start of the service motion. [Rule 4.B.8.]

True

False

29. (#7)
A hinder is any element or occurrence that affects play, such as a stray ball that enters the court or people who disrupt play by walking across the court. Any player may call a hinder. [Rule 3.A.16.]

True

False

30. (#32)
The act of volleying the ball includes the swing, the follow-through and the momentum from the action. [Rule 9.B.1.]

True

False

31. (#22)
"Out" calls should be promptly signaled by voice and may include a hand signal, regardless of how obvious they may seem. [Rule 6.D.10.]

True

False

32. (#34) (NEW in 2020)
A ball can be hit twice but only during an unintentional, continuous, single-direction stroke, by one player. If the stroke is not continuous, not single-direction, or the ball is struck by a second player, it is a fault. [Rule 11.A.]

True

False

33. (#31) (NEW in 2020)
Any malfunction of a net system during play shall be considered a hinder. [Rule 11.L.5.d.]

True

False

34. (#40) (NEW in 2020)
A player is allowed to reach under the net to play a ball that has bounced back over the net. Which of the following are true? [Rule 11.I.1.].

A. The ball must have crossed past the plane of the net before the player can cross the plane

B. The player may not touch the net system or opponent's court while the ball is still in play

C. If the player does not touch the ball, the team that hit the ball wins the rally

D. All of the above

35. (#67)
Once the choice of serve, receive, side or to defer has been selected, it may not be changed. [Rule 5.A.2]

True

False

36. (#23)
When making a close line call, you always give your opponent the benefit of the doubt. [Rule 6.D.3.]

True

False

37. (#65)
In a match with a referee, after a time-out has expired and the referee calls the score, the server must serve within 10 seconds, even if the receiver is not ready or not positioned in the receiving court. [Rule 10.A.5]

True

False

38. (#17)
It is not a fault on you if, during a rally, the ball grazes your hat on its way heading out of bounds. [Rule 7.H.]

True

False

39. (#5) (CHANGED in 2020)
The 2019 rule 4.M.3 (server missing the ball when trying to hit it and the associated fault) has been removed from the 2020 rulebook. It is not a fault if the server misses the ball when trying to serve.

True

False

40. (#9) (NEW in 2020)
To be considered legal, a serve must be made so that contact with the ball is not made above waist level (the navel), the arm must be moving in an upward arc and the paddle head must not be higher than the wrist when it strikes the ball. [Rule 4.A.5., 4.A.6. & 4.A.7.]

True

False

41. (#49) (NEW in 2020)
The definition of "Live Ball/In Play" is - The point in time when the referee starts to call the score. [Rule 3.A.20.]

True

False

42. (#54)
During the end switch, you have up to 1 minute to switch ends and get in the ready position to resume play. No coaching is allowed during the end switch. [5.B.6.]

True

False

43. (#66) (NEW in 2020)
Players are permitted to quickly hydrate in-between points. The referee will ensure that the flow of the game is not adversely impacted. [Rule 10.C.]

True

False

44. (#48) (NEW in 2020)
Even if all players in a match agree and request to remove a referee, the Tournament Director retains final discretionary authority on whether to remove the referee. [Rule 13.J.]

True

False

45. (#12)
If the ball is served by the correct team member from the wrong court, the service will be replayed with the server now serving from the correct court, without a penalty. [Rule 4.M.1.]

True

False

46. (#57) (NEW in 2020)
In sanctioned play without a referee, a player is allowed to call service foot faults (as well as NVZ faults) on the opponent. If the opponent disagrees with the fault call, then a replay shall be called. [Rule 13.D.1.b]

True

False

47. (#68) (NEW in 2020)
Technical warnings and technical fouls may be assessed any time during a match while the players are at the court. [Rule 13.G.3.f.]

True

False

48. (#25) (NEW in 2020)
In a match with line judges, if the officiating team cannot make a line call, the rally shall be replayed unless all the players agree that the ball was "in". [Rule 13.D.3.c.]

True

False

49. (#63)
In games to 21, each team is allowed 3 time-outs. [Rule 10.A]

True

False

50. (#62)
If a technical foul has been issued, a subsequent technical warning, for any reason, will result in a match forfeiture. [Rule 13.H.1.b]

True

False

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