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/USAPA rules, give this test a try. A reference to the related section in the IFP/USAPA 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. (#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.]
2. (#24)
The serve is a “let” and will be replayed if: [Rule 4.A.9 & 4.O.1.]
3. (#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.]
4. (#21)
You must have possession of the paddle when it makes contact with the ball. [Rule 11.P.]
5. (#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]
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]
7. (#28)
The correct receiver is the only player who may return a served ball. If the wrong player returns the ball, it is a point for the serving team. [Rule 4.N.1.]
8. (#6)
If a served ball hits the net and lands inside the non-volley zone line, a replay shall be called. [Rule 4.M.7.]
9. (#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.]
10. (#45)
Your opponent hits a shot low over the net. You are positioned just behind the non-volley zone (NVZ) line and stretch to return the ball before it bounces. In the process your paddle scrapes the NVZ court surface just before you volley the ball. This is a non-volley zone fault because your paddle touched the non-volley zone during the act of volleying swing. [Rule 9.B.]
11. (#18)  (NEW in 2020)
The net posts (including connected wheels, net post legs, arms, or other support construction) are positioned out of bounds. If a ball strikes the net post it is a fault and a dead ball is declared. This does not include the net, the net cable, or rope between the net posts. [Rules 11.K. & 11.K.1.]
12. (#41) (NEW in 2020)
A team may change the starting server between games. If no notification is given to the referee before the next game starts, a fault will declared when the offending player serves or receives.  After the fault has been applied, the offending team will decide which player will be the starting server and notify the referee. [Rule 5.A.3.].
13. (#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.]
14. (#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.]
15. (#51)
The server is allowed 2 lets in a row; the third will be considered a fault. [Rule 4.O.]
16. (#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.]
17. (#19)
The lines that surround the non-volley zone are part of the non-volley zone. [Rule 3.A.22.]
18. (#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]
19. (#23)
When making a close line call, you always give your opponent the benefit of the doubt. [Rule 6.D.3.]
20. (#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]
21. (#60) (NEW in 2020)
Players wishing to give "Not Ready" signals shall use one of the following: 1)Raise their paddle above their head, 2) Raise their non-paddle hand above their head and 3), , ,? [Rule 4.C.1]
22. (#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.)
23. (#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.]
24. (#53) (NEW in 2020)
At the start of each game, the starting server begins the serve from the side of the court dictated by the score. [Rule 4.B.2.]
25. (#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]
26. (#44)
When your right-handed partner serves from the left service court, he stands very near the court center line. His feet are within the proper service area, but when his paddle contacts the ball, the paddle is slightly across the imaginary extension of the center line and above the playing surface of the right-hand court. Your opponents protest that this is not allowed. Your opponent is incorrect. The server's motion and stance are allowed. [Rule 4.A.3.]
27. (#1) (NEW in 2020)
Any player may indicate "Not Ready" prior to the start of the score being called. [Rule 4.C.]
28. (#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.
29. (#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.]
30. (#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.]
31. (#30)
If anything a player is wearing or carrying lands on the court, it becomes part of the court. Therefore: [Rule 11.H. and 11.I.]
32. (#47)
You feel that you are about to score the game-winning point when a ball from an adjacent court rolls onto your opponent's court. They don’t see it, but it slowly rolls a few feet behind them. If there is no referee and in the interest of safety, what should you do? [Rule 3.A.16.]
33. (#35)
You hit a ball at a sharp angle toward the sideline; it bounces in your opponent's court and travels beyond the sideline. Your opponent manages to return the ball, hitting a low shot (below net level) outside and around the post that lands in your court, and you are unable to return it. This is a legal shot and ruled in your opponent's favor. [Rule 11.M.]
34. (#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.]
35. (#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.]
36. (#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.]
37. (#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.]
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.]
39. (#67)
Once the choice of serve, receive, side or to defer has been selected, it may not be changed. [Rule 5.A.2]
40. (#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.]
41. (#61)
The Starting Server is defined as, "The player designated to serve first at the start of the game." Also, in doubles tournament play, the starting server shall wear a visible form of identification determined by the tournament director. [Rule 3.A.41]
42. (#8)
You may step on the non-volley zone line or enter the non-volley zone at any time except during the act of volleying the ball. [Rule 9.E.]
43. (#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.].
44. (#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.]
45. (#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.]
46. (#72) (NEW in 2020)
Players may appeal to the referee after the service motion starts to determine if a ball is broken or cracked so it can be replaced. [Rule 11.E]
47. (#32)
The act of volleying the ball includes the swing, the follow-through and the momentum from the action. [Rule 9.B.1.]
48. (#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.]
49. (#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.]
50. (#50)
When the score is 8-6-2, the receiver's partner must always stand in the left-hand court. [Rule 4.B.7.]

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