Player Test

Welcome to the Player Test!

This 2021 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 2021" notation, this refers to either a new rule being added, or that an existing rule was revised

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1. (#51) (NEW in 2021)
Players may challenge (to the Head Referee or Tournament Director) ANY decision, ruling, or judgment call made by the referee. [Rule 13.C.]

True

False

2. (#24) (NEW in 2021)
During the mid-game end change time-out, players may receive coaching. [Rule 5.B.6]

True.

False.

3. (#54) (NEW in 2021)
A match forfeit may be declared if a player does not report to play within 15 minutes after the match has been called. Rule [13.H.2.]

True

False

4. (#50)
Your partner drops her paddle and it lands on the ground on the court but not in the non-volley zone. The opponent's then hit a ball that hits the paddle lying on the ground. The ball bounces up high and you then hit the ball over the net to keep the rally going. This is legal because the dropped paddle is considered part of the court and play continues. [Rule 11.H]

True.

False.

5. (#32)
A player, a player's apparel, or a player's paddle contacting the net system, the net posts, or the opponent's court is always a fault. [Rule 7.G.]

True. It is always a fault.

False. It is only a fault if the ball was live and in play .

6. (#20)
A player may enter the non-volley zone at any time except when that player is volleying the ball. [Rule 9.E.]

True

False

7. (#33)
If your paddle touches the non-volley zone during a volley swing, it is a fault regardless of whether the touch occurred before or after contacting the ball. [Rule 9.B.2.]

True

False

8. (#15) (NEW in 2021)
It is not a fault for a server to start their service motion (moving their serving arm backward or forward to serve the ball) before the entire score is called. It is a fault if the server serves the ball before the score is completely called.

True

False

9. (#49) (NEW in 2021)
Other than NVZ violations, faults can only be committed when the ball is Live/In-Play. Verbal Warnings, Technical Warnings and Technical Fouls may be called during dead ball times. [Rule 8.E.]

True

False

10. (#9) (NEW in 2021)
When using the Drop Serve, the server must release the ball without any upward or downward force. [Rule 4.A.8.b]

True

False

11. (#55)
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

12. (#36) (NEW in 2021)
The referee calls the correct score. The server switches service courts. The referee stops play, gives the receiving team time to reposition and says she will recall the score. During the repositioning of the receiving team, the server serves the ball. The referee should call a fault on the server. [Rules 4.E.2 and 8.E.]

True

False

13. (#30)
The incorrect receiver is set and ready to receive serve. Immediately after the serve is hit, the correct runs over and returns the serve after it has bounced. This is a fault because the incorrect receiver was in the receiver position at the time the serve occurred. [Rule 4.N.1]

True.

False.

14. (#7) (NEW in 2021)
During a rally, if a player believes a ball is cracked or broken, play must continue until the end of the rally. [Rule 11.E.] Players who yell "The ball is cracked; The ball is broken", etc may incur a fault if the referee deems it a distraction to the opponent(s).

True

False

15. (#58)
Team A hits the ball which hits the net cord and starts to spin on the top of the net. The ball eventually falls down to the ground on the hitter's side of the net. Before the ball falls and hits the ground, a Team B player crosses the plane of the net. The referee should call a fault on Team B because they crossed the plane before the ball hit the ground becoming dead. [Rules 7.B. and 11.I.]

True

False

16. (#14) (NEW in 2021)
At the beginning of the service motion, the server's feet must be behind the baseline or the imaginary extension of the baseline. [Rule 4.A.2.a,b.c.d.]

True

False

17. (#31) (NEW in 2021)
After game 1, Team A changes starting servers along with the starting server form of identification ("Band") and does NOT notify the referee or opponents. Since there was no notification, the referee should call a fault on Team A when they start to serve for game 2. Rule 5.A.2.]

True

False

18. (#47) (NEW in 2021)
The served ball hits the net and lands in the proper receiving court. The receiver's partner yells "Let"! The receiver catches the ball and asks for a replay because the partner yelled "Let". The referee should allow the replay. [Rule 7.I.]

True.

False.

19. (#53) (NEW in 2021)
Players may overrule a referee's line call to their own disadvantage. [Rule 6.D.13.]

True

False

20. (#4)
Any ball that cannot be called "out" must be presumed to be "in." [Rule 6.D.3]

True.

False.

21. (#8) (NEW in 2021)
When using the Provisional Drop Serve, the release of the ball must be visible only to the referee. [Rule 4.A.8.a]

True

False

22. (#13) (NEW in 2021)
A player may overrule a line call to their own disadvantage. Given this condition, which statement below is false? [Rule 6.D.13]

A. A player may overrule their partner's call.

B. A player may overrule a line judge's call.

C. A player may not overrule a referee's call.

D. A player may overrule an opponent's call.

23. (#71) (NEW in 2021)
In between games of a 2-out-of-3 match, players may request to use one or more of their time-outs and then be allowed to leave the court area. If the players return early, any unused time-outs will still be available. [Rule 10.E.1.]

True

False

24. (#37) (NEW in 2021)
The referee is allowed to give a verbal warning (issued to both teams) for which of the following actions? [Rules 13.G.1. and 3.A.45.]

A. Unsportsmanlike Conduct

B. Profanity.

C. Delay of game.

D. All of the above

25. (#70) (NEW in 2021)
Before the serve occurs, the receiving team may ask the referee for the score, correct receiver, correct position and may challenge an incorrectly called score. [Rule 4.B.9]

True

False

26. (#48)
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.K.1.]

True

False

27. (#38)
The referee may immediately call a distraction fault during the rally when the infraction occurs. [Rule 11.J.]

True

False

28. (#44) (NEW in 2021)
A game forfeit will be imposed under the following conditions: [Rule Section 13.H.]

A. A Technical Warning and Technical Foul (13.G.2) have been assessed.

B. 3 Technical Warnings have been assessed.

C. Failure to report for the match start within 10 minutes.

D. All of the above.

29. (#23) (NEW in 2021)
A player may call a time-out before the next serve occurs. [Rule 10.A.3.]

True

False

30. (#12)
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.

31. (#28)
Per the rulebook, in doubles play when making a line call, which of the following phrases confirm that doubt exists? [Rule 6.D.9]

A. Player says "out" and partner says "in".

B. Player says "out" and partner says "I don't know."

C. Player says "out" and partner says "I'm not sure."

D. All of the above.

32. (#34) (NEW in 2021)
A player may carry the ball on the face of the paddle during the serve. [Rule 7.N.]

True

False

33. (#59)
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

34. (#43)
In a match without line judges, 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

35. (#27)
A ball is hit at an angle, bounces in the court, and travels beyond the sidelines. The receiver manages to return the ball, hitting a low shot (below net level) around and outside the post into the opponent’s court. This is a legal hit and the ball remains in play. [Rule 11.M]

True.

False.

36. (#5) (NEW in 2021)
"Let" serve replays have been removed. If the referee (out of habit) calls a service let, the rally will be replayed due to referee error.

True

False

37. (#1)
A. If one player calls the ball "out" and the partner calls the ball "in", the ball shall be considered "in".
B. There is no written rule stating if one player calls the ball "out" and the partner says, "I'm not sure", "I don't know", etc., the ball shall be considered "in". [Rule 6.D.9]

Only "A" is correct.

Only "B" is correct.

"A" and "B" are correct.

38. (#2)
Players may not use time-outs or a medical time-out to delay the start of a match. A match cannot begin until all players are present. After the match has started ("Game 1, time-in, 0-0-2") time-outs or a medical time-out may be taken. [Rules 10.H.1 and 10.A.3]

True.

False.

39. (#25) (NEW in 2021)
In a match with line judges, if the officiating team cannot make a line call, the rally shall be replayed without exception, unless a player makes a line call to their own disadvantage [Rules 13.D.3.c. and 6.D.13.]

True

False

40. (#21)
The receiver or server's partner may stand anywhere on or off their team's side of the court. {Rule 4.B.7]

True.

False.

41. (#17) (NEW in 2021)
There is no restriction on the service motion starting before the score is completely called. The entire score must be called before the ball is served. [Rule 4.A.1]

True

False

42. (#19) (NEW in 2021)
If a technical foul is assessed to a team, that team will have 1 point deducted from their score, unless they have a score of "0". [Rule 13.G.2.]

True

False

43. (#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

44. (#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

45. (#22)
A player standing outside the non-volley zone (NVZ) volleys the ball, but begins to lose her balance. To prevent stepping into the NVZ, she jumps over the corner and into the out of bounds area, then touches a net post while the ball is still live. A fault should be called. [Rule 11.K.]

True.

False.

46. (#18) (NEW in 2021)
Before the serve occurs, the serving team and receiving team can now ask the referee if they are the correct server or receiver and if they are in the correct position. [Rules 4.B.8 and 4.B.9]

True

False

47. (#63) (NEW in 2021)
If players have any remaining time-outs, they may call for a time-out before the next serve occurs; even if the service motion has started. [Rule 10.A.3.]

True

False

48. (#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.]

True

False

49. (#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.]

True

False

50. (#66) (NEW in 2021)
Official Hydration Breaks have been removed. But, the referee may allow players to quickly take a drink or towel off in between rallies as long as the flow of the game is not impacted. [Rule 10.C.]

True

False

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