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 First Name Last Name Email 1. (#23)When making a close line call, you always give your opponent the benefit of the doubt. [Rule 6.D.3.] True False2. (#16)A ball that cannot be called "out" will be considered "in". [Rule 6.D.3.] True False3. (#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 above4. (#13)When your team has an odd score number, your team’s starting server (the player wearing the visible form of identification) should serve from the right-hand court when they are serving. [Rule 4.B.6.b.] True False5. (#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 False6. (#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 False7. (#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 False8. (#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 False9. (#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.] True False10. (#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-bounds11. (#69) (NEW in 2020)Except on the serve, after a ball bounces in a players court, if the ball hits the horizontal bar on a temporary net system, a replay shall be called. [Rule 11.L.5.b.] True False12. (#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.] True False13. (#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.] True False14. (#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 False15. (#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 False16. (#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 above17. (#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.] True False18. (#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 False19. (#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 False20. (#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 False21. (#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] True False22. (#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 False23. (#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 False24. (#63)In games to 21, each team is allowed 3 time-outs. [Rule 10.A] True False25. (#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 correct26. (#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 False27. (#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 False28. (#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 False29. (#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 False30. (#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] Turn their back completely to the server Turn their back completely to the net31. (#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 False32. (#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 False33. (#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 False34. (#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.]. True False35. (#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 False36. (#58) (NEW in 2020)Hitting the ball into the player's side of the net without the ball crossing over to the opponent's side is a fault. The fault is occurs the moment the ball hits the ground.[Rule 7.B.] True False37. (#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 False38. (#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 False39. (#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 False40. (#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 False41. (#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 False42. (#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 False43. (#1) (NEW in 2020)Any player may indicate "Not Ready" prior to the start of the score being called. [Rule 4.C.] True False44. (#21)You must have possession of the paddle when it makes contact with the ball. [Rule 11.P.] True False45. (#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 False46. (#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 False47. (#52) (NEW in 2020)After the score is called, if the serving team changes service courts causing the receiving team to be out of position, the receiving team shall be allowed time to reposition. A new score shall be called and a new 10-second count will begin. [Rule 4.E.3.] True False48. (#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 False49. (#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.] Immediately yell Ball on Court, declare a hindrance and play the point over Since it is game point, keep quiet and continue the rally Continue the rally, but watch the ball; if it appears that they might step on it, yell, Watch Out None of the above50. (#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 FalseYou have come to the end of the Player 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. 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