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 Address Contact Phone USA Pickleball Membership # 1. (#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 False2. (#31) (NEW in 2020)Any malfunction of a net system during play shall be considered a hinder. [Rule 11.L.5.d.] True False3. (#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 False4. (#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 correct5. (#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 False6. (#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 False7. (#27)If you are in the process of changing hands with both hands contacting the paddle, or you are attempting a two-handed stroke, and either hand is hit below the wrist by the ball, the ball is considered to still be in play. [Rule 7.H.] True False8. (#16)A ball that cannot be called "out" will be considered "in". [Rule 6.D.3.] True False9. (#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 False10. (#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 False11. (#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 False12. (#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.] If a ball in play hits the item on the court, the ball remains in play If the item lands on the opponent's court, it is a fault If the item lands in the non-volley zone as a result of a volley, it is a fault All of the above13. (#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 above14. (#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 net15. (#51)The server is allowed 2 lets in a row; the third will be considered a fault. [Rule 4.O.] True False16. (#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 False17. (#19)The lines that surround the non-volley zone are part of the non-volley zone. [Rule 3.A.22.] True False18. (#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 False19. (#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 False20. (#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 False21. (#67)Once the choice of serve, receive, side or to defer has been selected, it may not be changed. [Rule 5.A.2] True False22. (#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 False23. (#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 False24. (#63)In games to 21, each team is allowed 3 time-outs. [Rule 10.A] True False25. (#21)You must have possession of the paddle when it makes contact with the ball. [Rule 11.P.] True False26. (#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 False27. (#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 False28. (#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] True False29. (#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 False30. (#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 False31. (#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 False32. (#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 False33. (#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 False34. (#23)When making a close line call, you always give your opponent the benefit of the doubt. [Rule 6.D.3.] True False35. (#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 False36. (#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-bounds37. (#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.] True False38. (#70)There is no rule which states that during the serve, the server must release the ball before paddle contact. [Section 4.] True False39. (#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 False40. (#73)A player may appeal any referee's decision or ruling to the Tournament Director. [Rule 13.A.1] True. False.41. (#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 False42. (#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 False43. (#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 False44. (#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 False45. (#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 False46. (#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 False47. (#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 above48. (#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.] True False49. (#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 False50. (#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 aboveYou 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. If you are ready to submit the test, please click the “Submit” button below. Time is Up!
