Mastering your court couth is as important as your strategy and mechanics.
Yes, court decorum is a real thing and you want to know how and when you should use it.
By knowing how to act on the court, you become a welcome presence.This gives you an edge while you are learning the game, or working into a new group. While pickleball might not have the high social status of polo or tennis, it certainly shares a dedication to etiquette. You need to have some court-couth and we are here to help!
We've put together a Pickleball Etiquette Guide. Think of it as your crash course to being an insider on the court. We've included everything from basic courtesies to respect-earning tips that you won’t find in a typical rulebook.
Safety Etiquette
Yes, we know, it is absolutely a game played with a plastic ball and small paddle, but trust us, Pickleball can quickly get fast and wild and there are enough injuries in a day on the pickleball courts to keep the ortho doctors and physical therapists very job secure. Safety etiquette is important to prevent you and your cronies from getting hurt.
Rule # 1 : Call Out “Ball On” for Stray Balls
When your ball goes rogue onto a neighboring court (and it will) you need to holler out a quick, 'Ball on the court!' or ‘Ball, Ball!” to alert the players in the middle of a point. If there is even a chance that someone can get hurt, yell it out. This prevents players from accidentally stepping on and injuring themselves. If you step back on a ball, it can be devastating.
Rule # 2: Returning Balls to Other Courts
Spotted a stray ball on your court? Finish your rally, find the owner and toss it back. It’s common court courtesy to return balls to players on other courts.
Rule # 3: Prepare Yourself for a Physical Game
This may not be in a rulebook, but we think it’s important for safety to warm up your body and protect yourself. Dynamic stretches are so important for our bodies as we age to prepare the body for the upcoming movement it will do on the court.
This is different from static stretching where you stand still and bend, flex, etc. which is good, yes. But dynamic stretching incorporates both movement and stretching, and will activate the muscles, joints, ligaments, and brain coordination. Doing a mix of both before you play will keep you healthy and safe on the court.
We know you’re excited to get whacking, but everyone has five minutes! And it’s good etiquette to not get hurt and have to stop the game (wink, wink.)
Here are a few good warm up routines for you until we roll out our own routine!
Sportsmanship Etiquette
Sportsmanship, in a nutshell, means treating other players fairly and with common courtesy. I call it ‘Being Classy on the Court.’ Pickleball-just like life-should be about prioritizing the experience rather than doing whatever it takes to win at the cost of sacrificing your own humanity. Of course if you are playing competitively in a tournament, for example, you play harder and use more strategy, but you can still do it in a respectable way that preserves your conscience.
Rule #4: Don’t Be a Jerk
Here, this applies to players with physical disadvantages - if an opponent has a physical limitation, don’t exploit that. If they have a hard time running, don’t lob it over their partner’s head or short shot into the kitchen when they are standing at the service line.
It’s not only an unspoken rule, it also demonstrates that you’re a good person.
Rule #5: I’m Sorry
There are specific situations where you are expected to issue an apology on the court. It’s not a long drawn out thing, and you don’t have to mean it. it’s a quick, “I’m Sorry,” and you continue to the next point.
These are:
If you score from a net skim drop into the kitchen.
If you hit / body bag someone. Yes, it’s part of the game, but you can be a good sport about it. It’s a big pet peeve of us ladies when dudes slam it as hard as they can at us, nail us front and center, and then don’t say anything. Yeah we know you’re going to do it, but have some class, buddy. It can be the same with aggressive women as we level up. You are going to aim at the hip and shoulder, and if your opponent does not have his or her paddle up they will get jammed up or nailed. This is the idea. But utter a quick ‘sorry’ and get set for the next point.
Rule #6: It’s Their Call
It’s happened to all of us. Your partner calls the ball in, but it was out. Your opponents call the ball out-it was clearly in. Why does this happen? Because that little ball moves very quickly, visibility angles vary depending on where you are on the court, our eyesight weakens as we age, and some people will do whatever it takes to win.
The team who is on the side where the ball hits MAKES THE CALL. Period. Plain and simple. You may absolutely not agree with it, and they may do it repeatedly.
You can scoff and roll your eyes, but ultimately you may just choose to not play with them in the future, or only hit clearly in bounds shots. And the same goes for the opponent who argues with your calls from the other side.
Reputations develop on courts and you don’t want to get a bad one for one of these two habits. Make the call, adhere to their call, move on, deal with it afterwards.
Rule #7: Own Up to a Fault
Everyone makes them! If you step on the kitchen line while hitting a volley at the net, or graze an out ball with the tip of your paddle, own up to it! It’s super classless to try to hide faults so you can win a point. Integrity is always the real winner, and someone most likely saw or heard it anyway.
If you spot a fault from the other team, stay cool and mention it calmly, “I think you were in the kitchen.” If they accept it, great, if they argue, you know what you are dealing with. And now they know you’re watching.
If you are in a tournament without a referee, and it happens a few times, you may want to call an official over.
Game Etiquette
Rule #8: Say the Score
Before you serve, for all that right in the world, and particularly those of us in our Menopause era, please say the score loudly! It is the only chance we have for coninutin to keep track of it.
Rule #9: Bring your own balls
They are a dollar and they don’t weigh anything. Keep a supply in your bag.
Rule #10: Court Fees
If someone paid for the court, offer to contribute and pull out cash or as their venmo. Don’t make them have to ask for it.
Rule #11: Wait Before Crossing
Crossing the court means walking onto the back of another court to get to the open court where you will be playing. I cannot stress this enough, so here come the all caps. WAIT UNTIL THE POINT IS FINISHED ON THE COURT THAT YOU WILL BE CROSSING THROUGH.
Going onto a court mid-point is distracting, rude and will call for the point to be redone in many cases. Trust me, you don’t want to be the cause of this.
Give a friendly nod or a wave to the players and then make your move.
Good Person Etiquette
Rule #12: Introduce yourself
If you are playing with people you don’t know, exchange names before shouting 0-0-2! It’s weird to just start whacking balls at someone you haven’t even said, “Hello” to.
Rule #13: Mix It Up
Don’t shy away from mixing it up with players of various skill levels. Playing up, or playing higher skilled players, is how to get better. So if you are a newer player and you get asked to join some higher level players to make a fourth, DO IT. Don’t hem and haw about how you can’t give them a good game, or you’re scared or whatever other negative stuff you’re thinking. Get out there, focus hard and do your best. Believe in yourself. Nobody gets better playing at the same level all the time.
Rule #14: Pay It Forward
Weren’t you a beginner once? Didn’t a 3.5/4.0 wave you off the bench to come join? Remember how hard it was to be new? Do this for someone else. If you are a higher skilled player, I call this “Paying it Forward.”
When you are playing a newer or lower skilled player, this is the perfect time to work on your skills: your drops, resets (newbies bang), serves, double handed back hands, roll volleys, etc. could always use work. You don’t have to change or dumb down your game to work on things you are afraid to try when you’re fighting for your life in a higher skilled group.
Rule # 15: Level the Playing Field
We all love to win of course, but when two players of a lower skill level end up on the court with higher level players, it’s the right thing to do to split them up.
A 4.0 who grabs a 3.8 against two 3.0s just wants to win, period. This isn’t really fun for anyone. And if you're the newbie in this situation, remember to thank the seasoned player for their sporting spirit.
Rule #16: Work on your Placement instead of Targeting
Don’t endlessly smash and pound on the weaker player. This makes you look like a high school bully. It’s small and sad. You’re better than that.
Rule #17: Tactful Celebrations
Scored a point with a great rally? A fist pump or a paddle tap is totally warranted. Leave the choreo and excessive celebration to the NFL. If you body bag someone for a point, don’t giggle or cheer. Issue an “I’m Sorry,” and move along.
Rule #18: Keep It Positive
Making the game unnecessarily harsh and competitive takes the fun out of it and may not earn you good points with other players. Appreciate good shots on the other side. You’re not on the PPA circuit.
With these nuggets of etiquette wisdom, you'll soon be more than just a newbie on the pickleball court. You'll be a part of a community that thrives on mutual respect and camaraderie. Pickleball is huge and small at the same time. Develop a reputation of being a classy, encouraging player and you will always have people to play with.
And, YES, you can be aggressive and classy at the same time!
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