Sacramento Area Tennis Association

Click on link below and it will take you to the sactennis website where you can find the rules and captains handbook under league information.

Click here for the self rating form

Rating levels:

2.5 A player new to the game of tennis. Has no prior competitive history. This player needs on-court experience, with an emphasis on play who needs stroke development and lessons.

3.0 A player who has played tennis recreationally for a period of time, has some match experience and is fairly consistent with hitting medium paced shots but does not have accuracy.

3.5 A player who has match experience. Has achieved stroke dependancy. Uses lobs, overheads, approach shots and can volley but not consistently.

4.0 A player with dependable strokes, directional control, can alter depth of forehand and backhand strokes. Has ability to use lobs, overheads and volleys with success.

KEY DATES:

Spring Season 2026:

Spring Playing Season: 2/21 – 5/25

Team Registration: 1/9 – 1/25

Player Registration: 2/7

Schedules Online: 2/7

Summer Season 2026:

Summer Playing Season: 6/13 – 8/28

Team Registration: 5/1 – 5/17

Player Registration: 5/30

Schedules Online: 5/30

Fall Season 2026:

Fall Playing Season: 9/5 – 12/7

Team Registration: 7/17 – 8/2

Player Registration: 8/15

Schedules Online: 8/15

Click here

Basic Rules Summary

Rev. 1/1/2026

The following is an abbreviated form of the rules to give a quick overview of how the game is played. A complete

copy of the official rules can be found on the USA Pickleball website at usapickleball.org. If there is a conflict

between this summary and the official rules, the official rules prevail.

Basic Rules Overview

Pickleball is played either as doubles (two players per

team) or singles; doubles is most common.

The same size playing area and rules are used for both

singles and doubles.

The Serve

The server’s arm must be moving in an upward arc when

the ball is struck.

Paddle contact with the ball must not be made above the

waist level.

The head of the paddle must not be above the highest

part of the wrist at contact.

A ‘drop serve’ is also permitted in which case none of the

elements above apply.

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 centerline and at least one foot must be

behind the baseline on the playing surface or the ground

behind the baseline.

The serve is made diagonally crosscourt and must land

within the confines of the opposite diagonal court.

Only one serve attempt is allowed per server.

Service Sequence

Both players on the serving doubles team have the

opportunity to serve and score points until they commit a

fault *(except for the first service sequence of each new

game).

The first serve of each side-out is made from the right-

hand court.

If a point is scored, the server switches sides and the

server initiates the next serve from the left- hand court.

As subsequent points are scored, the server continues

switching back and forth until a fault is committed and

the first server loses the serve.

When the first server loses the serve the partner then

serves from their correct side of the court (except for the

first service sequence of the game*).

The second server continues serving until his team

commits a fault and loses the serve to the opposing

team.

Once the service goes to the opposition (at side out), the

first serve is from the right-hand court and both players

on that team have the opportunity to serve and score

points until their team commits two faults.

In singles the server serves from the right-hand court

when his or her score is even and from the left when the

score is odd.

*At the beginning of each new game only one partner on the

serving team has the opportunity to serve before faulting, after

which the service passes to the receiving team.

Scoring

Traditional Side-Out Scoring

Points are scored only by the serving team.

Games are normally played to 11 points, win by 2.

Tournament games may be to 15 or 21, win by 2.

When the serving team’s score is even (0, 2, 4, 6, 8,

10) the player who was the first server in the game for

that team will be in the right-side court when serving or

receiving; when odd (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) that player will be in the

left-side court when serving or receiving.

Rally Scoring

A point is scored after every rally, regardless of which

team is serving. This method rewards success after each

point.Basic Rules Summary

Two-Bounce Rule

When the ball is served, the receiving team must let it

bounce before returning, and then the serving team must

let it bounce before returning, thus two bounces.

After the ball has bounced once in each team’s court,

both teams may either volley the ball (hit the ball before it

bounces) or play it off a bounce (ground stroke).

The two-bounce rule eliminates the serve and volley

advantage and extends rallies.

Non-Volley Zone

The non-volley zone is the court area within 7 feet on

both sides of the net

Volleying is prohibited within the non-volley zone. This

rule prevents players from executing smashes from a

position within the zone.

It is a fault if, when volleying a ball, the player steps on

the non-volley zone, including the line and/or when

the player’s momentum causes them or anything they

are wearing or carrying to touch the non-volley zone

including the associated lines.

It is a fault if, after volleying, a player is carried by

momentum into or touches the non-volley zone, even if

the volleyed ball is d dead before this happens.

A player may legally be in the non-volley zone any time

other than when volleying a ball.

The non-volley zone is commonly referred to as “the

kitchen.”

Line Calls

A ball contacting any line, except the non-volley zone line

on a serve, is considered “in.”

A serve contacting the non-volley zone line is short and

a fault.

Faults

A fault is any action that stops play because of a rule

violation.

A fault by the receiving team results in a point for the

serving team.

A fault by the serving team results in the server’s loss of

serve or side out.

A fault occurs when:

A serve does not land within the confines of the

receiving court.

The ball is hit into the net on the serve or any return.

The ball is volleyed before a bounce has occurred on

each side.

The ball is hit out of bounds.

A ball is volleyed from the non-volley zone.

A ball bounces twice before being struck by the

receiver.

A player, player’s clothing, or any part of a player’s

paddle touches the net or the net post when the ball

is in play.

There is a violation of a service rule.

A ball in play strikes a player or anything the player is

wearing or carrying.

A ball in play strikes any permanent object before

bouncing on the court.

Determining Serving Team

Any fair method can be used to determine which player

or team has first choice of side, service, or receive.

(Example: Write a 1 or 2 on the back of the score sheet.)

Explore the links below to improve your

game and understand the rules.

> Improve Your Game

usapickleball.org/blog

> View Official Rules

usapickleball.org/rules

> Learn About USA Pickleball

President................ .................Dirk Pearson sata.president@gmail.com

Vice President..........................Rob Reis rob.reis1962@gmail.com

Treasure...................................Susan Wheatley

Secretary..................................Diane Rhodes

Grand Prix.................................Dexter Fong dfongtennis@gmail.com

Communications Chair.............Greta Macdonald

At large.....................................

At large.....................................