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.

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

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.............Clayton Dodds

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

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

2.5

• I know where to stand at the beginning of each point

• I usually get my serves "in"

• I usually let the return of serve bounce

• I am getting the hang of keeping score

• I can often keep the ball in play

• I know what a dink shot is

3.0

• I have the basic rules down

• I am working on getting my serves & return of serves deeper

• I am working on getting my dinks shallower/lower

• I am capable of hitting a fewdinks in a row

• I can usually hit backhand shots when I need to

• I'm trying to add more power or softness to my game

3.5

• I know most of the rules (including., net rules, net post issues, NVZ, etc.)

• My serves & returns are almost always deep

• I sometimes try to hit a 3rd shot drop shot

• I try to be strategic about how and where I hit the ball

• I have a wide variety of shots in my arsenal

• I actively work with my partner to win the point

4.0

• I can often anticipate my opponents' shots

• I often finish the point when my opponent gives me an opening

• I am usually consistent with drop shots and dink shots

• I almost always play at the non-volley line

• With a good partner I can cover almost any shot

• I try to be patient & wait for the opening

League Guidelines

1. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

a. All teams submitted must be represented by a club that is a current paid member of SATA. If your club has not paid its annual membership dues, your team will be asked to pay the annual dues prior to your team playing.

b. Deadlines

· Emails regarding court restrictions and court permits are to be emailed tosata.courtpermits@gmail.com. An email request will be sent out just prior to the end of team registration requesting court reservation information for each team.

c. Fees and refunds

· Captains register their teams at no cost. Captains should make sure they have sufficient players before the end of the team registration deadline, which is the also the deadline to withdraw teams.

· Player registration fee is $20.00 for each team a player joins (with the captain’s permission).

· Registration fees are paid via online registration using MasterCard or VISA.

· Registration and payment of the $20.00 fee does not guarantee playing time.

· Players will not be refunded if they do not play during the season or if they sign up for a team that withdraws after matches have been scheduled.

· Registering for the wrong team is not subject to refund but can be corrected by the league coordinator.

· Refunds are only permitted in limited circumstances, such as incorrect credit card charge or SATA withdraws the league or a team, and are handled by the league coordinator.

d. Courts

· Court Usage Permit forms must be completed and properly signed authorizing the use of the club’s courts

· All courts must be reserved for match times and be in good playable condition. It is acceptable to have courts at different locations if they are within the same park district.

· Facilities: Home teams must provide restroom facilities and will contact visiting captains if refreshments will NOT be served.

· Reservations: All teams must reserve courts for home matches on the appropriate playing day. Any court restrictions varying from the submitted Court Usage Permit must be brought to the Coordinators’ attention immediately.

e. Roster

· Players can add to the roster any time after player registration opens until the end of the season.

· Players will be using the ratings that are currently listed on Top Dog.

f. Over-rated Players

· An Over-Rated Player is someone whose rating is above the league level of play.

2. PRE-SEASON PROCESS

a. When team captains register their teams online, an email is automatically sent to the captain confirming the registration.

b. It is imperative that captains verify phone numbers and email addresses of their players.

c. Captain should notify their players of the need to have an email address and login for player registration.

a. Ratings

· Player ratings must meet the league requirements.

· All ratings are viewable through the Top Dog Tennis. To view:

1. Go to the league website sata.topdoglive.com

2. At the top of this page, click on Search

3. To search for an individual player, click on search and enter the player's name. Then, click on the player's name to see his/her rating.

b. All non-rated players must self-rate by completing and submitting the online Self Rate Form. The form is located on the website sata.topdoglive.com

3. LEAGUE PLAY

When scheduling, coordinators will attempt to give all teams a minimum of 6 matches. Coordinators have the authority to schedule playoffs and finals.

4. TEAM FORMATION

a. Whenever possible, half of the team matches will be scheduled at home.

5. Instructions on how to register a team or a player are located on the league website home page at sata.topdoglive.com under the heading “News”

Online Player Registration & Payment Procedure

Before registering online, you must have an existing email address and password.

If you are new to SATA and are not in the Database go to sata.topdoglive.com the league website and under the heading “News” click on the Pickleball self-rate form. Fill out the form and hit submit. Once the information is processed you will receive and email with your password and log on information. You can then register for a team.

Once you have your password and email account, do the following:

1. Go to the League Website sata.topdoglive.com

2. Once on the home page.

3. Click on Login in the top right corner and enter the necessary information which takes you to your player profile page.

4. Click on the SATA logo with the words Sacramento Area Tennis Association in the Green Bar across the top of the page. You are now on the Sacramento Area Tennis Association Page showing all leagues and seasons.

5. Scroll down and click on your desired league.

6. Click on your team.

7. Click on the red signup tab in the upper right corner and a screen will appear showing the name of the player being registered and the team.

8. Click on continue. The registration summary screen will appear and you should select Checkout, I’m doneunless you wish to register for additional teams. If you wish to register for another team, click on register for more events which will take you back to the home page. You then just repeat the process until you get to the registration summary page again.

9. Click on Checkout, I’m done which will bring up the payment screen. The fee is $20 per player

10. Submit the payment information as directed.

11. You will receive an email confirming your signup.

Online Team Registration

Before registering online, you must have an existing email address and password.

If you are new to SATA and are not in the Database, please go to sata.topdoglive.com and under the heading “News” click on Pickleball self-rate form. Fill out the information and hit submit. Once the information is processed you will receive an email with your password and log on information. You can then register a Pickleball team.

1. Go to the SATA league website sata.topdoglive.com

2. Click on Login in the top right corner and enter the necessary information which takes you to your player profile page.

3. Click on the SATA logo with the words Sacramento Area Tennis Association in the Blue Bar across the top of the page. You are now on the Sacramento Area Tennis Association Home Page showing all leagues and seasons.

4. Click on Divisions. (top left area of screen)

5. Click on your desired league.

6. Click on tab that says New Team.

7. Enter the captain’s last name and select the name from the generated list.

8. Enter the co-captain’s last name and select it from the generated list. (optional)

9. Enter the home facility where home matches should be played (not Sacramento Area Tennis Association). Select the home club from the generated list.

10. Enter a team name if desired and click on “I Confirm”. It is important that the club’s name and play level be part of the team’s name: Rollingwood W3.5, Rio’s Rockets 9.5, etc.

You should now be able to see your team listed and you can exit out of Top Dog. You will also receive a confirmation email.

CLICK ON LINK:

https://sata.topdoglive.com/pages/forms/selfratingformpb.asp

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.

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