Rules | Backyard Pickleball League

Backyard Pickleball League Rules

Format

Players are assigned to a session with either four or five participants. A round-robin style format is played.

Four Players

Each player plays one “official” set or game with each other player on the court as a partner.
Three (3) total "official sets or games are played (complete rotation 2x - 6 games).
Play additional "unofficial" sets or games until the time slot ends. These do not count for the standings.

Five Players

You will be given a rotation schedule at the beginning of each session. This will be used to determine partners.
Each player will play four (4) “official” sets or games.
Each player will sit out one rotation.

Don't Plan to Leave Early
Allow up to two hours for a match. If you finish early, play extra games/sets for fun. If you cannot stay for the entire time slot, simply opt-out for that week.

House Rules

Traditional pickleball rules and scoring will be utilized with the addition of select Backyard Pickleball house rules. House rules may be changed and/or added to at any time.

Hoop-side always serves first.
If the hoop-side team wins, the opposing team may try to hit the ball into the hoop from their own side as a rebuttal. If the shot is made, the game is extended by one (1) point.
Balls hit off the ceiling remain live if they land in play.

Uncompleted Games

Due to weather interruption: Only the completed sets/games count.
Due to court/lighting malfunction: Only the completed sets/games count.
Due to injury: The team without injury wins a set/game that was in progress or was immediately up next in the rotation if player is unable to start the next set/game. Any other sets/games do not count.
Due to time constraints: All matches have set time slots. They begin with the start time listed in the weekly schedule and end with the start time of the next match on that same court.
- If the court has 5 players and time is an issue - count all of the completed games. The incomplete games do not count. If a game is at least 50% complete at 5 minutes until the time deadline (leading team has at least 8 in 15-point game), go ahead and finish the game (play win by 1). If the court has 4 players - count all of the completed games. Finish any game running up against the deadline where leading team has at least 6 points. The games that are not completed will have the game from the first rotation (with the same matchup) count double. When there is an active court monitor / site administrator, a lower number to play to may be given, ie 9 instead of 11, 11 instead of 15. The results from these games are official.

Etiquette

All participants are required to adhere to the following:

No court abuse.
1. Do not hit court, screens, fences or nets in anger or for any other reason outside of normal point play.
2. Do not climb or use screens to propel yourself into shots.
3. Do not climb over nets.
No human abuse.
1. No intentional headhunting.
2. No cussing or screaming at partners or opponents.
3. No cheating, tanking or extended arguing.
General politeness.
1. No extensive screaming or yelling in anger.
2. No hitting balls in anger (dangerous).
3. No paddle throwing.

Repeated violation of these items may result in expulsion from the league.

Player Cancellation

Legitimate reasons for cancelling after the weekly schedule has been made: Emergency work travel, illness, injury, family emergency, unforeseeable events like car trouble, etc. Failure to notify league administrators (No call / No show) or repeated last minute cancellations may result in expulsion from the league.

Tardiness

Be on time. Showing up about 10 minutes early is proper. If someone is more than 15 minutes late, and an even number (4 per court) has already been achieved – it is not necessary to include the tardy participant.

Waiver & Release

All league participants are required to sign these before playing their first time for Backyard Leagues and several of the participating clubs. Paper copies will be available to sign the first time you play in our league or at a venue.

Contact Info Required

All participants must provide the league administrator with an active email and mobile phone. The email & mobile phone information may be available to others in the league.

Eligibility

Leagues are open to male and female league players age 18+. Specific requirements are on registration pages.

Payment Deadlines

Prepayment required. All fees are due by deadlines stated on registration pages.

Refund Policy

Refunds can be granted up until the first night of league play. No refunds after league play has started. If a player fails to play more than 2x in a session (due to injury or unanticipated regular conflict), a credit may be awarded for a future league. This credit has no cash redemption value.

Make-Up Dates

If an excessive amount of league nights are canceled (3 or more) during a given session, make up dates at the end of the session/season may be added. Backyard Pickleball cancelations are rare as the league is played indoors.