The Charlotte Dilly News
October 2023
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... Dear Dr. Dink: Loose Balls
... Relish This:
> USAP Sportsmanship Guide
... MVP: Chuck Timney
... In What's Happening:
> Lake Norman Racquet Club
> Lab City Pickleball Club
> Dink for Pink - Oct 21 @ Clarks Creek
> Pickle Baller -Oct 4 @ PBC Sharon Lakes
> PicklePals
> PBC Newcomer's & Begniner's Jamboree - Oct 14
> PBC Cosmic Spooktacular - Oct 27-29
> PBC Zero-Zero Boo - Oct 30
> Firethorne CC
In Junior Pickleball:
> Fall Classic Round Robin, Holbrook Park - Oct 13
> Skill-N-Drills, Plum Creek Park - Oct 14
> NextGen Juniors Afterschool Programs @ PBC
> Lake Norman Racquet Club Junior Open Play
... In Clinics & Coaches:
> Northern Regional Rec Ctr Progressive Clinics
> Davidson Classes @ Plum Creek Park
> CCIT Clinics
> Men's Instructional Leagues with John Walker @ PBC
> Veterans Day Clinics @ PBC
> Engage Camp @ PBC
... In Leagues & Ladders
> Queen City Winter Flex League
> MLP Leagues @ PBC
.... In Pickleball Trips
> Pickleball in Paradise Dec 9-13
> Pickleball at Sea Feb 12-16
> Suncoast Turks & Caicos 2023
... In Tournaments:
> 2 Many 2 Count!
... USA Pickleball Places to Play
 |
Dear Dr. Dink |
Dear Dr. Dink,
The place where I play has 3 courts surrounded by one fence, so frequently a ball will roll from one court to the next. What are the rules regarding how these loose ball distractions should be handled?
Signed, Luci Bawls
Dear Luci,
Dealing with errant balls is more a matter of sportsmanship than a rules question, but first let’s consider how the rules do apply. Rule 3.A.15. defines a Hinder as: “Any transient element or occurrence not caused by a player that adversely impacts play, not including permanent objects. Examples include, but are not limited to, balls, flying insects, foreign material, players or officials on another court that, in the opinion of the referee, impacted a player’s ability to make a play on the ball. “
A loose ball rolling onto your court is a transient occurrence, not a permanent condition. It is caused by an influence outside of your game. So, it meets these two criteria for a Hinder. It is not a Distraction, which would come from within your game. Per Rule 8.C., a Hinder results in a dead ball and a replay of the rally. In officiated play the referee determines if a Hinder called by a player was valid. In non-officiated play, the player claiming the Hinder makes that determination. The most important question then is, does a loose ball impact any player’s ability to make a play on the ball? If it does, then it is a valid hinder and should be a replay. If it does not, then play on.
In Rec play we too often see players who, any time a ball rolls beyond the side line of their court shriek “Ball! Ball! Ball!” like a Banshee and disrupt play on every court within earshot, even if the ball is benignly resting against the back fence and does not present a hazard to other players.
The USAP Sportsmanship Guide provides guidance on how to handle loose balls. It says, “If your ball enters another court, immediately warn any players whose safety may be in jeopardy by loudly calling “ball” or some other warning. If the ball is rolling behind their court and does not present a danger to players, do not interrupt play but wait until play stops to retrieve it or ask for its return.”
If your ball is rolling onto another court and putting the players on that court in danger, then by all means stop play. Safety first! But, please note the underlined portion above. If the loose ball is rolling behind another court rather than onto it and not putting other players at risk, then do not stop play. Let the players on that court decide whether the ball is impacting their ability to make a play by breaking their concentration. Keep an eye on your ball, and, if it rolls onto their court or if a player is perhaps retreating to retrieve a lob and could step on the ball, then stop play immediately with your call of “Ball”. Feel free to scream if they are in danger.
Another important aspect of courtesy with loose balls is how you should return one to the proper place. Don’t kick it, or swat at it with your paddle like you are playing field hockey. That is likely to send it skittering off to disrupt play on another court as other players scramble to capture it like a greased pig at a County Fair. The Sportsmanship Guide addresses this as well: “If a ball strays onto your court, make eye contact with the correct person and roll or toss it back to them without disrupting play on other courts.” Taking a second to figure out where to send the ball saves everyone time and trouble. If it’s a ball from your court that's gone astray, make sure you signal to the player who retrieves it to whom it should be returned.
The entire USAP Sportsmanship Guide is printed in Relish This. Take a moment to read it.
Sincerely, Dr. Dink
USA Pickleball Certified Referee
Relish This...
by Dr. Dink
1. Treat all players, officials, volunteers, staff, and spectators with courtesy and respect.
a. Introduce yourself to any players you do not know.
b. Never use foul language or obscene gestures. Never denigrate another person.
c. At the end of each game, meet the other players at the net to acknowledge them in a positive manner. In officiated matches, thank the referee.
d. Accommodate players with adaptive needs when possible.
2. Know the Official Rules of Pickleball, apply them fairly and cooperate in any situation that is not expressly covered by the rules.
3. Practice good sportsmanship when making line calls.
a. Respect your opponents' right to make all calls on their end of the court.
b. Call your own shot “out” if you see that it is out.
c. If you question an opponent’s call, do so respectfully and do not argue.
d. f you defer a line call to your opponents, accept their call graciously.
e. Do not call a ball “out” unless you see it clearly and are certain it is out.
f. Promptly correct any wrong call your partner may make.
g. Resolve any uncertainty in favor of your opponents.
4. Call a fault on yourself or your partner as soon as the fault occurs, regardless of whether your opponents are aware of the fault.
a. Watch your own and your partner’s feet for service or NVZ foot faults
b. Accept your opponent’s and partner’s fault calls graciously.
c. Admit if the ball hits you or your paddle on the way out of bounds.
5. Claim a replay only if a hinder affects your team’s ability to play the ball.
6. In social play, rotate on and off courts fairly, courteously, and in accordance with local practice.
a. Don’t jump ahead of others who are waiting to play.
b. Don’t invite someone else forward in line or rearrange paddles so they can move up to play with you; move yourself back instead.
c. Don’t call a lower score or start a second game to avoid leaving the court.
d. Be prepared to play when it is your turn.
e. If you must cross over or behind an active court, wait until play is stopped and cross quickly in a single group to minimize disruption of that game.
7. Make safety a priority while using common sense.
a. If a ball strays onto your court, make eye contact with the correct person and roll or toss it back to them without disrupting play on other courts.
b. If your ball enters another court, immediately warn any players whose safety may be in jeopardy by loudly calling “ball” or some other warning. If the ball is rolling behind their court and does not present a danger to players, do not interrupt play but wait until play stops to retrieve it or ask for its return.
c. Never throw your paddle or strike the ball in anger or frustration.
8. As a stronger player in social play, be kind to other players.
a. Avoid hitting excessively to a weaker player.
b. Do not slam the ball directly at other players.
9. Be considerate about playing up and playing down.
a. Be willing to play sometimes with less-skilled players.
b. Do not demand to play with more skilled players; ask them nicely if you wish to play with them.
10. Be a respectful and supportive partner.
a. Avoid criticism and negative non-verbal communications.
b. Provide coaching and advice only when requested.
1. Treat all players, officials, volunteers, staff, and spectators with courtesy and respect.
a. Introduce yourself to any players you do not know.
b. Never use foul language or obscene gestures. Never denigrate another person.
c. At the end of each game, meet the other players at the net to acknowledge them in a positive manner. In officiated matches, thank the referee.
d. Accommodate players with adaptive needs when possible.
2. Know the Official Rules of Pickleball, apply them fairly and cooperate in any situation that is not expressly covered by the rules.
3. Practice good sportsmanship when making line calls.
a. Respect your opponents' right to make all calls on their end of the court.
b. Call your own shot “out” if you see that it is out.
c. If you question an opponent’s call, do so respectfully and do not argue.
d. f you defer a line call to your opponents, accept their call graciously.
e. Do not call a ball “out” unless you see it clearly and are certain it is out.
f. Promptly correct any wrong call your partner may make.
g. Resolve any uncertainty in favor of your opponents.
4. Call a fault on yourself or your partner as soon as the fault occurs, regardless of whether your opponents are aware of the fault.
a. Watch your own and your partner’s feet for service or NVZ foot faults
b. Accept your opponent’s and partner’s fault calls graciously.
c. Admit if the ball hits you or your paddle on the way out of bounds.
5. Claim a replay only if a hinder affects your team’s ability to play the ball.
6. In social play, rotate on and off courts fairly, courteously, and in accordance with local practice.
a. Don’t jump ahead of others who are waiting to play.
b. Don’t invite someone else forward in line or rearrange paddles so they can move up to play with you; move yourself back instead.
c. Don’t call a lower score or start a second game to avoid leaving the court.
d. Be prepared to play when it is your turn.
e. If you must cross over or behind an active court, wait until play is stopped and cross quickly in a single group to minimize disruption of that game.
7. Make safety a priority while using common sense.
a. If a ball strays onto your court, make eye contact with the correct person and roll or toss it back to them without disrupting play on other courts.
b. If your ball enters another court, immediately warn any players whose safety may be in jeopardy by loudly calling “ball” or some other warning. If the ball is rolling behind their court and does not present a danger to players, do not interrupt play but wait until play stops to retrieve it or ask for its return.
c. Never throw your paddle or strike the ball in anger or frustration.
8. As a stronger player in social play, be kind to other players.
a. Avoid hitting excessively to a weaker player.
b. Do not slam the ball directly at other players.
9. Be considerate about playing up and playing down.
a. Be willing to play sometimes with less-skilled players.
b. Do not demand to play with more skilled players; ask them nicely if you wish to play with them.
10. Be a respectful and supportive partner.
a. Avoid criticism and negative non-verbal communications.
b. Provide coaching and advice only when requested.
(and selected National/Regional Events)
Visit:
USA Pickleball Tournament Calendar
or
PickleballTournaments.com
for more tournament information
(click on the above links)
Dec 1-3 Dink the Halls 2, Charlotte, NC
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