outs are called or available (see rule 11.D.),
the offending side will receive a technical foul
on the first offense and a match forfeit on the
second offense.
Reason for change: Rule was added to clarify
the results of not complying with the time-out
rules.
Rule Revision: August 24, 2015
13.E. Lower Bracket Matches. In all
IFP-sanctioned tournaments, each entrant
shall be entitled to participate in a minimum
of two scheduled matches per event entered.
This means that losers of their first match
shall have the opportunity to compete in
the event’s lower bracket. The lower bracket
matches may be modified at the discretion of
the Tournament Director (e.g., one game to 15
points).
Reason for change: Wording change to better
clarify the rule.
Rule Revisions: August 1, 2015
2.D.1. Construction. The standard ball
shall be made of durable plastic material
molded with a smooth surface and free of
texturing. The ball can only be one single,
uniform color.
Reason for change: Added the statement that
balls can only be one color. This was done in
anticipation of international requirements in the
future.
Rule Revisions: June 1, 2015
10.E. Alternate Tournament Formats.
10.E.1. A tournament director may choose
to have some or all matches (except Round
Robin) consist of one game to 15 points or
one game to 21 points with a win by 2 points.
This applies to a single or double elimination
bracket. For Round Robin events a winning
margin of one point is required.
10.E.2. A tournament director may choose
to have Round Robin or Round Robin Pool
Play feeding to a medal bracket. For any
Round Robin event, games must be “win by
1 point” (not 2 points). Also see 13.A.4. and
13.A.6.
Reason for changes: Wording changes to clarify
Round Robin format options.
13.A.4. Round Robin. All players (in
singles) or teams will play each other. All
matches will be played with the same number
of games for each match. i.e., 1 game to
15 win by 1, or 1 game to 21 win by 1, or 3
games to 11 win by 1 (1 or 2 games to 11
is not permitted; all 3 games to 11 must be
played even if a player/team wins the first two
games). The player or team winning the most
matches is declared the winner. If two or more
teams are tied for a medal, the player or team
winning the most points will be declared the
winner of the tie.
Reason for changes: Wording changes to clarify
Round Robin format options.
opinion, if requested, shall be accepted. The
opinion of a player looking down the line is
more likely to be accurate than one looking
across the line.
Reason for change: Wording change to clarify
what shall be accepted if a player asks the
opponent’s opinion on a call.
9.A. The non-volley zone is the area of the
court (not the space above it) bounded by the
two sidelines, the non-volley line, and the
net. The non-volley line and the sidelines are
included in the non-volley zone.
Reason for change: Word change to clarify the
NVZ is only two dimensional.
9.G. For non-officiated play, non-volley
zone faults may be called by any player on
either team.
Reason for change: Added new rule to address
who may call a NVZ fault in non-officiated play.
Rule Additions: April 24, 2015
Section 16 – Wheelchair Rules
Reason for changes: Added complete new
section to cover wheelchair rules. See Rulebook
for complete wheelchair rules.
Rule Revision: March 1, 2015
4.I. Readiness. Serves shall not be made
until the receiver is ready and the score has
been called. Serving before the score is called
shall result in a fault, and loss of serve. The
referee shall call the score when he or she
determines that the players should be in
position to resume play.
14.D.4.b. Instruct the players on the need
to wait for the referee to call out the score
before serving, or a fault will incur.
Reason for changes: Wording change on above
to clarify that serving before the score is called is
a fault.
Rule Revision: April 20, 2015
3.O. Non-Volley Zone. The section of
court adjacent to the net in which you cannot
volley the ball. It includes all lines surrounding
the zone. The NVZ is only two dimensional
and does not rise above the court surface.
Reason for change: Word change to clarify the
NVZ is only two dimensional.
6.D.1. Players will call the lines on their
side of the court (excluding the non-volley line
on a serve — i.e., short serve, if being called
by a referee).
Reason for change: Wording change to clarify
that the rule is for ball line calls, not foot faults.
6.D.5. No player should question an
opponent’s call unless asked (except that
player may appeal a call to the referee in an
officiated match). A player should ask the
opponent’s opinion if the opponent was in a
better position to see the call. An opponent’s
Dennis Dacey is a retired
mechanical engineer
in the gas appliance
industry. One of his
duties during this time
was to serve on a national
standards committee.
For the past 5 years,
he has been the Rules
Chairperson for the
USAPA. His objective, and
that of the Board, is to
maintain and develop the rules in a manner which
will preserve the traditional nature and character
of the game and preserve the skills traditionally
required to play the game.
JANUARY 2016 |
MAGAZINE
39