Racquetball Rules
*=applies to ALL CSI IM events
*CSI Racquetball will be played by the following rules. Team captains are
responsible for the eligibility and conduct of all their players. Every
participant is responsible for the rules and regulations in the Intramural
Handbook which can be found at:
www.csidolphins.com/documents/2013/12/30/INTRAMURAL_MANUAL.pdf?ta
b=immanual
*I.D. Check-in-Policy and Procedure
A. All students, staff and faculty MUST present a valid CSI Dolphin
Identification Card; Non-affiliates will not be allowed to participate.
B. There will be no exceptions to this policy. If you do not present a valid
CSI Dolphin Identification Card you will NOT be allowed to participate
in the Intramural activity.
Playing the game
1. A coin toss will determine who serves or receives first. In
addition, players are expected to call their own games.
2. Points will be awarded to the team who has the serve. Matches
will consist of best 2 out of 3 games. The first two games will be
played to 11, win by one point. If necessary, a third game will be
played to 5, win by one point.
3. After being struck, the ball must hit the front wall first and on
the rebound hit the floor beyond the back edge of the short line,
either with or without touching one of the side walls.
4. The objective is to win each rally by serving or returning the ball
so the opponent is unable to keep the ball in play.
Doubles
1. In doubles racquetball, teams MUST alternate when returning
the ball.
2. When an opponent gets in the way of the ball, it is considered a
hinder.
3. If the other player could have gotten to the ball and played it,
the rally will be replayed.
4. If a player refuses to get out of the way of the ball or the
opponent, it is illegal, and results in a side-out or point.
Serving
1. The player or team winning the coin toss has the option to either
serve or receive at the start of the first game. The second game
will begin in reverse order of the first game.
2. The server must stand in the service zone to serve.
3. In order to make a legal serve, the ball must be bounced once,
and then be served.
4. If the ball hits the front wall and then the ceiling, it is an illegal
serve.
5. If there are two illegal serves in a row, the server will lose their
turn.
6. Once the service motion begins, the ball must be bounced on the
floor in the zone and be struck by the racquet before it bounces
a second time.
7. The 10 second rule applies to the server and receiver
simultaneously.
Collectively, they are allowed up to 10 seconds after the score is
called to serve or be ready to receive.
Defective Serves
1. Dead-ball Serve- A dead-ball serve results in no penalty and the
server is given another serve (without canceling a prior fault
serve).
2. Fault Serve. Two fault serves result in an out (either a sideout or
a handout).
3. Out Serve. An out serve results in an out (either a sideout or a
handout).
Dead Ball Serves
1. Ball Hits partner- A serve which strikes the server's partner while
in the double box is a dead -ball serve. A serve which touches
the floor before touching the server's partner is a short serve.
2. Court Hinders- A serve that takes an irregular bounce because it
hit a wet spot or an irregular surface on the court is a dead-ball
serve. Also, any serve that hits any surface designated by local
rules is an obstruction.
3. Broken Ball- If the ball is determined to have broken on the
serve, a new ball shall be substituted and the serve shall be
replayed, not canceling any prior fault serve.
Fault Serves
1. It is a foot fault if the server does not begin the service motion
with both feet in the service zone.
2. It is a foot fault if the server step completely over the service
line (no part of the foot on or inside the service zone) before the
served ball crosses the short line.
3. A short serve is any served ball that first hits the front wall and,
on the rebound, hits the floor on or in front of the short line
either with or without touching a side wall.
4. A three-wall serve is any served ball that first hits the front wall
and, on the rebound, strikes both side walls before touching the
floor.
5. A ceiling serve is any served ball that first hits the front wall and
then touches the ceiling (with or without touching a side wall).
6. A long serve is a served ball that first hits the front wall and
rebounds to the back wall before touching the floor (with or
without touching a side wall).
7. Bouncing the ball outside the service zone as a part of the
service motion is a fault serve.
Out Serves
1. Two consecutive fault serves
2. Missed Serve Attempt- Any attempt to strike the ball that
results in a total miss or in the ball touching any part of the
server's body. Also, allowing the ball to bounce more than once
during the service motion
3. Touched Serve- Any served ball that on the rebound from the
front wall touches the server or the server's racquet, or any ball
intentionally stopped or caught by the server or the server's
partner.
4. Non-Front Wall Serve- Any serve that does not strike the front
wall first.
5. Ball Hits Partner- A served ball that hits the doubles partner
while outside the doubles box results in a loss of serve.
6. Safety Zone Violation- If the server, or doubles partner, enters
into the safety zone before the served ball passes the short line,
it shall result in the loss of serve.