Western Kentucky University
Intramural-Recreational Sports
Singles Racquetball Tournament
Rules & Regulations
Updated: 1/10/2017
*Rule changes from previous years a highlighted in yellow
1. Tournament Rules
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The singles tournament will have a men’s division and a women’s division.
All participants must have their WKU IDs.
No jewelry or illegal headgear will be allowed during a match.
$5.00 forfeit fee per player.
Players must have non-marking athletic shoes.
We will have a few racquets available for participants to use during the
tournament.
o Racquets will be checked out using your WKU ID on the day of the
event.
o Additional racquets may be rented before Friday at 6pm from ORAC
for $1.
The players will be responsible to call their own hinders. If the players cannot
settle a dispute they will replay the point. If the supervisor has to become
involved, the participants’ sportsmanship grade will be affected.
Matches will be comprised of the best 2 out of 3 games.
o The first two games will be played to 9 points. Games may be won by
just one point.
o If a third game is necessary, it will be played to 5 points.
o All points will be scored on an individual’s own serve.
2. Game Rules
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Participants will play a best of one rock/paper/scissors for serve. The winner
will choose whether to serve first in the first or second game. If a third game
is necessary, the team with the most combined points in the first two games
will serve first.
The first player will serve until a side out occurs. A side out refers to the
returning team winning the volley. The second team will then serve until a
side out occurs.
Points are only scored by the serving side.
The Serve
o A serve is commenced by bouncing the ball to the floor in the service
zone.
o On the first bounce the ball is struck by the server’s racquet so that it
hits the front wall and on the rebound hits the floor behind of the short
line.
o This can be done successfully with or without touching one of the side
walls.
o The server must remain in the serving zone until the ball has passed.
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Fault Serves
o Any two consecutive faults results in a switch of servers.
o Foot Fault- Server leaves the service zone before the served ball passes
the short line.
o Short Serve- Any served ball that first hits the front wall and on the
rebound hits the floor in front of the back edge of the short line.
o Two-Side Serve- Any ball served that first hits the front wall and on
the rebound hits two side walls on the fly.
o Ceiling Serve- Any served ball that touches the ceiling after hitting the
front wall.
o Long Serve- Any served ball that first hits the front wall and rebounds
to the back wall before touching the floor.
o Any ball going out of the court on the serve.
Returning the Ball
o After a legal serve, the player on the receiving side must strike the ball
with their racquet either on the fly or after the first bounce.
o The return or any subsequent return must not touch the floor prior to
touching the front wall.
Dead Ball Hinders
o Hitting Opponent- Any return that touches an opponent on a fly before
it returns to the front wall.
 If an opponent is struck with the ball while completely in the
way of the returning player, it will be the returning teams point.
 If an opponent is struck with the ball while out of the way, and
the ball had no chance of hitting the front wall, it will be that
team’s point.
 If an opponent is out of the way and struck by a ball that would
have reached the front wall, the team’s will replay the point.
o Body Contact- Any physical contact with an opponent that interferes
with seeing or returning the ball.
o Screen Ball- Any ball rebounding from the front wall close to the body
of a player on the side which just returned the ball, to interfere with or
prevent the returning side from seeing the ball.
o Straddle Ball- A ball passing between the legs of a player on the side
which just returned the ball, if there is no fair chance to see or return
the ball.
o Other Interference- Any other unintentional interference which
prevents an opponent from having a fair chance to see or return the
ball.
o All dead ball hinders result in the point being replayed.
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