Badminton Rules
Object of the game
The object of the game is to hit the shuttle back and forth over a net without permitting it to hit the floor in
bounds on your side of the net.
Some general rules and terms
• A player may not touch the net with a racket or any part of their body during play (The player may,
however, follow the shuttle over the net with the racket in the course of a stroke.)
• A shuttle may not come to rest or be carried on the racket.
• A shuttle may hit the net on its way across during play and the rally can continue.
• A term of service is called an inning.
• A player may not reach over the net to hit the shuttlecock.
• A loss of serve is called a side out.
• In class games will be played to 15 points and a match is 2 out of 3 games. Win by two points.
• Some types of shots are the lob, drop shot, smash and drive.
Faults
The rules of badminton consider the following as faults:
• If the shuttle lands outside the boundaries of the court, passes through or under the net, fails to pass the
net, touches the ceiling or side walls, touches the person or dress of a player or touches any other object
or person.
• If a player enters an opponent's court under or over the net with racket or body, and obstructs the
opponent from making a play.
• If the shuttle is hit twice in succession by the same player or team with two strokes.
• If, on service, the shuttle is caught on the net and remains suspended on top, or, on service, after passing
over the net is caught in the net.
Rules of Badminton - Singles
Serving and receiving courts
• Player shall serve from, and receive in, the right service court when you or your opponent has scored an
even number of points in that game.
• Player shall serve from, and receive in, the left service court when you or your opponent has scored an
odd number of points in that game.
• Player and your opponent will hit the shuttle alternately until a 'fault' is made or the shuttle ceases to be
in play.
Scoring and serving
• A player scores a point and serve again from the alternate service court when your opponent makes a
'fault' or the shuttle ceases to be in play because it touches the surface of your opponent's side of the
court.
• No points will be scored when you make a 'fault' or the shuttles ceases to be in play because it touches
the surface of your side of court. The serving right will then be transferred to your opponent.
• No points will be scored when you make a 'fault' or the shuttles ceases to be in play because it touches
the surface of your side of court. The serving right will then be transferred to your opponent.
• Serving and playing area is the same, long and narrow.
Rules of Badminton - Doubles
Serving
• The serve must travel diagonally (cross court) to be good.
• A serve that touches the net and lands in the proper court is called a let serve and is reserved, otherwise,
only one serve is permitted to each court until a side out occurs. A serve that is totally missed may be
tried again.
• The racket must make contact with the birdie below the waist on a serve.
• The server and receiver shall stand within their respective service courts until the serve is made.
• Points may only be scored when serving.
• All lines are considered in bounds.
• At the start of the game, the service shall be delivered from the right service court. Only your opponent
standing diagonally opposite of you shall return the service.
• Should your opponent's partner touch or hit the shuttle when a service is delivered, it shall be a 'fault'
and your side scores a point.
• Serving court is short and wide.
• After serving playing area is the whole court.