USAPA Official Rules

Official Rules (pdf)  View as a web page.
The above files include all rule revisions through May 1, 2008.

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New Rulebooks are Available

The USAPA Rules Committee and the Board of Directors have completed a 2-year review and revision of the rules. A new rulebook has been published with all rule changes through May 1, 2008.
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List of USAPA Approved Tournament Balls

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Rules Summary (for a quick overview)

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Approved Rule Changes

Rules 4.I.4 and 12.L are new rules approved by the USAPA board and became effective May 1, 2008.

4.I.4. Wrong Score Called. If the referee calls the wrong score, any player may stop play at any time before the return of serve to ask for a correction. A player that interrupts play after the return of serve will have committed a fault and shall lose the rally. A player that interrupts play after the serve when there was not an error in the score will have committed a fault and shall lose the rally.

12.L. Coaching. Players may consult with coaches or any other person during time-outs and between games. Coaching of players between points is allowed as long as it is not disruptive, does not delay the game, and consists only of instructions to the player, not a conversation between the coach and player. A conversation between a player and any person performing a coaching function shall result in a time-out charged to the player or team. If the team is out of time-outs, then the conversation may result in a technical warning or technical foul. Coaching is not allowed between the time that the referee calls the score and the end of the rally.

Paragraph 13.G has been revised to reflect the fact adults may play in a younger age bracket and juniors may play in an older age bracket, effective immediately.

13.G. Doubles Play. A Doubles team shall consist of 2 players who meet the classification requirements to participate in a particular division of play. In an event based upon rating, the higher-rated player determines the team’s ability level (or division or classification). In an adult (19 & over) event based upon age grouping, the lowest age of one of the team members will determine the team’s classification. Players may play down in a younger division unless prohibited by the rules of the National Senior Games Association. Juniors (18 & under) may enter any Junior age-division event for which they are not too old as well as the adult division of 19 & over. Under no circumstances can a partner change be made after the partners have begun team play. A partner change may be made prior to the first-round match if, in the opinion of the tournament director, the change is due to injury, illness, or circumstances beyond the control of the player.