1. Service Rule:

Singles Service Rule,

• a. Before the match begins, players decide who will serve first or a coin toss is performed. The player who wins the service right earns the right to serve first, while the other player chooses the court side.
• b. The player who will serve uses the first serve from the right service area.
• c. Service positions: serves for even numbers 0-2-4-6-8...16...-20 are made from the right side, and serves for odd numbers 1-3-5-7...15-21 are made from the left service area.
• d. Service fault rule: The serving player has two service attempts. If the ball does not land in the service area, touches the net, or the player makes a different mistake, they use their second attempt.
• e. As the serving player scores points, they continue to serve by changing their service position according to the odd-even number service position rule.
• f. Service position: The server serves from outside the service line without touching the line, hitting the ball below waist level. If they touch the line or hit the ball above waist level, it is considered a fault and they use their second service attempt.
• g. Serving with a bounced ball: The serving player, outside the service line, drops the ball from waist level without giving it momentum (i.e., without pushing the ball downward). After the ball bounces once, they serve.
• h. Service change: If the serving player makes two consecutive mistakes or if the opponent scores the point, the service turn passes to the opponent.
• i. Score announcement: In matches without a referee, the serving player must announce the score. The score is announced before serving (e.g., 4-3). If the serving player has made a service fault, they should also indicate that it's the second service when announcing the score. (e.g., 8-5 second service)

Doubles Service Rule:

• a. Before the match begins, players decide which team will serve first or a coin toss is performed. The team that wins the service right earns the right to serve first, while the other team chooses the court side.
• b. The first server of the serving team serves the first serve from the right service area.
• c. The serving player and their teammate must wait outside the service line.
• d. Service positions: serves for even numbers 0-2-4-6-8...16...-20 are made from the right side, and serves for odd numbers 1-3-5-7...15-21 are made from the left service area.
• e. Service fault rule: The serving player has two service attempts. If the ball does not land in the service area, touches the net, or the player makes a different mistake, they use their second attempt.
• f. As the serving player scores points, they continue to serve by changing their service position according to the odd-even number service position rule.
• g. Service position: The server serves from outside the service line without touching the line, hitting the ball below waist level. If they touch the line or hit the ball above waist level, it is considered a fault and they use their second service attempt.
• h. Serving with a bounced ball: The serving player, outside the service line, drops the ball from waist level without giving it momentum (i.e., without pushing the ball downward). After the ball bounces once, they serve.
• i. Service change: If the serving player makes two consecutive mistakes or if the opponent scores the point, the service turn passes to their teammate, who serves from the right or left service area according to the score.
• j. Score announcement: In matches without a referee, the serving player must announce the score. The score is announced before serving (e.g., 10-11-1). This indicates that it's the first server. For the first service, if the serving player has made a service fault, they should also indicate that it's the second service when announcing the score. (e.g., 9-4 score announcement followed by one, second service)
• k. Service and return: When the service position or service order changes, the opposing team does not change direction. Only the front player moves to the back to receive the service, while the other player moves close to the NVZ line.
• l. Service Return (Two-Bounce Rule)
• m. The serving player starts the game by serving to the opponent's service area. After the ball bounces once on the ground, the receiving player hits the ball (return), and after the return ball also touches the ground, the game turns into a normal rally.
• n. Two-bounce rule: After the service ball and the return ball touch the ground, the game is played freely.

2. Number of Sets and Score:

• a. In official matches played under the rules of international and national pickleball tournaments organized by the International Pickleball Federation Turkey Representation, Turkey Pickleball Sports Club, and Dropick, the score and number of sets may vary according to tournament characteristics, age group, and region. However, in official tournaments, matches are played over three sets to 21 points, and the team or player who wins two sets wins the match.
• b. Number of sets: Sets are played over three sets, and the team or player who wins two sets wins the match.
• c. Scoring rule: Set scores are played to 21 points. The player or team that first reaches twenty-one points with a two-point difference wins the match. There must be a two-point difference to win a set. In case of a 20-20 score, the match extends to 22. While the game continues until there is a two-point difference, the player who first reaches 30 points is considered to have won the set.
• d. The set ends at a maximum score of 30. The player or team who first reaches thirty points during the set is considered to have won the set if they cannot achieve a two-point difference.
• Tie-Break
• u. If the set score is 1-1 in matches, the third set is played as a tie-break, and there is a court change after the first player or team reaches 10 points.
• v. During a tie-break, when a player or team reaches the first ten points, the court changes. A 2-minute break is given during the court change. The player or team that first reaches twenty-one (21) points wins the game. If a two-point difference is not achieved by 30 points, the player or team that first reaches 30 points in the tie-break set is considered to have won the game.

2. Timeout Rights:

• a. In pickleball matches, there is no timeout in the first set unless there is an injury or health issue.
• b. There is a maximum one-minute timeout right once in the second and third sets. Players or teams using the timeout must take their positions on the court to start the game within one minute.
• c. In case of injury or illness, after the medical staff's intervention, the game continues as indicated by the medical staff or a maximum five-minute break is given. A player who cannot return to the game is considered to have lost the match 2-0 (21-0).
• d. In doubles matches, in case of injury or health issues, according to the medical staff's report, if the player cannot continue the game, the other team is considered to have won the match. If the tournament model is played in a rotating teams format, one of the other players on the team can continue the game in place of the injured player.

3. Match Cancellation:

• a. The match is canceled in weather conditions or situations that would prevent the tournament (match) from being played. Depending on the number of sets and score, and by the decision of the referee committee, the game is either resumed from where it left off on the same day or a different day or is replayed starting from 0-0.

4. Point System:

• a. In matches, the winning player or team receives three (3) points, while the losing player or team receives one (1) point.
• b. In group matches, the average calculation is made by looking at the match scores of players or teams with equal points.
• c. If a player or team withdraws from the tournament or is expelled from the tournament after the tournament fixtures are drawn but before the matches begin, the player or team in the position below, or if it's the start of the tournament, the reserve player or team is included in the tournament in the same fixture.

Note: Matches are played in a league format. This situation is announced on the official website and social media before the tournament. These Rules Have Been Prepared in Accordance with International Standards by the International Pickleball Federation Turkey Representation, Turkey Pickleball Sports Club, and Dropick Management.