Intramural Game Rules
Competition
Racquetball is a Tier 3 event. Events are open to all students, faculty, and staff. Individual players are responsible for reviewing the schedule and reporting to play. The overall time commitment will be minimal. Events may require unique athletic skills or physical fitness.
Roster
Desired roster size is two (2) players per company. No more than six (6) players per company may participate.
Challenge Tournaments
Per the published schedule, players report to the Deas Hall Gymnasium. Players are randomly assigned to a tournament bracket or round-robin and play until eliminated or win the bracket or pool. Players must play in at least two (2) Challenge Tournaments to be eligible to advance to the Regimental Tournament. Players will be ranked by their win-loss record. Ties are broken by points scored (most) and then points scored against (least).
Rules
Protective eyewear is required.
A match is one game played to 15 points (must win by a 2-point margin). Only the serving side can score points.
The dashed red line is the Receiving Line. The Service Zone is bounded by two solid red lines: the Short Line is the solid red line closest to the rear wall, and the Service Line is closest to the front wall. The front wall is also called the Play Wall.
Play begins with the server standing in the Service Zone. The server must bounce the ball before striking it with the racquet. The ball is in play after it makes contact with the Play Wall (front wall) and passes the Short Line before hitting the ground. In its flight, the ball may strike one side wall, but no more. It is a fault when:
- any part of the server’s foot is outside the Service Zone or the server steps outside the Service Zone before the served ball passes the Short Line (Foot Fault).
- the ball hits the ceiling or a side wall before the Play Wall.
- the ball hits the Play Wall and, on the rebound, hits the floor before the Short Line, either with or without touching one side wall (Short Serve).
- the ball hits three surfaces before bouncing, including the ceiling or back wall. The ball touches the ceiling after hitting the Play Wall, either with or without touching a side wall.
- the ball hits the Play Wall and rebounds to the back wall before touching the floor (Long Serve).
The server gets a second attempt if the first serve is a fault.
The receiver stands on or behind the Receiving Line until the serve passes the Short Line.
The receiver returns the serve by striking the ball on the fly or before the second bounce. The ball may hit any surface except the floor as long as it hits the Play Wall before bouncing.
Once the ball is in play, the walls and ceiling can be used for shot variations.
A hinder is when one player gets in the way of their opponent’s attempt to hit the ball. In the case of a hinder, the point is replayed.
If the ball goes outside the court during the rally, the player who hit the ball loses the rally.
USA Racquetball governs all other rules.