Game Play

• Games are played with two individuals on each team. Breakdown of gender does not matter as the league is coed.

The Serve

• • The serve must be made underhand.
  • Paddle contact with the ball must be below the serverâ??s waist (navel level).
  • The serve is initiated with at least one foot behind the baseline; neither foot may contact the baseline or court until after the ball is struck.
  • The serve is made diagonally crosscourt and must land within the confines of the opposite diagonal court.
  • Only one serve attempt is allowed, except in the event of a let (the ball touches the net on the serve and lands on the proper service court; let serves are replayed).

Service Sequence

• Both players on the serving doubles team have the opportunity to serve and score points until they commit a fault.
• The first serve of each playerâ??s turn to serve is made from the right side of the centerline.
• If the point is won, the server switches sides and the server initiates the next serve from the left side of the court.
• As subsequent points are scored, the server continues switching back and forth until a fault is committed or they lose the point.
• When the first server loses the serve the partner then serves from the side of the court they are currently standing on.
• The second server continues serving until his team commits a fault or loses a point.
• Once the service goes to the opposing team, the first serve is from the right side of the court and both players on that team have the opportunity to serve and score points until each server loses a point.

Scoring

• • Points can be scored by either team regardless of who is serving. This is rally scoring format.
  • Games will be played to 21. Winner must win by 2. Beehive league matches are best of 3 games. If a third game is played, that game is played to 15.

Two-Bounce Rule

• • When the ball is served, the receiving team must let it bounce before returning, and then the serving team must let it bounce before returning, thus two bounces.
  • After the ball has bounced once in each teamâ??s court, both teams may either volley the ball before it touches the ground or play it off a bounce.
  • The two-bounce rule eliminates the serve and volley advantage and extends rallies.

The Kitchen

• • The Kitchen is the court area within 7 feet on both sides of the net.
  • Volleying is prohibited in the Kitchen. This rule prevents players from executing smashes from a position in the Kitchen.
  • It is a fault if, when volleying a ball, the player steps in the Kitchen or has a foot on the line.
  • It is a fault if, after volleying, a player is carried by momentum into or touches the Kitchen, even if the volleyed ball is declared dead before this happens.
  • A player may legally be in the Kitchen any time other than when volleying a ball.

Line Calls

• • A ball contacting any line, except the Kitchen line on a serve, is considered â??in.â??
  • A serve contacting the Kitchen line is short and a fault.

Faults

• A fault is any action that stops play because of a rule violation.

• A fault by the receiving team results in a point for the serving team.
• A fault by the serving team results in a point for the returning team.

Determining Serving Team

Teams will play rock, paper, scissors before gameplay begins to determine serve.