Badminton Rules
Overview
A sport similar to tennis, badminton is played by either two opposing players (singles) or two opposing pairs (doubles).
Players are positioned at the opposite ends of the court, aiming to hit a shuttlecock over the net so that it lands inside the marked boundaries of the court, and their opponents from doing the same. Only the server can win points.
Just like tennis, there are five main categories in badminton: men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, women's doubles and mixed doubles (each pair is composed of one man and one woman).
A game of badminton is played on a court measuring 6.1 m/20 ft by 13.4 m/44 ft. There is a net (0.8 m/2.5 ft deep and a height of 1.52m/5 ft) stretched across the middle of the court where the shuttlecock must be sent over
 A player may not touch the net with a racket or history body during play.
A birdie may not come to rest or be carried on the racket.
A birdie 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.
Some types of shots are the lob, drop shot, smash and drive.
Serving
A coin toss or spin of the racket determines who will serve first.
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.
In singles, when the server's score is an even number, the serve is taken from the right side.
When the server's score is an odd number, it is taken from the left.
Faults
Illegal service - the bird is struck above the waist or the head of the racket is higher than the hand.
Service or played shot lands outside the specified court or passes through or under the net
Service hits a player or obstruction outside the court.
Server or receiver steps out of his proper court before delivery of serve or feints before the service.
A player reaches over the net to hit a bird (he/she may follow a shot over).
A player touches the net with his/her racket or any part of his/her body.
A player hits the bird twice or momentarily holds or throws it with his/her racket.
A player fails to return the bird to the opponent's proper court.
The server steps forward as he/she serves.
The bird is hit on the rim or neck of the racket - called a "wood."
|
