Badminton is a racquet sport played by either two opposing players (singles) or two opposing pairs (doubles), who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided by a net. Players score points by striking a shuttlecock with their racquet so that it passes over the net and lands in their opponents’ half of the court. A rally ends once the shuttlecock has struck the ground, and each side may only strike the shuttlecock once before it passes over the net.
General Rules
- A shuttle landing on the line is good.
- A shuttle hitting the net is good and play continues (including on the serve) if all other aspects of the play is legal.
- All players must be INSIDE the lines in their respective service courts at the point of contact during the serve.
- A “let” is a situation requiring a replay.
- When the leading team’s score reaches 11 points, players get a 60 second break.
- A 2 minute interval is allowed after each game.
- In the third game, players change ends when the leading team’s score reaches 11 points.
Beginning Play
Before play, opposite teams shall toss, and the side winning the toss shall have the option of:
- Serving first or receiving serve
- Choosing which side of the court to start on
The side losing the toss has the choice of the remaining alternatives.
Toss is decided by one of the following:
- Coin flip
- Volley
- Spin of racquet
- Drop of the bird (direction pointing)
The team that wins the game will serve first in the next game.
Lets
- Server serves before the receiver is ready
- Shuttle breaks during play
- Shuttle gets caught on top of the net or in the net after having gone over (except on the serve)
- A “let” or replay will be given for any “accidental hindrances”
- Double fault (one on each team) equals a let
Scoring
- Games are played to 21 points
- A match consists of the best of 3 games
- Rally scoring is used (a point is scored on every serve)
- If the receiving team wins the rally it scores a point and will serve the next point
- At 20 all, the side which gains a 2 point lead first, wins the game
- At 29 all, the side scoring the 30th point, wins the game
Singles Play
- Singles serving court and playing court are both long and narrow
- Serve from the right side when the server’s score is “even” and from the left side when their score is “odd”
- All serves must be diagonal
- Both players change service courts after a point is scored
Doubles Play
- Doubles serving court is short and wide
- Doubles playing court changes to long and wide following the serve
- Each time the serving court scores a point, the same server serves the next serve from the other side of the court
- No player ever receives two consecutive serves
- The serving team changes service courts only after scoring a point
- A receiving team never changes courts
- When the receiving team wins the rally their server is determined by whether their score is “even” (right side serves) or “odd” (left side serves)
- Only the player served to may receive the service
