What must I do before and during each match?

Question

Accepted Answer

Before the match: Check supplies (balls, scoresheets, pencils, timing device) and court conditions (cleanliness, lighting, net height, markings, hazards). Meet the players at the court to inspect paddles against the paddle specifications, point out approved rule modifications and court abnormalities, and explain who makes line calls (the Tournament Director's pre-match instructions can satisfy this). Use a fair method (such as a coin toss or choosing the number 1 or 2 on the back of the scoresheet) to decide who chooses serve, receive or end first. Once made, the choice cannot be changed. In doubles, make sure each team's starting server wears the required identification. During the match: Confirm the correct server, receiver and positions. Call the score to start each rally after confirming the server has the ball, call "point" after each point, "second server" after the first server's team loses a rally in doubles, and "side out" when a singles player or second server loses the serve. Annotate the scoresheet after each rally and time-out, recheck the net if disturbed, call faults and replays, and enforce time-outs. Monitor player conduct and apply warnings, technical fouls and forfeits. Source: 2026 Official Rulebook, Section 17, https://pickleballcanada.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2026-Official-Rulebook-EN.pdf