The Global Pickleball Federation (GPF) has released the 2025 Pickleball Rule Book. The GPF is the unifying international sports governing body for pickleball. It directly supports the sport’s continental federations and their member countries with core resources to preserve the integrity of pickleball as a unique sport.
The updates to the 2025 Pickleball Rule Book are a recognition of pickleball’s continuing growth and evolution. They are made each year to enhance gameplay and ensure fairness across all levels of competition. Players are thus encouraged to take the time to review the new rulebook and familiarize themselves with any changes as they may impact how the game is played, coached, or officiated. Besides, staying informed helps ensure consistency and smooth play during both casual and competitive matches.
Key Highlights
This year’s updates whilst mostly editorial, cosmetic or grammatical in nature do include adjustments to:
- Penalties received at the end of a match (e.g., a technical foul) can carry over to the next match and affect the starting score.
- The act of volleying is defined to now START from the strike of the ball, not the prior swing as it did in 2024.
- Option for Rally Scoring is included as a provisional rule for 2025.
- Clarification of the NVZ extension in Skinny (Mini) Singles.
- Inclusion of an Event category of “Open Gender.”
Why These Updates Are Important
Understanding the latest rules is crucial for:
- Players: To avoid penalties and disputes during matches.
- Coaches: To ensure you’re providing accurate guidance.
- Referees: To make confident, rule-based decisions on the court.
You can access the full 2025 Pickleball Rulebook by visiting the Global Pickleball Federation website or via the Pickleball Australia website Rules page.
