Cathletics Autumn Pickleball League

2026 Cathletics Pickleball Rules:

Purpose: The Cathletics Pickleball League offers to promote pickleball through a faithful and recreational atmosphere. Cathletics aims to foster the well-being of athletes through physical, social, and faithful activity. 

USA Pickleball Rules govern with the following exceptions:

1. Teams

   1. Teams shall consist of 4-6 players of any gender.

   2. Each team shall have a team captain who is the primary contact of the team.

   3. Teams shall be organized by declared skill level at the beginning of the season if enough teams for separate skill divisions exist.

      1. The team’s skill level shall be declared by the team captain.

      2. The commissioner maintains the right to move a team to a higher or lower skill division at any point of the season to foster more competitive play for all teams of the league.

   4. Free agents are individuals who do not sign up as part of a team.

      1. Free agents may be:

         1. Added by any existing team with roster space

         2. Assigned to any team at the discretion of the league commissioner.

            1.  Permission of the team captain is not required for a free agent to be assigned to a team.

            2. Teams with less rostered players than others shall be given preference by the commissioner in assigning free agents.

2. League Structure and Game Format

   1. Teams shall consist of 4-6 players

   2. Each team will play 4 games per playing day

      1. For each week, a team's "A" and "B" teams will play 2 games.

      2. The "A" team should be comprised of the two strongest available players that gameday.

      3. The "B" team should be comprised of the two weakest available players that gameday.

      4. If a team has an odd number of players for the week:

         1. 3 Players: the #2 or #3 player may play for both A and B.

         2. 5 Players: players #1 and #2 should only play "A" games.

         3. 6 players: #1-3 should play as "A," #4-6 as "B"

         4. A lower ranked player may always play up, a top ranked player should only play down if necessary to complete the game.

   3. 2 players from each team will participate in the game. 

      1. Substituting a player during a game may only happen in the event of injury or absence. Substitutions may not take place to gain a competitive advantage.

      2. Team captains should ensure that all players available on a given game day are allotted an equal number of opportunities to play, regardless of player skill level.

         1. Penalty: sanction as determined by league commissioner.

      3. Each game may be preceded by a “warm up” volley not to exceed 1 minute total. 

      4. A game shall begin with a coin toss. The winner of the toss shall elect one of the following choices:

         1. Serve/receive

         2. Choice of side

            1. The losing team shall have their choice of the option not decided upon by the winning team.

      5. A game shall consist of the following (whatever comes first):

         1. Services until a team achieves 11 points

         2. An 18 minute game timer

            1. If tied at the end of the 18 minute timer, the game is concluded a tie, except for playoffs.

         3. Players may continue playing for fun on their court until the conclusion of the 18 minute timer.

3. Standings

   1. Each game played will be tallied as a win or a loss. Points for and points against will also be calculated for each game.

      1. Fall 2026: With 4 games played per week and a regular season of six weeks, each team will play 24 games.

   2. At the conclusion of the regular season, if two teams are tied, the following tie-breakers will be followed:

      1. Regular season head-to-head record

      2. Points for

      3. Points against

      4. Coin flip

4. Scoring

   1. Cathletics follows standard pickleball scoring. Only the serving team can score points.

5. Service Sequence

   1. At the beginning of a game, only one player on the serving team has the opportunity to serve before faulting, after which the serve passes to the receiving team. 

      1. After that, each team member has the opportunity to serve until their team commits a fault. After both players on the serving team have lost serve as a result of a fault, the serve passes to the opposing team.

   2. The first serve shall be made from the right side of the court. 

   3. If a point is scored by the serving team, the server switches to the other side of the court.

      1. “Odd number” point totals are served from the left side, zero or “even number” point totals are served from the right side.

6. The Serve

   1. The serve must hit underhand and below the server’s waist.

   2. The server may not contact the baseline or court until after their serve has been struck.

   3. The serve is made diagonally crosscourt, landing between the endline, non-volley (kitchen) line, and midline.

   4. A let (when the ball hits the net but travels over onto the receiving team’s side of the court) results in a reserve.

   5. The server must call the score in the traditional format before serving: 

      1. First serve is always 0-0-2

      2. Serving team score - receiving team score - server number (1 or 2)

7. Double Bounce Rule

   1. When the ball is served, the receiving team must let it bounce before returning it.

   2. The serving team must let the first return bounce before their return.

   3. After the ball has bounced once in each team’s court, players are not required to let the ball bounce before playing it. 

8. Line Calls

   1. A ball contacting any line except the non-volley zone line on a serve is considered “in.”

   2. A serve that contacts the non-volley zone line is considered short and is a fault.

   3. Players are responsible for calling lines on their side of the court.

      1. The opponent is always given the benefit of the doubt on a line call. 

      2. When a call cannot be made with certainty, the ball will always be considered “in.”

9. Non-Volley Zone (Kitchen)

   1. The non-volley zone is the court area within seven feet of both sides of the net.

   2. A volley (ball struck before it has bounced) is prohibited by a player who makes any contact with the non-volley zone, including its lines.

      1. A player may enter the non-volley zone to play a ball that has, or will, bounce before contact. 

      2. A non-volley zone fault may be called by any player on the court.

10. Faults

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

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

    3. A fault by the serving team results in the server’s loss of serve or a side out.

    4. A fault occurs when:

       1. A serve does not land between the center line and end lines crosscourt, or touches the non-volley line (is short).

       2. The ball is hit into the net and fails to cross to the opponent’s side of the court.

       3. The ball is volleyed before it bounces once on each side (double bounce rule).

       4. A ball is volleyed from the non-volley zone.

       5. A ball is hit out of bounds.

       6. A ball bounces twice inbounds before being struck.

       7. Any part of the player or their equipment touches the net or net post during live play.

       8. A ball strikes a receiver.

       9. A ball strikes an object out of bounds (or overhead obstruction).