RACQUETBALL RULES

Florida State University does not provide accident insurance coverage for injuries received by Intramural participants. Each participant should make sure that he/she has coverage either through family policies or the student insurance plan. We cannot emphasize this point enough.

Florida State University PROHIBITS possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages on University property. This includes the Intramural Sports Complex and Tully Gym. Violators will be asked to leave the area. Failure to do so can result in forfeiture of the ball game, suspension of individuals and/or teams, and appropriate action by the University Judicial Office.

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I. PLAYER ELIGIBILITY

1. Participation is limited to currently-enrolled, fee-paying FSU students, faculty members, and full-time staff. FAMU & TCC students and members of the community are not eligible. All areas of eligibility are covered in the Intramural By-Laws which are available through the Campus Recreation Office and online at the FSU Campus Recreation web site.

2. In order to participate in an Intramural contest each player must present their validated FSUCard. Exceptions must be directed to the Intramural Sports Office for consideration by the IM staff during regular business hours (9:00am-6:00pm). Bring a photo ID and proof of payment to obtain a waiver from the IM staff. No such waiver will be granted at the game/match site.

3. Participants must be able to access the Leach Center. A valid FSUCard is required to enter the facility. Faculty and staff must have a Leach membership or purchase a guest pass in order to participate.

II. SCORING

1. Points are only scored by the player or team in service. Fifteen points constitutes a game.

2. A match victory consists of a player winning 2 out of 3 games, winning by two.

III. SERVING

1. The server can stand in any part of the service zone. He/she must bounce the ball on the floor and stroke it to the front wall first, and the ball must rebound over the service line without hitting the floor. The legal serve can be either a straight rebound from the front wall or a combination with one side wall, hitting the floor past the service line. Any other serve is illegal. There two types of illegal serves:
A."short" or "long" which allows for a second serve.
B. serve that results in a side-out -- serve which hits the side wall first and serve which hits the server on its backward flight.

2. In doubles, the side starting each game is allowed only one hand-out (only one serve). Thereafter, in that game both players on each side are permitted to serve until a hand-out occurs. The service order established at the beginning of the game must be followed throughout the entire game. The server's partner must stand within the server's box with his back to the side wall, both feet on the ground or just outside the court by the service line, until the ball passes the short line on the serve.

IV. RECEIVING

1. Receiving player or team must remain five feet behind the service line until the ball is served and he/she cannot return the ball legally until it lands on or passes over the service line.

2. Long serve - the receiver has the option of playing a long serve. If his partner calls the ball long, a second serve is allowed or hand-out.

3. Players may hit the ball on either the volley (as long as he remains 5 feet behind the short line) or on one bounce, and can return it to the front wall with any combination of walls as long as the ball does not touch the floor before hitting the front wall.

V. GAME PLAY

1. Once the ball is put into play, a rally continues until the player or side serving or receiving has returned the ball to the front wall and no return is made by the opposition. Each team is allowed a clear view and room to execute a shot on the ball on a return during a volley. Interference is considered a hinder and the point is played over.
a. Service hinder: "shadow" serves in which the served ball passes so close to the server's body that it impedes the view of the ball by the receiver.
b. Returns: ball that strikes the opponent.
c. Rally hinder: player not given a clear view or position for return shot. Physical contact which impedes effort of player to return ball.
d. Safety hinder: if player avoids returning ball because of fear of hitting his opponents with the racquet, a hinder call should be made.

2. If the ball is touched with a hand, arm, or any part of the body during the return, it is an out or a point, as the case may be.

3. In doubles, if one player swings and misses the ball, his partner may attempt to return the ball legally.

VI. EQUIPMENT

1. Safety eye wear is strongly recommended, but not required, during all games.

VII. SPORTSMANSHIP

1. The mission of Intramural Sports is to provide a recreational environment for the University community which is safe and enjoyable. While the game atmosphere is often competitive, ensuring participant safety, providing a fun, social atmosphere, and promoting sportsmanlike behavior among participants, spectators, and team followers are our primary concerns. The game atmosphere should remain good-natured at all times. Participants shall maintain good sportsmanship throughout their participation in all facets of the intramural program.

2. The Sportsmanship Rating System is intended to be an objective scale by which teams' attitude and behavior can be assessed throughout the intramural sports league and playoff seasons. Behavior before, during, and after an intramural sports contest is included in the rating. The team captain is responsible for educating and informing all players and spectators affiliated with his/her team about the system.

3. A team is responsible for the actions of the individual team members and spectators related to it. Additionally, FSU Intramural Sports does not recognize the use of coaches. Only the team captain shall speak to the officials regarding administrative matters (protests, ejections, disqualifications, etc). Furthermore, the team captain's efforts in assisting officials/staff to calm difficult situations and to restrain troubled teammates are key to controlling team conduct.

4. Sportsmanship is vital to the conduct of every Intramural contest. In order to encourage proper conduct during games, officials, administrative personnel, and supervisors shall make decisions on whether to warn, penalize or eject players or teams for poor sportsmanship. These decisions are final. The Intramural Sports administrative staff will rule on further penalties as a result of unsportsmanlike conduct.

5. Each participant should choose his or her team members carefully, as all team members will suffer the consequences of any disciplinary action taken by the Intramural Sports staff against that team for violation of the intramural rules and sportsmanship guidelines. Protests or appeals of sportsmanship ratings will not be recognized. The Intramural Sports administrative staff reserves the right to review any rating given to a team.

6. Additional information regarding team and participant sportsmanship including the rating method, factors, and scale is available in the Sportsmanship section of the Intramural Sports Handbook, available online at the FSU Campus Recreation web site.