Click Here for general court specifications of an outdoor racquetball court. (pdf)

2.0 COURTS AND EQUIPMENT

2.1 COURT SPECIFICATIONS

Outdoor courts come in a variety of formats. There is no official size. Play the court that has been built.

For classification purposes, a court can be termed a one-wall court, a short-wall court, or a long-wall court.
A long-wall court generally has sidewalls that are longer than 30 feet. A one-wall court has no sidewalls.
Outdoor courts have no back walls, although some courts have a non-connected back wall surface considered
part of the playing area.

2.1a BEVELS

If a shot hits the beveled end of the sidewall and remains in play, the shot is good. The beveled top of the front wall
and sidewall is also good. Basically, if the ball uses the walls and remains in play, the shot is good.

2.1b MARKINGS

Since the size of an outdoor court varies, the placement of lines also varies.

Outdoor racquetball introduces the addition of one or more of the following lines:
Side Lines, Back Line, and Singles Service Lines.

* The following new rules have been adopted by WOR beginning September 1, 2008. These rules are focused on
improving the game for players, spectators, & referees. Below are the rules for your review & a brief explanation
regarding their adoption.

1. SIDE & BACK COURT LINES:
All outside court lines (side & back) will be played good as long as the ball bounces inside the court or on the line.

* This rule was adopted in order to standardize play, increase rallies, and align outdoor with other ball/line sports
like tennis, baseball, etc for increased spectator viewing.

2. LINE JUDGES:
In any match using line judges, said line judges will be responsible for calling the ball on their side of the court out
if it does not land in the court or on the line thus ending the rally. The referee will be responsible for the back line
calls which can be appealed to the line judges. Balls called out by the side line judges may be appealed to the
referee. If he deems the call was incorrect his call alone will overrule.

* This rule was adopted in an effort to get the calls right as often as possible & make refereeing outdoor
(one of the most difficult jobs) easier.

RECEIVING LINE:
There is no Receiving Line (commonly called the five-foot line) in outdoor racquetball. However, the receiving
player or team is not allowed to break the plane of the service box with the racquet swing.

2.5 APPAREL

Shirts are not required apparel in the outdoor game.

3.0 PLAY REGULATIONS

3.1 SERVE

All divisions will follow the one-serve rule.

HITTING PARTNER IN THE BOX:
If the partner is hit by the server and it is determined that the partner is correctly in the box, under
the one-server rule, the server will get one more opportunity for a legal serve. A subsequent screen
serve will result in an out.

It is possible for a partner to “save” what would otherwise be an out serve by properly being in the box
and getting hit with the serve. It is the duty of the referee to determine if the partner was properly
situated in the box.

3.5b DELAYS

RECEIVING PLAYER SIGNALING NOT READY:
Outdoor racquetball follows the Professional rules on this issue. A rally must be played for a rally
to be won. Persistent “non-checking” of the receiving player or team can result in a technical
for delay of game (loss of point), but generally, the referee shall require a rally for the receiving
player / team to take possession of the serve.

3.14 DEAD-BALL HINDERS

3.14a SITUATIONS

COURT HINDERS:
There are no court hinders unless a local court rule designates a particular aspect of the court
as being a court hinder.

SUN, WIND, AND FORCES OF NATURE:
The elements of nature are not a hinder.

LIGHT POLES:
Light poles are generally considered an extension of the out portion of the court. Treat it as though it was an
extension of the floor. At times, light poles may be situated in the playing zone but outside the “in” area. A ball
striking the light pole without bouncing is out. A ball which takes its first bounce “in”, and then takes its second
bounce on the light pole is a good ball with the rally ending on the second bounce of the pole.

Light poles attached to the end of a sidewall can pose as obstacles when attempting to return a ball from beyond
the sides of the court. Local court rules are often established to consider hitting the pole that extends above the
sidewall as a court hinder when it is ruled that the ball was able to make the front wall. This local court rule should
be posted when in effect.

BOUNCING OVER SIDEWALL:
A ball bouncing over the sidewall is a legal shot unless overridden by a local court rule. It is not uncommon to find
a local court rule stating the reverse of this rule when the courts are long-wall courts.

SAFETY HOLDUP:
A Safety Holdup is extended to include players on adjacent courts.

MOVING CROWD:
When dropping back deep, a safety holdup can be called on the moving part of the crowd as opposed to the
stationary crowd. The players must safely hit the ball prior to the stationary crowd.

VEHICLES:
Unless the vehicle is parked and classified as part of the stationary crowd, a vehicle entering the playing area
can be grounds for a safety holdup.

3.3 MANNER

In doubles, the partner to the server may take position outside the court beyond the back line or take position
in the normal doubles box. When taking a position beyond the back line, the partner must stay out of the way
of the receiving team. If the partner becomes a hinder, it is up to the referee to determine if the hinder was
an avoidable hinder.

3.17 TECHNICAL FOULS AND WARNINGS

In addition to the normal technical fouls and warnings, launching the game ball while not in a rally is a
technical foul. The violation is a form of a delay of game. Launching a broken ball prior to it being
confirmed works against the player sending the ball sailing.

4.0 ONE-WALL RULE MODIFICATIONS

1. Receiver must have view of the ball on serve.
2. Server must allow for a cross court shot.
3. Doubles: Partner may not step into the court until the serve has passed the short line.

7.0 OUTDOOR RACQUETBALL

World Outdoor Racquetball Association (WOR)

There are many rule variations in the outdoor game. Generally, the standard
USAR rules also apply outdoors. Variations acknowledged by WOR are described
below, but there may be local rule exceptions that supercede them. Tournament
directors are advised to put any local rule exceptions in writing and all
participants are advised to ask about them prior to playing.

7.1 COURT SPECIFICATIONS

Outdoor courts vary in size and there is no “official size.” Generally,
outdoor courts either have no or a very limited ceiling. They usually have no
back walls; however, some courts may have a non-connected back wall surface
considered part of the playing area. Outdoor courts can be classified as one
of two general types.

A. One-Wall. A one-wall court has no side walls that do not extend more than a few feet.

B. Three-Wall. The front wall is usually at least 20 feet wide and at least 20 feet high. The side
walls generally are at least 20 feet long and 20 feet high where they meet the front wall and are
often tapered as they come toward the back court.

7.2 COURT MARKINGS

Generally, the markings are the same as the USAR’s standard rules, except that
on an outdoor court, there is no receiving (5-foot) line. Since the size of
outdoor courts may vary, the exact placement of other lines may also vary.
Both side lines and a back line are drawn, as needed, to denote a 20 foot by
40 foot “in-play” area on the surface of the court. Some outdoor courts may
also have singles service lines to reduce the server’s advantage. These lines
are usually placed 18 inches inside each side line and run from the short line
to the back line. These lines are only in force during the serve and are not
used for doubles play.

7.3 APPAREL

Shirts are not required in the outdoor game.

7.4 PLAY REGULATIONS

A. All divisions follow the USAR’s basic one serve rules. Generally, a rally
must be played for the receiver(s) to win a point or take possession of the
serve.

B. Serving when the receiver(s) are not ready is generally excused. However,
persistent serving without checking the receiver(s) can result in a technical
foul (loss of point) for delay of game.

C. In doubles, the non-serving partner may take a position in the normal
doubles box or outside the court beyond the back line or side line. If the non-
serving partner hinders the receiving team on the return of serve, the referee
may call a penalty hinder. In one wall, the non-serving partner may not step
onto the playing zone of the court until serve has passed the short line.

D. On the return of serve, the receiver(s) may not break the plane of the
short line and doing so results in a point for the server.

E. If the ball bounces on a side line or the back line on its first bounce,
the ball is considered out. When the singles service line is used, a served
ball that bounces on it is out. If the ball hits the beveled end of a side
wall or the beveled top of the front wall or a side wall and remains in play,
the shot is good. A ball that bounces over a side wall is legal, however,
local rules may declare that such a shot is out when long-wall courts are used.

F. Generally, there are no court hinders. Local rules, however, may designate
a particular feature of the court as a court hinder. The elements of nature,
such as sun, wind, rain, etc., may not serve as the basis for a hinder. A ball
that strikes a light pole that is inside the playing area, but outside
the “in” zone, without bouncing is considered out. However, if the ball first
bounces “in”, and then hits such a light pole, it is a court hinder as
soon as the ball touches the pole. A court hinder may also be called when a returned
ball hits a light attached to the end of a side wall if the ball would have
otherwise reached the front wall.

G. A safety holdup (replay hinder) also includes consideration given to
players on an adjacent court or any spectators who are not part of the
stationary crowd. The player must be able to hit the ball prior to it reaching
the stationary crowd. Any vehicle that enters the playing area can be grounds
for a safety holdup. Parked vehicles are classified as part of the stationary
crowd.

H. Intentionally launching a ball following a rally is a technical foul for
delay of game against the player who sent the ball sailing. This includes
launching a ball prior to the referee or opponent confirming that it is broken.