BADMINTON RULES

DOUBLES BADMINTON RULES
Revised March 2006 – Recreation Services – Iowa State University
Court
-Doubles court- use outside lines all the way around, except for serves
where you use the shorter back lines
-The net shall be 5 ft. high at center
Start of Play
• Before starting the game, the opponents toss a coin with the winner choosing:
(a) to serve first/to receive first, or
(b) the side
• In subsequent games, the winning side serves first.
Scoring
• A player must be serving to score points. When the server commits a fault
his/her turn of service is over. When the receiver commits a fault the server is
given a point.
• A game shall consist of 11 points. No need to win by 2!!! A match consists of
2 out of 3 games. Players change sides after each game.
• The first serve of the game is always made from the right side of the court.
• A player continues to serve (alternating service courts) as long as a player
scores points.
• If the server completely misses the shuttle on the serve the server may re-serve
• A serve may not be delivered until the receiver is ready. If the receiver attempts
to return the serve, the receiver is to have been considered ready.
• During the serve, it is a fault if;
(a) The shuttle is contacted above the server’s waist or the racket head is above
any part of the hand.
(b) The shuttle does not fall into the diagonally opposite service court.
(c) Some part of both feet of the server and receiver are not in contact with the
appropriate court until the shuttle is contacted by the server.
General Play
• A shuttle falling on the line is good
• A shuttle which touches and passes over the net is in play (including the serve)
It is considered a fault if:
(a) The shuttle fails to pass over the net or lands outside the boundary line.
(b) The shuttle contacts the walls, ceiling, player or players clothes.
(c) The shuttle passes through or under the net.
(d) The player touches the net.
(e) The player reaches across the net to contact the shuttle (following through
across the net is allowed).
(f) The shuttle is hit more than once or is momentarily caught and thrown.
(g) The player obstructs an opponent or invades the opponent’s court.
(h) A player is hit by the shuttle whether the player is standing inside or outside the court
boundaries.
Serving Rotation (See Diagram Below)
-Player A from Team 1 serves from the right hand side of his/her court (diagram 1).
If he/she wins the point, then Player A serves from the left side of his/her court
(diagram 2).
Player A continues alternating sides until he/she loses the service, after which, Player
B from Team 2 gets the serve.
-Whoever is on the right side of Team 2’s court when they obtain the serve, serves
first (diagram 3).
This person continues serving in the same fashion as the earlier servers (alternating
left and right sides).
This player, Player B, continues serving until he/she loses the service (diagram 4).
-After Player B is done serving, Player C from Team 2 begins their serve (diagram 5).
-After Player C loses the serve, Team 2 gives up the serve back to Team 1, where
Player D begins to take his/her turn serving (diagram 6).
After Player D ends their turn serving, the serve returns to Player A and the whole
process repeats itself.
(over)