BADMINTON RULES AND REGULATIONS
Rules and Scoring
1.
Starting the Game:
Before commencing play the opposing sides shall toss, and the side
winning the toss shall have the option of:
a)
serving first; or
b)
not serving first
c)
choosing sides
The side losing the toss shall then have the choice of any remaining
alternative.
2.
Scoring:
In singles, play begins with the serve from the right half-court to the
receiver who stands diagonally across the net in his/her right half-court.
Only the server scores points and he/she continues to serve as long as
he/she continues to win points.
The doubles game consists of 15 points provided that when the score is
12 all, the side which first reached 13 has the option of “setting” the game
to five, and that when the score is 14 all, the side which first reached 14
has the option of “setting” the game to 3. The side which first reaches 5
(or 3) after a game has been set, wins. Only the server scores points and
he/she continues to serve as long as he continues to win points.
3.
Summary of Procedure Rules:
a)
The server and receiver must stand within the boundary of their
respective half courts when the service is being made. Their
partners can stand anywhere in their respective courts providing
they are not interfering with the serve.
b)
Points are scored by the server only.
c)
When the server fails to score, he loses service.
d)
The server’s score is called first.
e)
Only one player of the side beginning a game shall be entitled to
serve in its first inning. In all subsequent innings each partner
shall have the right, and they shall serve consecutively.
f)
A serve is not legal if the bird is struck at a point above the
waistline, or the head of the racquet above the hand holding the
racquet.
g)
Birds falling on the line are not out of bounds.
h)
If a player misses a bird when attempting to return it and falls
out of bounds, he/she wins the point or service according to
which side is “in service”. In other words, the result is the same
as though he/she had purposely allowed it to pass.
i)
If, during a volley, the bird hits the player or the latter touches
the net (with the body, clothing or racquet) either he/she forfeits
the serve or the opponent scores, according to which side is in
service.
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j)
k)
l)
4.
The bird may not be hit legally until it has crossed the net. The
racquet, however; may pass over the net, in the follow-through,
provided the net is not touched while the bird is in play.
Legally, the bird may not be hit twice in succession, by a player
or his/her partner, in a single return.
Each point counts one or an “ace”. If the score and the player
who first served for a team is kept in mind, the proper serving
court can be determined by a simple rule. If a team has 0 or an
even number, then the player who first served for that team
should be in the right hand court. If a team has an odd score,
then the player who first served for that team should be in the
left hand court.
Faults:
a)
On the serve, if the bird in higher than the server’s waist, or any
part of the racquet head is higher than the racquet hand when
making contact with the bird.
b)
If the bird falls outside the diagonally opposite service court on
the serve. (If it touches the line, it is “in”.)
c)
If the server or receiver has any part of the foot on or over the
boundary line of the service court as the bird is contacted.
d)
If the server or receiver moves one or both feet completely off
the floor as the bird is contacted.
e)
If A1 is the receiver but the partner A2 returns or touches the
serve (point for server).
f)
If a player calls a bird “out” but catches it or touches it before it
contacts the floor.
g)
If a player reaches over the net to play a bird (follow-through
over the net is permitted).
h)
If any player touches the net in any way during play.
i)
If the bird is “thrown” rather than contacted sharply.
j)
If the bird touches the ceiling or basketball backboard. In some
gyms, a bird touching the mesh or overhanging hoop would be a
re-serve.
k)
If the bird touches the floor outside the boundary. On the line is
“in”. If it touches the net, play continues.
l)
If the bird touches anyone’s clothing or body.
m)
If an opponent has a chance to smash at the net, you may not
hold up your racquet at the net to block the shot so it rebounds
from your racquet. Players may use the racquet to protect the
face.
n)
i) NOTE: If the server touches the bird on the serve, it is
considered a serve, but if he/she misses it completely, she may
try again. He/she may not serve until opponents are ready; if
they are not ready and do not attempt to play the bird, you must
serve again.
ii) LET: If, during a rally, a bird passes over the net and is
caught in or on the net, it is a let (re-serve).
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Court Diagram:
A1
B1
Left Hand Service Court
A2
B2
Right Hand Service Court
Net
Back Service Line (Doubles)
Back Service Line (Singles)
Short Service Line
Side Line (Singles)
Side Line (Doubles)
Back Boundary Line (Singles and Doubles)
SINGLES STRATEGY
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
Make home base about sic feet behind short service line straddling the
centre line. It is always easier to move forward than backward.
Adapt home base according to the style of play of your opponent and
the effect of your own shots.
As soon as you have played your shot you must move to your home
base.
You should serve from about four to six feet behind the short service
line near the centre line. Same for service reception.
The basic serve should be high and as deep as possible down the
centre line. This cuts down on the angle of the return. You can vary
the serve position to some degree to keep opponent off guard.
Take a step to the line on the serve to the outside line.
Manoeuvre the opposition away from his/her home base, create an
opening in his/her court and make him/her present you with a weak
return which you can put away.
Always try to keep the shuttle in play.
To attack an open space in the front court, use a downward hit –
smash, half-smash or drop. To attack an open space in the back
court, a quick shot such as a fast clear on a low trajectory would be
good.
Use high, deep clears to the corners as safe, recovery shots.
The faster your shots, the more likely you will cause the opponent to
make an error, providing you can keep up the pace.
Mix your shots to keep the opponent guessing, e.g. instead of clear,
drop, clear, drop, try clear, clear, drop, clear, drop, drop, etc.
Make your clear, smash and drop shots look the same.
Don’t play your shots at the same pace. Alternate slow and fast shots
and hit your clears at different speeds and trajectories.
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15.
16.
17.
18.
You must be on your toes, ready to move immediately where you see
the shuttle is going. Watch the shuttle right on to your opponent’s
racquet.
Take drop shots early. Try to meet shuttle as soon as it crosses the
net.
Be CAREFUL using cross court shots. Concentrate on playing the
bulk of your shots straight, reserving the cross court shots for
occasions when you have well and truly pushed your opponent out of
position.
Play your shots to give yourself time to get back to home base and in
balance. Try not to be hitting your shots while on the move. When in
doubt or in trouble, hit high and deep to a corner.
DOUBLES STRATEGY
Although there is no set sequence of shots that one can use to win a rally, there
are definite situations that call for a specific shot or demand that a specific shot
not be used. Shots made from below the height of the net are DEFENSIVE and
those made from above the net are OFFENSIVE.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Always play for your partner. Make shots, the return of which will leave
an opening for your partner to play his/her best shot and possibly finish
the rally. Never play a shot that leaves your partner open to smashes
or scrambling about the court to play the return.
Always make an attacking shot, meaning that all shots should be HIT
DOWN, thus preventing your opponents from doing the same.
Make most serves short and low, preferably to the off hand corners.
Use a high service only when your opponent is consistently rushing the
serve, and then play the bird just over his/her reach.
Rush short serves by standing close to the service line with the left foot
forward.
Usually smash a long serve, but occasionally play a drop shot for
variation.
If the serving team is playing a front-back formation, the best return of
a LOW SERVICE is a half-court shot down the side boundary line. A
drive clear to the backhand corner of the court is probably the best
return against a team using the side-side formation.
Make placements to the least obvious spots on the court.
Do not play too close to the net but rather take up a position around
the short service line when playing net.
Formations:
Side-Side:
1.
Each partner is responsible for his/her half of the court. The base of
operations for each player is midway between the centre line and side
boundary line and about 4 feet behind the service line.
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2.
3.
Main disadvantage of this formation is that it is more difficult to cover
22 feet from net to rear boundary line than it is to cover 20 fet from side
to side.
Another disadvantage of this formation is that it is almost impossible to
determine who is going to hit those strokes played down the centre line
despite the accepted rule that the player to the left should take those
shots because that player is on his/her forehand.
Front and Back:
1.
2.
3.
One member of the team plays the front portion of the court with a
base of operations on the centre line and just in behind the short
service line, while his/her partner plays the rear portion of the court
from a base on the centre line and just in front of the doubles rear
service line.
The front player is responsible for all drop shots and any other shots
he/she can intercept. The back player takes all shots that the net
person cannot comfortably return. For safety, the front player should
never look behind to the other player.
One of the disadvantages of this formation is that it affords poor
defense against smashes and drives down the sidelines.
Combination:
1.
2.
3.
4.
If the server is a good low short server, start in the up and back
formation. If, however; the server is not strong, start in the side-side
formation.
On a long, high serve, the servers should play side by side. The
receiver, going back for the serve, should play the back court while the
receiver’s partner should move forward as the receiver goes back.
On any high shot that gives the opponents the advantage and
opportunity to smash, the team making the stroke should take up the
defensive side by side formation.
Upon returning any shot other than a high lob, the team should return
to the front and back formation.
TEACHING POINTS:
Hitting – proper grip, shoulder rotated away from net, racquet extension
Strokes – move feet, rotate shoulders, racquet extension, face angle on contact
Footwork – toward the net - use racquet foot, to back court – weight on back foot
Movement – Feet first, racquet up early, then swing
Modified Games:
Around the World – elimination or all in
Front court net game – front court drop shots
Designated shot games
Half Court singles
Kings Court games
Ladder Tournament
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