Archived PPA Rules & Tips

From October 14, 2024:

11.L. Net.

11.L.3. A player is allowed to go around the net post and cross the imaginary extension line of the net after hitting the ball, so long as the player or any item he or she is/was wearing or carrying does not touch the opponent’s court. If the player goes around the net post and crosses the imaginary extension line of the net but does not make contact with the ball, a fault will be declared.

October 21, 2024:

11.I. Plane of the Net.

Crossing the plane of the net prior to striking the ball is a fault. After striking the ball, a player or anything the player is/was wearing or carrying may cross the plane of the net. The player may not touch any part of the net system, the opponent’s court, or the opponent while the ball is still live.

11.I.1. Exception: If the ball bounces into a receiving player’s court with enough backspin or wind aid to cause it to return to the other side of the net, the receiving player may cross the plane of the net (over, under or around the net post) to hit the ball. It is a fault if the receiving player (or anything the receiving player is wearing or carrying) crosses the plane of the net before the ball has first crossed back over the plane of the net to the opponent’s side. It is a fault if the player touches the net system, the opponent’s court, or the opponent while the ball is still in play.

October 28, 2024:

13.F. Appeals. Appeals to the referee regarding judgment calls (e.g., line calls, double bounce, etc.) shall be decided by the referee. The referee may consult players or line judges to decide the outcome of the appeal.

13.F.1.In a match without line judges, if a player appeals a line call to the referee, the referee shall make a call if they clearly saw the ball land “in” or “out.” If the referee is unable to make the call, the original call will remain. If no call was made, the ball will be considered “in.”

November 4, 2024:

11.J. Distractions. Players may not distract an opponent when the opponent is about to play the ball. If in the judgment of the referee, a distraction has occurred, the referee shall immediately call a fault on the offending team.

November 11, 2024:

11.L.3. The Net A player is allowed to go around the net post and cross the imaginary extension line of the net after hitting the ball, so long as the player or any item he or she is/was wearing or carrying does not touch the opponent’s court. If the player goes around the net post and crosses the imaginary extension line of the net but does not make contact with the ball, a fault will be declared.

November 24, 2024:

11.K. Net Posts. The net posts (including connected wheels, arms, net cable, or rope on top of the net post, or other support construction) are positioned out of bounds.
11.K.1. It is a fault if a player contacts the net post while the ball is live.
11.K.2. A ball contacting the net post results in a dead ball and the team that hit the ball loses the rally.

December 2, 2024:

6.C.8. In doubles play, if one player calls the ball “out” and the partner calls it “in,” then doubt exists and the team’s call will be “in.” Any player may appeal a call to the referee. If the referee did not see the ball, the ball is considered in.

December 9, 2024:

12.M. Partner Changes. Partner change may be made prior to the first-round match, with the consent of the Tournament Director, if the change is due to injury, illness, or circumstances beyond the control of the player. 12.M.1. Under no circumstances can a partner change be made after the partners have begun team play.

December 16, 2024:

11.f. Injury During Rally. The rally continues to its conclusion despite an injury to any of the players.

December 23, 2024:

January 6, 2025:

2.D. Ball Specifications.
2.D.1. Design. The ball shall have a minimum of 26 to a maximum of 40 circular holes, with spacing of the holes and overall design of the ball conforming to flight characteristics. The ball must have a
manufacturers or supplier’s name or logo printed or embossed on the surface.

January 13, 2025:

3.A.3. Coaching - Communication of any information, including verbal, nonverbal, and electronic, from
someone other than a player’s partner, that a player or team may act upon to gain an advantage or help them avoid a rules violation.

January 27, 2025:

2.G. Apparel.

2.G.1. Safety and Distraction. A player may be required to change apparel that is inappropriate, including that which approximates the color of the ball.

February 3, 2025:

MLP Scoring (These new rules only apply to MLP play, NOT SPMiLP play)

Arguably the biggest news here is that MLP doubles matches will now be played with side-out scoring, meaning that teams can only score points while serving.

Doubles matches will be one game to 11 by side out scoring, where teams have to win by at least two points.

Rally scoring—the format that MLP has used since its inception where each rally results in a point—isn’t completely disappearing, however; DreamBreakers (the singles tiebreak competitions) will still be played with rally scoring rules to 21, with a freeze.

February 10, 2025:

11.E. Broken, Cracked, Degraded, or Soft Ball.

If any player suspects the ball is or becomes broken, cracked, degraded, or soft after the serve, play must continue until the end of the rally. In officiated matches, players may appeal to the referee before the next serve occurs to determine if a ball is degraded, soft, broken or cracked. If, in the judgment of the referee, a broken or cracked ball impacted the outcome of a rally, the referee will call for a replay with a replacement ball. If both teams agree that the ball is degraded or soft, the ball will be replaced, but there is no replay of the prior rally. In non-officiated matches, if both teams agree, players may replace a degraded, soft, broken, or cracked ball before the next serve occurs. In only the case of a broken or cracked ball, if the players agree the cracked ball impacted the prior rally, a replay occurs. If the players do not agree that a cracked ball impacted the outcome of the prior rally, the prior rally stands as played. If both teams agree that the ball is degraded or soft, the ball will be replaced, but there is no replay of the prior rally.

February 17, 2025:

13.E.3. If a line judge shows the “blocked/blinded” signal, the referee can make the call immediately if they clearly saw the ball land. If the referee cannot make the call, the referee shall canvass other appropriate members of the officiating team to assist in making the call.

February 24, 2025:

4.A.5. The serve shall be made with only one hand releasing the ball. While some natural rotation of the ball is expected during any release of the ball from the hand, the server shall not impart manipulation or spin on the ball with any part of the body immediately prior to the serve. Exceptions: Any player may use their paddle to perform the drop serve. (see Rule 4.A.8.a). A player who has the use of only one hand may also use their paddle to release the ball to perform the volley serve.

March 3, 2025:

2.A.1. The court shall be a rectangle measuring 20 feet (6.10 m) wide and 44 feet (13.41 m) long for both singles and doubles matches. (See Figure 2-1.)

2.A.2. Court measurements shall be made to the outside of the perimeter and non-volley zone lines. All lines should be 2 inches (5.08 cm) wide and the same color, clearly contrasting with the color of the playing surface.

2.A.3. The minimum playing surface area measures 30 feet (9.14 m) wide and 60 feet (18.29 m) long. A 10foot (3.05-m) surrounding margin measures 40 feet (12.19 m) by 64 feet (19.51 m). Other recommendations for playing surface dimensions are: