pickleballprotocol.com Rules for Wheelchair Players

It's not unusual at club-level games to see folks in wheelchairs playing mixed doubles with other folks who play standing up.

It's also not unusual to see a wheelchair player whup the butts of plenty of other players in the club.

There are a few special accomodation rules for wheelchair players.

The Double Bounce
The rules normally call for players to hit ground strokes after a single bounce. A second bounce would result in the ball being dead, rally lost.

Wheelchair players are allowed to strike the ball after the first bounce or after a second bounce.

The first bounce must (obviously) land somewhere in bounds, but the second bounce can bounce anywhere at all, even out of bounds.

This makes it possible for the wheelchair player to strike the ball from out of bounds, so the ball travels low beside one of the net posts. It is not necessary for the ball to travel over the net.

In this circumstance, the wheelchair player can skim the ball low across their opponents's court.

Standing players can also skim the ball beside the net post onto their opponent's court, but with only one bounce, it doesn't happen nearly as often.

Wheels in the Kitchen
Wheelchair players are allowed to strike volleys with one or two of the (smaller) front wheels inside the kitchen.

If a wheelchair player strikes a volley with one of their larger wheels in the kitchen, or if the momentum of strking a volley brings either of the wheelchair's larger wheels into the kitchen, it is a fault.

It is also a fault if the wheelchair player's momentum touches their partner if that partner is in contact with the kitchen.

The same rules regarding the front wheels apply to the baseline when the wheelchair player is serving.

Your Wheelchair is Part of Your Body!
If the ball makes contact with any pert of the wheelchair, the ball is dead and it is a fault.

Wheelchair Optional
Anybody who wanst to play pickleball in a wheelchair can do so, no qualifying disability is needed.



Wheelchair Pickleball Players It's not unusual at club-level games to see folks in wheelchairs playing mixed doubles with other folks who play standing up. It's also not unusual to see a wheelchair player whup the butts of plenty of other players in the club. There are a few special accomodation rules for wheelchair players. The Double Bounce The rules normally call for players to hit ground strokes after a single bounce. A second bounce would result in the ball being dead, rally lost. Wheelchair players are allowed to strike the ball after the first bounce or after a second bounce. The first bounce must (obviously) land somewhere in bounds, but the second bounce can bounce anywhere at all, even out of bounds. This makes it possible for the wheelchair player to strike the ball from out of bounds, so the ball travels low beside one of the net posts. It is not necessary for the ball to travel over the net. In this circumstance, the wheelchair player can skim the ball low across their opponents's court. Standing players can also skim the ball beside the net post onto their opponent's court, but with only one bounce, it doesn't happen nearly as often. Wheels in the Kitchen Wheelchair players are allowed to strike volleys with one or two of the (smaller) front wheels inside the kitchen. If a wheelchair player strikes a volley with one of their larger wheels in the kitchen, or if the momentum of strking a volley brings either of the wheelchair's larger wheels into the kitchen, it is a fault. It is also a fault if the wheelchair player's momentum touches their partner if that partner is in contact with the kitchen. The same rules regarding the front wheels apply to the baseline when the wheelchair player is serving. Your Wheelchair is Part of Your Body! If the ball makes contact with any pert of the wheelchair, the ball is dead and it is a fault. Wheelchair Optional Anybody who wanst to play pickleball in a wheelchair can do so, no qualifying disability is needed.