What happens on the serve if the ball hits the net but still goes over to the opponents right side?

We’ve summarized the essential ping pong rules from USA Table Tennis right here to help you settle those garage or office disputes. This list is not exhaustive, but we have found that these ones are common points of contention among many players. Whether you call it ping pong, table tennis, or whiff whaff, these official table tennis rules should help you keep things straight.

1. GAMES ARE PLAYED TO 11 POINTS

A Game is played to 11 points. A Game must be won by two points. A Match is generally the best three of five Games.

2. ALTERNATE SERVES EVERY TWO POINTS

Each side of the table alternates serving two points at a time. EXCEPTION: After tied 10-10 (“deuce”), service alternates at every point. Can you lose on a serve in ping pong? Yes! There is no separate rule for serving on Game Point.

3. TOSS THE BALL STRAIGHT UP WHEN SERVING

How do you serve the ball in ping pong? Hold the ball in your open palm, behind your end of the table. Toss at least 6” straight up, and strike it on the way down. It must hit your side of the table and then the other side. NOTE: Once the ball leaves the server’s hand it is in play, and so counts as the receiver’s point if the ball is missed or mis-hit.

4. THE SERVE CAN LAND ANYWHERE IN SINGLES

There is no restriction on where the ball lands on your side or your opponent’s side of the table. It can bounce two or more times on your opponent’s side (if so, that’s your point), bounce over the side, or even hit the edge.

5. DOUBLES SERVES MUST GO RIGHT COURT TO RIGHT COURT

The serve must bounce in the server’s right court, and receiver’s right court (NOTE: landing on center line is fair). Doubles partners switch places after their team serves twice.

6. A SERVE THAT TOUCHES THE NET ON THE WAY OVER IS A “LET”

Can the ball hit the net in ping pong? Yes, during a RALLY, if it touches the top of the net and then otherwise lands as a legitimate hit. BUT not when serving. If a served ball hits the net on the way over and otherwise legally bounces in play, it’s a “let” serve and is done over. There is no limit on how many times this can happen.

7. ALTERNATE HITTING IN A DOUBLES RALLY

Doubles partners must alternate hitting balls in a rally, no matter where the ball lands on the table.

8. VOLLEYS are NOT ALLOWED

Can you hit the ball before it bounces in ping pong? No. In regular tennis you may “volley” the ball (hitting the ball before it bounces on your side of the net). But in table tennis, this results in a point for your opponent. NOTE: When your opponent hits a ball that sails over your end of the table without touching it and then hits you or your paddle, that is still your point.

9. IF YOUR HIT BOUNCES BACK OVER THE NET BY ITSELF IT IS YOUR POINT

If you hit the ball in a rally or on a serve and it bounces back over the net after hitting your opponent’s side of the table (due to extreme spin), without your opponent touching it, that is your point.

10. touching the ball with your paddle hand is allowed

What happens if the ball hits your finger or hand during a ping pong rally? If the ball touches your PADDLE hand and otherwise results in a legal hit, there is no rule violation and play shall continue as normal. Your paddle hand includes all fingers and hand area below the wrist. But what if the ball touches a player’s body anywhere else during a ping pong rally? You may not touch the ball with your non-paddle hand for any reason. It will result in a point for your opponent. BUT if your opponent’s hit sails over your side of the table without touching it, and hits any part of you or your paddle, that is still your point.

11. you may not touch the table with your non-paddle hand

You may touch the ball or the table with your paddle hand (after reaching in to return a short serve, for example), or other parts of your body. NOTE: If the table moves at all from your touching it during a rally, that is your opponent’s point.

12. an “edge” ball bouncing off the horizontal table top surface is good

An otherwise legal serve or hit may contact the top edge of the horizontal table top surface and be counted as valid, even if it bounces sidewise. The vertical sides of the table are NOT part of the legal playing surface.

13. HONOR SYSTEM APPLIES TO DISAGREEMENTS

If no referee is present during a match and the players disagree on a certain call, the “honor system” applies and the players should find a way to agree, or play the point over. Ping pong carries a tradition of fierce but fair play. Help us keep it that way!

For the full official rules of table tennis, visit USATT.org.

NFHS RULES GOVERN PLAY WITH THE FOLLOWING MODIFICATIONS.

THE GAME

Players may play on one team in each league. A team competes with 6 players, however, minimum number of players is 3. All players must be appear on the team roster before the game begins.

Rock/paper/scissors determines which team receives the choice of either the serve or the court.

The best of three games will win matches. Each non-deciding game will be won by the team that first scores 25 points with a minimum two-point advantage (no scoring cap). If there is a deciding game, it will be won by the team that first scores 15 points with a minimum two-point advantage (no scoring cap). Point will be scored on each rally. If the receiving team wins the rally, they score a point and gain the serve.

Rest periods between games of a match shall be no longer than 2 minutes.

Each team is permitted 2, 30-second team time-outs per match. Time-outs may be requested to an official only when the ball is dead and are not in effect until the official recognizes the time-out with a whistle or hand signal and vocal command.

Players are asked to wear tennis shoes for their own protection. We will not permit anyone to play with hard-soled shoes or sandals. Participants with casts (especially hand or wrist) will not be allowed to participate. Leave all jewelry at home. The IM Department strongly recommends that no jewelry be worn in IM competition.

Do not chase loose volleyballs into other courts while play is in progress.

THE SERVE

The server has 5 seconds to begin the serve from the time the official signals the serve with a whistle.

The service zone includes the full width of the 9-meter area behind the end lines. The server may move freely within the service zone. At the moment of the service hit or takeoff for a jump service, the server must be completely in the service zone and not touching the court (end line included) or the playing service outside the zone. After the service, the player may skip or land outside the zone including the court.

If the server tosses the ball and does not serve it he does NOT need to let it bounce before he re-tosses it.

Net Service Is In Play. A served ball that hits the net does not result in the service team losing its serve. The net serve is considered in-play, unless 1) it does not continue over the net or 2) lands outside the opposing team’s court-side untouched by the opposing team.

SPIKING & BLOCKING

The receiving team is not allowed to block or spike a served ball.

A spiker must contact the ball on his/her own side of the net, but may in the course of the follow through reach over (but not touch) the net.

Back line players while inside the attack zone (10 feet from the net) may not play the ball directly into the opposite court if contact is made when any part of the ball is above the top of the net.

The team that has affected the block shall have the right to three more contacts, with the blocker having the right to make the first of the three allowable hits.

NET PLAY

A ball hit into the net, may still be kept in play (up to 3 hits) provided that a player does not make contact with the net.

Players may not touch the net. If 2 opposing players touch the net simultaneously, the ball is declared dead and is replayed.

GROUND RULES

A ball is out of bounds and becomes dead when it:

Touches any part of a backboard or its supports hanging in a vertical position
1. The IM West or IM East vertical glass backboards and supporting structures are considered out of bounds.
Makes contact with the side walls (including the railings of the running track at IM East).

A ball hitting the ceiling or an overhead obstruction (lights, fan, or basketball hoop lying horizontally) above a playable area shall remain in play provided the ball contacts the ceiling or obstruction on the side of the net that is occupied by the team that last played the ball.

LEGAL PLAY

The ball must be returned over the net in 3 hits or less.

It is legal to contact the ball with any part of the body as long as the ball rebounds immediately. It may not "lay" against the body or forcefully kicked. If a player touches the ball or the ball touches a player, it is considered as a play on the ball. Except in the following case: A ball touching the body more than once in succession is legal when played off a hard-driven spiked ball, or blocked and played again by the blocker.

If 2 players on the same team contact the ball simultaneously, it counts as one contact, and any player may play the ball.

One may play the ball twice during a volley, but not twice in succession, unless played directly off a block.

When a ball touches a boundary line, it is considered in play.

Rule of Three (3): If a ball is played by more than two players on a team, the ball must be played by both genders. The order is not relevant. If three contacts of the same gender occur the official will blow the play dead and award the opposing team the serve and the point.

ILLEGAL PLAY

Players are not permitted to scoop, hold, and lift or push the ball. The ball may never be contacted with an open-hand underhanded motion.

In addition, during the first hit of the team, except when serving, the ball may contact various parts of the body consecutively, provided the contacts occur during one action.

An official may (at their own discretion) penalize a team one point or loss of serve for intentionally delaying the game.

SUBSTITUTIONS

Each team may choose to rotate extra players into the server's position on a continuous basis. In all substitutions participants must inform the official on the net and wait for the official to initiate the substitution.

All substitutions must be made within a 15-second time limit. If changing time exceeds 15 seconds, a team time-out will be charged. If a team has none of its 2 allotted team time-outs remaining, point or side-out will be awarded to the other team. An injury substitution is not considered as one of the 2 allowable time outs.

If a player arrives after the first game of the match has started, and her/his name is on the roster, that player will be allowed to play in the game as a substitute if the team uses regular substitutions.

CONDUCT

Unsporting conduct includes actions which are unbecoming to an ethical, fair, and honorable individual. it consists of acts of deceit, disrespect or vulgarity, and includes taunting.

No player, teammate, coach and/or team attendant shall act in an unsporting manner while on or near the court before, during, or after a contest.

Unsporting conduct includes, but is not limited to: disconcertion, attempting to influence the decision of a referee, disrespectfully adressing a referee, questioning a referee's judgment, showing disgust with referees' decisions, disrespectfully addressing, baiting, or taunting anyone invlolved in the contest, making any excessive requests designed to disrupt the contest, and using profane/vulgar language.

Unsporting conduct shall be penalized as follows: 1) a verbal warning from a referee for the first minor offense 2) yellow card for a second minor offense 3) red card for first serious offense or third minor offense. The accumulation of two yellow cards or one red card will result in player ejection. Any player ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct will be required to leave the facility (out of sight, out of sound) and will be required to serve a suspension from Intramural competition.

Any player who accumulates three yellow cards throughout the season will be required to serve a suspension.

Any team who accumulates three yellow cards, two yellow cards and one red card, or two red cards during a contest will forfeit that contest.

FORFEITS

GAME TIME IS FORFEIT TIME! Teams are strongly encouraged to arrive 15 minutes early for their games. Any game whose outcome is declared a forfeit will result in a loss being credited to the forfeiting team. A forfeit will be declared under the following conditions:

A team does not field the required number of eligible players by the designated game time.
A violation of any rule as stated in the Intramural Sports Code of Conduct.

In the event of a multiple forfeits by the same team, that team will not be eligible for playoff competition. Multiple forfeits may also result in the team being dropped from the league prior to the completion of the regular season; teams that are removed due to forfeits are not eligible to receive refunds.

NOTE

It is University policy that alcoholic beverages may not be consumed in University recreational areas.

Please cooperate with the Intramural Sports Staff in keeping both your players and spectators from bringing alcohol to the building. Any person or teams that consume alcoholic beverages before a game will not be permitted to participate. Opponents, officials and supervisors are responsible to report such incidents.

CO-REC MODIFICATIONS

A team consists of 6 players, 3 women/ 3 men or 4 women/ 2 men. Teams may compete with 3, 4, or 5 players in the following male/female ratios: 2 women/ 1 man, 1 woman/ 2 men, 2 women/ 2 men, 3 women/ 2 men, 2 women/ 3 men.

The serving order must alternate men and women. (Exception, 2/1 and 3/2 player ratio)

The net height will be co-rec height (7'8”).

Revised 8/30/2017

NFHS RULES GOVERN PLAY WITH THE FOLLOWING MODIFICATIONS.

THE GAME

Players may play on one team in each league. A co-rec team competes with 3 or 4 players (2 males/2 females or 1 male/2 females / 2 males/1 female); an open team competes with 2 players of any gender combination. All players must be signed up before the game begins.

Rock, paper, scissors determines which team receives the choice of either the serve or the court. The first team who completes the score sheet will make the call.

Twenty-one points wins the game provided there is a 2 point lead. Scores can be 21-19, 22-20, 23-21, etc. A match is complete when one team wins 2 complete games. If a third game is needed to decide the match, it will be played to 15 points, with a 2 point lead necessary. A third game in the playoffs will be played to 15 points. Teams switch sides after the halfway point in the third game.

Rest periods between games of a match shall be no longer than 3 minutes.

Each team is permitted 2 one-minute team time-outs per game. Time-outs may be requested to an official only when the ball is dead and are not in effect until the official recognizes the time-out with a whistle or hand signal and vocal command.

Players are asked to wear tennis shoes for their own protection. We will not permit anyone to play with hard-soled shoes or sandals. Players may play in bare feet at their own risk of injury. Participants with casts (especially hand or wrist) will not be allowed to participate. Leave all jewelry at home. Recreational Sports and Fitness Services strongly recommends that no jewelry be worn in IM competition.

Do not chase loose volleyballs into other courts while play is in progress.

THE SERVE

The serving order must remain as it is first established by starting position in the game. The serving order may be changed at the beginning of each new game. Serve may be from anywhere behind the line in back court.

The server has 5 seconds to begin the serve from the time the official signals the serve.

At the instant the ball is hit for the service, the server shall not have any portion of the body in contact with the end line on the ground, or inside the lines marking the court area.

Let serves are legal. Hitting the net with the ball on a serve (or any other time) is legal.

SPIKING & BLOCKING

The receiving team is not allowed to block or spike the serve. (I.e., contact the ball above the top of the net.)

A spiker must contact the ball on his/her own side of the net, but may in the course of the follow through reach over (but not touch) the net. A player is allowed to go underneath the net as long as there is not interference with the other team.

Backline players while inside the attack zone (10 feet from the net, judged by officials) may not play the ball directly into the opposite court if contact is made when any part of the ball is above the top of the net. Two formations are allowed in sand volleyball, a diamond or a box. In a diamond formation, only the server cannot attack at the net. In a box formation, the back two players cannot attack at the net.

The team, which has affected the block, shall have the right to three more contacts, with the blocker having the right to make the first of the three allowable hits.

NET PLAY

A ball hit into the net, by a team may still be kept in play (up to 3 hits) provided that the net is not touched by a player.

Players may not touch the net. If 2 opposing players touch the net simultaneously, the ball is declared dead and is replayed.

LEGAL PLAY

The ball must be returned over the net in 3 hits or less.

It is legal to contact the ball with any part of the body above the waist as long as the ball rebounds immediately and does not "lay" against the body. (The ball may not be kicked.) If a player touches the ball or the ball touches a player, it is considered as a play on the ball.

If 2 players on the same team contact the ball simultaneously, it counts as two hits and neither may play the ball again.

In 4 person, tipping is legal, including if the team has 3 players in the 4 player league.

One may play the ball twice during a volley, but not twice in succession, unless played directly off a block.

When a ball touches a boundary line, it is considered good (in-bounds.)

ILLEGAL PLAY

Setting the serve is illegal in all leagues.

Players are not permitted to scoop, hold, lift or push the ball. The ball may never be contacted with an open-hand underhand motion. When a ball is dinked it must be done with a closed fist or open palms as long as hands are together.

A ball touching the body more than once in succession is considered a double hit and is illegal except when played off a hard-driven spiked ball, or blocked and played again by the blocker.

In 2 person, tipping is not allowed.

An official may (at their own discretion) penalize a team one point or loss of serve for intentionally delaying the game.

For Co-Rec League: If playing with 4 people, the server cannot spike the bal. If playing with 3 people, anyone can spike.

For Open League (2 people): The ball cannot be set over to the other team, unless hips/shoulders are parallel to the net, and the set cannot be considered a tip.

SUBSTITUTIONS

There will be continuous substitution at the time of serve, for the person rotating into the serving position. Player entering then serves.

If a player arrives after the first game of the match has started, and her/his name is on the roster, that player will be allowed to play in the game as a substitute if the team uses regular substitutions.

UNSPORTING CONDUCT

Students working as intramural officials are providing a service to those other students, faculty and staff, participating in volleyball. Under no circumstances should these student officials be threatened or physically or verbally abused. Anyone physically or verbally abusing an intramural official will immediately and automatically be suspended. The suspension will remain in effect throughout the time necessary to clarify and verify the facts surrounding the action. Permanent suspension may follow.

Teams and players have a further responsibility in acting to prevent their fans from abusing the officials and to help the officials control their spectators so that the game is not disrupted. In instances where officials are threatened or physically abused by spectators, those teams that are identified with the spectators will be suspended indefinitely.

Any player ejected from a game for any reason will automatically be suspended from his team's next game or until a review of the incident can be made. Indefinite suspension may follow.

NOTE: It is University policy that alcoholic beverages may not be consumed in University recreational areas. Please cooperate with the Intramural Department in keeping both your players and spectators from bringing alcohol to the courts. Any person or teams that consume alcoholic beverages before a game will not be permitted to participate. Opponents, officials and supervisors are responsible to report such incidents.