Proposed Rule Changes: USA Racquetball Wants Your Input!

From when penalty hinders can be called to when a rally begins, USA Racquetball is considering six proposed rule changes—but we need your feedback!

From July to September 2025, the Rules Committee met several times to discuss proposed rule changes submitted by USA Racquetball members. Following a series of votes, the Rules Committee presented six proposed rule changes to the USA Racquetball Board of Directors for consideration. In compliance with Rule E.1(e), the Board of Directors reviewed the rule changes and determined, as outlined in the rules change process, that each was approved to be made publicly available “for polling and comment by the general membership.”

The full text of each rule change can be viewed on USA Racquetball’s website. In summary, the rule changes are:

• Adding a requirement that a penalty hinder for failure to move may only be called if the opponent is deprived of an “offensive opportunity,” to be defined as a shot that has a “high likelihood of ending the rally”.
• Modifying Rule 3.13 to define a “rally” as beginning after a successful serve.
• Adding a subsection (d) to Rule 3.8 to clarify that a safety hold up does not cancel a previous fault serve (in other words, a safety hold-up on a second serve results in another second serve).
• Changing “Visually Impaired Racquetball” to “Low Vision Racquetball” and “Hearing Impaired Racquetball” to “Deaf/Hard of Hearing Racquetball”
• Removing designated court hinders to Rule 3.14(a)(1) (and other locations where designated court hinders appear in the rules).

USA Racquetball Wants Your Input!

Each USA Racquetball member is encouraged to visit USA Racquetball’s website to read the full text of each proposed rule change. HERE are the proposed rules changes. After carefully reviewing each rule, members will have the opportunity to send your feedback to: rulescommissioner@usaracquetball.com

You have until February 1, 2026, to give your feedback! After reviewing members’ comments, the Board of Directors will hold a final vote at its annual meeting in May 2026. Approved changes become effective September 1, 2026.