Rule Changes Are Coming This September!

During their Annual Meeting in May, the USA Racquetball Board of Directors voted to approve five changes to the Official Rulebook. Pursuant to Rule E.1(g), these new rules will go into effect September 1, 2026. To prepare USA Racquetball Members, this article briefly summarizes the forthcoming rule changes. The full text of the rule changes can be viewed HERE.

On September 1st, the Official Rulebook will be updated with the new changes. Members can view and download the rulebook here: https://www.usaracquetball.com/play/rules

Change #1: Name Change to Section 9

The name of Section 9 of the Official Rulebook is changing from “Hearing Impaired Racquetball” to “Deaf/Hard of Hearing Racquetball.”

Change #2: Name Change to Section 8

The name of Section 8 of the Official Rulebook is changing from “Visually Impaired Racquetball” to “Low Vision Racquetball.”

Change #3: Preamble to Rule 3.13

The preamble to Rule 3.13 is being changed to clarify that a “rally” begins after a legal serve. Previously, the rule held that a rally began after a “successful return of serve to the front wall.” Now, a rally is defined as beginning after a legal serve.

As a result of this change, all of the provisions of Rule 3.13 apply to the player or team returning the serve. This includes, but is not limited to, the “one touch” rule under Rule 3.13(c). Because the prior preamble to Rule 3.13 defined a rally as beginning only after a serve was returned, there was significant confusion about whether the provisions of Rule 3.13—including the “one touch” rule—applied to the player returning a serve.

Change #4: Rule 3.8

Rule 3.8 is being changed to add a subdivision (d) that a safety hold-up will not cancel any previous fault serve. Under the previous version of Rule 3.8, if the player returning a second serve held up to avoid hitting or striking his or her opponent, the server would benefit by getting a first serve. This created a situation where the player returning serve either had to risk hitting his or her opponent (creating a safety risk) or allow his or her opponent a first serve.

Under the new rule, if a player is returning a second serve and must hold up to avoid hitting his or her opponent, the subsequent serve is a second serve.

Change #5: Court Hinder Rules

Changes are being made to Rules 3.14(a)(1), 2.1(a), 3.8(a), and B.5(a)(4) related to court hinders.

Most designated hinders are out of the view of the referee, meaning referees must rely on the players to voluntarily call court hinders. Additionally, designated court hinders meant players and referees were required to stop play even if the ball took a clean bounce, taking away a rally-ending opportunity for the offensive player. For example, if a door latch was designated as a court hinder, the players and referee would have to stop play even if the ball took a clean bounce off the latch.

Under the revised rules, if the ball takes a clean bounce, the players should continue playing the rally. If the ball takes an unusual or “unclean” bounce, the referee should stop play. This change should make it easier for referees to see a ball taking an unusual bounce.

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