The Laws of Badminton
1. SINGLES
10.1 Serving and receiving courts
10.1.1 The players shall serve from, and receive in, their respective right
service courts when the server has not scored or has scored an even
number of points in that game.
10.1.2 The players shall serve from, and receive in, their respective left
service courts when the server has scored an odd number of points in that
game.
10.2 Order of play and position on court.
In a rally, the shuttle may be hit by the server and the receiver alternately, from
any position on that player's side of the net, until the shuttle ceases to be in play
(Law 15).
10.3 Scoring and serving
10.3.1 If the server wins a rally (Law 7.3), the server shall score a point. The
server shall then serve again from the alternate service court.
10.3.2 If the receiver wins a rally (Law 7.3), the receiver shall score a point.
The receiver shall then become the new server.
2. DOUBLES
11.1 Serving and receiving courts
11.1.1 A player of the serving side shall serve from the right service court
when the serving side has not scored or has scored an even number of
points in that game.
11.1.2 A player of the serving side shall serve from the left service court
when the serving side has scored an odd number of points in that game.
11.1.3 The player of the receiving side who served last shall stay in the same
service court from where he served last. The reverse pattern shall apply to
the receiver's partner.
11.1.4 The player of the receiving side standing in the diagonally opposite
service court to the server shall be the receiver.
11.1.5 The players shall not change their respective service courts until they
win a point when their side is serving.
11.1.6 Service in any turn of serving shall be delivered from the service
court corresponding to the serving side's score, except as provided in
Law 12.
11.2 Order of play and position on court
After the service is returned, in a rally, the shuttle may be hit by either player of
the serving side and either player of the receiving side alternately, from any
position on that player's side of the net, until the shuttle ceases to be in play
(Law 15).
11.3 Scoring and serving
11.3.1 If the serving side wins a rally (Law 7.3), the serving side shall score
a point. The server shall then serve again from the alternate service court.
11.3.2 If the receiving side wins a rally (Law 7.3), the receiving side shall
score a point. The receiving side shall then become the new serving side.
11.4 Sequence of serving
In any game, the right to serve shall pass consecutively:
11.4.1 from the initial server who started the game from the right service
court
11.4.2 to the partner of the initial receiver.
11.4.3 to the partner of the initial server
11.4.4 to the initial receiver,
11.4.5 to the initial server and so on.
11.5 No player shall serve or receive out of turn, or receive two consecutive
services in the same game, except as provided in Law 12.
11.6 Either player of the winning side may serve first in the next game, and
either player of the losing side may receive first in the next game.
3. SERVICE COURT ERRORS
12.1 A service court error has been made when a player:
12.1.1 has served or received out of turn; or
12.1.2 has served or received from the wrong service court;
12.2 If a service court error is discovered, the error shall be corrected and the
existing score shall stand.
4. FAULTS
It shall be a "fault":
13.1 if a service is not correct (Law 9.1);
13.2 if, in service, the shuttle:
13.2.1 is caught on the net and remains suspended on its top;
13.2.2 after passing over the net, is caught in the net; or
13.2.3 is hit by the receiver's partner;
13.3 if in play, the shuttle:
13.3.1 lands outside the boundaries of the court (i.e. not on or within the
boundary lines);
13.3.2 fails to pass over the net;
13.3.3 touches the ceiling or side walls;
13.3.4 touches the person or dress of a player;
13.3.5 touches any other object or person outside the court;
(Where necessary on account of the structure of the building, the local
badminton authority may, subject to the right of veto of its Member
Association, make bye-laws dealing with cases in which a shuttle touches
an obstruction).
13.3.6 is caught and held on the racket and then slung during the execution
of a stroke;
13.3.7 is hit twice in succession by the same player. However, a shuttle
hitting the head and the stringed area of the racket in one stroke shall not
be a "fault";
13.3.8 is hit by a player and the player's partner successively; or
13.3.9 touches a player's racket and does not travel towards the opponent's
court;
13.4 if, in play, a player:
13.4.1 touches the net or its supports with racket, person or dress;
13.4.2 invades an opponent's court over the net with racket or person except
that the striker may follow the shuttle over the net with the racket in the
course of a stroke after the initial point of contact with the shuttle is on
the striker's side of the net;
13.4.3 invades an opponent's court under the net with racket or person such
that an opponent is obstructed or distracted; or
13.4.4 obstructs an opponent, i.e. prevents an opponent from making a legal
stroke where the shuttle is followed over the net;
13.4.5 deliberately distracts an opponent by any action such as shouting or
making gestures;
13.5 if a player is guilty of flagrant, repeated or persistent offences under
Law 16;
5. LETS
14.1 "Let" shall be called by the umpire, or by a player (if there is no umpire),
to halt play.
14.2 It shall be a "let, if:
14.2.1 the server serves before the receiver is ready (Law 9.4);
14.2.2 during service, the receiver and the server are both faulted;
14.2.3 after the service is returned, the shuttle is:
14.2.3.1 caught on the net and remains suspended on its top, or
14.2.3.2 after passing over the net is caught in the net;
14.2.4 during play, the shuttle disintegrates and the base completely
separates from the rest of the shuttle;
14.2.5 in the opinion of the umpire, play is disrupted or a player of the
opposing side is distracted by a coach;
14.2.6 a line judge is unsighted and the umpire is unable to make a decision;
or
14.2.7 any unforeseen or accidental situation has occurred.
14.3 When a "let" occurs, play since the last service shall not count and the
player who served last shall serve again,.
6. SHUTTLE NOT IN PLAY
A shuttle is not in play when:
15.1 it strikes the net or post and starts to fall towards the surface of the court
on the striker's side of the net;
15.2 it hits the surface of the court; or
15.3 a "fault" or a "let" has occurred.
7. CONTINUOUS PLAY, MISCONDUCT & PENALTIES
16.1 Play shall be continuous from the first service until the match is
concluded, except as allowed in Laws 16.2 and 16.3.
16.2 Intervals:
16.2.1 not exceeding 60 seconds during each game when the leading score
reaches 11 points; and
16.2.2 not exceeding 120 seconds between the first and second game, and
between the second and third game shall be allowed in all matches.
(For a televised match, the Referee may decide before the match that
intervals as in Law 16.2 are mandatory and of fixed duration).
16.3 Suspension of play
16.3.1 When necessitated by circumstances not within the control of the
players, the umpire may suspend play for such a period as the umpire may
consider necessary.
16.3.2 Under special circumstances the Referee may instruct the umpire to
suspend play.
16.3.3 If play is suspended, the existing score shall stand and play shall be
resumed from that point.
16.4 Delay in play
16.4.1 Under no circumstances shall play be delayed to enable a player to
recover strength or wind or to receive advice.
16.4.2 The umpire shall be the sole judge of any delay in play.
16.5 Advice and leaving the court
16.5.1 Only when the shuttle is not in play (Law 15), shall a player be
permitted to receive advice during a match.
16.5.2 No player shall leave the court during a match without the umpire's
permission, except during the intervals as described in Law 16.2.
16.6 A player shall not:
16.6.1 deliberately cause delay in, or suspension of, play;
16.6.2 deliberately modify or damage the shuttle in order to change its speed
or its flight;
16.6.3 behave in an offensive manner; or
16.6.4 be guilty of misconduct not otherwise covered by the Laws of
Badminton.
16.7 Administration of breach
16.7.1 The umpire shall administer any breach of
Law 16.4.1, 16.5.2 or 16.6 by:
16.7.1.1 issuing a warning to the offending side; or
16.7.1.2 faulting the offending side, if previously warned. or
16.7.1.3 faulting the offending side in cases of flagrant offence or
breach of Law 16.2.
16.7.2 On faulting a side (Law 16.7.1.2 or 16.7.1.3), the umpire shall report
the offending side immediately to the Referee, who shall have the power
to disqualify the offending side from the match.
