6.

TOSSING

6.1 Before play commences, a toss shall be conducted and the side winning the toss shall
exercise the choice in either Law 6.1.1 or 6.1.2:

6.1.1 to serve or receive first;

6.1.2 to start play at one end of the court or the other.

6.2 The side losing the toss shall then exercise the remaining choice.

7. SCORING SYSTEM
7.1 A match shall consist of the best of three games, unless otherwise arranged ( Part II,
Section 1B Appendix 2 and 3).

7.2 A game shall be won by the side which first scores 21 points, except as provided in
Law 7.4 and 7.5.

7.3 The side winning a rally shall add a point to its score. A side shall win a rally, if the
opposing side commits a "fault" or the shuttle ceases to be in play because it touches the
surface of the court inside the opponent's court.

7.4 If the score becomes 20-all, the side which gains a two point lead first, shall win that
game.

7.5 If the score becomes 29-all, the side scoring the 30th point shall win that game.

7.6 The side winning a game shall serve first in the next game.

8. CHANGE OF ENDS

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE RIGHT TERM IS CHANGE OF ENDS AND NOT CHANGE
COURT! 🙃

8.1 Players shall change ends:

8.1.1 at the end of the first game;

8.1.2 at the end of the second game, if there is to be a third game; and

8.1.3 in the third game when a side first scores 11 points.

8.2 If the ends are not changed as indicated in Law 8.1, it shall be done so as soon as the
mistake is discovered and when the shuttle is not in play. The existing score shall stand.

9. SERVICE

Note: As of December 2018 the fixed-height service has been mandatory for all high-level
tournaments. For other play it has not been specified but is assumed since the old service
height rules have been removed.

9.1 In a correct service:

9.1.1 neither side shall cause undue delay to the delivery of the service once the server and
the receiver are ready for the service;

9.1.2 on completion of the backward movement of the server's racket head, any delay in the
start of the service (Law 9.2), shall be considered to be an undue delay;

9.1.3 the server and the receiver shall stand within diagonally opposite service courts
(Diagram A) without touching the boundary lines of these service courts;

9.1.4 some part of both feet of the server and the receiver shall remain in contact with the
surface of the court in a stationary position from the start of the service (Law 9.2) until the
service is delivered (Law 9.3);

9.1.5 the server's racket shall initially hit the base of the shuttle;

9.1.6 the whole shuttle shall be below 1.15 metres from the surface of the court at the
instant of being hit by the server’s racket;
9.1.7 the movement of the server's racket shall continue forwards from the start of the
service (Law 9.2) until the service is delivered (Law 9.3);

9.1.8 the flight of the shuttle shall be upwards from the server's racket to pass over the net
so that, if not intercepted, it shall land in the receiver's service court (i.e. on or within the
boundary lines); and

9.1.9 in attempting to serve, the server shall not miss the shuttle.

9.2 Once the players are ready for the service, the first forward movement of the server's
racket head shall be the start of the service.

9.3 Once started (Law 9.2), the service is delivered when the shuttle is hit by the server's
racket or, in attempting to serve, the server misses the shuttle.

9.4 The server shall not serve before the receiver is ready. However, the receiver shall be
considered to have been ready if a return of the service is attempted.

9.5 In doubles, during the delivery of service (Law 9.2, 9.3), the partners may take up any
positions within their respective courts, which do not insight the opposing server or receiver.
SINGLES AND DOUBLES

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.

SERVICE COURT ERRORS, FAULTS, LETS, SHUTTLE NOT IN PLAY

12. 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.

13. 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;

13.3.10 in wheelchair badminton if the shuttle is:

13.3.10.1 caught on the net and remains suspended on top; or;

13.3.10.2 after passing over the net is caught in the net.

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;
14. 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

14.2.3.1.1 except in wheelchair badminton when it is a fault.

or

14.2.3.2 after passing over the net is caught in the net;

14.2.3.2.1 except in wheelchair badminton when it is a fault.

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,.

15. 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.