USA Pickleball ref Maddie Toren will take you through the verbal fouls, technical fouls, and game forfeits in pickleball: What is the difference between a verbal vs. technical foul, how many fouls can you get, and can you be kicked out of a game for a technical foul?
Verbal & technical fouls (Rule 13.G.)
During an officiated match, the referee is empowered to issue single verbal warnings to each team or call technical warnings or fouls.
Actions or behaviors that may result in a verbal warning or a technical warning include, but are not limited to:
Profanity.
Arguing aggressively.
Ball abuse.
Disrupting the flow of play.
When a technical foul is called, one point shall be removed from the score of the offending team. If the offending team’s score is zero, then one point shall be added to the score of the opposing team.
Actions or behaviors that may result in a technical foul include, but are not limited to:
Recklessly throwing a paddle.
Using extremely objectionable language.
Challenging the referee's ruling.
Game & match forfeits (Rule 13.H. & 13.I.)
- A game will be forfeited if a technical warning and a technical foul have been issued, or three technical warnings have been issued to a team.
- For a match format (one game to 15 or 21), a game forfeit is equivalent to a match forfeit.
- A match will be forfeited if two technical warnings and a technical foul have been issued, or four technical warnings have been issued to a team.
- During non-officiated matches, if a player reasonably believes that a rule is being consistently and deliberately violated by their opponent, they may request a referee or tournament director to handle the issue.
If you would like to learn more details about these rules refer to the official rulebook at USAPickleball.org.
Maddie Toren is a pro pickleball official and the first-ever teen-certified referee. This is Episode 8 of “10 Things That Most Pickleball Players Don't Know But Should.”