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Basic Rules and Regulations Every Badminton Player Must Know

rules and regulations of badminton

Badminton becomes more interesting and amazing when you know all its rules and regulations.

And in case you are playing this sport at your home, you need not follow them, but in case you are opting for this sport as your career, you strictly need to go through and apply them in your game.

It can help you enhance your game in the future and allow you to play more effectively without facing any problems.

Many think this racket sport is easy to play where you need to hit the shuttle across the net, but it isn’t because it holds some official runs.

And these heads and regulations are made by a governing body known as BWF.

Also remember: These rules set by BWF are not only applied in international tournaments but are also applied in domestic tournaments.

So, let’s discuss them:


Rules and Regulations of Badminton

A game always begins with a toss, which helps decide who will serve first or choose the courtside, after which the match starts with a legal service.

When the player cannot return the shuttle, a point is gained by the other player who just played the last stroke.

Every match holds three-game sets, and to win the game, a player has to win two sets out of three, each with 21 points.

And the game begins with a:


  1. Toss

toss

Toss is made at the very beginning of the match.

A toss-winning player can decide whether he would like to serve or receive first.

And the one who loses the toss gets the chance to choose the side of the court.


2. Receiving

Receiving

In singles, players must stand diagonally and perform a service.

In doubles, the server must stand diagonally from the receiving player.

And, in case the receiver’s partner accidentally touches or hits the shuttlecock, it will be counted as a fault.


3. Service

serving

While performing a service, players occupy the opposite end of the court and must be standing diagonally opposite each other instead of standing in line.

And there are some points that you need to keep in mind while performing a serve stroke, which I have mentioned below:

  • While serving you must keep your shuttlecock below 1.15 meters from the ground.
  • While hitting the shuttlecock your racket should contact only with its base portion, which is made up of cork.
  • The shuttle must fly over the net to the opponent’s court and try not to hit the shuttle beyond the back boundary line.
  • And in case a server misses the shuttlecock while serving, it is counted as a service fault.

4. Scoring System

scoring system

A rally begins just after performing a service, and during the rally, a player scores when his opponent misses out on the shuttlecock or a shot.

As I have mentioned above, a match holds three-game sets; to win the game; a player must win two sets out of these three.


5. Changing Ends

changing ends

Umpire usually calls for the changing ends after completing each set, where the players get a 60-second break to change their end side.

And during the last set, players changed their ends when one of them scored 11 points.


Important Things to Remember for a Friendly-Match

Things to remember

Here are some official rules which you need to take care of while playing a competitive or friendly badminton match:

  • You cannot perform a service or start the match unless your opponent is ready.
  • Your feet should not be touching the boundary lines while performing a serve.
  • If a server misses the shuttlecock while serving and tries to perform the service again, it will be considered a service fault.
  • A player is not allowed to fling and hold the shuttle for a long time.
  • One cannot hit the shuttle over the net before it enters his court.
  • Also, you cannot hold the racket near the net and disturb your opponent.

Faults

Now check out these faults which you need to avoid while playing a badminton match:

  • It will be counted as a fault if you perform a service above your waistline.
  • If a server misses the shuttlecock while serving and tries to perform the service again, it will be considered a service fault.
  • The feet of the server and receiver must be on the court while serving.
  • One must not move or run while serving.
  • Players are not allowed to obstruct their opponent while serving or playing.
  • One cannot hit the shuttlecock twice.
  • If your body touches the net during the match is also counted as a fault.

Lets

Lets are usually those calls which the umpire or the players make to pause the game temporarily, and these pauses can be made for various reasons like:

  • If the shuttlecock breaks or falls apart during the game.
  • When the umpire is unable to make his decision.
  • If any player faces a severe injury during the match.
  • When the shuttlecock gets stuck in the net.
  • If the server performs an early service.

Specific Rules for Singles

badminton singles rules

  • A badminton match starts with (0-0) points, but when a server’s score turns even, he needs to serve from the right side of the court, and if his score is odd, then he needs to serve from the left side of the court.
  • If a server wins a rally, he scores a point and gets the chance to serve again.
  • And in case the receiver wins a rally, he becomes a new server.

Specific Rules for Doubles

badminton doubles rules

  • When the server’s score is even, he serves from the right side of the court, and when his score turns odd, he performs a service from the left side.
  • If the receiving side wins a rally, they become the new servers.
  • If the server-side scores a point or wins a rally, then they again get to serve from the alternative court.
  • Players do not change their service court unless they win a point when their side gets a chance to serve.

Conclusion

These rules are set up by a governing body called BWF, (Badminton World Federation) which every player must follow to clear his basics.

Also, this post will help you improve and define your game and skills.

So don’t just go through these rules but apply them to your game.

And in case you face any problems or are there any questions going on in your head, then feel free to ask us or pin them up in the comment section below.

6 thoughts on “Basic Rules and Regulations Every Badminton Player Must Know”

  1. I really love your blog.. Pleasant colors & theme.
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  2. Dear K, very good detailed explanation of rules and regulations but these are Adult rules for ideal Adult play! As you should know there is a psycomotor list for sports with Boxing being the most stressful, Badminton is second!! I remember the old IBF promoted that 45 minutes of world class badminton play was equivalent to 2.5 hrs of Wimbledon final Tennis. I think we all agree to train and play can put pressure mentally and physically on our bodies. So why haven’t the BWF governing body with safety measures and doctors have never made junior rules for 6-11 yrs old whose body frames are not yet formed to play the same shots or same fottwork as adults on an adult court?

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