Basic Badminton Rules
History
Badminton has been around for a long time. Historians believe that a very similar game called “battledore” was played in China over 2000 years ago. Badminton as it is currently known is believed to have originated from a game called “Poona” that was played by the English army officers stationed in India during the 17th century. Since, it has grown in popularity and has even been included as a full-fledged medal sport in the Olympic Games.
Game
Matches consist of winning two out of three games. The game can be played as singles or doubles. The purpose is to hit the shuttle to the opponent’s court and have it land on the court without being returned. A point can only be scored by the serving team; otherwise, it is a side-out. Players change sides of the court after each game. The winner of the previous game starts the serve in the next game. Men’s singles game and all doubles games are played to 15 points. Women’s singles game is played to 11 points.
Court
The court is 44 feet long. The doubles court is 20 feet wide. The singles court is 17 feet wide. The net is 5 feet at the center and 5 foot 1 inch at the posts.
Equipment
The official shuttlecock is made from goose feathers that are placed in a leather-covered cork head. Another name for the shuttlecock, which is the object that is volleyed back and forth over the net, is the shuttle or birdie. Recreational birdies are made of plastic or nylon. The racket is light in weight and made of a variety of different materials.
Serving
The serve must be delivered into the diagonal service court and within its boundaries to be a legal serve. The server must stand in the serving court, feet not touching any lines, when serving. In singles, the service is made from the right service court whenever the server’s score is an even number. Whenever the server’s score is an odd number, the service is made from the left service court. In doubles, the first serve is started from the right court. The server will alternate service courts each time a point is made or until the serve is lost. The server is allowed only one trial to put the shuttle into play. On a serve, the shuttle must be contacted below the waist in an underhanded motion. Only the serving team can score a point.
Play
On a volley, any shuttle hitting the boundary line is considered in. On a return, if the shuttle hits the net and then lands in the proper court, it is considered legal. In doubles, only the person served to may return the shuttle. The shuttle can be hit one time each time it crosses the net.
Faults
A fault is any infraction of the rules and results in the loss of the serve or in a point for the server. It is a fault (loss of service for the serving side; or loss of point for the receiving side) when:
* on a serve, the shuttle lands outside of the specified service court.
* the shuttle passes through or under the net.
* if the receiver or server is standing outside of the proper court upon delivery of
the serve.
* a player reaches over the net to contact a shuttle.
* a player touches the net with the racket or any part of the body while the shuttle
is in play.
* a player contacts the shuttle twice in one swing- double hit.
* in doubles, a shuttle is hit by a player and the player’s partner successively.
Definitions
Around the Head stroke: An overhand stroke used when hitting a forehand-like overhead stroke that is on the backhand side of the body.
Backhand: A stroke made on the non-racket side of the body.
Baseline: The back boundary line of the court.
Block: A soft shot, used primarily in defense against a smash.
Clear: A high shot that goes over your opponent’s head and lands close to the baseline.
Drop: A shot that just clears the net, then falls close to it.
Forehand: Any stroke made on the racket side of the body.
Home Base: The position in the center of the court from which the player can best play any shot hit by an opponent.
Long Serve: A high deep serve landing near the long service line in doubles or back boundary line (baseline) in singles.
Short Serve: A serve that barely clears the net and lands just beyond the short service line.
Smash: An overhead stroke hit downward with great velocity and angle.
Underhand: A stroke that is hit upward when the shuttle has fallen below shoulder level.