Play competitively. Socialize freely. Respect everyone. Have fun.
Purpose
Pickle Storm is a recreational, non-sanctioned event designed to promote fun, social interaction, sportsmanship, team spirit and friendly competition among pickleball players.
Event principles
- Fun and socialization
The first purpose of Pickle Storm is an enjoyable place to play pickleball, meet other players and build friendships.
- Skill-based competition
Players are grouped or matched, as far as reasonably practicable, with opponents of a similar skill level, so matches are competitive, enjoyable and balanced.
- Participation and fair play
The tournament encourages meaningful playing time for everyone. Players are expected to compete honestly, make fair line calls, respect opponents and partners, and show good sportsmanship.
- Team spirit
Support your partner and respect the other side. Friendly competition always comes before winning.
- Player development
Matches are a chance to gain competitive experience, improve, and play different opponents in a supportive setting.
- Non-sanctioned status
Pickle Storm is not sanctioned, endorsed or recognized by any pickleball governing body. Results are for this event only and are not official ratings, rankings, qualifications or sanctioned tournament results.
- Spirit of the event
Everyone is expected to uphold the guiding line: play competitively, socialize freely, respect everyone, have fun.
How a point is played
These are the standard rules of pickleball in plain words. The numbers point to the 2026 Official Rulebook, where the full wording lives.
- Stand behind the baseline with at least one foot on the ground in the serving area and neither foot on the court.
- Serve diagonally. The ball has to clear the kitchen, line included, and land in the service box across from you.
- Out of the air: the paddle moves upward, its head stays below your wrist, and you meet the ball no higher than your waist.
- Or drop it: let the ball fall from a natural height without pushing it, then hit it after it bounces.
- Serve within 10 seconds of the score being called (Rule 6.D).
The serve has to bounce before it is returned, and the return has to bounce before the serving side hits it. After those two bounces anyone may hit the ball out of the air.
- The kitchen is the 7 feet next to the net on each side. Its lines are part of it.
- You may stand in it at any time, except while you are hitting the ball out of the air.
- It is a fault if you, your paddle, your clothing or your partner touch the kitchen while you volley, or if your momentum carries you in afterwards, even once the ball is dead.
- If you were in the kitchen, both feet have to be back outside it before you volley.
- In standard scoring only the serving side scores. Lose the rally while serving and the serve moves on.
- In doubles both partners serve before the serve goes to the other team. The one exception is the very start of a game, when only one partner serves.
- Call three numbers before each serve: your score, their score, then server one or two. Every game starts at zero, zero, two.
- Games are usually to 11, win by 2. The rulebook also allows one game to 15 or 21, and rally scoring as a provisional option (Rules 14.A and 15.C).
At Pickle Storm: pool matches are one game to 11, win by 2. Knockout matches are best of three games.
- You call the lines on your own side. Either partner may make the call.
- Any doubt goes to your opponent. If you cannot promptly call it out, it is in.
- Call a ball out only when you clearly see space between the ball and the line.
- If partners disagree, the ball is in.
- You may ask your opponents. If they give a clear answer, it stands.
- Spectators are never asked.
- A ball on a line is in, except a serve that lands on the kitchen line.
- Call faults on yourself and your partner as soon as they happen.
- On your opponents you may call only kitchen faults and service foot faults. If the two teams disagree about one of those calls, replay the rally.
- For anything else you may mention it after the rally. The decision belongs to the player concerned.
Each team has two time-outs of up to one minute in a game to 11 or 15, and three in a game to 21. Each player may take one medical time-out in a match.
Players run their own matches and report their own results. If something cannot be resolved quickly between the two teams, ask for the tournament director.
The court is 20 by 44 feet for singles and doubles. The net is 36 inches high at the sidelines and 34 inches at the centre.
How the tournament is run
- Six categories, all doubles. Open 18 to 45: men, women and mixed. Super Doubles 45+: men, women and mixed.
- No skill divisions. Categories go by age group. Players give a self-rated level when they register. DUPR ratings are not used.
- Pool play first. Round robin, one game to 11, win by 2.
- Then knockout rounds. Each match is best of three games.
- Players run their own matches. A tournament director is on the floor to answer questions and settle disputes.
Where these come from
This page is a summary. For anything it does not cover, the 2026 Official Rulebook applies, unless the organisers announce a change for this event.