Badminton is a fast-paced and exciting racquet sport that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels. Here are some of the basic rules of badminton:
The Court:
The badminton court is rectangular, measuring 44 feet (13.4 meters) long and 20 feet (6.1 meters) wide for singles matches, and 22 feet (6.7 meters) wide for doubles matches.
The court is divided into two halves by a net that is 5 feet (1.55 meters) high at the center and 5 feet 1 inch (1.57 meters) high at the ends.
There is a service line 2 feet 6 inches (0.76 meters) from the back of the court on each side.
There is a centerline running down the middle of the court.
The Equipment:
The badminton racket is lightweight and usually made of graphite or aluminum.
The badminton birdie, also known as a shuttlecock, is a small projectile with a cork base, feathers, and a plastic skirt.
The Game:
The original scoring system in badminton dates back to as early as 1873.
A match or rubber is decided by the best of three games. Each game is played to 15 points in the case of men's singles and any doubles games. In the case of ladies' singles, a game is played to 11 points.
The traditional scoring system also allows for a single game to determine a match. In this instance the game would be played to 21 points.
A badminton match is played to the best of three games, with each game being played to 21 points.
A point is scored when the shuttlecock lands in the opponent's court, or if the opponent commits a fault.
A player can score a point whether they serve or receive the serve.
The server must serve diagonally across the court to the opponent's service box.
The serve must be hit underarm and below the server's waist.
The shuttlecock must be hit over the net and within the court boundaries.
A player cannot touch the net with their racket or body.
A player cannot hit the shuttlecock twice in a row.
Serving:
The serve must be hit below the server's waist and below the server's ribcage.
Shuttlecock must be held below 1.15 meters (3.8 feet) from the court before serving, instead of below the server's waist.
Aims to increase fairness and clarity in judging service faults.
The server and receiver must stand within their respective service courts, and both feet of the server must be in contact with the ground.
The serve must be made diagonally across the net.
Faults:
A fault is committed if the shuttle:
Lands outside the boundaries of the court.
Fails to clear the net.
Lands in the wrong service court.
Touches the ceiling or side walls.
Is struck by a player or a player's clothing.
Is carried on the racket and not hit cleanly
If the player touches the net,
If the player hits the shuttlecock twice in a row
If the player serves incorrectly.
If a player commits a fault, their opponent scores a point.
Doubles Play:
In doubles, each side has only one serve before the serve passes to the opposing side.
During the serve, the shuttle must be hit from below the server's waist with an underarm motion.
The server and receiver's partner must not move until the shuttle is served.
Change of Ends:
Players change ends after each game and when the leading score reaches 11 points in the third game.
Let:
A let is called if a rally is disrupted, and the point is replayed. Common reasons for a let include the shuttle touching the net during a serve or if there is any interference during play.
Continuation of Play:
The side that wins a rally adds a point to its score and serves again from the alternate service court.
Winning the Match:
The side that wins two out of three games wins the match.
It's essential to familiarize yourself with these rules before playing or participating in a badminton match. Keep in mind that these are basic rules, and there may be variations or additional rules depending on the level of play and specific tournament regulations.
Additional Rules:
In doubles matches, players must serve and receive the serve diagonally.
If the score is tied at 20-20, the game is extended until one side wins by two points.
Players may call for a "let" if they are interrupted during a rally.
These are just some of the basic rules of badminton. For more detailed information, you can consult the official rules of the Badminton World Federation (BWF).Best-of-five format instead of best-of-three.
Games to be 11 points instead of 21.
Intentions are to make matches more exciting, quicker, and TV-friendly.
Limit coaching breaks to the interval and end of each game, removing them during games.
Aims to promote player autonomy and on-court strategy.
These changes are still experimental/proposed and not yet universally adopted.
I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.