badminton rules

Badminton Unit Overview

  • Badminton is both a competitive and recreational sport

  • Focuses on:

    • Hand-eye coordination

    • Agility

    • Cardiovascular endurance

  • Gaining popularity as a lifetime sport, in high schools, colleges, and at the Olympic level

Court Layout

  • Key Areas:

    • Side Line for Doubles

    • Side Line for Singles

    • Center Line

    • Doubles Service Court

    • Singles Service Court

    • Net

    • Short Service Line

    • Long Service Line for Doubles

    • Back Boundary Line

Simplified Rules of Badminton

  1. Match Start: Toss a coin or spin a racket to decide the first serve or side of play.

  2. Game Format: Best of 3 games to win.

  3. Scoring: First team to score 21 points wins the game.

  4. Rally Scoring: Either team can score points (similar to volleyball).

  5. Twenties Rule: At 20-20, a team must score 2 consecutive points to win.

  6. Ending at Twenty-Nine: At 29-29, the team scoring the 30th point wins.

  7. Serving Order: The winning team serves first in the next game.

Service Rules

  • How to Serve:

    • Can be delivered forehand or backhand but must be underhand (hand below head at contact).

    • Feet must remain stationary until after contact with the shuttle.

    • Must serve to the opposite diagonal court:

      • Singles: Serve must land in long, narrow service court.

      • Doubles: Serve must land in short, wide service court.

    • Shuttle Rules:

      • Shuttle touching the line is considered good.

      • A serve hitting the net and landing in the service court is also good.

    • Trials: Only one service attempt is allowed per player per inning.

    • Changing Sides: Players change sides only when serving and after scoring.

    • Proper Positioning: All players must be in correct courts during service. Only the player served to may return the serve.

    • After service, the shuttle can land anywhere in the proper court and players are free to move.

Faults in Badminton

  • Points awarded to the opposing team for the following faults:

    1. Illegal service (e.g., shuttle above waist, racket too high).

    2. Shuttle lands outside specific court areas or hits obstructions.

    3. Receiver's partner hits the served shuttle.

    4. Shuttle lands outside court boundaries; any line contact is good.

    5. Player stepping out of their court before the service.

    6. Player reaching over the net (follow-through is allowed).

    7. Player touching the net with racket or body/clothing.

    8. Failing to return the shuttle correctly to the opponent's court.

    9. Server stepping forward during the service.

    10. In doubles, blocking the server (unsighting) is not allowed.

    11. Holding the shuttle or hitting it twice during a play.

    12. Missing the shuttle while attempting to serve.

    13. Doubles team hitting the shuttle more than once before returning.

Types of Shots in Badminton

  • Serves:

    • Long high serve

    • Short low serve

  • Other Shots:

    • Clear

    • Drive

    • Drop

    • Smash