I.

HISTORY OF BADMINTON
Basketball is a sport played by two teams of five players on a rectangular court. The
objective is to shoot a ballthrough a hoop 18 inches (46 cm) in diameter and 10 feet
(3.048 m) high mounted to a backboard at each end. Basketball is one of the world's most
popular and widely viewed sports. The National Basketball Association (NBA) is the most
popular and widely considered to be the highest level of professional basketball in the
world and NBA players are the world's best paid sportsmen, by average annual salary per
player. A team can score a field goal by shooting the ball through the basket during regular
play. A field goal scores three points for the shooting team if the player shoots from behind
the three-point line, and two points if shot from in front of the line. A team can also score
via free throws, which are worth one point, after the other team was assessed with certain
fouls. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins, but additional time
(overtime) is issued when the score is tied at the end of regulation. The ball can be
advanced on the court by bouncing it while walking or running or throwing it to a
teammate. It is a violation to lift or drag one's pivot foot without dribbling the ball,
to carry it, or to hold the ball with both hands then resume dribbling. As well as many
techniques for shooting, passing, dribbling and rebounding, basketball teams generally
have player positions and offensive and defensive structures (player positioning).
Traditionally, the tallest and strongest members of a team are called a center or power
forward, while slightly shorter and more agile players are called small forward, and the
shortest players or those who possess the best ball handling skills are called a point guard
or shooting guard. In early December 1891, Canadian Dr. James Naismith, a physical
education professor and instructor at the International Young Men's Christian Association
Training School (YMCA) (today, Springfield College) in Springfield, Massachusetts was
trying to keep his gym class active on a rainy day. He sought a vigorous indoor game to
keep his students occupied and at proper levels of fitness during the long New
England winters. After rejecting other ideas as either too rough or poorly suited to walled-
in gymnasiums, he wrote the basic rules and nailed a peach basket onto a 10-foot (3.05 m)
elevated track. In contrast with modern basketball nets, this peach basket retained its
bottom, and balls had to be retrieved manually after each "basket" or point scored; this
proved inefficient, however, so the bottom of the basket was removed, allowing the balls to
be poked out with a long dowel each time. Basketball was originally played with a soccer
ball. The first balls made specifically for basketball were brown, and it was only in the late
1950s that Tony Hinkle, searching for a ball that would be more visible to players and
spectators alike, introduced the orange ball that is now in common use. Dribbling was not
part of the original game except for the "bounce pass" to teammates. Passing the ball was
the primary means of ball movement. Dribbling was eventually introduced but limited by
the asymmetric shape of early balls. Dribbling only became a major part of the game
around the 1950s, as manufacturing improved the ball shape. The peach baskets were used
until 1906 when they were finally replaced by metal hoops with backboards. A further
change was soon made, so the ball merely passed through. Whenever a person got the ball
in the basket, his team would gain a point. Whichever team got the most points won the
game. The baskets were originally nailed to the mezzanine balcony of the playing court, but
this proved impractical when spectators in the balcony began to interfere with shots. The
backboard was introduced to prevent this interference; it had the additional effect of
allowing rebound shots. Naismith's handwritten diaries, discovered by his granddaughter
in early 2006, indicate that he was nervous about the new game he had invented, which
incorporated rules from a children's game called "Duck on a Rock", as many had failed
before it. Naismith called the new game "Basket Ball". The first official game was played in
the YMCA gymnasium in Albany, New York, on January 20, 1892, with nine players. The
game ended at 1–0; the shot was made from 25 feet (7.6 m), on a court just half the size of a
present-day Streetball or National Basketball Association (NBA) court. By 1897–1898
teams of five became standard. The game of basketball, as we know it today was created by
Dr. James Naismith in December 1891 in Springfield, Massachusetts to condition young
athletes during the cold. It consisted of peach baskets and a soccer style ball. He published
13 rules for the new game. He divided his class of 18 into two teams of nine players each
and set about to teach them the basics of his new game. The objective of the game was to
throw the basketball into the fruit baskets nailed to the lower railing of the gym balcony.
Every time a point was scored, the game was halted so the janitor could bring out a ladder
and retrieve the ball. After a while, the bottoms of the fruit baskets were removed. The first
public basketball game was played in Springfield, Massachusetts, on March 11, 1892.

II. EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES

 Basketball
A basketball is a spherical inflated ball used in a game of basketball.
Basketballs typically range in size from very small promotional items only a few
inches in diameter to extra-large balls nearly a foot in diameter used in training
exercises to increase the skill of players. The standard size of a basketball in
the NBA is 9.5 to 9.85 inches (24.1 to 25.0 cm) in diameter. Aside from the court and
the baskets, the basketball is the only piece of equipment necessary to play the game
of basketball. During the game, the ball must be bounced continuously (dribbling),
thrown through the air to other players (passing) and towards the basket
(shooting). Therefore, the ball must be very durable and easy to hold on to. The
basketball is also used to perform tricks (sometimes called free styling), the most
common of which are spinning the ball on the tip of one's index finger, dribbling in
complex patterns, rolling the ball over one's shoulder, or performing aerobatic
maneuvers with the ball while executing a slam dunk, most notably in the context of
a slam dunk contest.
Different sizes are used for different age groups. The common standards are:

Siz
Type Circumference
e

56–57 cm (22–
3 Mini
22 in)

69–71 cm (27–
5 Youth
28 in)

Women's 72–74 cm (28–

6
official 29 in)

Men's 75–76 cm (30–

7
official 30 in)

Note that the ball used for all competitions (men's, women's, and mixed) in the formalized
halfcourt game of 3x3 combines characteristics of the size 6 and size 7 balls. Its
circumference is that of a size 6 ball, but its weight is that of a size 7.

 Backboard
A backboard is a piece of basketball equipment. It is a raised vertical board
with a basket attached. It is made of a flat, rigid piece of material, often Plexiglas. It
is usually rectangular as used in NBA, NCAA and international basketball. But many
backboards may be oval or a fan-shape, particularly in non-professional games.
Today most professional backboards are made of a glass backboard so that it will
not obstruct the audience's view, although most non-professional backboards are
made from something that may obstruct the audience's view, such as goals at parks
or on streets. A basketball hoop is mounted to a basketball backboard via a flexible
connection between the backboard and the connection supporting the hoop. The
shock of a basket or a dunk is absorbed by the connecting part, so that the rim goes
back to a horizontal position once again. The top of the hoop is 10 feet above the
ground. Regulation backboards are 6 feet wide (72 inches) by 42 inches tall. All
basketball rims (hoops) are 18 inches in diameter. The inner rectangle on the
backboard is 24 inches wide by 18 inches tall. The first glass backboard was used by
the Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team at the Men's Gymnasium at Indiana
University. After the first few games at their new facility in 1917, spectators
complained that they couldn't see the game because of opaque wooden backboards.
As a result the Nurre Mirror Plate Company in Bloomington was employed to create
new backboards that contained one-and-a-half inch thick plate glass so that fans
could see games without an obstructed view. It was the first facility in the country to
use glass backboards.

 Basketball Court
In basketball, the basketball court is the playing surface, consisting of a
rectangular floor with tiles at either end. In professional or organized basketball,
especially when played indoors, it is usually made out of a wood, often maple, and
highly polished. Outdoor surfaces are generally made from standard paving
materials such as concrete or asphalt.
III. TERMS
Alternating-possession rule: The possession arrow changes direction after each held ball
situation, alternating which team gets possession of the ball.
Assist: A pass that immediately precedes and sets up a scored basket.
Backboard: The rectangular or fan-shaped board behind the basket.
Backcourt: The half of the court that is opposite a team’s offensive basket; the court a team is
attempting to defend.
Ball handler: The player with the ball; usually the point guard at the start of a play.
Ball Side: The half of the court from the middle to the sideline where the ball is currently located.
May also be referred to as the ‘strong side’.
Bank shot: A shot where the ball is first bounced (or banked) off the backboard at such an angle
that it then drops into the basket.
Baseline: The boundary line behind each basket; also called the endline.
Basket: Attached to the backboard, it consists of a metal rim 18″ in diameter suspended 10′ from
the floor, from which a 15-18″ corded net hangs, and through which points are scored; also used to
refer to a successful field goal.
Beat the defender: When an offensive player, with or without the ball, is able to get past an
opponent who is guarding him.
Bench Points: The number of points scored during a game from players that began the game on the
bench. All points scored by non-starters.
Blocked shot: The successful deflection of a shot by touching part of the ball on its way to the
basket, thereby preventing a field goal.
Blocking: The use of a defender’s body position to illegally prevent an opponent’s advance; the
opposite of charging.
Bonus free throw: See “One-and-One.”
Bounce pass: A pass that strikes the floor before it reaches the receiver.
Boxing out: A player’s attempt to position his body between his opponent and the basket to get
rebounds and prevent the opponents from doing so. Also referred to as Blocking out.
Carrying the ball: Also called “palming;” a violation committed by a dribbler that involves placing
the dribbling hand under the ball and momentarily holding or carrying it while dribbling.
Center: Also called the “pivot player;” an offensive position typically played by a tall player who
plays mainly in the key areas (at the post).
Center court circle: The circular area at midcourt from which jump balls are taken.
Charging: A personal foul committed when an offensive player illegally contacts a defensive player
who has established position or is stationary.
Chest pass: A two-handed pass thrown from the passer’s chest in a straight line to the chest area of
the receiver.
Controlling the boards: Securing a majority of the rebounds.
Conversion:
A made basket or free throw.
Court vision: A player’s ability to see everything on the court during play — such as where his
teammates and defenders are set up — which enables him to make better choices in passing; the
best players possess this trait.
Crossover dribble: A dribble in which the ball is moved from one hand to the other while the
dribbler changes directions.
Cut: A quick movement by an offensive player to elude an opponent or to receive the ball.
Cylinder: The imaginary area directly above the basket where goaltending or basket interference
can occur.
Dead ball: Occurs whenever the whistle blows to stop play and after a field goal, but before the
opponent gains possession of the ball.
Defense: The team not in possession of the ball whose objective is to keep the opponent from
scoring; also a specific pattern of play used by a defending team.
Defensive rebound: A rebound of an opponent’s missed shot.
Double-double: When a player scores double-digits in 2 categories during one game (points,
assists and rebounds are most common, but it can also be blocks or steals); a sign of great
versatility.
Double dribble: A violation that occurs when a player dribbles the ball with two hands
simultaneously or stops dribbling and then dribbles again.
Double foul: A situation in which two opponents commit a foul against each other simultaneously.
Double team: A defensive tactic in which two defenders temporarily guard one player.
Downcourt or down the court: The direction a team on offense moves, from its backcourt into its
frontcourt and towards its own basket.
Dribble or dribbling: Process by which a player repeatedly bounces the ball off the floor so that it
returns to his/her possession. It’s the only legal means by which a single player may move the ball
across the court.
Drive: A quick dribble directly to the basket in an effort to score.
Dunk: When a player close to the basket jumps and strongly throws the ball down into it; an
athletic, creative shot used to intimidate opponents.
Elbow: A term often used to indicate the area of the court where the free-throw line and side of the
key meet.
Elbowing: It is a violation if a player vigorously or excessively swings his elbows, even if there is no
contact; it is a foul if contact is made.
End line:  See ‘baseline’.
Established position:  When a defensive player has both feet firmly planted on the floor before an
offensive player’s head and shoulder get past him; the offensive player who runs into such a
defender is charging.
4-point play: A made 3-point field goal in which the shooter was fouled, followed by a successful
free-throw.
Fake or feint: A deceptive move to throw a defender off balance and allow an offensive player to
shoot or receive a pass; players use their eyes, head or any other part of the body to trick an
opponent.
Fastbreak: An offensive strategy in which a team attempts to move the ball downcourt and into
scoring position as quickly as possible so that the defense is outnumbered and does not have time
to set up.
Field goal: A basket scored on any shot other than a free throw, worth two or three points
depending on the distance of the attempt from the basket.
Flagrant foul: Unnecessary or excessive contact against an opponent.
Forward: An offensive position played to the sides of the basket near the key area and out toward
the sideline along the baseline.
Foul (also referred to as ‘personal foul’): A violation resulting from illegal contact with an
opposing player.
Foul line: See “Free-throw line.”
Foul shot:  See “Free-throw.”
Free throw: An unguarded shot taken from behind the free-throw line after a foul. If successful, the
shot counts one point.
Free-throw lane: Also called the “key” or “lane;” a 12-foot wide area extending from the baseline to
the free-throw line. Players may not be in this area during a free-throw attempt.
Free-throw line: A 12-foot-long line that is parallel to and 15 feet from the backboard.
Free-throw line extended: An imaginary line drawn from the free-throw line to the sideline to
determine the location for certain plays.
Front court: The half of the court (divided by the center line) that contains the offensive team’s
basket; the offensive half of the court.
Full–court press: A defensive tactic in which a team guards the opponents closely the full length of
the court.
Game clock: Shows how much time remains in each quarters or halves of games.
Guard: An offensive position played primarily at the perimeter, or away from the basket.
Guarding: The act of following an opponent around the court to prevent him from getting close to
the basket, taking an open shot or making easy an pass, while avoiding illegal contact.
Half-court or set offense: When a team takes the time to develop a play in its frontcourt, such as
the give-and-go or a screening play; opposite of fast break.
Held ball: Formerly called a “jump ball.” When two players on opposite teams are in joint control of
the ball.
Help Side: The half of the court from the middle to the sideline opposite to where the ball is
currently located.
Hesitation Dribble: A dribbling action with a change-of-pace intended to confuse and/or freeze
the defender. The basic action is a stutter step in which the dribbler momentarily slows his or her
pace and speed.
High percentage shot: A shot that is likely to go in the basket, such as a layup.
High post: An imaginary area outside either side of the foul lane at the elbow / free-throw line
extended area.
Inbounds: The area within the baselines and sidelines of the court; also the act of bringing the ball
into this area by means of a throw-in.
Incidental contact: Minor contact usually overlooked by officials.
Inside shooting: Shots taken by a player near or under the basket.
Intentional foul: A personal foul that the official judges to be premeditated.
In the paint: In the “key” area, so named because this area of the floor is painted.
Jump ball: The procedure for starting play at the beginning of a game or an overtime period. The
official tosses the ball into the air between the two opponents positioned at the center-court circle;
the two players jump up and try to tap the ball to a teammate.
Jump shot: A shot that is released after the shooter has jumped into the air.
Jump stop: A method used to come to a complete stop. Both feet must land simultaneously – either
parallel or staggered – in order for it to be a jump stop.
Key: Also called the “free-throw lane” or “lane;” the area measuring 12 feet in width and extending
from the free-throw line to the end line.
Layup or layin: A shot taken close to the basket that is usually banked off the backboard towards
the basket.
Loose ball:  A ball that is alive but not in the possession of either team.
Low post: An imaginary area outside either side of the foul lane close to the basket.
Lower percentage shot: A shot that is less likely to go in the basket, such as one thrown by a
player who is off balance or outside his shooting range.
Man-to-man defense: A team defense in which each player is assigned to guard a particular
opponent.
Offense: The team that has possession of the basketball. Also, a structured pattern of play that a
team uses while attempting to score.
Offensive rebound: A rebound of a team’s own missed shot.
Officials: The referees who control the game, stop and start play, and impose penalties for
violations and fouls.
One-and-one: The “bonus” free-throw situation awarded for non-shooting fouls after the opposing
team exceeds a certain number of team fouls in a half. The person fouled shoots one free throw; if
successful, the shooter takes a second shot.
Out of bounds: The area outside of and including the end lines and sidelines.
Outside shooting: Shots taken from the perimeter.
Over-and-back violation: A violation that occurs when the offensive team returns the ball into the
backcourt once it has positioned itself in the front court.
Overhead pass: A two-handed pass thrown from above the forehead.
Overtime: An extra period played to break a tie score at the end of a regulation game.
Palming: See “Carrying the ball.”
Pass: An intentional throw to a teammate.
Passer: The player who passes the ball to a teammate.
Period: Any quarter, half or overtime segment.
Perimeter: The area beyond the foul circle away from the basket, including 3-point line, from
which players take long-range shots.
Personal foul: Contact between players that may result in injury or provide one team with an
unfair advantage; players may not push, hold, trip, hack, elbow, restrain or charge into an
opponent; these are also counted as team fouls.
Pick: See “Screen or Screener”
Pick and Roll: A play in which an offensive player sets a pick for the dribbler, then cuts off that
pick, or ‘rolls’, toward the basket looking for a pass from the dribbler for a shot.
Pick-up games: Impromptu games played among players who just met.
Pivot: A footwork technique in which a player keeps one foot in contact with a “spot” on the floor
while moving the other foot to adjust the position of the body or to evade a defensive player.
Point guard: An offensive position played by a guard who usually brings the ball up the court and
initiates the offense.
Possession: To be holding or in control of the ball.
Possession arrow: Used to determine which team’s turn it is to inbounds the ball to begin a period
or in a held ball situation.
Post: An offensive position played close to the basket along the key.
Press: An aggressive defense that attempts to force the opponents to make errors by guarding
them closely from either half court, three-quarter court or full court.
Quadruple double: A triple double with double-digits scored in 4 categories.
Rebound: The act of gaining possession of the ball after a missed shot.
Run: Occurs when one team scores several field goals in quick succession while its opponents score
few or none.
Scoring opportunity: When a player gets open for a shot that is likely to score.
Screen or screener: The offensive player who stands between a teammate and a defender to gives
his teammate the chance to take an open shot.
Scrimmage: An unofficial game between two teams, or five-on-five play between team members in
a practice situation.
Shot clock: A clock that limits the time a team with the ball has to shoot it; 24 seconds in the NBA;
in college, 35 seconds for men, 30 seconds for women.
Shooter: A player who takes a shot at the basket.
Shooter’s roll or shooter’s touch: The ability to get even an inaccurate shot to bounce lightly off
the rim and into the basket.
Shooting range: The distance from which a player is likely to make his shots.
Sidelines: 2 boundary lines that run the length of the court.
Sixth man: The best substitute on a team; usually the first player to come off the bench to replace a
starter.
Slam dunk: See “dunk.”
Squaring up: When a player’s shoulders are facing the basket as he releases the ball for a shot;
considered good shooting position.
Substitute: A player who comes into the game to replace a player on the court.
Swing man: A player who can play both the guard and forward positions.
3-point play: A made 2-point field goal in which the shooter was fouled, followed by a successful
free-throw.
3 seconds: A violation in which an offensive player remains within the key for more than three
seconds at a time.
Team fouls: Each personal foul committed by a player is also counted against his team; when a
team goes over the limit, its opponent is awarded free-throw opportunities.
Technical foul: A foul that does not involve contact with an opponent; a foul that involves
unsportsmanlike conduct by a player, coach or non-player; or a contact foul committed by a player
while the ball is dead.
Ten-second line: The mid-court line over which the offensive team must advance the ball from the
backcourt within 10 seconds to avoid a violation.
Three-point field goal: A made basket from a distance greater than 19 feet and nine inches during
a high school or college game.
Three-on-two: A common fastbreak situation in which three offensive players attempt to score on
two defenders.
Timeout: When play is temporarily suspended by an official or at the request of a team to respond
to an injured player or discuss strategy.
Transition: The shift from offense to defense, and vice versa.
Traveling: A violation occurring when a player with the ball takes a step without dribbling (moving
the established pivot foot).
Triple double: When a player scores double-digits in 3 categories during one game (points, assists
and rebounds are most common, but it can also be blocks or steals); a sign of great versatility.
Triple Threat Position: Triple threat is an offensive position a player can use who has not dribbled
yet. The offensive player stands with knees flexed, feet slightly wider than shoulder width, and both
hands on the basketball. From this position, the offensive player can either shoot, dribble, or pass to
a teammate … thereby being a ‘triple threat’ with the basketball.
Turnover: A loss of possession of the ball by means of an error or violation.
Upset: When a higher-seeded (better) team loses to a lower-seeded (inferior) one.
Violation: An infringement of the rules that’s not a foul. The penalty for a violation is the awarding
of the ball to the opponent.
Weakside: The side of the court away from the ball.
Zone defense: A team defense in which each player is responsible for defending an area of the
court and the opponents within that area.
Zone offense: An offensive pattern of play designed to attack (score against) a particular zone
defense.

IV. BASIC RULES

The Absolute Basics

The aim of badminton is to hit the shuttle with your racket so that it passes over the
net and lands inside your opponent’s half of the court. Whenever you do this, you have won
a rally; win enough rallies, and you win the match. Your opponent has the same goal. He
will try to reach the shuttle and send it back into your half of the court. You can also win
rallies from your opponent’s mistakes: if he hits the shuttle into or under the net, or out of
court, then you win the rally. If you think your opponent’s shot is going to land out, then
you should let it fall to the floor. If you hit the shuttle instead, then the rally continues. Once
the shuttle touches the ground, the rally is over. In this respect, badminton is not like tennis
or squash, where the ball can bounce. You must hit the shuttle once only before it goes
over the net (even in doubles). In this respect, badminton is not like volleyball, where
multiple players can touch the ball before sending it back over the net.

Badminton is played indoors

Some of you may be familiar with playing badminton on a beach, or in the garden.
This is fine when you’re playing it as a casual game, but it doesn’t work when you start to
get competitive. The shuttle is blown off course by even the slightest breath of wind. That’s
why competitive badminton is always played indoors.

Setting up a badminton court

Badminton has its own nets and posts; the net is much lower than for volleyball.
Sometimes a sports centre will set up the court with a slack volleyball net instead, because
the staff don’t know anything about badminton. Ask for proper badminton posts and a
badminton net.
If you need to set up the court yourself, then check three things:

 The net covers the whole width of the court.

 The net is pulled tight, not slack.
 The net is in the middle, so that both court halves are the same size.

Often it can be hard to see the badminton court lines, because lines for other sports are also
painted on the floor. The badminton court lines should all be in one colour, so try to focus
on that.

Singles, doubles, and mixed doubles

You can have either two or four players on a badminton court: one player on each
side, or a team of two players on each side. One-against-one is called singles; two-against-
two is called doubles. In doubles, either player can hit the shuttle; you do not have to take it
in turns. The only exceptions are the first two shots of the rally; I’ll explain this when we
discuss serving.
In total, there are five types of badminton:

 Men’s singles
 Women’s singles
 Men’s doubles
 Women’s doubles
 Mixed doubles (each team is a man and a woman)

Men’s doubles and women’s doubles are also called level doubles.

These are the only types of badminton played in serious tournaments. In casual play,
however, women sometimes play against men (e.g. two women against two men).

What are all those lines for?

When you first look at a badminton court, you could be forgiven for thinking it has
too many lines. This is mainly because the court is marked up for both singles and doubles,
which use slightly different court sizes. The outermost lines form the doubles court. So in a
doubles rally, the shuttle is allowed to land anywhere on the court. The singles court is
slightly narrower than the doubles court. The singles side lines are not the outermost lines,
but the next ones in. Taken together with the outermost (doubles) side lines, these make
narrow alley shapes along the sides of the court. These alleys are often called
the tramlines or side tramlines, since they look like tram or train tracks. So here’s another
way to think about it: the side tramlines are in for doubles, but out for singles.

All the other lines are for serving

There are still three lines we haven’t discussed yet. These lines mean nothing during
the main rally, and only apply when you’re serving. This is similar to how a tennis court has
special lines for serving.

Serving

Serving is how you start the rally: someone has to hit the shuttle first! To prevent the
server gaining an overwhelming advantage, there are special restrictions placed on serving
that don’t apply during the rest of the rally. The receiver is the person who hits the second
shot in the rally. In doubles, the receiver’s partner is not allowed to hit this shot.

How to serve
In badminton, the serve must be hit in an upwards direction, with an underarm hitting
action. You are not allowed to play a tennis style serve.
The main rule here is that when you hit the shuttle, it must be below your waist. To be
exact, the rules define this to be a height level with the lowest part of your ribcage. In other
words, you can serve from a bit higher than the top of your shorts, but not much.

Service courts

The service courts are smaller box shapes inside the court. We’ll look at what they are used
for in a moment, but first let’s get the right boxes.
Notice that the badminton court has a line down the middle, extending from the back to
near the net; this is the centre line. At the front of the court, the centre line is met by
another line; this is the front service line. These two lines form a T shape where they meet.
A singles service court is a box made from four lines:

 The centre line

 A singles side line (inside side line)
 The front service line
 The back line (the outside one, all the way at the back)

On your side of the net, you have two service courts: your right service court, and your left
service court. The same is true for your opponent.
The doubles service courts are slightly different. They are wider, because they use the
outside side line (remember: the doubles court is wider); and they are shorter, because
they use the inside back line.
That’s what the inside back line is for: doubles service, and nothing else. It’s probably the
most confusing line on a badminton court, because that’s all it does!
So just to be clear, a doubles service court is made from these four lines:

 The centre line

 A doubles side line (outside side line)
 The front service line
 The inside back line (not the very back line, but the next one in)

How service courts are used

Service courts are used for three things:

 The server must stand inside a service court.

 The receiver must stand inside the diagonally opposite service court.
 The serve must travel into the diagonally opposite service court.
For example, suppose the server is standing in his left service court. The receiver will be
standing in his left service court, which is also where the serve has to go.
If the serve is going to land outside the service court, then the receiver should let it fall to
the floor. If the receiver hits the serve, then the rally continues even if the serve had been
going out.
The server and receiver must stay inside their service boxes until the server contacts the
shuttle with his racket. After that, they can leave the boxes immediately and move
anywhere on court.

Game Rules and Scoring

1. The current scoring system in badminton is the 3 × 21 rally point scoring system. This
means that three games are played to 21 points each, with a required two point difference
between scores (meaning scores can go above 21, to a maximum of 30).
2. No point is earned when a player commits a fault.
3. A good serve must go directly into the receiver’s box.
4. In single, the court is long and narrow while in doubles it’s short and wide.

Service Rules

A. Neither side shall cause undue delay to the delivery of the service once the server and
the receiver are ready for the service.
B. The server and the receiver shall stand within diagonally opposite service courts without
touching the boundary lines of these service courts.
C. Some part of both feet of the server and the receiver shall remain in contact with the
surface of the court in a stationary position from the start of the service until the service is
delivered.
D. The server’s racket shall initially hit the base of the shuttle.
E. The whole shuttle shall be below the server’s waist at the instant of being hit by the
server’s racket.
F. The waist shall be considered to be an imaginary line round the body, level with the
lowest part of the server’s bottom rib.
G. The shaft of the server’s racket at the instant of hitting the shuttle shall be pointing in a
downward direction.
H. The movement of the server’s racket shall continue forwards from the start of the
service until the service is delivered.
I. The flight of the shuttle shall be upwards from the server’s racket to pass over the net so
that, if not intercepted, it shall land in the receiver’s service court.
J. In attempting to serve, the server shall not miss the shuttle.
K. Once the players are ready for the service, the first forward movement of the server’s
racket head shall be the start of the service.
L. The server shall not serve before the receiver is ready. However, the receiver shall be
considered to have been ready if a return of the service is attempted.
M. In doubles, during the delivery of service, the partners may take up any positions within
their respective courts, which do not unsighted the opposing server or receiver.
Badminton Faults

1. If in play, the shuttle lands outside the boundary of the court, passes through or under
the net, 1touches the ceiling or side walls, touches the dress of a player.
2. If in play, a player invades an opponent’s court over the net with the racket or person
except such as an opponent is obstructed or distracted.
3. If in play, the shuttle is caught and hold on the racket during the execution of a stroke.
4. During play, the shuttle is hit twice in succession by the same player with two strokes.
5. When the shuttle is caught on the net and remains suspended on top, or on service,
passing over the net, is caught in the net.
6. During service, the server accidentally touches the service line or any line boundary.
7. The server’s racket did not hit initially the base of the shuttle.
8. During the service, the server serves and hitting the shuttle above his waist line.
9. As the server hits the shuttle the racket’s head is obviously not lower than the handle.

Lets

1. The server serves before the receiver is ready.

2. During the service, the server and receiver are both faulted.
3. A line judge is unsighted and the umpire is unable to make decision.
4. During play, the shuttle disintegrates and the base completely separates from the rest of
the shuttle.
5. When the game is interrupted by the outside factor like the sunlight, wind or a
shuttlecock landed in your court from other court.
6. It is interrupted by correction of an error in playing order or ends.

V. OFFICIAL AND OFFICIATING

 Technical Officials

Technical Officials (TOs) are a critical part of the game and the BWF is committed to
developing and maintaining skilled and well qualified TOs for its signature events and for
the sport at the international level. The BWF is also committed to developing training
materials / guidelines for referees, umpires and line judges and ensuring fair and
transparent processes of assessment, nomination for BWF major tournaments. The
coordination and management of TOs for the BWF is the responsibility of the Events
Committee, supported by the Technical Officials Commission and the staff in the Events
Department. 

 Referee 

The Referee is in overall charge of the tournament competition.  The referee shall
ensure that the tournament is conducted in accordance with the Laws of Badminton, the
Rules and Regulations of the BWF and any other regulations pertinent to the specific
competition.  He/she shall ensure that the players are given facilities (including practice)
and playing conditions of an adequate standard and safety, approval of the programme of
play and practice schedule, ensuring an appropriate transport setup and overall
monitoring of matters related to the fair an proper conduct the tournament for the players.
The referee shall also ensure that there is an adequate panel of technical officials of
requisite ability and appropriate international representation.

 BWF Tournament Director 

BWF Tournament Director is in charge of the commercial aspects including the

presentation of the game. When the sporting and commercial/presentational areas touch,
there will be a grey area, where it is important that common solutions are found and
defended towards any outside party. The order of play for the last rounds is typically a such
area, where good cooperation is crucial. The BWF Tournament Director will have the final
decision in matters affecting the implementation of BWF commercial and media rights
contracts including the presentation of the field of play.  The BWF Tournament Director
will provide the referee with a recommendation based on consultation with the various
stakeholders (broadcasters, hosts etc.) on the order of play on televised courts, which the
referee shall normally follow. All parties shall always work within the boundaries of the
regulations.

 The Technical Delegate

In Multi-Sport Games the OC will ask for the appointment of a TD. There may be regulations
concerning the TD’s role and responsibilities in the Games statutes and they may vary from
one Multi-Sport Games to another. Generally, the TD will take over the activities concerning
preparation of the badminton event of the Multi-Sport Games, which a referee would
normally take responsibility for. The TD should keep the referee (when appointed, often
much later than the TD) informed about major issues related to the preparation of the
event. The TD will then hand over responsibility for the delivery of the event to the referee
in connection with the Team Managers meeting, which will be conducted by the Referee.
The TD will keep close contact with the referee during the event and advise on any matter,
in particular with relation to protocol, to the OC and to other sports. The TD will liaise
closely with the BWF Events Chair, Secretary General, Events Director and the relevant
Events Department Team in connection with the general preparations of any Multisports
Event on a World, Continental and Regional level. Any overall principle matters outside the
normal oversight of technical matters should be referred to the BWF Secretariat and
appropriate replies should be sent from the BWF Secretariat. The roles and delegations
between the TD and the Events Staff team will be coordinated and decided from time to
time and may vary depending on the nature of the Multisports Event

 Umpire
The Umpire has authority over a particular match and shall be in charge of the court
and its immediate surrounds.  The Umpire shall ensure the match is conducted in
accordance with the Laws of Badminton, the Rules and Regulations of the BWF and any
other regulations pertinent to the specific competition.  The Umpire makes rule calls
regarding service faults and other player faults or lets.  The Umpire keeps the match score
which he or she announces after each point.  The Umpire also keeps a record of any
incidents of misconduct and reports them to the Referee.  The Umpires jurisdiction shall
exist from entering the court before the match until leaving the court after the match and
they shall report to and act under the authority of the Referee. 

 Linejudge

The linejudge is responsible for a service, side or baseline during a particular match
and decides whether the shuttle has landed in or out of court.  Linejudges call the shuttle
‘in’ or ‘out’ using the appropriate verbal call and hand signals. If they are unsighted they
signal to this effect and the Umpire shall make the decision or if no decision can be given a
let shall be called. There is currently no Accredited / Certificated categories for Line Judges.
All invitations for Line Judges are sent to Continentaion Confederations who then nominate
Line Judges for BWF events, copying in their respective Member. These nominations are
forwarded to the Events Committee who make appointments for the events

VI. FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS

VII. INTRA-CLASS TOURNAMENT

Intra-class tournament is a competition that is held between two or more classes
that may be at same or different levels. Rather than having a forum or exhibition, it
represents a way to motivate students to try their best as it is a competition between
different classes. It also gives a first-hand showing of the views of students. An intra-class
competition is probably more intense and the audience can feel the flow of knowledge
coming out between both sides.