History of Ball Badminton

The game was played as early as 1856 by the royal family in Tanjore, the capital of
Thanjavur district in Tamil Nadu, India. It became popular, commanding the interest
of the Maharaja of Tanjore.

The BBF (Ball Badminton Federation of India) was among the first three sports
federations along with the Indian Athletic Federation and the Indian Hockey Federation
to form the Indian Olympic Association in 1961. The first national championship by
BBF was conducted at Hyderabad in 1956 and it keeps conducting the national
tournaments every year. Initially the tournament was conducted at senior level and later
the junior and sub-junior levels are introduced.
THE RULES OF THE BALL BADMINTON

1. The game shall be played by five players a side, two fronts, one center and two
backs with Ball Badminton rackets and woolen ball upon a court as laid out as
per the diagram. Such a game shall be called a game of “Fives” and the game
consists of 35 points.
2. The game shall also be played by doubles or mixed doubles by two players a
side, one front and one back with Ball Badminton racket and woollen ball upon
a court with half the width of the court laid down as shown in diagram 2. The
length of the court and other details remaining the same as that of “Fives”. But
such a game shall be called a game of “Doubles” and it consist of 35 points as
in fives.
3. Singles can also be played in Open or Invitation Tournaments by one player a
side. The width of the Court will be the same as that of Doubles but the length
will be half of the length of the Doubles Court and the game points will be 35
as in fives.
4. The ball: A ball of yellow colour made of wool shall not be less than 22 grams
and not more than 23 grams in weight and not less than 5cms. And not more
than 5.5 cms. In diameter.
5. The racket: A standard Ball Badminton racket usually weighs from 200 gms.
To 250 gms. And 63 cms. to 70 cms. in total length. The gutted elliptical area
of the racket shall be 20 cms. to 22 cms. across and 24 to 27 cms. length wise.
6. The net: The net shall be made of fine cord to make 2 cms. square mesh all
along and shall be edged with a red tape flush at the top. It shall be tri-color
(red tape, white and blue body). The net shall be 1meter. Wide and 13.5 meters
in length. When tied, a center pole of 183 cms. and two poles of 185cms. at
extremities shall be used to maintain 183 cms. height of the net at the center.
7. Posts: Two posts each 2 meters height shall be fixed at a distance not
exceeding one meter outside the court on either side at the end of the net line to
which the net is tied. These shall be sufficiently strong to keep the net well
stretched. A hook must be fixed at 1.5 meters height to each pole for the
convenience of tightening the net whenever necessary.
 8. The courtThe size of the court for the fives shall be 12 meters in width and 24
meters in length. It is divided across the middle by a net line over which the net
is suspended, the ends of which are attached to the tops of the two posts. One
meter away from each side of the net line and parallel to it are drawn or marked
the serving crease lines. Half way between the serving crease lines and parallel
to the side lines is drawn the center line dividing the space on each side of the
crease line into two equal parts called the right and the left courts.(see diagram)
Notes:

1. The size of the court for doubles shall be 6 meters in width and 24 meters in
length. All the other details of the court will be the same. Thus a doubles court
will be just half the size of the fives court in width only. There shall not be a
centerline for the doubles court as in the fives court. If a fives court is used for
doubles, the center line may be used as the one side line.
2. The boundary lines, centre and crease lines are to be marked clearly with tape
of white colour 10mm thickness.

LAYING A BALL BADMINTON COURT

Ball Badminton court should be laid in North-South directions to avoid derect Sun to
the eyes of players.

Make a line ‘M N’ of 12 meters (east-west). Fix nails at M and N. Make a point ‘O’
from the end M and a point ‘P’ from the end ‘N’ at a distance of 3 meters. Thus
making MN = 12m. MP = 9 m. and NO = 9 m. Now from point M, with a radius of 12
meters make arcs on either side (north and south) and from point P, with a radius of 15
meters cut the previous arcs at A and D.

Similarly from point N, with a radius of 12 meters make arcs on either side and from
point D, with a radius of 15 meters, cut the previous arcs at B and C. Fix nails A,B,C
and D and run a rope through them. Now we got a ‘Fives Court’ – ABCD.

MN is the Net Line. Draw parallel lines either side of it at a distance of one metre.
They are the serving crease lines (dead lines). Mark the mid-points of AB and CD.
Join these mid-points to their serving crease lines. About a metre from M nand N,
erect the posts.

Players and positioning:- At any time 5 players will be playing and 5 players will be
sitting as substitutes for each side. The 5 players will be occupying 5 positions viz.,
left front, left back ,right back, right front and center. However, during play the
positions are interchangeable and it is not a fault.

BALL BADMINTON COURT (FIVES)

While playing five are in the court five substitutes, manager, coach and a gutter of the
respective teams are provided chairs a little away from the side-line. They are
supposed to sit in their respective seats until their game is over.
 BALL BADMINTON COURT(DOUBLES)

1. The play: The act of serving shall consist in striking the ball from the right court
or left court of one side to the diagonally opposite court of the other side. Each
server shall commence from the right court and change over to the left court for
every point made. Any one of the receiving team shall send the ball to the serving
team in a single stroke.
2. In each game immediately after the first 9th, 18th and 27th point the teams shall
change the sides and the server shall serve from the right court or left court as he
would have done in the normal course if the side was not changed. That is to say
if the server had served from the right court obtaining a point necessitating the
change, he shall serve from the left court after change of side. Similarly he shall
 serve from the right court if the point was gained from the left court before the
change.
3. The ball shall be served by a player underhand and below the waist: it shall go
clear over the net and beyond the serving crease line on the other side of the net.
(A service shall be considered overhand if the ball at the moment of being struck
by the racket is higher than the server’s waist. The point to be remembered is that
a service shall be declared overhand only if the ball at the instant of being struck,
i.e., when it actually touches the racket, is higher than the server’s waist. An
overhand service is a fault.)
4. The ball shall be returned before it touches the ground by any one of the players
standing in the court served to.
5. No player shall strike the ball more than once consecutively.
o i) The server shall not serve until the other side is ready. If any of the
players of the other side attempts to return the service, it shall be
considered to be ready.
o ii) If the ball is going out the player tried to attempt it is not a fault.
6. Note: Ordinarily the players of the receiving side are expected to be ready During
the progress of the game a player must not leave the court except when he does
so in the act of playing or when he meets with an accident or for any good reason
with the permission of the umpire.
Note:Changing a racket , tying the shoe lace, tightening the belt etc. cannot be
considered as leaving the court . But player shall involve in such activities only
after getting the permission of the referee . Referee shall normally accede to the
request of the players for such activities when the ball is not in rally . However
the referee will have the final right to refuse, if he is genuinely convinced that
such activities are purposeful delaying tactics

PLAYERS AND SUBSTITUTION

1. (i) In the case of fives tournament the team consists of Ten players whose
names are furnished before the commencement of the tournament and any five
of them shall play while the other five shall be physically present in the
prescribed playing uniform with the team manager outside the court . In the
case of a doubles tournament it shall be a team of three players, the other
stipulations remaining the same.
(ii) During the course of any match of three or five games (as decided by the
tournament committee), three substitution / change of player shall be allowed
in each game if required by the captain / manager of the team subject to rule 6
(g) (i) above. The substitution can be made at any time during the game. Once
the game is stopped on request for making a substitution the substitution should
be executed.
Note :- Once three substitutions are availed no further substitution shall be
allowed during that game under any circumstances
(iii) Time Out: A time out of one minute for both the teams on each game.
2. No change of ball shall be allowed in a match during the set of three games .
Note :-In the event of a ball getting deformed or otherwise unfit for use during
the course of the game, a change may be allowed by the umpire at his
discretion in the matter .
3. To win a Rally: Whenever a Serving Team Wins a Rally (i.e. if the opposition
team fails to return the ball or commits any other fault) the serving team scores
one point and continues to serve. In case if the opponent team wins a rally. The
opponent team gains the right to serve and score one point.
Only one hand will serve in one over starting from Right Side like that all the
five hands of the same team will serve on Rotation basis. When once the First
Five hands will complete in Five overs again the Rotation will start from the
First hand of that team

FAULTS

1. If the server is not stationary while serving.

Note: A server shall be considered to be stationary only if both his feet touch
the ground at the time of service. It is sufficient that any portion of each of the
foot touches the ground while in the act of service. Foot fault shall be declared
only if any foot is raised above the ground and held in suspension while in the
act of service. ACT OF SERVICE MEANS PRE-ACTION, STRIKING THE
BALL AND FOLLOWUP ACTION.
2. If the server misses his stroke in serving.
3. If the ball is served overhand (See Rule 6 (b) for explanation).
4. If the service is delivered from the wrong court.
5. If the ball is not returned before it touches the ground.
6. If the ball served drops:
o (i) in the wrong court
o (ii)Between the net and serving crease lines.
7. If a player serves out of his turn. (A player is said to serve out of his turn if he
serves before the previous server is out). In such a case the hand of the previous
server shall be treated as down and the present server shall be asked to re-serve
irrespective of the server wins or loses a point.
8. If any portion of the server’s body or racket crosses any of the lines when
serving (even a foot on line is out of court).
9. If it is a ‘double touch’. That means a player while making a stroke hits the ball
more than once.
10. If it is ‘tip’. That means the ball is touched by two rackets of the same team
successively.
11. If it is a ‘clash’. That means when the rackets of two or more players clash in
playing the ball either before, during or after striking the ball.
12. If a player or his racket crosses the net line during the course of play i.e. during
the rally.
13. If the ball touches any player or his dress whether inside or outside the court.
14. If the player in the act of striking crosses his racket either over the net or
touches the net.
15. If the ball fails to clear the net in serving or in returning
16. If the ball touches the top of the net.
17. If the ball is tapped on the ground before serving even after warned by the
umpire to play.
18. If delay is caused in serving by passing on the ball from one player to the other
after the umpire asked to serve.

TO WIN A MATCH

1. To win a Match Best of Three games will be played upto Quarter Finals. The
Semi Finals and Finals will be played best of Three / Five Games (As per the
decision of the Tournament Committee). A game / Set is won by the team that
first scores 35 points with a minimum lead of two points. In the case of 34 – 34
score for each team, play is continued until a two-point lead is reached.
However, a point limit is reached at 39th point i.e. if the score is equal upto 38,
then who will score 39th point first will be the winner of that particular game.
2. There shall be interval of 2 minutes between the end of the first game and the
commencement of the second game and 5 minutes between the second and the
third games. This time interval should not be altered.
3. The choice of sides and the right of first service shall be decided by toss at the
commencement of a match. If the team winning the toss choses the right of the
service, the other team shall have the choice of side and vice-versa.
4. At the commencement of a match the umpire shall allow two trials, one form
each side and after the trials are over the umpire shall call ‘play’ with due
intimation to the scorer and line referees and from that time regular play
commences.
5. One main umpire, and second referee / umpire, two or more line referees
and a scorer shall be nominated for each match.
6. When the umpire calls ‘play’ the side refusing to play the match shall lose the
match.
7. The umpire shall be the sole judge of fair or unfair play and of the fitness of the
weather and the light for play. His decision shall be final.
8. A ball is in ‘play’ from the time a player attempts to serve until it touches the
ground or a ‘fault’ or ‘let’ is given by the umpire.
9. It shall be the duty of the umpire to call ‘fault’ or ‘let’ with or without an
appeal from the players.
10. If an umpire erroneously calls ‘fault’ and at once corrects himself and calls
‘play’ and the striker out fails to return the ball, a ‘let’ shall be allowed.
11. No umpire shall be changed during a match without the consent of the
Tournament Committee.
12. Each of the two or more line referees shall be responsible for one boundary line
and one half of the side line opposite to the umpire and other duties assigned to
him by the umpire. They shall signal to the umpire by means of a code
prescribed by the Federation.
13. The scorer shall record the points scored and also the number of hands in the
scoresheet
14. The ball may be replaced by an umpire, if it is either lost or deformed.
15. A ‘let’ or ‘re-service’ shall be given by the umpire for any unforeseen or
accidental hindrance.
16. The umpire in addition to his other duties shall also look after the net. He shall
announce the score on behalf of the scorer whenever a point is scored or a
server is out. In announcing the score, he shall call first the number of the
serving hand, then the score of the serving team and then the score of another
team.
17. In the event of a match being suspended by the umpire for reasons of light or
weather or any other reasons it will be continued from the point at which it was
stopped.
18. In the event of tie between two or more teams in any tournament, matches shall
never be re-played. Ranks on the basis of game score and on the basis of point
score if tie still persists, shall be declared.

1. The umpire can overrule the decision of the line referee in case where he feels
that an error has been committed.
2. No match is won unless played out or given up except in the case provided for
in sub-rule (f) above.
3. The team that gives walk-over shall not be allowed to take part further in the
championship/tournament.
4. Discipline: In view of the umpire, if a player misbehaves in the court that
brings discredit to the referee/other players/officials lowering the image of the
game, umpire shall warn the player. at first instance After the first warning the
umpire will show yellow card at second instance. This indicates that the player
will sent out of that match by showing a red card, at the third instance when the
team has to finish that game with the remaining four players only.
 Note: The team manager may make substitute for that player who was shown
yellow card, provided the substitution was not availed prior to that.

DUTIES OF THE UMPIRE

1. As the function of the umpire is most important in a match, he should know

thoroughly well the Rules of Ball Badminton.
2. Before the play begins, the umpire should make necessary entries in the score
sheet and hand it over to the scorer for scoring and obtaining the signature of
rival captains at the conclusion of the match.
3. Check the height of the net and other ground arrangements.
4. Give instructions to the line referees and scorer.
5. Shall give instructions to both the teams regarding discipline and important and
latest rules of the game in brief.
6. The umpire should be watchful remembering the vital fact that his decision is
final on all points of fact (A player may appeal to the referee on a point of law
only).
7. The line referee’s decision is final on all points of fact on his own line the
umpire shall not, ordinarily, over rule him. If a line; referee is unsighted. The
umpire may give decision if he can; otherwise a ‘let’ should be given subject
also to Rule 8 ( r) .
8. All announcements and calling of score should be done distinctly and loudly by
the umpire. The order of score should be
o (a) number of the hand serving
o (b) the score of the server and
o the score of the receiver). Should a mistake be made in the
announcement, the umpire should admit, apologize and correct it
immediately?
9. If a decision cannot be given, the umpire should say so and give a ‘let’. He
should not ask the players or spectators or be influenced by their remarks.
10. The umpire shall be responsible for all lines not covered by line referees.
11. When the umpire is in doubt, whether there has been an infringement of any
rules of the game, ‘fault should not be called A ‘let’ should be given.
12. The umpire should remember that the game is for players. He shall keep the
play in progress without unnecessary interruption.
13. In fine the umpire should control the game firmly.

HINTS TO THE PLAYERS

 1. A player should thoroughly know the rules of the game
2. He should be sportive both on the field and off it bearing in mind that the
spectators appreciate not only his game but also his sportsmanship.
3. He should confirm to the dress regulations and generally appear smart. Players
should play with shorts (skirts for girls) and collared T-shirts of same colour
for the entire team with white canvas shoes and socks. Colour band on socks
and shoes are allowed.
4. On the left hand side of the chest the name of the state should appear and chest
numbers of 4”X3” inches size should be put on front and back sides of T-shirts
Regarding logo should not exceed 8”x 4” on the back side of the T-shirts and
4”X2” on the hands of the T-shirts
5. He should implicitly abide by the decision of the umpire. On a point of rule or
allied matter, he may make a representation to the umpire or the tournament
committee through his manager.
6. During the play, a player should not adopt delaying tactics (asking for time to
drink water or to change the racket etc); it is in bad taste. If the gut has
snapped, he should seek the permission of the umpire to change the racket.

PROTESTS

1. Protests relating to a match which develop during that match are when game is
in progress shall be made in writing at once and in any case not later than 30
minutes after the results have been official announced, by the concerned referee
in the court.
2. Protests shall be made in writing and only by the manager of the team
concerned protests shall be sent to the Tournament Committee and only
through the chief Referee. Each protest shall be accompanied by protests fee of
Rs.100/- which will be refunded only with the protest is upheld. The
Tournament Committee’s decision on all protests shall be final and binding on
all concerned.

CHIEF REFEREE – HIS FUNCTIONS AND POWERS

1. The Chief Referee shall have full control over all matches played in the
National/Zonal Championships. All the other referees/ umpires shall act
directly under the control of the Chief Referee and shall take instructions from
him. He shall consult the Chairman of the Referees Board in all matters
connected with the National/Zonal Championships.
2. The Chief Referee shall discharge the responsibilities envisaged for him in the
various other clauses of these bye-laws.
3. The Chief Referee shall be in sole charge of the ground arrangements.
 4. He shall see that Rules governing the game are strictly observed by the other
referees and umpires. Any technical matter that may arise during any particular
match or the championship which is not apparently covered by rules framed by
the Ball Badminton Federation of India shall be decided by him in consultation
with the Referees Board.
5. The Chief Referee can change any referee at any time and take over himself
when any match is in progress, if in his opinion the continuance of that referee
is not conductive to the proper conduct of the match and for the good name of
the Federation, however he shall report such action to the Referees Board and
to the Tournament Committee forthwith.
6. The Chief Referee shall have power to exclude any competitor if in his opinion
he/she is of improper conduct and or un-sportive and he shall report such
matter forthwith to the Tournament Committee, for its approval.
7. The Chief Referee if requested for by the host Association may assist them in
preparing the fixtures and programs of the, competition in the National /Zonal
Championships before the same being placed before the Tournament
Committee for approval.
8. At the close of the championships, the Chief referee shall scrutinize the score
sheets and the list of results announced. he should give a report to the secretary
showing total number of teams participated in each event total number of
matches played and the final first three ranking in each event .and final eight
ranks for future Championship Fixtures This report shall be kept in the files of
the Ball Badminton Federation of India as the official record.

FUNCTIONS AND POWERS OF THE REFEREES

1. The Referees shall function under the general directions of the Chief Referee.
2. Referee shall be fully conversant with the rules of the game.
3. All decisions of the referee on question of fact are final and his interpretation of
the rules shall be obeyed during the game.
4. It shall be open to the managers of the teams concerned to protest against
interpretations of rules given by referee’s subject to the rules for protesting
detailed elsewhere in these bye-laws.
5. The Referee has the power to order out from the ground any player/players for
any misconduct/disobedience to his authority. should a player refuse to leave
the ground, when so ordered the game shall be stopped and the matter reported
forthwith to the Chief Referee, who shall take further appropriate steps.