Badminton Rules and Faults

Faults and Lets

• Faults are errors committed by players, including touching the net, hitting the shuttle twice in succession, or serving before the receiver is ready.
• Lets are unforeseen or accidental situations, such as a shuttle caught on the net, a line judge being unsighted, or the shuttle disintegrating during play.
• When a let occurs, the play since the last service is not counted, and the player who served serves again.

Badminton Terminologies

• Ace: a point gained directly from the service.
• Bird: another name for the shuttlecock.
• Double: a match where there are two players on each opposing side.
• Fault: an infraction of the rule.
• Game Point: the point that, if won, allows the player to win the game.
• Let: the stopping of play due to outside interference.
• Love: the term used to indicate zero in scoring.
• Match: a series of games.
• Match Point: the point that, if won, allows the player to win the match.
• Point: a score gained by any player.
• Rally: a sequence of one or more strokes starting with a service, until the shuttle ceases to be in play.
• Receiver: the player to whom the shuttle is served.
• Server: the player who puts the shuttle into play.
• Singles: a match where there is one player on each opposing side.

Gameplay

• In doubles, the base of each side serves from and receives on from the right service court.
• After the service is returned, the shuttlecock may be hit by either player from any position until the shuttle ceases to be in play due to a fault or a let.
• If the receiving side makes a fault, the serving side scores a point, then the server serves again.
• If the serving side makes a fault, a point and the right to serve are awarded to the opponent.
• Only one player is allowed to serve during the turn of service.
• To win the game, a pair should score 21 points with a two-point clear advantage, or reach 30 points if the score reaches 29-all.
• A match is won by two out of three games or three out of five games.

Game Officials

• The Referee is overall in-charge of the tournament or event, checks equipment and facilities, and can remove officials who do not perform their responsibilities well.
• The Umpire is in-charge of the match, the court, and its immediate surrounding, administers the toss, introduces the players, calls a "Fault" or a "Let" occurring during the rally, and reports to the referee.
• The Service Judge calls faults made by the server and receiver during the service.
• The Line Judge indicates whether a shuttle landed in or outside the lines assigned.
• The Service Judge hand signal for a fault is putting their hand below their chest.