Section 7: Violations & Penalties
Faults (Law 13)
A "fault" is a violation of the Laws of Badminton. When a fault is committed, the rally ends immediately and the non-offending side wins the rally and a point. Law 13 defines all fault conditions.
13.1 Service Faults — Server Faults (Law 13.6.2)
- The server's feet are not in the correct service court or touch a boundary line of the service court (Law 9.1.3 / 13.6.2a).
- The server fails to hit the base of the shuttle first (Law 9.1.4 / 13.6.2b).
- The whole shuttle is not below the server's waist at the instant of being struck (Law 9.1.5 / 13.6.2c).
- The head of the server's racket is not discernibly below the server's whole hand at the moment of impact (Law 9.1.6 / 13.6.2d).
- The server's racket movement is not continuously forward from the start of the service (Law 9.1.7 / 13.6.2e).
- The shuttle does not pass over the net or falls outside the correct receiver's service court (Law 9.1.8 / 13.6.2f).
13.2 Service Faults — Receiver Faults (Law 13.6.3)
- The receiver's feet are not in the receiver's service court or touch a boundary line (Law 9.1.3 / 13.6.3a).
- The receiver moves before the server's racket makes contact with the shuttle (Law 9.4 / 13.6.3b).
13.3 In-Rally Faults (Law 13.4)
- The shuttle lands outside the boundaries of the court (i.e., not on or within the boundary lines) (Law 13.4.1).
- The shuttle passes through or under the net (Law 13.4.2).
- The shuttle fails to pass over the net (Law 13.4.3).
- The shuttle touches the roof, ceiling, or side walls (Law 13.4.4).
- The shuttle touches the person or clothing of a player (Law 13.4.5).
- The shuttle touches any other object or person outside the court. (If the court is surrounded by walls, a local rule may permit shuttles that touch walls to remain in play — Law 13.4.6.)
- A player strikes the shuttle before it crosses to the player's side of the net. However, a player may follow through on the stroke over the net, provided the shuttle was contacted on the player's own side of the net (Law 13.4.7).
- A player deliberately distracts an opponent by actions such as shouting or making gestures (Law 13.4.8).
- The shuttle is caught and held on the racket and then slung during the execution of a stroke ("sling," "carry," or "throw") (Law 13.4.10).
- The shuttle is struck twice in succession by the same player with two strokes. (However, a single stroke that results in the shuttle being hit by the frame and strings of the same racket swing is not a fault) (Law 13.4.11).
- The shuttle is struck by a player and a player's partner successively (i.e., a double hit by partners in doubles) (Law 13.4.12).
- A player touches the net or its supports with the racket, person, or clothing during play (Law 13.4.13).
- A player invades an opponent's court over the net with the racket or person (Law 13.4.14). (Exception: following through after striking the shuttle on one's own side is permitted.)
- A player invades an opponent's court under the net with the racket or person, such that the opponent is obstructed or distracted (Law 13.4.15).
- A player obstructs an opponent, preventing an opponent from making a legal return stroke where the opponent is the striker (Law 13.4.16).
- A player is guilty of flagrant, repeated, or persistent offences under Law 16 (Continuous Play, Misconduct, and Penalties) (Law 13.4.17).
Misconduct and Disciplinary Penalties (Law 16 & BWF Code of Conduct)
In addition to rally-point faults, the umpire and referee may impose disciplinary sanctions for player misconduct. The progression of sanctions under the BWF Code of Conduct is as follows:
- Yellow Card (Warning): Issued for a first minor misconduct offense. No point penalty.
- Red Card (Fault — point to opponent): Issued for a second offense, or for a more severe initial offense. A point is awarded to the opponent.
- Black Card (Disqualification): Issued for serious or aggravated misconduct, or for a third offense after two red cards. The player or pair is disqualified from the match.
Misconduct includes (but is not limited to): causing unnecessary delays to play; deliberately distorting the flight of the shuttle by any method; behaving in an offensive manner; verbal abuse; physical abuse; any other conduct that damages the reputation of the sport or is prejudicial to BWF competitions.
Continuous Play (Law 16.1)
Play shall be continuous from the first service until the match is concluded, subject only to the intervals provided under Law 16. A player must not delay play deliberately. If play is delayed by a player due to cramp, the umpire shall allow reasonable time at his discretion; however, metabolic fatigue or fitness-related issues do not constitute grounds for a medical time-out. Injury time-outs are governed by the BWF Tournament Regulations for specific events.