Section 7: Violations & Penalties
Carrying
Catching, cradling, scooping, or guiding the ball with extended hand contact instead of striking it cleanly. A carry results in immediate elimination of the offending player.
Double Touch
Hitting the ball twice in succession (unless a King's Rule such as "Double Tap" is in effect). If a player hits the ball and it returns to them without another player touching it, they may not hit it again. A double touch results in elimination.
Out of Bounds
Hitting the ball so that it lands outside the court boundary without first bouncing in another player's square. The hitter is eliminated. If the ball bounces in a valid square and then rolls or bounces out of bounds, the player in whose square it bounced is responsible for returning it before it exits.
Hitting Above the Shoulders
Deliberately aiming the ball at another player's head or face is unsportsmanlike and results in elimination of the hitter. If the ball incidentally strikes a player above the shoulders during normal play, the play may be ruled a redo at the referee's (or group's) discretion, particularly if the hit was unintentional and the struck player was in a normal playing posture.
Foot Faults
Stepping into another player's square to hit the ball is a foot fault. Players must keep both feet within their own square (or outside the court) when striking the ball. A player who steps on or over the dividing line into another square while hitting the ball is eliminated. Players may reach across the line with their arms as long as their feet remain in their own square.
Serving Violations
- Serving overhand (the initial serve must be underhand)
- Serving to the wrong square (standard rules require serving to Square 1)
- Serving before the receiving player is ready
- Failing to let the ball bounce once before striking it on the serve
- Excessive delay in serving (more than 5 seconds after signal)
All serving violations result in the server's (King's) elimination.
Unsportsmanlike Conduct
The following behaviors are considered unsportsmanlike and may result in elimination or removal from the game:
- Intentionally hitting another player with the ball (as opposed to hitting their square)
- Verbal abuse, taunting, or excessive trash talk
- Deliberately interfering with another player's movement
- Refusing to accept a fair call or the referee's ruling
- Repeatedly making false interference calls to disrupt play
- Kicking the ball or using prohibited body parts to hit it
- Delaying the game by slow-playing or refusing to retrieve the ball
Penalty Enforcement
In casual play, violations are enforced by group consensus. The offending player goes to the back of the queue. In competitive play with a referee, the referee's call is final and cannot be appealed (except through the Showdown mechanism for borderline calls between two players). Repeated unsportsmanlike conduct may result in a player's ejection from the session or tournament.
Disputed Calls
When two or more players disagree on a call and no referee is present, the following resolution methods are available, in order of preference:
- Redo: Replay the point with a new serve from the King
- Showdown: The two disputing players play a 1v1 point to settle the dispute
- King's ruling: The King makes the final call (only if the King is not one of the disputing parties)
- Group vote: All players (including those in the queue) vote on the outcome