Certified Pickleball Referee Andrea Mayorga answers your trickiest rule questions! With over six years of experience — including officiating at USAP Nationals and the BallPark Series — Andrea is here to keep you sharp, informed, and ready for anything on the court!

Q. RE: Falling into the kitchen after hitting the ball: At which time is that point complete/dead and it’s ok to step or fall into the Kitchen? – Tom Needham

A. 9.B.1- The act of volleying begins when the ball is struck out of there air before bouncing (volleying) and ends when the players movement from the follow-through action (momentum) stops.
    9.C.1- It is a fault even if the ball becomes dead before the player contacts the non-volley zone. Official Rule Book – USA Pickleball

Therefore, momentum never ends until the player who has volleyed the ball regains their balance(momentum stops) after they strike the ball. 

Q. On the serve if the ball hits the receiver on the foot behind the back line what is the call? – Peter Podesta

A. 4.N-Receiver Faults. It is a fault against the receiving team resulting in a point for the server if:

    4.N.1-The receiver or their partner is touched by or interferes with the flight of the ball before it bounces. 

A ball hit the players foot prior to hitting the ground = fault

Have a technical pickleball question (or a rules mystery that keeps sparking court debates)? Email skye@playtimescheduler.com and your question might be featured in an upcoming edition of “Ask A Ref”!