1.

OFFICIALS AND APPEALS

17.1 The Referee shall be in overall charge of the tournament or event of which a match forms part.

17.2 The umpire, where appointed, shall be in charge of the match, the court and its immediate
surrounds. The umpire shall report to the Referee.

17.3 The service judge shall call service faults made by the server should they occur (Law 9.1.2 to 9.1.8).

17.4 A line judge shall indicate whether a shuttle landed "in" or "out" on the line(s) assigned.

17.5 An official's decision shall be final on all points of fact for which that official is responsible except
that if,

17.5.1 in the opinion of the umpire, it is beyond reasonable doubt that a line judge has clearly made a
wrong call, the umpire shall overrule the decision of the line judge.

17.5.2 an Instant Review System is in operation, the system in operation shall decide on any line call
challenge (Appendix 7).

17.6 An umpire shall:

17.6.1 uphold and enforce the Laws of Badminton and, especially, call a "fault" or a "let" should either
occur;

17.6.2 give a decision on any appeal regarding a point of dispute, if made before the next service is
delivered;

17.6.3 ensure players and spectators are kept informed of the progress of the match;

17.6.4 appoint or replace line judges or a service judge in consultation with the Referee;

17.6.5 where another court official is not appointed, arrange for that official's duties to be carried out;

17.6.6 where an appointed official is unsighted, carry out that official's duties or play a "let";

17.6.7 record and report to the Referee all matters relating to Law 16; and

17.6.8 refer to the Referee all unsatisfied appeals on questions of law only. (Such appeals must be made
before the next service is delivered or, if at the end of the match, before the side that appeals has left
the court).

TOSS

6.1 Before play commences, a toss shall be conducted and the side winning the toss shall exercise the
choice in either Law 6.1.1 or 6.1.2:

6.1.1 to serve or receive first;

6.1.2 to start play at one end of the court or the other.

6.2 The side losing the toss shall then exercise the remaining choice.
 SCORING SYSTEM

7.1 A match shall consist of the best of three games, unless otherwise arranged ( Part II, Section
1B Appendix 2 and 3).

7.2 A game shall be won by the side which first scores 21 points, except as provided in Law 7.4 and 7.5.

7.3 The side winning a rally shall add a point to its score. A side shall win a rally, if the opposing side
commits a "fault" or the shuttle ceases to be in play because it touches the surface of the court inside
the opponent's court.

7.4 If the score becomes 20-all, the side which gains a two point lead first, shall win that game.

7.5 If the score becomes 29-all, the side scoring the 30th point shall win that game.

7.6 The side winning a game shall serve first in the next game.

1. CHANGE OF ENDS

8.1 Players shall change ends:

8.1.1 at the end of the first game;

8.1.2 at the end of the second game, if there is to be a third game; and

8.1.3 in the third game when a side first scores 11 points, except in Handicap Matches(BWF Statute
Section 4.1.3).

8.2 If the ends are not changed as indicated in Law 8.1, it shall be done so as soon as the mistake is
discovered and when the shuttle is not in play. The existing score shall stand.

2. SERVICE
Note: As of December 2018 the fixed-height service has been mandatory for all high-level
tournaments. For other play it has not been specified but is assumed since the old service height
rules have been removed.

9.1 In a correct service, the flight of the shuttle shall be upwards from the server's racket to pass over
the net so that, if not intercepted, it shall land in the receiver's service court (i.e. on or within the
boundary lines); and

9.1.1 neither side shall cause undue delay to the delivery of the service once the server and the receiver
are ready for the service;

9.1.2 on completion of the backward movement of the server's racket head, any delay in the start of the
service (Law 9.2), shall be considered to be an undue delay;

9.1.3 the server and the receiver shall stand within diagonally opposite service courts (Diagram A)
without touching the boundary lines of these service courts;

9.1.4 some part of both feet of the server and the receiver shall remain in contact with the surface of
the court in a stationary position from the start of the service (Law 9.2) until the service is delivered
(Law 9.3);
9.1.5 the server's racket shall initially hit the base of the shuttle;

9.1.6 the whole shuttle shall be below 1.15 metres from the surface of the court at the instant of being
hit by the server’s racket;

9.1.7 the movement of the server's racket shall continue forwards from the start of the service (Law 9.2)
until the service is delivered (Law 9.3);

9.1.8 in attempting to serve, the server shall not miss the shuttle.

9.2 Once the players are ready for the service, the first forward movement of the server's racket head
shall be the start of the service.

9.3 Once started (Law 9.2), the service is delivered when the shuttle is hit by the server's racket or, in
attempting to serve, the server misses the shuttle.

9.4 The server shall not serve before the receiver is ready. However, the receiver shall be considered to
have been ready if a return of the service is attempted.

9.5 In doubles, during the delivery of service (Law 9.2, 9.3), the partners may take up any positions
within their respective courts, which do not unsight the opposing server or receiver.

3. SINGLES

10.1 Serving and receiving courts

10.1.1 The players shall serve from, and receive in, their respective right service courts when the server
has not scored or has scored an even number of points in that game.

10.1.2 The players shall serve from, and receive in, their respective left service courts when the server
has scored an odd number of points in that game.

10.2 Order of play and position on court.

In a rally, the shuttle may be hit by the server and the receiver alternately, from any position on that
player's side of the net, until the shuttle ceases to be in play (Law 15).

10.3 Scoring and serving

10.3.1 If the server wins a rally (Law 7.3), the server shall score a point. The server shall then serve again
from the alternate service court.

10.3.2 If the receiver wins a rally (Law 7.3), the receiver shall score a point. The receiver shall then
become the new server.

4. DOUBLES

11.1 Serving and receiving courts

11.1.1 A player of the serving side shall serve from the right service court when the serving side has not
scored or has scored an even number of points in that game.
11.1.2 A player of the serving side shall serve from the left service court when the serving side has
scored an odd number of points in that game.

11.1.3 The player of the receiving side who served last shall stay in the same service court from where
he served last. The reverse pattern shall apply to the receiver's partner.

11.1.4 The player of the receiving side standing in the diagonally opposite service court to the server
shall be the receiver.

11.1.5 The players shall not change their respective service courts until they win a point when their side
is serving.

11.1.6 Service in any turn of serving shall be delivered from the service court corresponding to the
serving side's score, except as provided in Law 12.

11.2 Order of play and position on court

After the service is returned, in a rally, the shuttle may be hit by either player of the serving side and
either player of the receiving side alternately, from any position on that player's side of the net, until the
shuttle ceases to be in play (Law 15).

11.3 Scoring and serving

11.3.1 If the serving side wins a rally (Law 7.3), the serving side shall score a point. The server shall then
serve again from the alternate service court.

11.3.2 If the receiving side wins a rally (Law 7.3), the receiving side shall score a point. The receiving side
shall then become the new serving side.

11.4 Sequence of serving

In any game, the right to serve shall pass consecutively:

11.4.1 from the initial server who started the game from the right service court

11.4.2 to the partner of the initial receiver.

11.4.3 to the partner of the initial server

11.4.4 to the initial receiver,

11.4.5 to the initial server and so on.

11.5 No player shall serve or receive out of turn, or receive two consecutive services in the same game,
except as provided in Law 12 or when a fault for misconduct is called.

11.6 Either player of the winning side may serve first in the next game, and either player of the losing
side may receive first in the next game.

5. SERVICE COURT ERRORS

12.1 A service court error has been made when a player:

12.1.2 has served or received from the wrong service court;

12.2 If a service court error is discovered, the error shall be corrected when the shuttle is not in play and
the existing score shall stand.

6. FAULTS
It shall be a "fault":

13.1 if a service is not correct (Law 9.1);

13.2 if, in service, the shuttle:

13.2.1 is caught on the net and remains suspended on its top;

13.2.2 after passing over the net, is caught in the net; or

13.2.3 is hit by the receiver's partner;

13.3 if in play, the shuttle:

13.3.1 lands outside the boundaries of the court (i.e. not on or within the boundary lines);

13.3.2 fails to pass over the net;

13.3.3 touches the ceiling or side walls;

13.3.4 touches the person or dress of a player;

13.3.5 touches any other object or person outside the court;

(Where necessary on account of the structure of the building, the local badminton authority may, subject
to the right of veto of its Member Association, make bye-laws dealing with cases in which a shuttle
touches an obstruction).

13.3.6 is caught and held on the racket and then slung during the execution of a stroke;

13.3.7 is hit twice in succession by the same player. However, a shuttle hitting the head and the stringed
area of the racket in one stroke shall not be a "fault";

13.3.8 is hit by a player and the player's partner successively; or

13.3.9 touches a player's racket and does not travel towards the opponent's court;

13.3.10 in wheelchair badminton if the shuttle is:

13.3.10.1 caught on the net and remains suspended on top; or;

13.3.10.2 after passing over the net is caught in the net.

13.4 if, in play, a player:

13.4.1 touches the net or its supports with racket, person or dress;
13.4.2 invades an opponent's court over the net with racket or person except that the striker may follow
the shuttle over the net with the racket in the course of a stroke after the initial point of contact with
the shuttle is on the striker's side of the net;

13.4.3 invades an opponent's court under the net with racket or person such that an opponent is
obstructed or distracted; or

13.4.4 obstructs an opponent, i.e. prevents an opponent from making a legal stroke where the shuttle is
followed over the net;

13.4.5 deliberately distracts an opponent by any action such as shouting or making gestures;

13.5 if a player is guilty of flagrant, repeated or persistent offences under Law 16;

7. LETS

14.1 "Let" shall be called by the umpire, or by a player (if there is no umpire), to halt play.

14.2 It shall be a "let”, if:

14.2.1 the server serves before the receiver is ready (Law 9.4);

14.2.2 during service, the receiver and the server are both faulted;

14.2.3 after the service is returned, the shuttle is:

14.2.3.1 caught on the net and remains suspended on its top, or

14.2.3.1.1 except in wheelchair badminton when it is a fault.

or

14.2.3.2 after passing over the net is caught in the net;

14.2.3.2.1 except in wheelchair badminton when it is a fault.

14.2.4 during play, the shuttle disintegrates and the base completely separates from the rest of the
shuttle;

14.2.5 in the opinion of the umpire, play is disrupted or a player of the opposing side is distracted by a
coach;

14.2.6 a line judge is unsighted and the umpire or Instant Review System is unable to make a decision;
or

14.2.7 any unforeseen or accidental situation has occurred.

14.3 When a "let" occurs, play since the last service shall not count and the player who served last shall
serve again,.

8. SHUTTLE NOT IN PLAY

15.2 it hits the surface of the court; or

15.3 a "fault" or a "let" has occurred.

9. CONTINUOUS PLAY, MISCONDUCT & PENALTIES

16.1 Play shall be continuous from the first service until the match is concluded, except as allowed in
Laws 16.2 and 16.3.

16.2 Intervals:

16.2.1 not exceeding 60 seconds during each game when the leading score reaches 11 points, except
Handicap matches (BWF Statutes, Section 4.1.3); and

16.2.2 not exceeding 120 seconds between the first and second game, and between the second and
third game shall be allowed in all matches.

(For a televised match, the Referee may decide before the match that intervals as in Law 16.2 are
mandatory and of fixed duration).

16.3 Suspension of play

16.3.1 When necessitated by circumstances not within the control of the players, the umpire may
suspend play for such a period as the umpire may consider necessary.

16.3.2 Under special circumstances the Referee may instruct the umpire to suspend play.

16.3.3 If play is suspended, the existing score shall stand and play shall be resumed from that point.

16.4 Delay in play

16.4.1 Under no circumstances shall play be delayed to enable a player to recover strength or wind or to
receive advice.

16.4.2 The umpire shall be the sole judge of any delay in play.

16.5 Advice and leaving the court

16.5.1 Only when the shuttle is not in play (Law 15) and until the players have taken up position to serve
and receive shall a player be permitted to receive advice during a match.

16.5.2 No player shall leave the court during a match without the umpire's permission, causing delay to
play, except during the intervals as described in Law 16.2.

16.6 A player shall not:

16.6.1 deliberately cause delay in, or suspension of, play;

16.6.2 deliberately modify or damage the shuttle in order to change its speed or its flight;

16.6.3 behave in an offensive or inappropriate manner; or

16.7 Administration of breach

16.7.1 The umpire shall administer any breach of Law 16.2 16.4.1, 16.5.2 or 16.6 by:

16.7.1.1 issuing a warning to the offending side; or

16.7.1.2 faulting the offending side, if previously warned. or

16.7.1.3 faulting the offending side in cases of flagrant offence.

16.7.2 On faulting a side (Law 16.7.1.2 or 16.7.1.3), the umpire shall report the offending side
immediately to the Referee, who shall have the power to disqualify the offending side from the match.