NEW BADMINTON RULES

Rally Point System

Background
Traditionally badminton games were played to 15 points except for women's singles, which were played to 11 points. Under the rally point system, all games are played to 21 points. More significantly, the rally point system uses a new serving system for doubles and mixed doubles games.

In December 2005, the rally point system was approved for trial by the Badminton World Federation (BWF), then known as the International Badminton Federation (11317). In May 2006, BWF members unanimously approved permanent implementation of the rally point system.

Consequently, all BWF sanctioned events which include major international competitions such as the Thomas Cup, Uber Cup, Sudirman Cup and the BWF World Championships now follow the rally point system. Uniform adoption of the system at national and regional level competitions around the world is expected to follow.

In Canada, Badminton Canada and all its provincial members, such as Badminton Alberta the Ontario Badminton Association, and the Nova Scotia Badminton Association have adopted the rally point system for their open and junior competitions.
Reasons for Change
General opinion within the international professional badminton community is that changing to the rally point system is good for the sport of badminton for players, spectators, and media. The new system is expected to improve badminton in the following ways:

1. The length of badminton matches will be shorter and more predictable, making it easier to schedule TV coverage. This should promote more TV broadcast of badminton matches.
2. Games are generally shorter in duration, thus putting less stress on athletes and reducing injuries.
3. Spectators will find the game more exciting to watch and easier to understand.

Unlike previous attempts by the BWF to change the badminton scoring system, all of which were short-lived, the rally point system is expected to be a permanent

Summary of Rules

Complete details of how the rally point system works are contained in the latest version of the Laws of Badminton published by the BWF. The BWF also published a simplified version of the rally point system.

The following summarizes the key aspects of the rally point system, some of which are quite different from the traditional 15-point system:

1. A game is played to 21 points.

2. The side which won a rally adds a point to its score, regardless of whether it was the serving side. Under the 15-point system, only the serving side can increase its score.

3. If a game is tied 20 all, the side which first wins 2 consecutive points wins that game. Unlike the 15-point system, there is no set.

4. If a game is tied at 29 all, the side which wins the next rally wins the game 30-29. Consequently, the maximum score of a game is 30.

5. Serves alternate between sides. The serving side continues to serve as long as it is winning the rallies. As soon as it loses a rally, service immediately passes over to the opposing side. Consequently there is always only one serve, even in a doubles game.

6. When the serving side wins a rally, the same server serves again but from the alternate service court. This results in the players on the serving side changing service courts and is the same as the 15-point system.

7. When the score of the serving side is even, the serving side serves from the right service court. If the score is odd, the serve is from the left service court. This means when service changes from one side to the other in doubles play, the first serve can come from the left service court, which never happens under the 15-point system.

Doubles play also abides by the following rules:

1. When the serving side wins a rally, players on the receiving side do not change service courts. This is the same as the 15-point system.

2. When the serving side loses a rally, none of the players changes service courts. This is the same as the 15-point system.

3. If players commit an error in their service court positions, the error is corrected when the mistake is discovered but the score still stands.