Ask the Pickleball Ref by David Hoel

SITUATION: In a tournament match, a Team A player wore a shirt which was a color similar to the ball. Team B requested that the Team A player change his shirt. Alternatively, Team B requested the match use a different color ball.

QUESTION: Were either of Team B’s requests required to be satisfied?

ANSWER: No. The referee determined that the player’s shirt color did not present a sufficient safety or distraction issue. (Rule 2.G.1) Further, the tournament announcement clearly described what color balls would be used during the tournament, so changing the ball was not required.  However as a courtesy, the referee offered use of a different color ball, only if all players agreed. The players chose to play with the original ball.

And just for the record, the Super Senior Round Robin being held on Saturday, January 18th, will be using an Onix orange ball - so please no orange tee shirts!