Badminton Rules

Equipment

Players are encouraged to bring their own racket. GVSU IM Sports does have some to borrow.
No jewelry. All rings, bracelets, and other jewelry must be removed.
- EXCEPTIONS: medical alert or religious jewelry MUST be taped or bandaged to the body.
Guards, casts and braces must be covered and protected.
Hats are permitted. Bandanas with a single knot may be worn

A team consists of two (2) players. Two is needed to start the game.
There are not gender requirements for Badminton.
Teams may have substitutes on their roster, but players can only sub in after each point or for injury.

A match is won by the first team to win two games.
Teams will determine which team serves first by rock-paper-scissors. The winner can choose to serve first in game one or game two
1. Whichever team receives to start game one, will serve to start game two.
2. If the match goes three games, the teams will determine who serves first for game 3 by rock-paper-scissors.
There will be no game officials, only GVSU IM Sports staff. Players and teams will be expected to call their own faults. Any disagreements may be brought to the attention of the staff for a ruling. All staff decisions are final.
The first two games will be won when one team reaches 21 points, provided they win by two.
1. There is a cap of 23 points.
The third game, if necessary, will be won when one team reaches 15 points, provided they win by two.
1. There is a cap of 17 points.
There is no cap in game 3 of a playoff match. A team must win a playoff game 3 by two points.

A point is scored on each serve
The team to win the point, earns the right to serve next.
Players must serve diagonally across the net to their opponent. As points are won then serving stations move from one side to the other. There are no second serves so if the first serve goes out then the opponent wins the point.
A serve must be hit underarm and below the servers waist. No overarm serves are allowed.
If a player touches the net with any part of their body or racket then it is deemed a fault and their opponent receives the point.
It is a fault if a player deliberately distracts their opponent, the shuttlecock is caught in the racket then flung or the shuttlecock is hit twice.
Once the shuttlecock is ‘live’ then a player may move around the court as they wish. They are permitted to hit the shuttlecock from out of the playing area.
If the shuttlecock hits the net or lands out then a point is awarded to the opponent.
A shuttlecock that hits the line is in.

Page last modified June 15, 2021