Regulations

Badminton Rules & Regulations

The Badminton World Federation (BWF) is the official governing body of badminton. This organization is responsible for maintaining the rules pertaining to game play, court and equipment specifications, and the certification of badminton judges and officials. Rules and regulations set forth by the BWF have been adopted by organizations worldwide and are universally accepted as the standard rules.

While reading the following, you may come across some strange terms like "rally" and "service," but don't fret. Rally simply refers to the series of shots between opposing sides. Service, on the other hand, is just a fancy term for the act of serving the shuttlecock. For easy reference, here is a simplified version of the rather long and complex BWF Statutes.

SCORING SYSTEM

A match consists of the best of 3 games of 21 points
Every time there is a serve – there is a point scored
The side winning a rally adds a point to its score
At 20 all, the side which gains a 2 point lead first, wins that game
At 29 all, the side scoring the 30th point, wins that game
The side winning a game serves first in the next game

INTERVAL AND CHANGE OF ENDS

When the leading score reaches 11 points, players have a 60 second interval
A 2 minute interval between each game is allowed
In the third game, players change ends when the leading score reaches 11 points

SINGLES

At the beginning of the game (0-0) and when the server's score is even, the server serves from the right service court. When the server's score is odd, the server serves from the left service court
If the server wins a rally, the server scores a point and then serves again from the alternate service court
If the receiver wins a rally, the receiver scores a point and becomes the new server. They serve from the appropriate service court – left if their score is odd, and right if it is even

DOUBLES

A side has only one 'service'
The service passes consecutively to the players as shown in the diagram
At the beginning of the game and when the score is even, the server serves from the right service court. When it is odd, the server serves from the left court
If the serving side wins a rally, the serving side scores a point and the same server serves again from the alternate service court
If the receiving side wins a rally, the receiving side scores a point. The receiving side becomes the new serving side
The players do not change their respective service courts until they win a point when their side is serving

If players commit an error in the service court, the error is corrected when the mistake is discovered

In a doubles match between A & B against C & D. A & B won the toss and decided to serve. A to serve to C. A shall be the initial server while C shall be the initial receiver