Dear Eric - A No Volley Zone Nightmare.

Dear Eric

I was playing in our usual rec game the other day and my opponent called my partner for a foot fault in the NVZ. She said she did not step in the kitchen and a brief argument ensued. I said it should be a replay and that’s eventually what we did. Who was right? Maryanne Y. 

Hey Maryanne

Short answer is you were right. 

According to USA Pickleball “13.D.1.c. Players may call non-volley zone and service foot faults on the opponent’s end of the court. If there is any disagreement among players about the called foot fault, a replay shall occur.” 

The long answer is that most rec players call foot faults on themselves when they step into the kitchen. If it’s that blatant, they know it, you know, so call it and move on. If you see an opponent with their toe on or over the line, mention it to them and ask them to keep an eye on it and if it keeps happening, call the fault. Keep in mind that this is recreational play, is a toe over the line one time going to change the match? Probably not. Is making an issue out of it going to disrupt your game and maybe other players? Possibly. So play honorably in a way that you can hold your head up high and everything else will fall in line. 

Eric