MLP Drop Serve Rule Sparks Confusion: Did Officials Miss Calls in Orlando Tie?
What's the Score?
During a men's doubles match between the Texas Ranchers and the Brooklyn Pickleball Team at MLP Orlando on April 24, controversy arose regarding the enforcement of the Major League Pickleball (MLP) drop serve rule. Despite apparent rule violations by the Ranchers' players, the referee did not call faults, sparking confusion.
Hit it deeper!
The Major League Pickleball season began in Orlando, and while the focus was on the competition, the serving rule quickly became a talking point. According to the latest MLP rulebook, the "drop serve is not currently permitted". The rulebook outlines specific requirements for the ball toss when serving, stating it can travel upward, but "only equal to one height of the ball itself". Other stipulations for a legal serve include the ball release being visible to the referee, the release point being no higher than the top of the shoulder, the paddle swing travelling in an upward motion until the ball is struck, and the highest point of the paddle head being clearly below the highest point of the wrist when contact is made.
The controversy occurred during the men's doubles match between the Texas Ranchers' Eric Oncins and Christian Alshon and the Brooklyn Pickleball Team's Riley Newman and Dekel Bar. According to the source, Oncins and Alshon were observed "flouting the rule by raising their striking arm above the permitted limit". Furthermore, the release of the ball for their serves was noted as being "much higher than the permitted level". These actions appeared to violate the MLP's new regulations regarding the serve toss and striking motion.
Brooklyn's players, Newman and Bar, reportedly expressed astonishment at these serves. Despite the apparent violations witnessed by the players, the referee in the match did not raise the red flag or call a fault on the serves in question. This lack of enforcement created "further confusion" during the tie. The MLP rulebook states that service faults are at the referee's discretion and cannot be challenged by the teams. This rule means that even if players or observers believe a fault occurred, the referee's decision not to call it stands and cannot be reviewed during the match. The source notes that the MLP season had just gotten underway, suggesting this incident occurred early in the league's implementation of its updated service rules.
The World Pickleball Verdict
The incident at MLP Orlando, where alleged violations of the drop serve rule went uncalled, highlights a significant challenge facing professional pickleball as rules evolve: ensuring consistent and accurate officiating. The source makes it clear that the updated rulebook prohibits the drop serve and sets specific parameters for the ball toss and swing. The reported astonishment from the opposing players and the source's observation that the rules were "flouted" and the ball released "much higher than the permitted level" suggest a clear discrepancy between the rule and the execution. The fact that the referee did not call a fault, combined with rules making service faults non-challengeable, means that perceived illegal serves were allowed to stand, directly impacting the match's integrity. This scenario underscores the critical importance of effective training and consistent application of rules by officials as the sport professionalises. Such controversies, if not addressed through clearer guidelines or improved officiating, could lead to frustration among players and potentially erode confidence in the fairness of professional competition.