Badminton Rules (Simplified)

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.