The Rules of Racketlon
Date: 2007-01-01
_________________
For the revision history see end of
document.
_________________
Introduction
Racketlon is the sport in which you play your opponent in each
of the four racket sports table tennis, badminton, squash and
tennis. A Racketlon match contains four sets, one in each sport.
The winner is the best all round racket player.
This document contains the official rules of the game of
Racketlon according to the International Racketlon Federation.
Definition of Racketlon
The following three pinciples need to be fulfilled in order
for a sport to qualify for the term Racketlon:
- The game must include the following four sports: table
tennis, badminton, squash and tennis
- The game must be built on the concept of a Racketlon
match involving the same two individuals (pairs in
doubles) playing each other in all four sports - with
identically formatted sets being played in each sport.
- Each rally must count. The player (pair) who
wins most rallies in total is the winner of the Racketlon
match.
Any sport that fulfils the three principles above is
Racketlon. Any other sport involving the combination of several
racket sports might be termed "multi racket sport" -
but is not Racketlon.
Set Order
- The sets are played in the following order (from smaller
to larger rackets): table tennis, badminton, squash,
tennis
Scoring
- Each set is played to 21 points. Every rally results in a
point to the winner of the rally - i.e. "running
score" is applied. At 20-20 the set is extended
until there is a margin of two points. A set can thus end
e.g. 22-20 or 25-23 but never 21-20.
- The winner of a Racketlon match is not the one that wins
most sets but the one that scores the most points in
total. This means that it is possible to loose three out
of the four sets and still win the match.
- If any of the players so wishes the match shall be
stopped as soon as (a) the winner has enough points for
the match to be decided - AND (b) the rest of the points
have no other significance. (Note that group play is
sometimes decided through counting total points
difference. In that case (b) might apply and the rest of
the points might still have significance for the result
of the group, in which case each match shall be played to
the end.).
- If, after 4 sets, both players have exactly the same
number of points, then the tennis set is extended with
one single point. The winner of this single point
tie-break is also the winner of the full match. Server is
decided by the drawing of lots. The winner of the lot
chooses whether to decide who gets to serve or what end
to play at. To off-set the server's advantage there is no
second service in the single point.
Serving & Ends of Court
- The initial order of serving, receiving and ends in each
of the four sports shall be decided by one single toss
before the match starts, according to the following
procedure:
The winner of the toss decides whether to start serving
or receiving in table tennis. The player, who starts
serving in table tennis, starts receiving in badminton,
starts serving in squash and starts receiving in tennis.
In each set the player who starts receiving decides what
end to start the set from.
- After every two points the serve goes to the other
player. At the first of these two serves the server
always serves from the right (except table tennis). The
second serve is from the left side.
- Ends are switched at the time when 11 points are first
reached by one of the players.
- After 20-20 the serve switches hand at every point until
the set is decided. The two first serves are from the
right, the two next serves are from the left and so on.
- In tennis, the server has two chances - first and second
service - just as in normal tennis.
Time Intervals & Continuous Play
- A maximum break of one minute shall be allowed at eleven
(i.e. when 11 points is first reached by any of the
players) in each set.
- The break between sets shall be maximised at
"3+3" minutes meaning: (a) Warming up at the
next sport has to commence within 3 minutes after the end
of the previous set. (b) The next set has to commence
within 6 minutes after the end of the previous set
- Play must be continuous at all times (as far as can be
reasonably expected). Umpires and referees have the right
to penalise players under the misconduct rule should they
breach this.
- Players may pause for a brief drink and to towel down
every five points only (so after 5, 10, 15 points, etc),
if this is breached the umpire may penalise the offending
player. If sweat has dripped onto the table tennis table,
badminton court, etc, then of course the player may use a
towel to wipe that away at any time.
Conduct on Court
For any act of misconduct (as judged by the umpire) such as
swearing, threatening behaviour, racket abuse, delaying or
dangerous play, etc, the player shall be penalised as follows:
- 1st incident - warning
- 2nd incident - player loses a point
- 3rd incident - player loses the set
- 4th incident - player loses the match and is disqualified
from the tournament.
Line Judging:
- If a call by a line judge is challenged and no judge or
referee is present then the call stands and the
challenger has to accept the call. The challenger may, of
course, request a referee to preside for the rest of that
set, if available.
Injury
- Each player is allowed one injury time-out per match of 5
minutes
- In the event of bleeding the same rule as above applies,
as long as bandages/plasters are readily available of
course.
- If any injury is the result of a collision with the
opponent, the umpire may allow the player as much time as
he needs, and if necessary, penalise either player.
Recommendations
- Organisers should require that protective glasses are
worn in all classes but Elite.
All other aspects of the game are regulated by the
rules of the individual sports. See the following links:
The
rules of Table Tennis (according to the International Table Tennis
Federation)
The rules of Squash
(according to the World Squash
Federation)
The
rules of Badminton (according to the International
Badminton Federation)
The
rules of Tennis (according to the International Tennis
Federation)
_________________
Revision history:
2001-08-01: first version
2002-05-17: margin-of-two (22-20) counting introduced (see discussion); links added to rules
2002-12-03: gummiarm tiebreak introduced (see discussion)
2004-05-27:
Clarified that this document contains the official rules of the
IRF.
Added a definition of Racketlon.
Added a note to clarify that group play might require that
matches are played to the end eventhough they are already
decided.
Modified the description of the single point tie-break to clarify
that the winner of the lot might also choose which side to play
on. (Same thing clarified for the tossing at the beginning of
each set).
Added rules about breaks (at 11 and between sports) according to
IRF decisions.
Added a recommendation about protective glasses according to an
IRF decision.
2004-09-27:
Added rules on Time Intervals, Conduct on Court, Injury and Line
Judging according to IRF suggestions (see analysis.doc)
2005-02-17:
Changed the order of sports so that squash and badminton switched
place into tt-ba-sq-te - according to an IRF decision. (see analysis)
2007-01-01
Two format changes according to AGM decisions in Vienna
2006-11-25 (see newsitem):
-The serve games shortened from 5 to 2 serves.
-A single toss rule introduced implying alternating
"start-to-serve" advantages.
_______________________________