2018 REVISED SERVING RULES QUESTION

2018 REVISED IFP OFFICIAL PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT RULES "Serve" Today at PHMS a served ball struck the foot of the receiver. The receiver was standing behind the baseline (out of bounds).

Does Rule 4.N.2 apply, and a point is awarded to the server ? 

Rule Sec. 4.N.2. The receiver or the receiver's partner is touched by or interferes with flight of ball before it bounces a "service fault" is called against the receiver or receiver's partner.

Rule Sec.4.A.9. If the serve clears the net or hits the net, & then touches the receiver or the receiver's partner, it's a point for the serving team. HOW DOES THIS APPLY WHEN THE RECEIVER OR RECEIVER'S PARTNER IS  STANDING OUT OF BOUNDS BEFORE HE IS HIT BY THE SERVE ?

WHAT VIOLATION OF THE RULES OCCURRED FIRST ? First the serve went out of bounds, resulting in a service fault before it struck the player.

Point Counter Point: A player with excellent ball placement skills, intentionally serves a hard low fast serve that hits the receiver's partner standing at the net, inbounds on the non-service side of the court, and not interfering with the flight of the ball, said server is then awarded a point.

Question: Does Rule Sec.4.A.9 encourage "tagging" to gain the point advantage in a game by awarding a point for hitting your opponent with the ball ? 

Alternative wording for Rule Sec.4.A.9: "If the serve clears the net, or hits the net, and then touches the receiver before touching the ground, its a point for the serving team. If the server hits the receiver's partner before or after hitting the net it's declared a "LET" and the serve is replayed, providing the receiver's partner was not violating the NVZ boundary lines rules.

*CAN THE BALL HIT THE RECEIVER OR RECEIVER'S PARTNER FIRST BEFORE BOUNCING ON THE SERVICE COURT?

 *IF THE RECEIVER OR RECEIVER'S PARTNER IS STANDING OUTSIDE THE MARKED BOUNDARY LINES OF THE COURT ON THEIR RESPECTIVE SIDE OF THE NET, AND THE BALL HITS EITHER ONE WITHOUT FIRST BOUNCING ON THE COURT, IS THIS A LEGAL SERVE ?  DOES THE DOUBLE BOUNCE RULE APPLY ?

Rule Sec. 7.A. Fault Rule: If the serve or ROS does not bounce before striking the ball.

IF THE RECEIVER OR RECEIVER'S PARTNER STANDING OUT OF BOUNDS, CORRECTLY CALLS A SERVE  OUT OF BOUNDS AND THE OUT OF BOUNDS SERVE HITS A MEMBER OF THE RECEIVING TEAM, IS THIS A "SERVICE FAULT' OR DOES RULE 4.N.2 OR RULE 4.A.9. APPLY AND A POINT IS AWARDED TO THE SERVICE TEAM ? If you said yes, has the DOUBLE BOUNCE RULE been complied with ?   

Considering the application of all these rules, it would be logical to conclude that a serve that does not bounce once on the service court, then hits a receiver standing outside the service court was first and foremost out of bounds before it hit the receiver or receiver's partner.  not a legal serve, and therefore carries no penalty against the receiver by awarding a point to the service team.