Player Jumps Over Net and into Opponent’s Court — Great Shot or Fault?
This post has been updated in 2026 according to the USA Pickleball Official Rulebook (2026).
Here’s the Scenario. You Make the Call.
A player jumps over the net and into the opponent’s NVZ without touching the net. Fault? Or continue playing?
In September, in Ashland, Kentucky, this exact scenario played out in a hotly contested pickleball match — one in which an objective 3rd party was called in to referee mid-match (in what was supposed to be a non-refereed match) because of its contentiousness.
Days later, the legality of the net jump (as shown in the video below) was fiercely debated in the Pickleball Forum — an ultra-engaged Facebook Group comprised of over 20,000 members, all of whom are extraordinarily passionate about the sport of pickleball.
Original Video Footage from Ashland, KY Pickleball Tournament
The following video is courtesy of Matt McGinnis, the net jumper!
Where was the Discussion in Real Time?
Oddly enough, in real-time, there was no discussion about the legality of the net jump. No player discussion. No referee discussion. Nothing. That’s why it behooves you — especially in a match you’re desperately trying to win — to know, inside-and-out, the pickleball rules.
So What’s the Call on the Net Jump?
In this particular scenario, a fault should have been called because a player cannot touch any part of the opponent’s court.
So while few would disagree that it was a very athletic move — it should have nevertheless been called a fault. Here are the applicable rules from the USA Pickleball Official Rulebook:
USA Pickleball Official Rulebook
Rule #13.H
Player Contacting Opponent or Opponent’s Court. A player or anything that is worn or carried by the player must not contact their opponent or the opponent’s end of the court wile the ball is live.
Rule #13.H.1
Fault – Player Contacts Opponent or Opponent’s Court. When a player or anything that is worn or carried by the player contacts their opponent or the opponent’s end of the court while the ball is live, it is a fault against the player.
Video Outtakes — Having Fun Trying to Recreate the Net Jump Scenario
As you play pickleball, you will — from-time-to-time — encounter situations on the pickleball courts that are so unique you have never encountered them previously. Many will often say, “we couldn’t do that again in a million years even if we tried…”
That was exactly our sentiments as we attempted to replicate the net-jump scenario that played out in the Ashland Tournament. Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough people that evening to play doubles, so we tried it playing singles. And, it’s quite a silly attempt!
Related Articles
For more information on Miscellaneous Rules, check out the articles below:
For information on all of the Pickleball Rules, check out our complete guide.
Final Thoughts
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I will never do this again!
Ha! Thanks for stopping by, Mary Ann!