Pickleball is a great game for all ages and abilities but like any sport there are rules that must be followed in order to maintain fair play.
One such rule is the “kitchen fault.” But what exactly is a kitchen fault in pickleball and who can call it?
The kitchen is a 7-foot-wide area on either side of the net.
The Pickleball Rulebook defines a kitchen fault as “a foot fault committed by a player during service or during a return of serve from within the kitchen.”
There are two main reasons why a kitchen fault may be called.
First it prevents a player from having an unfair advantage by being able to serve from too close to the net.
Second it protects the integrity of the game by preventing a player from being able to reach shots that would otherwise be out of their reach.
So who can call a kitchen fault? In general it is the responsibility of the player who is closest to the kitchen fault to call it.
However if the player is not sure whether or not a kitchen fault has been committed they can ask the referee for help.
If you are playing pickleball and you think a kitchen fault may have been committed make sure to speak up and ask the referee for clarification.
By doing so you’ll help to keep the game fair and fun for everyone involved!