Laws of Badminton as adopted by the International Badminton Federation and American Badminton Association.
The game of badminton is an ideal sport for everyone. Badminton is a game that was very popular in England during the late 1800's. In 1925, the game spread to Canada and then to the United States. Today, there are over 45 countries who belong to the International Badminton Federation.
Badminton is one of the few sports that does not use a ball. Instead of a ball, shuttlecocks or birdies are hit back and forth over the net. When a birdie is gently tapped, it will fly in a slow arching pattern. But when it is hit hard, the birdie can leave the racquet at speeds over 110 miles per hour! However, the shape of the birdie quickly slows down its speed, making it possible for the defender to return some of these hard hit shots. Due to the fact that the birdie will fly slowly, beginners are usually able to keep it going back and forth across the net for several shots.
EQUIPMENT:
· Shuttles are also called birdies and shuttlecocks.
·  Rackets and shuttles are provided for students use but any abuse of equipment will result in the student being charged for its replacement.
· The net should be 5 feet from the floor to the top of the net at center court. The net should be 5'1" at the posts.
GENERAL RULES:
· A shuttle landing on the line is good.
· A shuttle hitting the net is good and play continues (including the serve)
· All players must be inside their respective service courts prior to the serve
· A "let" is a situation requiring a replay (given for various reasons listed below)
THE TOSS:
· Before play, opposite teams shall "toss", and the side winning the toss shall have the option of:
1. serving first or receiving serve
2. choosing which side of the court to start on
· The side losing the toss shall then have choice of the remaining alternatives.
· Toss is decided by one of the following:
1. flip of a coin
2. volley
3. spin of racket
4. drop of birdie 
FAULTS:
· Serving
1. shuttle is struck higher than the waist
2. head of the racket is not below server's hand holding the racket
3. shuttle falls into the wrong service court or out of bounds
4. shuttle falls before the short serve line
5. server's feet are not in the correct service court
6. receiver of serve does not have their feet in the correct service court
7. server steps forward when serving
8. server intentionally balks, fakes, or feints
9. server serves before the opponent is ready
10. part of both feet must remain in contact with the surface of the court in a stationary position until the service is delivered or a fault is called
11. shuttle passes through, under, or gets caught on or over the net on the serve
12. server attempts to serve and misses the bird completely
· Regular Play
1. player reaches over net to play birdie (follow through over the net is legal)
2. player hits the bird twice in one motion or momentarily holds or throws the birdie
3. player fails to return the bird to the opponent's court
4. player obstructs or hinders opponent
5. player deliberately delays the game
6. player touches the net with racket, body, or clothes
7. in doubles the receivers partner returns the serve
8. shuttle passes through or under the net
9. shuttle touches the ceiling or walls
10. shuttle touches a person or their clothes
LETS:
· Server serves before receiver is ready
· Shuttle breaks during play
· Shuttle gets caught on top of the net or in the net after having gone over (except on the serve)
· A "let" or replay will be given for any "accidental hindrances"
· Double fault (one on each team) equals a let.
SCORING & SETTING THE SCORE:
· 15 points constitute the usual game for men's singles.  For women's singles 11 points are played.  All doubles games are played to 15 points.
· When the score becomes tied at 14 in a 15-point game, the side reaching 14 first chooses to play to 15 or "set" the game to 17 points.
·  When the score becomes tied at 10 in an 11-point game, the side reaching 10 first chooses to play to 11 points or "set" the game at 13.
· Only a one point lead is necessary to win.
· Only the serving team scores points.
SINGLES PLAY:
· Singles serving court is long and narrow.  The playing court is also long and narrow.
· Serving is from the right side when the server's score is "even" and from the left side when their score is odd.
· All serves must be to the diagonal.
· Both players shall change service courts after each point has been scored.
· Players must be in their service court upon contact with the serve.
 DOUBLES PLAY:
· Doubles serving court is short and wide.
· After the serve the playing court changes to long and wide.
· A team is given 2 downs for each inning except for the very first inning of the game.
· The first team to serve at the beginning of the game starts with one down and will only have one player serve before the other team wins the serve.  All subsequent innings have both servers of a team serve before their opponents get the serve back.
· When calling the score the number of downs must also be called signifying how many servers are left to serve for the serving team. (Score example: 9 to 5, no downs or one down)
· If the serving team scores a point, the same server serves the next serve diagonally from the other half of their court. This continues until the receiving team wins the rally.
· The serving team only changes service courts after a point is scored.  There is no change of courts for the serving team when the team loses a down.  The receiving team never changes courts.
· The first server of each inning is always the server in the right hand court, regardless of the score or whether that player served last or not.
· The player served to may alone receive the service. No player ever receives two consecutive serves.
PLAYING COURTESIES:
· If in doubt about the bird's landing, always call it in favor of the opponent.
· If there is any question of your fouling at the net, be sure to call it on yourself.
· If there is any question about your throwing the bird, be quick to call the throw.
· Do not question a call by the opponent.
· Do not smash at your opponent if the point could have been easily won by placing the bird elsewhere.
TERMINOLOGY:
    1. Alley: the area on the sides of the court between the doubles and singles court (the alleys are 1 1/2 feet wide).
    2. Drive: a hard flat shot, which usually passes a player close to the net or is a shot right at an opponent.
    3. Drop: a rapidly descending flight, directed close to the net, may be underhand or overhead drop.
    4. Forehand: hitting the shuttle (birdie) on the right side of the body for a right handed player, or on the left for a left handed player.
    5. Clear: a rapidly ascending flight, the bird being directed high overhead and falling into the backcourt.
    6. In (service): player or side serving.
    7. Out (of service): player or side receiving the service.
    8. Inning: the time during which a player or team is serving.
    9. Let: permitting the serve to made over, occasioned by: the bird being served so that it hits the net but falls within the proper service court.
    10. Lift Stroke: a stroke used in returning the bird from close to and directly over the net.  "Lift" describes the racket movement and it is  really hit over the net.
    11. Overhead stroke: stroke used in returning a bird from an overhead point.  Ideally, a stance should be assumed and the stoke timed  so as to contact the bird a little         out in front, not directly overhead,
    12. Side Boundary Line: there are two side boundary lines, 1 1/2 feet apart.  The outer line is the side boundary of the doubles playing  and service court, and the inner line is the side boundary of the singles playing and service court.
    13. Smash: a rapidly descending flight, very fast and at a sharp angle to the floor.
    14. Throw: or sling, is an indistinct hit or sliding contact between the racket and bird.  This is a fault according to the rules.
    15. Volley: the hitting of the bird following the serve. Also used to see which side will serve first.
    16. Backhand: hitting the bird on the left side of the body for a right handed player, and on the right side for a left handed player.
    17. Crosscourt: hitting the bird diagonally over the net from one side of the court to the other side.
    18. Fault: any violations of the rules.
    19. Match: consist of three games, if you win two out of three you win the match.
    20. Love: a term used to indicate the score of zero or no score.
    21. Service Court: the area into which the service must be hit.
    22: Wood Shot: a shot struck with the frame of the racket (a legal shot).
    23. Baseline: The back boundary line of the court on both ends.
    24. Short Service Line: the line 6 1/2 feet from the net that serves must get to in order to be  long enough to be a legal serve.


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