In badminton, players must hit the shuttlecock back over the net before it touches the surface of the court in bounds. Regulation badminton nets measure 5 feet high in the center and 5 feet 1 inch on either sideline. The net should have a white tape running along the top to make it stand out to players and rules officials. Badminton rules officials enforce certain rules regarding the net and any shuttlecocks that get caught in the net. The Badminton World Federation’s Laws of the Game provide a standard for competitive badminton.
Player Faults
If your shot does not pass the net, or if it passes through or below the net, you lose the rally. If you touch the net or the net posts with your racket, clothing or any part of your body, you commit a fault and lose the rally. If you reach over the net to hit a shuttlecock on your opponent’s side of the net, you commit a fault and lose the rally. You can reach over the net with your racket to follow through on contact made with the shuttlecock on your own side of the net. You cannot reach under the net if it will distract your opponent or interfere with his play.
Service Faults
If you serve the shuttlecock and it gets caught on top of the net, or passes over the net and then gets caught in the net on the opponent’s side, the serve counts as a fault. If the serve successfully passes the net but then your opponent’s return gets caught on top of the net, or passes over the net and then gets caught in the net on your side, the serve counts as a "let" and you can replay it.
Officials and Appeals
Official badminton matches have several rules officials, including an umpire, a service judge and several line judges. The umpire appoints and oversees the service judge and line judges. The service judge will call any service faults made by either player. Players should take the service judge’s decisions as final and should not dispute them. If the umpire believes that the service judge has made an incorrect call, she can overrule the call.
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