The PPA’s No-Timeout Rule: In women’s doubles match, Anna Leigh Waters made a questionable call on a crucial point, declaring an obvious good ball out. The problem? Jessie Irvine and Mariana Humberg had no timeouts left and were unable to challenge the decision, even though the Close Call footage indicated the ball was in. The issue became even more frustrating for TV viewers, who could see the error occurring in real-time, well before play resumed.
This situation raises a fundamental question: Why is this problem still happening in professional pickleball? The rule prohibiting video reviews without timeouts creates a glaring gap in the fairness of the sport. As it stands, players can only challenge calls if they have a timeout remaining. However, when a call is incorrect and no challenge is available, the integrity of the game is undermined.
Potential Solutions for the PPA
There are a few possible fixes to this issue. One solution could be deputizing an official in the video truck, allowing them to communicate with the referee and stop play for a review.
Alternatively, providing the referee with access to a live feed on a tablet could allow them to quickly review close calls, ensuring that mistakes are corrected in real time. Both options would allow for fairer decision-making and could prevent instances like the one witnessed in a recent match where Bright/Rohrabacher made an incorrect call that brought up a match point.
The Bigger Picture
The PPA (Professional Pickleball Association) is likely aware of these issues and may have plans to address them in the future. However, until changes are made, this problem remains a significant concern in the sport.
It is frustrating for players and spectators to see such obvious mistakes go unchallenged, especially in a professional setting. The current rule seems outdated, and the sport deserves a better solution to ensure that the best players win based on skill, not on faulty calls.
News in Brief: The PPA’s No-Timeout Rule
The Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) is facing criticism over the no-timeout rule, which prevents players from challenging questionable calls when they’ve used all their timeouts. A recent incident in women’s doubles, where Anna Leigh Waters called a good ball out, highlighted this issue.
TV viewers could see the ball was in, but there was no way to review the call. Suggestions include deputizing an official in the video truck or providing refs with live video feeds to ensure fairness in professional matches.
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