Each sport has its own set of rules and regulations that ensures that the game is played in sane spirits. In the sport of Pickleball, an umpire or a referee possesses the right to warn or punish a player or a team who breach the code of conduct of the sport.
A player who displays unsportsmanlike conduct which includes (but is not restricted to) profanity, objectionable language, unnecessary argument with the umpire, ball or paddle abuse, disruption of play time, etc is subject to a technical warning. This is a preliminary or the first warning for a player. If a technical warning is repeated, then a technical foul is called out.
A technical foul results in the player losing a point. If such a foul occurs on the first point of the game, then the opposing team or player is awarded a point. A technical foul can be called out without issuing a technical warning. A few notable scenarios where the technical foul is called out includes:
- Throwing a paddle recklessly with no concern for the spectators or on-court umpires.
- Hitting the ball in fury with the paddle with no regards for the spectators or on-court umpires.
- An unacceptable level of profanity as judged by the umpire or referee.
- Threatening a player or spectator during the match.
- Disruption of game time without any valid reason.
- Inappropriate medical time outs.
If a technical foul is repeated, then the umpire has the right to decide if the player shall be penalized with a game or the match, depending on the level and severity of the offense committed. Technical fouls are largely behavioral violations which this ensure the players to respect the decorum of the match.