History of The LAWS of Badminton

The Laws of Badminton have evolved over the years. Presented here are versions directly from major organizations with world standing. Most are primary sources taken direct from published material.

Historical Versions of the Laws of Badminton

• May 2021 - 5x11 is very narrowly defeated. Minor technical changes only.
• May 2019 (BWF)- uniform string spacing dropped and new rules for lets and faults in wheelchair badminton
• December 2018 (BWF) - fixed height serve takes affect, references to waist and racket attitude removed
• May 2018 - BWF AGM: fixed-height serve adopted, to take affect 10DEC2018, 3x21 remains intact
• June 2017 (BWF) - first codification of automated line calls.
• June 2016 (BWF) - another modification to definition of  "shuttle passing over net". Fixed-serving-height experiment noted. Update to administration of breach of laws.
• June 2015 (BWF) - renumbering of service rules. Clarification of shuttle passing over net. Suspension of Play update. Update to warnings.
• June 2014 (BWF) - superficial change to serving rule and addition of more para-badminton rules. The Laws are available in PDF format and the full BWF Handbook is available as online document on BWF pages.
• May 2010 (BWF) - Updated at AGM - superficial changes only- no rules changes. The Laws and full BWF handbook are available in PDF format.
• 2007 (USAB Handbook)
• September 2006: IBF is renamed BWF.
• May 2006 (IBF)- IBF adopts the 3x21 rally scoring system along with various other rules changes. Final version is available in PDF format. Appendix is also available.
• January 2006 - IBF decides to experiment with 21-point rally scoring rules. A second draft of this new system was proposed in February. IBF will vote on this issue at next general meeting in the summer of 2006
• August 2002 (IBF)- Recent changes to 11 points for Women's Doubles and Mixed Doubles rejected by most member nations. All events return to 15 points except Women's Singles.
• 2002- new scoring system (IBF). 5x7 is officially abandoned and replaced by modified traditional scoring. In particular, MS and MD are 3x15 and WS, WD, XD are all 3x11. PDF version also available, as is the full IBF Statutes book.
• 2001 (HL) - Institutional guide from HL Corp covers full rules along with simplifications and variations. During this era multiple new scoring systems were experimented with.
• 1998 (IBF) - setting at 13-all dropped, setting at 14-all maintained
• 1992 (IBF) - Missing the shuttle during a serve is now a fault.
• 1992 (USBA Handbook)
• 1990 (USBA Handbook)
• 1988 (IBF - excerpt from World Badminton Sep 1987)  the terminology is simplified, the laws are renumbered, and various changes to the equipment and faults.
• 1987 (USBA)
• 1986 - the racket definition and other rules are updated
• 1985 - Excerpt from BAE Handbook 1985-6.
• 1984 - the laws are amended to include a rule defining a legal racket. Excerpt from BAE Handbook 1984-5.
• 1983 - a November 1983 IBF committee meeting decides to define a racket and to move the shuttle test lines to mandate slower shuttles.
• 1982 - the Sidek spin serve came and went in just a couple of years before being outlawed in 1982. This was also the first official recognition of synthetic shuttles.
  • 1982 (IBF- World Badminton, June 1982) - decisions announced
  • 1982 (BAE Handbook 1982-83 ) - first new rules
• 1977 (USBA)
• 1972 (ABA)
• 1971 (ABA Handbook)
• 1970 (ABA Handbook)
• 1969 (ABA Handbook)
• 1968 (ABA Handbook)
• 1966 (ABA)
• 1963 (ABA) - "woods" become legal
• 1962 (ABA) - a shuttle touching the net on a serve is no longer a "let"
• 1957 (ABA)
• 1955 (ABA)
• 1953 (BAE Recommendations to Umpires, the Laws of Badminton, September 1954) - revised in 1953
• 1950 (BAE Handbook 1949-1950) - wood shots are outlawed
• 1949 (ABA)
• 1946 (ABA)
• 1945 (Wilson) - How to Play Badminton, including Rules. ABA Approved.
• 1942 (Wilson) - How to Play Badminton, including Rules. ABA Approved.
• 1939 (BAE Handbook 1939-1940) - revised in 1939
• 1939 (ABA) - adopted from the 1939 revised IBF Rules
• 1939 (Slazenger) - Badminton, Squash and tennis Laws by Slazenger
• 1936 (Spalding Athletic Library) - Badminton Guide including Rules. 20x44 ft rectangular court.
• 1914 (Spalding Athletic Library) - Rules from Bath Badminton Club. Waisted court with up to 4 players per side.
• From 1900 to 1907 the Badminton Association of England was making announcements and printing material on badminton in Lawn Tennis and Badminton. Original copies are in the Lawn Tennis Museum at Wimbledon. Material provided by the National Badminton Museum in Milton Keynes, England. Included below are reviews of the Badminton Association Annual General Meetings.
  • 1907 -  laws relating to 6 and 8 handed games deleted. Also Ladies to play to 11 in singles instead of 15
  • 1906 - new laws clarifying serving and receiving out of turn
  • 1905 - law 8 amended relating to handicap games
  • 1904 - laws 4, 10 and 18 amended - clarifying where to stand to receive
  • 1903 - laws 11 and 15 amended - minor change of wording. Also published by Spalding in USA.
  • 1901 - rectangular court adopted.
• 1875 (Encyclopedia Britannica)
• 1874 ( Harper's Bazaar ) Commentary and Rules, plus Court Diagram
• 1873 (The Field)

Special thanks goes to Jill Brill of the National Badminton Museum in Milton Keynes, England. Jill spent hours ferreting out many of the items shown here.

References

• 1914- Spalding Athletic - Red Cover 43R from Library of Congress
• 1903- Spalding Athletic Library, Vol XVI, No 188. from Library of Congress

Page maintained by Stan Bischof. Last update: 22 April 2024 15:10