Badminton · Laws of Badminton
Law 20: Para Badminton
3 parts · 3 tests · 30 facts · updated 29 October 2026 · markdown
This chapter gathers the Para badminton clauses of the Laws: wheelchair and half-court diagrams, playing from a wheelchair, and the Alternative Service Laws of the standing classes.
Law 1.1.1 refers to Diagrams D and E for Wheelchair Badminton, D being singles. Both leave the area between the net and the short service lines out of the court. Diagram D uses one half of the court, from the centre line to the side line, its service court running from the short service line to the doubles long service line. Diagram F is the half-court for the standing class SL 3; all other standing classes use the standard court for singles and doubles.
From a wheelchair, the wheels of server and receiver stay stationary, apart from the natural counter movement of the server's chair, and a chair may have supporting wheels extending beyond the main wheel. It is a fault if no part of the trunk touches the seat when the shuttle is hit, if a foot loses its fixation to the footrest, or if the feet touch the floor during play. A wheelchair or crutch counts as part of the player's person.
In the standing classes, the Alternative Service Laws 9.1.6 (a) and (b) apply: the whole shuttle below the server's waist, and the racket shaft and head pointing downwards at contact. Exceptions to Law 9.1.4 need medical justification from the Head of Classification. The facts below cover courts, wheelchair play and the standing classes.
20.201Courts for Para Badminton
Diagrams D, E and F, and serving on a half court.
Test 1The courts for Para badmintonTake a test
Law 1.1.1 refers to Diagrams D and E for Wheelchair Badminton; D is singles.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 1.1.1, Diagram D · recall
Diagrams D and E leave the area between the net and the short service lines out of the court for play.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law Diagrams D, E · applied
Diagram D uses one half of the court, from the centre line out to the side line.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law Diagram D · recall
In Diagram D the service court runs from the short service line to the doubles long service line.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law Diagram D · recall
Diagram F is for standing classes playing half-court, named in the Laws as SL 3.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 1.1.2, Diagram F · recall
All other standing classes play on the standard court for both singles and doubles.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law Diagram F note · recall
In Para classes playing half-court, the server and receiver serve from and receive in their respective service courts.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 10.1.3 · applied
Diagram D: the front area is out; the service court ends at the doubles long service line, and play continues to the back boundary.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law Diagram D · applied
Half width without the front areas, half width full length, full width without the front areas, the full court.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law Diagrams A, D, E, F · applied
That strip in front of the short service line is shaded out in Diagram D, so the shot is out.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law Diagram D · applied
20.202Playing From a Wheelchair
Wheels, supporting wheels, the trunk, the feet and the net.
Test 1Playing from a wheelchairTake a test
The wheels of server and receiver stay stationary, except the natural counter movement of the server's chair.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 9.1.4.1 · recall
Law 9.1.4.1 excepts the natural counter movement of the server's wheelchair.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 9.1.4.1 · applied
A wheelchair may be equipped with supporting wheels, which may extend beyond the main wheel.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 5.2.2 · recall
Wheelchair Badminton treats it as a fault, where standing play has a let.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 13.3.10.2, 14.2.3.2.1 · applied
It is a fault if the fixation of a foot to the footrest is lost.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 13.4.6.2 · applied
Touching the floor with any part of the feet during play is a fault.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 13.4.6.3 · applied
In Para badminton, repair of additional equipment may be considered a special circumstance for suspension.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.3.2 · applied
Ready, wheels stationary, the forward swing starts the service, the hit delivers it.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 9.1.4.1, 9.1.6.1, 9.2 · recall
Laws 13.4.6 and 9.1.6.1 set the rules at each level.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 13.4.6, 9.1.6.1 · applied
It is a fault if, at the moment the shuttle is hit, no part of the player's trunk touches the seat.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 13.4.6.1 · applied
20.203Standing Classes and Exceptions
The Alternative Service Laws, classification exceptions and the crutch.
Test 1Standing classes, the Alternative Service Laws and exceptionsTake a test
In the standing classes the Alternative Service Laws 9.1.6 (a) and (b) apply.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 9.1.6.2 · recall
Law 9.1.6 (a) of the Alternative Service Laws: the whole shuttle below the server's waist.
Source: BWF ITTO 2025, 7.4.1 (a); Laws 9.1.6.2 · recall
An imaginary line round the body, level with the lowest part of the server's bottom rib.
Source: BWF ITTO 2025, 7.4.1 (a) · recall
Exceptions to Law 9.1.4 must be medically justified by the Head of Classification.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 9.1.4.2 · applied
The Referee and the Technical Delegate refer to the list provided by the Head of Classification.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 9.1.4.2 · recall
In Para badminton a wheelchair or crutch is part of the player's person, so it is a fault.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 13.3.4.1 · applied
Law 9.1.6 (b): the shaft and head of the server's racket point downwards at the instant of hitting.
Source: BWF ITTO 2025, 7.4.1 (b); Laws 9.1.6.1-9.1.6.2 · recall
Law 9.1.4.2: medical justification by the Head of Classification, applied from the list.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 9.1.4.2 · applied
The same sequence as any service, with the waist as the height limit.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 9.2, 9.1.6.2 · recall
Under the Alternative Service Laws the racket shaft and head must point downwards at contact.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 9.1.6.2 · applied
Questions people ask
- What court is used for wheelchair badminton?
- Diagrams D and E, with D for singles. Both leave out the area between the net and the short service lines.
- How big is the wheelchair singles court?
- Diagram D uses one half of the court, from the centre line out to the side line, without the front area; the service court ends at the doubles long service line and play continues to the back boundary.
- Which Para badminton class plays on a half court?
- Diagram F is for the standing class playing half-court, named in the Laws as SL 3. All other standing classes play on the standard court.
- What are the Alternative Service Laws in Para badminton?
- Used in the standing classes, they require the whole shuttle to be below the server's waist and the racket shaft and head to point downwards at the instant of hitting.
- What are the faults specific to wheelchair players?
- It is a fault if no part of the trunk touches the seat when the shuttle is hit, if a foot loses its fixation to the footrest, or if the feet touch the floor during play.
- Does a shuttle hitting a wheelchair count as hitting the player?
- Yes. In Para badminton a wheelchair or crutch is part of the player's person, so it is a fault.
- Can a wheelchair move during the serve?
- The wheels of server and receiver stay stationary, except for the natural counter movement of the server's wheelchair.
Sources
BWF Laws of Badminton, V6.0 in force 4 January 2027, the Para badminton clauses and Diagrams D-F (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Laws, not reproduced)
- BWF Laws 2027, Law Diagram D4
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 9.1.4.23
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 9.1.4.12
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 9.1.6.22
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 1.1.1, Diagram D1
- BWF Laws 2027, Law Diagrams D, E1
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 1.1.2, Diagram F1
- BWF Laws 2027, Law Diagram F note1
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 10.1.31
- BWF Laws 2027, Law Diagrams A, D, E, F1
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 5.2.21
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 13.3.10.2, 14.2.3.2.11
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 13.4.6.21
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 13.4.6.31
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.3.21
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 9.1.4.1, 9.1.6.1, 9.21
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 13.4.6, 9.1.6.11
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 13.4.6.11
- BWF ITTO 2025, 7.4.1 (a); Laws 9.1.6.21
- BWF ITTO 2025, 7.4.1 (a)1
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 13.3.4.11
- BWF ITTO 2025, 7.4.1 (b); Laws 9.1.6.1-9.1.6.21
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 9.2, 9.1.6.21