Switching ends

This is a tournament rule. The rules on switching ends are in the part of the rulebook for tournaments (21.B, 21.F).

Between games

After each game, both teams switch ends. The team that serves first in the next game also switches (21.F.2). The break between games is up to 2 minutes (21.F.1).

Switching ends during a game

In a one-game match, or in a game that decides the match (a tiebreak game), such as game 3 of a best-of-three match, teams also switch ends partway through the game (21.B).

• Game to 11: when one side reaches 6 points (21.B.1)
• Game to 15: when one side reaches 8 points (21.B.2)
• Game to 21: when one side reaches 11 points (21.B.3)

However, if game 1 of a match was forfeited because a player was late, the teams do not switch ends during the tiebreak game (21.B).

Rules for switching

• The server does not change. After switching, the same server keeps serving (21.B.4)
• The switch can take up to 1 minute (21.B.5)

Tournaments in Japan

For play in Japan: the match format is usually decided by the tournament director (the organizer) (16.C). Check the tournament guidelines or the referee's instructions to find out whether ends are switched and how much time is allowed.