If you never lose then you can never appreciate the victories.
If you never lose then you can never appreciate the victories.
The game of tennis depends upon courtesy and fairness. The hosting teams should extend themselves to provide pleasant conditions for their guests. It is important to treat visiting teams like friends. Likewise, guest teams should be courteous and friendly, supporting the host team’s efforts and proving a pleasant tennis atmosphere. Non-participating individuals should not be on court at any time. Spectators or coaches may not volunteer advice on line calls, scoring or the conduct of the match. Coaching can be done during the break between the 2nd and 3rd sets.
The highest type of sportsmanship is expected from every player. From the beginning of the match, play must be continuous. Ladies who use paper to mark the score should do so at change of ends NOT at the end of every game. If the server calls the game score at the beginning of each of her service games, the marking of the score each game is unnecessary. Attempts to stall or extend rest periods are against the Rules of Tennis.
On your side of the court, you must call all balls as if you were a linesman, except that any doubt must be resolved in favour of your opponent. If you cannot determine whether the ball was in our out on your side of the court, then the ball is automatically in. In doubles, if one partner calls “out” and the other partner calls “in”, doubt has been raised, and it is therefore the opponents’ point.
If a player fails to make a good return, and no call is made and the ball remains in play, play must continue until the point is awarded. No claim can be made once the point has been played out.
Calls of “out” and “let” must be made instantly (i.e. made before either an opponent has hit the return or the return has gone out of play): otherwise, the ball continues in play. A delay in making the call implies that the balls were not seen clearly and is therefore in.
To avoid controversy over the score, the Server should announce the set score (eg 2-3) before starting a game and the game score (eg 30-40) prior to serving each point.
In the event that players cannot agree on the score, they may go back to the last score on which there was an agreement and resume play from that point.
You must volunteer honestly against yourself on such violations as double bounce, ball touching your body or clothing, touching the net, reach over the net.
In doubles there should be no conversation during the course of play other than brief instructions to your partner such as “mine”, “out”, “run” or “bounce it”.
It is against all regulations to use loud, abusive or profane language, racquet throwing or slamming of balls, intentional waving of racquet or arms, making distracting noises; cheering or clapping; continuous strolling to use towels or get a sip of water, to rest between points or making a comedy of the match, whether winning or losing.
The server shall not serve until the receiver is ready. If the receiver attempts to return the service, he shall be deemed ready. If, however, the receiver signifies that he is not ready, and the ball is served, the receiver may ask the server to re-serve.
The game of tennis depends upon courtesy and fairness. The highest type of sportsmanship is expected from every player. To knowingly disregard the rules or take unfair advantage of the face that the matches are self umpired by eg foot faulting, calling balls that are in out, not volunteering violations such as double bounce, ball touching your body or clothing, touching the net, reaching over the net etc. is cheating. Whilst your opponent can do little to prevent this it does make for a very unpleasant day, usually ends up with no lunch and defeats the purpose of competing which is to “win or lose in a fair and honest manner”
International Tennis Federation rules are available to download.
This website is proudly maintained by Jessie Yip of Blank Sheet.
