The
following basic rules of etiquette are mostly common courtesy
and should be followed whether you are playing an important match
or just social tennis.
On-Court
Behaviour
Do not walk on to another court during a game.
Wait for the players to finish playing a point, before walking
on to or behind their court. It is very distracting to have someone
disrupt a game in progress.
Retrieving
your ball from an adjacent court.
As with the above, it is common courtesy not to disrupt players
on court during a match. If your ball rolls on to an adjacent
court, wait for them to finish the point and kindly ask for “a
little help” to get their attention. Do not run over on
to their court in the middle of a point to retrieve the ball yourself.
Likewise
be aware of tennis balls, which have rolled over from an adjacent
court, and return them to the back of the court at the end of
a point.
Ball
Clearance
During a game, clear all balls that are loose in the area of play.
These are not only dangerous but will also distract players on
both sides of the net. Do this quickly so as to cause minimum
disruption to the game.
If your doubles partner serves into the net, retrieve the ball
quickly and put the ball in your pocket or to the side of the
net. Do not just flick it back to the end of the court as it will
remain a hazard, waste time and distract the server.
Be
aware of the appearance of the set of balls you are using and
those on adjacent courts so they don’t get mixed up.
Keep
kit off the court
Put racket bags, ball cans, jackets etc., out of everyone's way
– at the side of the court, on the hooks and benches not
behind the base line.
Always wear proper tennis shoes.
Black-soled shoes should not be worn on hard court surfaces as
they leave marks on the courts that are difficult to get off.
Make sure you wear proper tennis shoes on court. They give your
feet the necessary lateral support when running down balls, and
making abrupt changes in direction.
Close
the gate behind you.
Whether you’re coming on or off the courts, please wait
for play to cease on adjacent courts and close the gate behind
you. Having left the court, please also avoid walking across the
back or down the side of the courts while play is in progress.
Show
respect and courtesy
To your opponents, your partner, and others on or near the courts.
Keep your voice down and confined to your court as much as possible
so as not to disrupt players on adjacent courts. If you get into
a loud dispute with your opponent, take it off the court and away
from other players. Please do not use language that might offend
others.
Don’t
criticise your partner – offer encouragement
Mobile Phones
Switch off and do not use your mobile phone on court
Pick
up after yourself.
Don’t leave empty cans, banana skins or old tennis balls
out on the court when you leave. Dispose of any rubbish you have
in the bins on or near the court – if there aren’t
any, take it with you.
Monitor
children on the courts at all times.
Everyone who plays tennis wants to encourage juniors to play the
game as well, but juniors must also follow these rules. Since
children can easily get distracted, it’s up to the adults
with them to assist. Stray balls, running around and yelling are
actions that need to be managed.
Have
fun.
The objective of playing tennis, aside from being good aerobic
exercise, is to have fun. You can follow these rules of etiquette
and still have a good time on the courts – the players on
adjacent courts will appreciate it.
Calling
the Shots
1. Always give your opponent the benefit of the
doubt on close line calls. If you are not absolutely sure of the
call, then you should play the ball as good. If you’re not
sure whether your opponent’s shot is in or out, it’s
in! This includes serves.
2. If a ball or player from an adjacent court
comes on to your court in the middle of play, you should immediately
call a “let”, no matter which side the ball lands
on. This situation can be dangerous and stepping on or tripping
over a stray ball can seriously hurt a player.
3. Tennis rules state that a shot is considered
good unless it is called “out.” It may seem to you
that a ball has landed well past the baseline, but it might not
be obvious to your opponent, who may be standing up to 90 feet
away or have an obstructed view. Call “out” balls
unless they hit the fence!
4. The point is your opponent’s if the
ball touches you or your racquet before the first bounce, even
if you are standing outside the court. So let it bounce. If you
catch an “out” ball in the air, it is considered your
opponent’s point. This includes serves.
5. The receiver must be ready before the server
starts the point. If a ball rolls onto your court between serves,
causing an interruption, you should call a “let” and
allow the server to take two serves.
6. If there is a disagreement, offer a let –
in other words, replay the point, even if it was a second service.
