12 May

RULES AND REGS!

Posted by Marge in TIDBITS FROM THE OFFICIALS.

THIS PAGE IS WRITTEN BY ED OSNOWITZ. A GVR TENNIS PLAYER AND USTA OFFICIAL.

Ed is the USTA SAZ Chairman of Officials. For more information on becoming a USTA Official please contact him at emoz@cox.net.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

March, 2013

WHEN TO SERVE AND RECEIVE
The server shall not serve until the receiver is ready.  However, the receiver shall play to the reasonable pace of the server and shall be ready to receive with in a reasonable time of the server being ready. A receiver who attempts to return the service shall be considered as being ready.  If it is demonstrated that the receiver is not ready, the service cannot be called a fault.  The above rule applies separately to both the first and second serve.
Once ready the receiver cannot become unready unless outside interference occurs. A server cannot hit the serve until the receiver is in the ready position and has a second or two to make eye contact with the server. From the time a point ends the serve must be made within 20 seonds, unless a player has to chase a stray ball.  The second serve must be made immediately after a first service fault.  The server does not have 20 seconds.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
January, 2013
ORDER OF RECEIVING IN DOUBLES
The team which is due to receive in the first game of a set shall decide which player shall receive the first point in the game.  Similarly, before the second game starts, their opponents shall decide which player shall receive the first point of that game.  The player who was the receiver’s partner for the first point of the game shall receive the second point and this rotation shall continue until the end of the game and the set.  One member of a doubles is NOT allowed to play alone against the opponent’s.  Partners do not have to alternate hitting the ball during a rally.  Doubles team partners may change positions at the end of a set or match tie break.

&************************************************************************

December, 2012
ORDER OF SERVICE
At the end of each standard game, the receiver shall become the server and the server shall become the receiver for the next game. 
In doubles, the team due to serve in the first game of each set shall decide which player shall serve for that game.  Similarly, before the second game starts, their opponents shall decide which player shall serve for that game.  The partner of the player who served in the first game shall serve in the third game and the partner of the player who served in the second game shall serve in the fourth game.  This rotation shall continue until the end of the set.  A doubles team may change positions, or serving order, at the beginning of a set or match tie break.

==========================================================

November, 2012
BALL IN PLAY
Unless a fault or let is called, the ball is in play from the moment the server hits the ball, and remains in play until the point is decided.  A ball is in play until it bounces twice or lands outside the court, hits a permanent fixture, or hits a player.  A ball that becomes embedded in the net is out of play.  An out call on a player’s shot to the opponent’s court must be made before the opponent’s return has either gone out of play or been hit.  If a ball touches a line, it is regarded  as touching the court bounded by that line.  If a player cannot call a ball out with certainty,  the player should regard the ball as good.
===========================================================

OCTOBER, 2012

THE RACKET
The frame of the racket shall not exceed 29 inches in overall length including the handle.  The frame of the racket shall not exceed 12.5 inches in overall width.  The hitting surface shall not exceed 15.5 inches in overall length and 11.5 inches in overall width.
The frame including the handle, and strings, shall be free of any device which makes it possible to change the shape of the racket or change the weight in the direction of the longitudinal axis.  No energy source may be added to a racket.
The racket must be free of any devise  that may provide communication of any kind, audible or visible to a player during a match.   Dampeners may be added top, bottom, sides, outside the stringing,(as many as you want).  But not within the stringing.

***************************************************************

APRIL, 2012

PERMANENT FIXTURES
 The permanent fixtures of the court include the backstop, and side stops, the spectators, the stands and seats for spectators, all other fixtures around and above the court, the Chair Umpire, Line Umpires, and ball persons when in their recognized positions.
In a singles match played with a doubles net and singles sticks, the net posts and the part of the net outside the singles sticks are permanent fixtures and are not considered as net posts or part of the net.
============================================================

MARCH, 2012
COACHING

Coaching is considered to be communication, advice or instruction of any kind, audible or visible, to a player.  In team events where the coach is allowed to sit on the player bench coaching is allowed on set breaks when the players change ends of the court. In all other matches, coaching is NOT allowed.  A player may bring to court written notes that were prepared before the start of the match and may read these notes during the match. A player may NOT use electronic devices such as cell phones, digital messaging systems, radios, mp3 players, cd and DVD players, cassette players, and any device capable off receiving communications.  Hearing aids and watches not capable of receiving messages are permitted.

Coaching is not permitted in the USTA League programs.

========================================================
FEBRUARY, 2012

CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT MALFUNCTION. If clothing or equipment, other than a racket, becomes unusable through circumstances outside the control of a player, play may be suspended for a reasonable period. A player may leave the court after a point is over to correct the problem. if a racket or string is broken, a player may leave the court to get a replacement, but the player is subject to code violations under the Point Penalty System.

PLACEMENT OF TOWELS. Towels are to be placed on the ground outside the net post or at the back fence. Clothing or towels should never be placed on a net.
========================================================
JANUARY, 2012
BALL ISSUES

RETRIEVING A STRAY BALL. Each player is responsible for removing stray balls and other objects from the player’s end of the court. Whenever a ball is not in play, a player must honor an opponent’s request to remove a ball from the court or from an area outside the court that is reasonably close to the line. A player shall not go behind an adjacent court to retrieve a ball or ask a player on an adjacent court to return a ball while a point is in play. When a player returns a ball from an adjacent court, the player shall wait until the point is over on the court where the ball is being returned and then return it directly to one of the players, preferably the server.

CATCHING A BALL. If a player catches a ball before it bounces, the player loses the point regardless of where the player is standing.
=======================================================
DECEMBER, 2011
REQUESTING AN OFFICIAL PLAY

WHILE NORMALLY A PLAYER MAY NOT LEAVE THE PLAYING AREA, THE PLAYER MAY CONTACT THE REFEREE OR A ROVING UMPIRE TO REQUEST ASSISTANCE. SOME REASONS FOR CONTACTING AN OFFICIAL INCLUDE:
+ STALLING
+ FLAGRANT FOOT FAULTS
+ A MEDIAL OR BLEEDING TIME OUT
+ A SCORE DISPUTE
+ A PATTERN OF BAD CALLS

A PLAYER MAY REFUSE TO PLAY UNTIL AN OFFICIAL RESPONDS.

========================================================
NOVEMBER, 2011
STALLING

A PLAYER WHO ENCOUNTERS A PROBLEM WITH STALLING SHOULD CONTACT AN OFFICIAL. THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS CONSTITUTE STALLING:

+ WARMING UP LONGER THAN THE ALLOTTED TIME
+ PLAYING AT ABOUT 1/3 A PLAYERS NORMAL PACE
+ TAKING MORE THAN 90 SECONDS ON THE ODD-GAME CHANGEOVER OR MORE THAN 2 MINUTES ON THE SET BREAK
+ TAKING LONGER THAN THE TIME AUTHORIZED DURING A REST PERIOD
+ STARTING A DISCUSSION OR ARGUMENT IN ORDER TO REST
+ CLEARING A MISSED FIRST SERVICE THAT DOESN’T NEED TO BE CLEARED
+ EXCESSIVE BOUNCING OF A BALL BEFORE ANY SERVE

STALLING IS SUBJECT TO PENALTY UNDER THE POINT PENALTY SYSTEM.

******************************************************

OCTOBER, 2011
FOOT FAULTS

THE RECEIVER OR THE RECEIVER’S PARTNER MAY CALL FOOT FAULTS ONLY AFTER THE SERVER HAS BEEN WARNED AT LEAST ONCE AND THE REQUEST FOR AN OFFICIAL FAILED. THIS CALL SHOULD BE MADE ONLY WHEN THE RECEIVER OR RECEIVER’S PARTNER IS ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN AND THE FOOT FAULTING IS SO FLAGRANT AS TO BE CLEARLY PERCEPTIBLE FROM THE RECEIVER’S SIDE. THE PLEA THAT A SERVER SHOULD NOT BE PENALIZED BECAUSE THE SERVER ONLY TOUCHED THE LINE AND DID NOT RUSH THE NET IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. HABITUAL FOOT FAULTING, WHETHER INTENTIONAL OR CARELESS, IS JUST AS SURELY CHEATING AS IS MAKING A DELIBERATE BAD LINE CALL.

SCORING

THE SERVER SHALL ANNOUNCE THE GAME SCORE BEFORE THE FIRST POINT OF A GAME AND THE POINT SCORE BEFORE EACH SUBSEQUENT POINT OF THE GAME. DISPUTES OVER THE SCORE SHALL BE RESOLVED BY USING ONE OF THE FOLLOWING METHODS, WHICH ARE LISTED IN THE ORDER OF PREFERENCE:
1) COUNT ALL POINTS AND GAMES AGREED UPON BY THE PLAYERS AND REPLAY ONLY THE DISPUTED POINTS OR GAMES.
2) PLAY FROM A SCORE MUTUALLY AGREEABLE TO ALL PLAYERS.
3) SPIN A RACKET OR TOSS A COIN.

========================================================
SERVING

WHEN A SERVER REQUESTS THREE BALLS, THE RECEIVER SHALL COMPLY WHEN THE THIRD BALL IS READILY AVAILABLE. DISTANT BALLS SHALL BE RETRIEVED AT THE END OF THE GAME.

IN DOUBLES, THE RECEIVER’S PARTNER SHALL CALL THE SERVICE LINE, AND THE RECEIVER SHOULD CALL THE SIDELINE AND THE CENTER SERVICE LINE. NONETHELESS, EITHER PARTNER MAY CALL A BALL THAT EITHER CLEARLY SEES.

ANY PLAYER MAY CALL A SERVICE LET. THE CALL SHALL BE MADE BEFORE THE RETURN OF SERVE GOES OUT OF PLAY OR IS HIT BY THE SERVER’S PARTNER.

THE RECEIVER SHALL PLAY TO THE REASONABLE PACE OF THE SERVER. THE RECEIVER SHOULD MAKE NO EFFORT TO RETURN A SERVE WHEN THE RECEIVER IS NOT READY. IF A PLAYER ATTEMPTS TO RETURN A SERVE (EVEN IF IS A “QUICK” ), THEN THE RECEIVER (OR RECEIVING TEAM) IS PRESUMED TO BE READY.

================================================================
COURTESY IS EXPECTED

TENNIS IS A GAME THAT REQUIRES COOPERATION AND COURTESY FROM ALL PARTICIPANTS. THE GAME OF TENNIS IS MORE FUN WHEN AN OPPONENT’S GOOD SHOTS ARE PRAISED. IT IS NOT SO MUCH FUN WHEN:
**LOUD POSTMORTEMS ARE CONDUCTED AFTER POINTS
**COMPLAINTS ARE MADE ABOUT SHOTS LIKE LOBS OR DROP SHOTS
**WEAK OPPONENTS ARE EMBARRASSED BY A PLAYER BEING OVERLY GRACIOUS OR CONDESCENDING
**TEMPERS ARE LOST, VILE LANGUAGE IS USED, RACKETS ARE THROWN, OR BALLS ARE SLAMMED IN ANGER; OR
**SULKING OCCURS WHEN LOSING

***************************************************************************

HINDRANCE ISSUES

TALKING DURING A POINT

A PLAYER SHALL NOT TALK WHILE A BALL IS MOVING TOWARD AN OPPONENT’S SIDE OF THE COURT. IF A PLAYERS TALKING INTERFERES WITH AN OPPONENT’S ABILITY TO PLAY A BALL, THE PLAYER LOSES THE POINT.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF A DOUBLES PLAYER HITS A WEAK LOB AND LOUDLY YELLS AT THE PLAYER’S PARTNER TO GET BACK AND IF THE SHOUT IS LOUD ENOUGH TO DISTRACT AN OPPONENT, THEN THE OPPONENT MAY CLAIM THE POINT BASED ON A DELIBERATE HINDRANCE. IF THE OPPONENT CHOOSES TO HIT THE LOB AND MISSES IT, THE OPPONENT LOSES THE POINT BECAUSE THE OPPONENT DID NOT MAKE A TIMELY CLAIM OF HINDRANCE.

BODY MOVEMENT

A PLAYER MAY FEINT WITH THE BODY WHILE A BALL IS IN PLAY. A PLAYER MAY CHANGE POSITION AT ANY TIME, INCLUDING WHILE THE SERVER IS TOSSING A BALL. ANY OTHER MOVEMENT OR ANY SOUND THAT IS MADE SOLELY TO DISTRACT AN OPPONENT INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, WAVING ARMS OR RACKET OR STAMPING FEET IS NOT ALLOWED.

***************************************************************************
MAKING CALLS

BALL THAT CANNOT BE CALLED OUT IS GOOD. ANY BALL THAT CANNOT BE CALLED OUT IS CONSIDERED TO HAVE BEEN GOOD. A PLAYER MAY NOT CLAIM A LET ON THE BASIS OF NOT SEEING A BALL. IF A BALL CANNOT BE CALLED OUT WITH CERTAINTY, IT IS GOOD.

TREAT ALL POINTS THE SAME REGARDLESS OF THEIR IMPORTANCE. ALL POINTS IN A MATCH SHOULD BE TREATED THE SAME. THERE IS NO JUSTIFICATION FOR CONSIDERING A MATCH POINT DIFFERENTLY THAN HE FIRST POINT.

TOUCHES, HITTING THE BALL BEFORE IT CROSSES NET, INVASION OF OPPONENT’S COURT, DOUBLE HITS, AND DOUBLE BOUNCES. A PLAYER SHALL PROMPTLY ACKNOWLEDGE WHEN:
. A BALL IN PLAY TOUCHES A PLAYER
. THE PLAYER TOUCHES THE NET OR OPPONENT”S COURT WHILE THE BALL IS IN PLAY
. THE PLAYER HITS A BALL BEFORE IT CROSSES THE NET
. THE PLAYER DELIBERATELY CARRIES OR DOUBLE HITS THE BALL
. THE BALL BOUNCES MORE THAN ONCE IN THE PLAYERS COURT

THE OPPONENT IS NOT ENTITLED TO MAKE THESE CALLS.

***************************************************************************
THE WARM-UP

WARM-UP IS NOT PRACTICE. A PLAYER SHOULD AFFORD THE OPPONENT A REASONABLE WARM-UP TIME. USUALLY 5 OR 10 MINUTES. SOME PLAYERS CONFUSE THE WARM-UP WITH PRACTICE. EACH PLAYER SHOULD MAKE A SPECIAL EFFORT TO HIT SHOTS DIRECTLY TO THE OPPONENT. IF PARTNERS WANT TO WARM-UP EACH OTHER WHILE THEIR OPPONENTS ARE WARMING UP, THEY MAY DO SO.

A PLAYER SHOULD TAKE ALL WARM UP SERVES BEFORE THE FIRST SERVE OF THE MATCH. A PLAYER WHO RETURNS SERVES SHOULD RETURN THEM AT A MODERATE PACE IN A MANNER THAT DOES NOT DISRUPT THE SERVER.

MAKING CALLS

A PLAYER CALLS ALL SHOTS LANDING ON, OR AIMED AT, THE PLAYER’S SIDE OF THE NET.

WHEN A MATCH IS PLAYED WITHOUT OFFICIALS, THE PLAYERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING DECISIONS, PARTICULARLY FOR LINE CALLS. ALL PLAYERS SHOULD BE GUIDED BY THE UNWRITTEN LAW THAT ANY DOUBT MUST BE RESOLVED IN FAVOR OF THE OPPONENT.

IF ANY PART OF THE BALL TOUCHES THE LINE, THE BALL IS GOOD. A BALL 99% OUT IS STILL 100% GOOD.

**********************************************************************************
PLAYING BY THE CODE

COURTESY. TENNIS IS A GAME THAT REQUIRES COOPERATION AND COURTESY FROM ALL PARTICIPANTS.
MAKE TENNIS A FUN GAME BY PRAISING YOUR OPPONENTS’ GOOD SHOTS AND BY NOT:
*CONDUCTING POSTMORTEMS AFTER POINTS
*COMPLAINING ABOUT SHOTS LIKE LOBS AND DROP SHOTS
*EMBARRASSING A WEAK OPPONENT BY BEING OVERLY GRACIOUS OR CONDESCENDING
*LOSING YOUR TEMPER, USING VILE LANGUAGE, THROWING YOUR RACKET, OR SLAMMING A BALL IN ANGER
*SULKING WHEN YOU ARE LOSING.

ALL POINTS PLAYED IN GOOD FAITH-COUNT. FOR EXAMPLE, IF AFTER LOSING A POINT, A PLAYER DISCOVERS THAT THE NET IS 4 INCHES TOO HIGH, THE POINT STANDS. IF A POINT IS PLAYED FROM THE WRONG COURT. THERE IS NO REPLAY. IF DURING A POINT, A PLAYER REALIZES THAT A MISTAKE WAS MADE AT THE BEGINNING (SERVICE FROM THE WRONG COURT) THE PLAYERS SHALL CONTINUE PLAYING THE POINT. CORRECTIVE ACTION MAY BE TAKEN ONLY AFTER A POINT HAS BEEN COMPLETED.

SHAKING HANDS AT THE END OF THE MATCH IS AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT BY THE PLAYERS THAT THE MATCH IS OVER.

************************************************************************************

WHO STARTS THE NEXT SET AFTER A “SET” TIE BREAK?

A “SET” TIE BREAK IS PLAYED WHEN THE SCORE IN A SET REACHES 6 GAMES ALL. PLAYERS CONTINUE TO SERVE IN THE SAME ROTATION AS DURING THE REGULAR SET. FIRST PERSON SERVES ONE POINT FROM THE DEUCE COURT. THE OPPONENT THEN SERVES 2 POINTS STARTING IN THE ADD COURT. WHEN 6 POINTS HAVE BEEN PLAYED PLAYER OR TEAMS CHANGE ENDS OF THE COURT. THE FIRST PLAYER OR TEAM TO REACH 7 POINTS BY A MARGIN OF 2 WINS THE SET.

WHEN THE TIE BREAK IS COMPLETE THE TEAMS WILL START THE NEXT SET, AFTER CHANGING ENDS FROM WHERE THEY FINISHED THE TIE BREAK. THE PERSON OR TEAM WHO SERVED THE FIRST POINT TO START THE TIE BREAK WILL BECOME THE RECEIVER TO START THE NEXT SET.

=================================================================
BEGINNING A MATCH

ALL MATCHES SHOULD BEGIN WITH EITHER THE FLIP OF A COIN OR THE SPIN OF A RACQUET.

THERE ARE 4 CHOICES TO MAKE.
THE WINNER OF THE TOSS CAN CHOSE:
1) SERVE
2) RECEIVE
3) CHOSE AN END TO BEGIN PLAY
4) DEFER AND LET THE OPPONENT MAKE A CHOICE

THESE CHOICES SHOULD BE MADE PRIOR TO THE WARM UP. THEREFORE, YOU WARM UP ON THE SIDE YOU WILL PLAY YOUR FIRST GAME.

IF AN OPPONENT REFUSES TO WARM UP WITH YOU THEY FORFEIT THE OPPORTUNITY TO WARM UP. THEY MAY NOT GET SOME ONE ELSE FOR THE WARM UP. IF IN SINGLES YOU ARE ALLOWED TO GET AN OUTSIDER TO WARM UP WITH YOU.

WRITTEN BY ED OSNOWITZ