CODE OF CONDUCT
The highest type of sportsmanship is expected from every player who is obligated to avoid acts which are unsportsmanlike or detrimental to the game of tennis. In USTA tournaments, violators of this code are subject to disciplinary action.
- Loud, abusive, or profane language and racquet throwing or hitting balls indiscriminately are prohibited.
- No stalling! The Rules of Tennis allow a maximum of 1 1/2 minutes for changing ends of the court on odd games and 30 seconds between points and between games when there is no changeover.
- Intentional waving of a racquet or arms or making distracting noises is prohibited.
- No coaching except during the break between the second and third sets. Spectators should not interfere/participate in on-court matters.
- Do not make a mockery of a match, whether winning or losing.
- Do not withdraw from a tournament after the draw has been made, or default in a tournament (whether during the course of a match or prior to its' commencement) except for illness, injury or personal emergency.
The Code
TENNIS ETIQUETTE
- Don't take the court until all players are present.
- Wait until the point is over before walking behind a court where a match is in progress.
- To retrieve a ball from another court or to return a ball to another court, wait until the players have completed the point.
- Present a neat appearance and abide by local dress codes.
COURT RULES
(Excerpeted from the official USTA publication, The Code, whose principles and guidelines shall apply in any match conducted without officials.)
- If you have any doubt about whether a ball is out or good, you must give your opponent the benefit of the doubt and play the ball as good. You should not play a let. An opponent is entitled to ask only "Are you sure?" and play commences/
- It is your obligation to call all balls on your side, to help your opponent make calls when the opponent requests it, and to call against yourself (with the exception of the first service, any ball that you see is clearly out on your opponents side of the net.
- Any "out" or "let" call must be made instantaneously (made before the opponent has hit the return or the return has gone out of play); otherwise, the ball continues in play. A let call may be made by either side.
- Do not enlist the aid of spectators in making line calls.
- If you call a ball out and realize it was good, correct your call.
- To avoid controversy over the score, the server should announce the set score (e.g. 5-4) before starting a game and the game score (e.g. 30-40) prior to serving each point.
- If players cannot agree on a score, they may go back to the last score on which there was agreement and resume play from that point, or they may spin a racquet.
- Foot faults are not allowed. If an opponent persists in foot faulting after being warned not to do so, the referee should be informed.
- Do not stall, sulk, complain, or practice gamesmanship. The game is continuous and receivers are to be ready at the server's pace.
- After the point, always return loose balls directly to the receiver or their partner and not to open areas.
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