TENNIS ETIQUETTE
Always be known as a “good sport”
BALL MANAGEMENT
Ball Management
•
Balls should be kept either in your hand, in a pocket or ball clip, or against a fence
•
Remove any spare balls from the court when playing – for safety reasons and to avoid confusion
•
If the server needs a ball, the player closest to a ball should get it and return it to the server
•
Retrieve balls for your partner and your opponent when they are on your side of the court
•
Roll the ball back directly, or lob the ball over the net, to the server
•
When sending balls back to a neighbouring court, roll them to the back of the court (and never
send them back while play is in progress)
•
When retrieving a ball from a neighbouring court, where play is still in progress, wait on
your court until the point is finished before retrieving it - or ask for the ball to be returned
•
If your opponent has to walk a significant distance to get a ball, check your side to see whether
you can use that time to collect a ball that's similarly far away
Keeping Score
•
At the beginning of the match spin your racket, or toss a coin, to determine who
serves first. If you win the toss, the choice is yours. You may choose to serve first, to receive first
or to pick which end of the court you wish to start (you may also make your opponent choose
first)
•
Make sure your opposition is ready before you begin to serve
•
If there is no score board, the server must announce the game score at the start of each game
•
The server must announce the score at the start of each point
•
The server must make sure their point announcement is loud enough to be heard by the
opposition
•
If the receiver cannot hear the server's announcement of the score, they must ask the server to
speak louder. Don’t wait until the server believes they have won the game to try to reconstruct
the scoring point by point
Line Calls
Line Calls
•
If you're not sure whether your opponent's shot is in or out… it's in!
•
Try not to return a first serve that is clearly out as your opponent won't be
sure why you're not calling it out. With a fast serve it's often hard for the receiver to determine
whether a serve is in or out and you must give the server the benefit of the doubt. However, if you
can see that you have confused your opponent by playing an ‘out ball’, offer to replay the point
•
In doubles you should avoid calling balls wide when they land near the far sideline - unless the
call is obvious and your partner was somehow hindered from seeing the ball land.
•
If you are the receiver, and your partner is on or near the service line at the start of a point, your
partner has the best view of whether a serve is in or long. You can make a call if they don’t but
always defer to their judgment.
•
Make sure you call “out” when the ball is clearly out. You can also use hand signal of a raised
finger if the ball is out but still make sure you verbalise the call (NB a flat hand with the palm
down determines an “in” ball)
•
If the ball lands on the line this is “in” and so you say nothing and play on
DEMEANOR
Court Conduct
•
•
Talk quietly when standing near tennis courts that are in use
Never walk behind a court when a point is still in play. Wait until the point is over and then cross
as quickly as possible
•
Never criticise your partner. You are working as a team and it may well have been your previous
shot that lead to your partner’s mistake
•
Offer encouragement. Talk to your partner about what’s not working and discuss what other
options you can try
•
Always play within the rules
•
Work at achieving your personal best play
•
Enjoy yourself on the court. You may not win every time – make sure your behaviour allows your
fellow players to enjoy their game, too. Keep your language polite and controlled
•
Always shake your partner’s and opponent’s hand(s) at the end of the match
•
Be a gracious winner or a dignified loser