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Langara Tennis Group |
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Tennis Etiquette
Tennis has its official rules, then it has The Code of Tennis, the unofficial rules of good tennis sportsmanship. Any serious player should take the time to read both. Players who don't understand the rules, or worse, The Code, are more likely to experience a gradually shrinking pool of opponents. Besides the rules of tennis there are also some important unwritten laws which come under the title of tennis etiquette. Tennis is a social game, a game involving simple politeness and consideration. Everyone will enjoy the game so much more if those standards are maintained. 1. Talk quietly when standing near tennis courts that are in use. Keep the speaking and noise down to calling the scores. Use hand signals for in and out balls. We are doing this in consideration to the neighbors next to the courts. We have been warned and I am sure we do not want to loose our morning playing privileges. 2. Never walk behind a court when a point is still in play. Wait until the point is over and then cross as fast as possible. If you have to cross a court wait for a break in play and quickly cross over either at the net or at the back. By not waiting for a break in play you become a distraction to the players they may not see you and run into you or be hit by a ball in play. 3. If people are already on your court, don't disturb them until their time is up. 4. Always come prepared. Bring not only towels but water to drink when it is hot. 5. Wear sneakers for tennis. Other shoes may wear out quickly, hurt your feet, or damage the court. 6. When you're ready to play, put racket covers, ball cans, jackets etc., out of everyone's way. 7. Keep your warm up times to 15 minutes if they are others waiting to play. 8. To see who serves first, spin your racket or toss a coin. If you win the toss, the choice is yours. You may serve first, or you may choose to receive first or to pick which end of the court you want to start playing on. As a third choice you may make your opponent choose first. 9. When sending balls back to a neighboring court, roll them on to the back of the court. Never send them back while play is in progress. 10. Offer to bring new balls or organize a system to decide who brings the balls. In our group the club supplies the balls. 11. Retrieve balls for your partner and your opponent. 12. Don't criticize your partner, offer encouragement. Complement your opponent on a good shot. 13. Call your own lines and let your opponent hear the call. If the ball is good say nothing and play on. 14. Always respect the line calls of your opponent. 15. If there is a disagreement, offer a let. In other words, replay the point, even if it was a second service. 16. If your ball goes on to the adjoining court you are not to go on to their court to retrieve your ball but to continue to use the two remanding balls. Wait for a break in the adjoining court game and ask to have your ball returned. By going on to the next court you not only distracts the players but they may not see you, run into you or be hit by a ball in play. If you are returning the ball hit it to the back of the court and not on the playing surface, as we do not want the players to step and accidentally trip over the ball. 17. Do not under any circumstance run on to the adjoining court to play a ball. Its better to loose the point than to cause an accident by running into the next player or interrupting their game 18. Coaching should not be done during a game as it distracts your partner and opponents
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