Events for June 2021

MAKING CALLS

1. Player makes calls on her own side of net.  You cannot call shots on your opponent’s court. 
2. Opponent gets benefit of doubt. The players are responsible for making decisions, particularly for line calls. A player in attempting to be scrupulously honest on line calls frequently will keep a ball in play that might have been out or that she discovers too late was out.
3. Ball touching any part of line is good. If any part of a ball touches a line, the ball is good. A ball 99% out is still 100% good. A player shall not call a ball out unless she clearly sees space between where the ball hits and a line.
4. Ball that cannot be called out is good. Any ball that cannot be called out is considered to be good. A player may not claim a let on the basis of not seeing a ball. Remember, it is each player’s responsibility to call all balls landing on, or aimed at, their side of the net. If a ball cannot be called out with certainty, it is good.
5. Either partner may make calls in doubles. Although either doubles partner may make a call, the call of a player looking down a line is more likely to be accurate than that of a player looking across a line.
6. All points are treated 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 from a first point.
7. Out calls can be reversed. A player who calls a ball out shall reverse the call if she becomes uncertain or realizes that the ball was actually good. The point goes to the opponent and is not replayed. However, when a receiver reverses a fault call on a serve that hit the net, the server is entitled to two serves.
8. Player may call her own shots out. With the exception of the first serve, a player should call out her own shots if she clearly sees the ball out regardless of whether requested to do so by an opponent. The prime objective in making calls is accuracy. All players should cooperate to attain this objective.
9. Partners’ disagreement on calls. If one partner calls the ball out and the other partner sees the ball good, the ball is good. It is more important to give opponents the benefit of the doubt than to avoid possibly hurting a partner’s feelings. The tactful way to achieve the desired result is to tell a partner quietly of the mistake and then let the partner concede the point.
10. Audible or visible calls. No matter how obvious it is to a player that an opponent’s ball is out, the opponent is entitled to a prompt audible or visible out call.
11. Spectators never make calls. A player shall not enlist the aid of a spectator in making a call. No spectator has a part in a match.  If a spectator/ parent interferes, his/er child will lose a point.
12. Prompt calls eliminate two chance option. A player shall make all calls promptly. A call shall be made either before her return shot has gone out of play or before an opponent has had an opportunity to play the return shot. Prompt calls will quickly eliminate the “two chances to win the point” option that some players practice. To illustrate, a player is advancing to the net for an easy put away and sees a ball from an adjoining court rolling toward the court. The player continues to advance and hits the shot, only to have the supposed easy put away fly over the baseline. The player then claims a let. The claim is not valid because the player forfeited the right to call a let by choosing instead to play the ball. The player took a chance to win or lose and is not entitled to a second chance.
13. Let called when ball rolls on court. When a ball from another court enters the playing area, any player on the court affected may call a let as soon as the player becomes aware of the ball.  If you are on the adjoining court, you may not call the let on the other court.
14. Touches, hitting ball before it crosses net, invasion of opponent’s court, double hits, and double bounces. A player shall concede the point when: • A ball in play touches her; • She touches the net or opponent’s court while a ball is in play; • She hits a ball before it crosses the net; • She deliberately carries or double hits a ball; or • A ball bounces more than once in her court. The opponent is not entitled to make these calls.
15. Balls hit through net or into ground. A player makes the ruling on a ball that her opponent hits: • Through the net; or • Into the ground before it goes over the net.
16. Making calls on clay courts. If any part of a ball mark touches a line on a clay court, the ball shall be called good. If only part of the mark on a court can be seen, this means that the missing part is on a line or tape. A player should take a careful second look at any point-ending placement that is close to a line on a clay court. Occasionally a ball will strike the tape, jump, and then leave a full mark behind the line. If a player hears the sound of a ball striking the tape and sees a clean spot on the tape near the mark, she should give the point to the opponent. A player is not required to show an opponent the mark. The opponent shall not pass the net to inspect a mark.

SERVING

1. When a server requests three balls, the receiver shall comply if the third ball is readily available. Distant balls shall be retrieved at the end of a game.
2. Avoid foot faults.  It is a foot fault when a foot just touches the line, even when the player does not follow the serve to the net.
3. Calling foot faults. The receiver or her partner may call foot faults.
4. Service calls in doubles. In doubles the receiver’s partner should 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.
5. Service calls by serving team. Neither the server nor server’s partner shall make a fault call on the first service even if they think it is out.   If the opponent plays the serve, it is good. 
6. Service let calls. 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 or her partner. If the serve is an apparent or near ace, any let shall be called promptly.
7. Obvious faults. A player shall not put into play or hit over the net an obvious fault.  On the other hand, if a player does not call a serve a fault and gives the opponent the benefit of a close call, the server is not entitled to replay the point.
8. Receiver readiness. 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 it is a “quick” serve), then the receiver (or receiving team) is presumed to be ready.
9. Delays during service. When the server’s second service motion is interrupted by a ball coming onto the court, the server is entitled to two serves. When there is a delay between the first and second serves: • The server gets one serve if she was the cause of the delay; • The server gets two serves if the delay was caused by the receiver or if there was outside interference. The time it takes to clear a ball that comes onto the court between the first and second serves is not considered sufficient time to warrant the server receiving two serves unless this time is so prolonged as to constitute an interruption. The receiver is the judge of whether the delay is sufficiently prolonged to justify giving the server two serves.

MEDICAL TIME OUT:

1. The maximum time allowed  is 15 minutes.
2. Bleeding timeout. A bleeding timeout consists of up to 15 minutes to stop visible bleeding, clean up the court, and dispose of contaminated items.
3. Medical condition. Medical condition includes, but is not limited to, an injury, illness, or heat-related condition or cramping, or any condition that the player believes requires treatment. Medical condition also includes aggravation of a pre-existing condition.
4. Non-treatable medical conditions. Players may not receive a medical timeout or treatment any time during a match or a warm-up for the following medical conditions: a. Any medical condition that cannot be treated appropriately during a match.   b. General player fatigue, such as fatigue not accompanied by cramps, vomiting, dizziness, blisters, or other similar treatable conditions; and c. Any medical condition requiring injection, intravenous infusion, or supplemental oxygen.  Diabetics may use devices to check blood sugar, may administer subcutaneous injections of insulin, and may use battery-powered insulin pumps. Asthmatics may use only handheld, non-battery, or non-electrical inhalers.

LATE TO A MATCH:

If one player or team is late

Penalties:     5 minutes or less: Loss of toss plus 1 game

      5:01 – 10 minutes: Loss of toss plus 2 games

      10:01 – 15 minutes: Loss of toss plus 3 games

       More than 15 minutes: default