Tennis is founded on courtesy, mutual respect among players, and good sportsmanship.
We want all our students to follow these rules in any tennis match because you will represent not just yourself but NJTP as well.
Sportsmanship
- It’s a sign of good sportsmanship to congratulate your opponent on a good shot that wins them a point.
- On the other hand, you should never celebrate when an opponent makes an unforced error.
- It is good sportsmanship to shake hands at the conclusion of the match.
Line Calls
- Give your opponent the benefit of the doubt on any line calls. If the ball touches any part of the appropriate boundary line, the ball is “in.” If you are not 100% sure that their ball was completely out, then the ball is “in.”
- If you think your opponent made a bad “out” call, you have the right to ask “are you sure?” But the opponent has the final decision. If an opponent repeatedly makes “out” calls on balls that you can clearly see are “in,” ask for assistance from the tournament director or other official.
Other Calls
It is your responsibility to concede the point by stopping play and letting your opponent know it’s their point if:
- A ball bounces twice on your side.
- A ball in play hits any part of your body or any of your clothing or equipment except your racquet.
- Your racquet “tips” or barely touches the ball and then the ball goes out.
- You or your clothing or racquet touches the net during a point.
If any of these should happen during a point, stop playing and tell the opponent, “it bounced twice, it’s your point” or “I touched the net,” for example.
Courtesy
- When walking by any tennis court (for example, when going to or from the court where your match is), wait quietly until any point in progress is finished before you continue walking, so as to minimize any distraction you might cause.
- When giving a ball back to your opponent between points, first make eye contact and be sure the opponent is ready to get the ball back! Then toss or gently hit the ball to them. Never throw or hit a ball at an opponent when they are looking away or they are not ready to receive the ball.
Safety
- Always pick up and secure any stray balls before starting the next point. If you’re running and accidentally step on a ball, you could trip or get a sprained ankle.
Serving
- When you are serving, always start with two balls in case you miss your first serve. Your clothing must have a pocket, ball clip, etc. to hold the spare ball.
Talking
- In singles, you should not talk during a point. If your talking or yelling distracts the opponent, they can claim a hindrance and you lose the point.
- In doubles, you may talk to your partner, but only while the ball is coming toward your side, and only if your talking does not distract the opponents. If it does distract the opponents, they can claim a hindrance and you lose the point.
Next: Parent Etiquette