The Code of Tennis Etiquette

As a general matter, we will follow the USTA code. In addition, members are asked to comply with the following club rules.

• Fair play and honorable and polite behavior should be observed at all times. This applies particularly to inter-club team play where you represent the Club.

• Please enter a court from the closest available door and be considerate when walking behind courts that are in play.

• Always give your opponent the benefit of the doubt; if you are not absolutely sure your opponent’s ball is out, presume that it is good.

• It’s your responsibility to call all balls on your side, to help make calls on the opponent’s side if asked, and to call out any of your own balls that you clearly see go out on the opponent’s side.

• In doubles, when partners disagree about a line call, the opponent’s ball must be considered good.

• If you catch or are touched by a ball that is in play, you lose the point, even if you are outside the court.

• The partner of the player who is receiving serve should call the service line. The receiver calls the center and side lines.

• To avoid arguments about the score, the server should announce the score before each service point.

• It is rude to return a service that is obviously out; it is unsportsmanlike if you know this bothers the server.

• Return all stray balls as soon as possible. Do not disrupt play on other courts while returning balls. When returning a stray ball to another player, hit it so it goes to the player on one bounce.

• Each player should provide five minutes of warm-up, hitting shots directly to his opponent. Don’t confuse warm-up with practice.

• Dress neatly when visiting another club. You cannot err if you dress in all white.

• A handshake or other friendly gesture (e.g., fist or elbow bumping) at the end of a match is a demonstration of good sportsmanship. Failure to make such a gesture at the end of a match is rude.

Appearance of Court Area

• Please help keep our courts and adjacent areas clean and neat.

• Please remove or dispose of everything you brought with you. Don’t leave anything on the courts. Ball cans and lids, paper drinking cups and similar items should be placed in waste receptacles. If you are finished with balls, donate them to the professional or put them in the recycling container.

• Anyone intentionally hitting tennis balls out of the tennis areas may be subject to loss of privileges.