I know what you're saying. Another rules episode? But this episode is important. Really important. Especially if you think the rules of tennis are boring and you don't carry a copy of them with you and you assume someone else will tell you the appropriate rule when the situation comes up. I want to make clear in this episode that, if that's you, you're giving away points! So let's get into it, the rules of tennis and why they are so, so important to know. You can listen to this episode by clicking on the media player in this post or by listening in with your favorite podcast app. You can also subscribe in iTunes by clicking on this link: tennisfixation.com/itunes.
Well, I'm sure it will come as no surprise to many of you when I tell you that one of the things I am currently doing is volunteering on the Board of my local tennis league. And one of my duties is to try and help players understand and properly apply the rules in their matches.
Another Hindrance Question . . .
So here's an email I received. I've taken out any identifying information and changed the wording a bit because this was not sent to me as the host of the Tennis Quick Tips podcast. This person probably doesn't even know about the Tennis Quick Tips podcast. Because I'd like to think is she did, then she would never ask this question. But, if the person who sent this listens to this podcast, I don't want to them to think I'm calling them out on what happened in their match. Their question just turns out to be the perfect example of how being unsure of the rules can result in losing points. So here's what this basically had to say:
Hi Kim. I played a doubles match today and we had a situation where our opponents called a “voice hindrance” on my partner and I after they lost the point. According to the Code, they have to call the hindrance immediately to get the point. They played the point, lost it, then claimed the point. Could you clarify the rule on this?
That seems like a pretty straight forward question that I should be able to give a straight forward answer to, right? In fact, it's reminiscent of the issue that came up very recently, in Episode 167, which was called Is My Opponent Creating A Hindrance By Talking? I'll include a link to that episode in the show notes for this episode if you decide you want to listen in on that one. Anyway, the situation in Episode 167 was not exactly the same but definitely involved the same rules and Code provisions.
Hindrances Per The Rules of Tennis and the Code
So, let's quickly review the hindrance rule to see what should have happened in this situation. Tennis Rule 26 addresses hindrances and that rule says:
If a player is hindered in playing the point by a deliberate act of the opponent(s), the player shall win the point.
However, the point shall be replayed if a player is hindered in playing the point by either an unintentional act of the opponent(s), or something outside the player's own control . . . .
What the rules tells us is that, a hindrance can be caused by either a deliberate act or an unintentional act. If it's a deliberate act, then you win the point. Talking during the point can be a hindrance. It is also a deliberate act. It is not an accident when you say something. It's deliberate. So, in our situation, the opponents claimed there was a “voice hindrance” caused by either our player or her partner talking.
But were they truly hindered? Our player tells us that her opponents claimed the hindrance AFTER the point was finished AND after they had lost the point. Was there hindrance claim timely? In other words, can they lose the point and then claim they were hindered and thus entitled to the point.
I'm sure you know the answer to this – uh, no. We know this because this is specifically addressed in the Code. Remember the Code? This is our guide to fair play the the “unwritten” rules of tennis and the Code applies in nearly all unofficiated matches. You can check your rules to be sure but I can tell you, in the match we're talking about, the Code definitely applies.
What does the Code have to say about hindrances? Paragraph 33 of the Code says, “A player who claims a hindrance must stop play as soon as possible.” You can't wait until the point is over, and you certainly can't wait until after you've lost the point, to claim a hindrance. If you've been hindered, then you're hindered! You can't play because something has happened that has hindered you, or stopped you, or interfered with you, and keeps you from playing. You need to immediately stop play and call the hindrance. You can't keep playing to see if you end up winning the point or not. You need to stop as soon as you're hindered.
When Can You Call a Hindrance?
So, in our player's situation, her opponents cannot claim a hindrance after the point is over because they obviously weren't hindered since they were able to play the point to completion. Were they bothered by our player or her partner talking? Maybe. Were they confused by the talking? Possibly. Were they hindered? NO. Because they were able to keep playing. If you're hindered that means you are so interfered with that you cannot keep playing.
But here's the thing. By the time this player sat down to send me this email, the point was over. The match was over. And it sounds like her opponents improperly took the point because of their claim that the hindrance rule applied. While any response I might give to this player would be helpful in a future match, which may be all this player really wanted, the time to know the answer to her hindrance question was as it was happening on court. Not several hours later when she had time to write me an email. Because it sounds like, because she wasn't sure on the rule about hindrances, she gave up the point to her opponents. Opponents who adamantly but incorrectly claimed they had been hindered by a “voice hindrance.”
Why You MUST Learn the Rules of Tennis
So you need to know the rules to prevent things like this from happening to you! Did this one point make the difference between winning and losing this match? I really don't know but probably not. But if this player didn't know the hindrance rule, what other rules did she not know during the match? What other points did she improperly give away to her opponents? And how much did this hindrance claim stick in her head and bother her throughout the remainder of the match? Did she continue to lose points because she lost her focus due to this rules dispute?
Maintaining Focus on the Tennis Court
And that leads me to the most important point I want to make here. When you know the rules of tennis, when you know the Code, when you know the rules that apply to the tournament you're playing in or in the league you're playing in, you will feel so much more confident on court! You won't feel unsure about whether the rules have been properly applied in your match. You won't wonder if your opponent is trying to take advantage of your lack of knowledge. And you won't lose your focus going into the next point after you've had a rules dispute that you're not quite sure went the right way.
It's hard enough to maintain your focus during a tennis match without adding one more distraction. And a rules dispute can be a major distraction. So, again, learn your tennis rules and don't give those points up!
Where Can I Get The Tennis Rules?
Now, I know what you're thinking. “What? I have to learn ALL of the tennis rules and ALL of the Code and I even have to learn the rules for my league! It's too much!” But you're wrong! I went online to the USTA's website where I found Friend at Court online and available as a free PDF download. I'll include a link to the most recent version of Friend at Court in the show notes to this episode which you can find at https://tennisfixation.com/quicktips170. While Friend at Court is over 200 pages long, it's filled with a lot of regulations and things you really don't need to know in a typical tennis match. I printed out the Rules and the Code and that was only 22 pages long. That's 22 pages on 8 1/2″ x 11″ paper in a very large font that I can easily read on court. And not 22 pages front and back. Just 22 one-sided pages. My league rules are just over 8 pages long, again in a nice, large font.
You can, and should, print these out too. You can, and should, read through them quickly. You don't have to study them. Just read them closely enough to know what's in there. Again, doing this is completely worth it. Not only will you NOT be giving points away, you will feel so much more confident on court.
Well, that's it for this week's episode of Tennis Quick Tips. You can find all of the show notes for this episode by visiting https://tennisfixation.com/quicktips170.
RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE
Click here for these helpful resources:
Tennis Quick Tips Episode 167 – Is My Opponent Creating A Hindrance?
Friend at Court – 2019 version on the USTA website
SHARE, SUBSCRIBE AND REVIEW
I would love it if you would take a minute to leave your review of Tennis Quick Tips on iTunes. Just click here: Tennis Quick Tips on iTunes. It will help the show become more easily discovered by like-minded, awesome people just like you. And if you want to make sure you never miss an episode, be sure and subscribe on your smart device. You can click here to find the show in iTunes: Tennis Quick Tips on iTunes. Or you can click here to find the show in Stitcher: Tennis Quick Tips on Stitcher.
© Kim Selzman 2019-2020 All Rights Reserved