Unwritten Tennis Rules
Because most tennis matches are played on the honor system without officials, a few unwritten rules exist for players and spectators.
If you ask someone to play a match, tennis balls are your responsibility.
Take all practice serves before the first game begins, and not when it is your turn to serve the first time.
In unofficiated matches, keep your own score. The server should announce the score prior to each point.
Each player is responsible for calling balls out on her side of the court. If you are in doubt, the shot is good.
Don’t involve spectators in line calling. They are not in a position to make a call.
Immediately and loudly make “out” calls. Never make calls on shots that are “in” during the rally.
Disagreements of any kind between opponents should be resolved at the net in a quiet manner so others are not disturbed. If the point is not resolved, ask for an official, a tournament director, or the coach in charge, if available.
If a loose ball on or behind the court interferes with concentration or becomes a safety hazard, call a let immediately and replay the point.
lf there is an unusual, uncontrolled delay between the first and second serves, allow your opponent to start the serving sequence over.
Don’t shout or distract your opponent in any way during a point.
Don’t groan, complain, curse, or verbally abuse yourself or others during a match.
Avoid walking behind other courts during a point in progress.
When returning a stray ball to its court, wait until the point has been completed on that court. Immediately returning the ball interferes with play.
If one of your tennis balls rolls onto an adjacent court, wait for play on that court to stop before asking for your ball to be returned. “Thanks, court two,” is one polite way to ask for help.
Shake hands with your opponent at the net after a match.
If you are a spectator, hold your applause or cheers until a point has been completed. Tennis players react to sound (as in “out” or “fault”) and may stop a point if your noise is interpreted as a line call.
Applaud or cheer well-played points, winning shots, and forced errors rather than unforced errors.
Tennis: Steps to Success Jim Brown,Camille Soulier