Of all sports, tennis is famous for its etiquette. While sticking to a bunch of rules about how to behave on a tennis court might sound stuffy and old-fashioned, tennis etiquette actually makes the sport more enjoyable. Good tennis etiquette won’t give you a bigger serve or a more accurate backhand but it will make you more fun to share a court with:

 

Moving onto and Around Courts –

If you are coming or going from a match on your court, please wait for the game to be completed on the next court before moving to the gate. When walking behind and beside the courts, some players get distracted by the movement. Please wait until the point has finished, before moving on.

 

Don’t roll balls behind or onto someone else’s court during a point –

If a ball comes onto your court from another match, wait until they have finished their point to return their ball or roll it back to them. Even if you roll the ball out of harm’s way during a point, at least one side will see that ball rolling behind the court and might become distracted, stopping the point (which will have to be played over).

 

Call the Score –

If you’re serving, make sure to call the score before every point. This not only lets your opponent know you’re ready to serve, but also prevents score disputes later.

 

If your ball goes onto or behind another court, don’t retrieve it if the players are playing a point

If a ball rolls behind a player or players who don’t see it and they might injure themselves by stepping on it, you might need to warn them.

 

Fair Warmups –

Before a match, players have five minutes or so to warm up. This is not practice time. You should hit balls in a way that lets your opponent warm up, and they should do the same for you. When opponents come to the net, for example, don’t blast balls past or right at them. Make sure they can practise their volley.

 

Don’t Play Out Serves –

If your opponent hits an obviously out serve, don’t hit it back. Hit it into the net or let it roll into the fence behind you. Practising your return makes opponents wait to hit their second serve and may require them to clear the ball.

 

If players of goodwill follow the principles of The Code, they should always be able to reach an agreement, while at the same time making tennis more fun and a better game for all.