Here are some snapshots for common issues that come up. It is a good idea to read through the following rules in the 2023 Friend at the Court Rule Book.

QUICK REFERENCE

Breaks: 25 sec between points, 90 sec end of game, 120 sec (2 min) end of set. 10 min for injury and 15 for blood.

Set Tie Break - 7 Point: Rules do not state player change sides prior to tie break. Next to serves - serves 1 point, opposing team serves 2 points, and eat team serves 2 points until the tie breaks is reached by 2. Players change ends at point 6.

Match Tie Break - 10 Point: Stay on same side, next team to serve does for 1 point from ADD court, then change ends. After this, each player/team shall serve alternately for 2 consecutive points (starting from the ad court); changing ends after every four points, until the completion of the tie break game. Switch ends after points 1,5,9,13, 17...…. and at the conclusion. (USTA Rules Link)

Racket/Coin Toss: Players should use a non-objective surface and feel comfortable asking their opponents to do the same. It is common courtesy to let the home court spin.

Spectators: They can sit/stand or hover where ever the home court policy notes they can. Rules are different for Juniors.

BREAKS

7M. Play should be continuous.  Between points, a maximum 25 seconds is allowed.  When players change ends at the end of a game, a maximum 90 seconds is allowed.  At set break, 120 second (2 minutes) is allowed.

Updated! There is no break after the 1st game of any set.

7J.  INJURED PLAYER.

A one-time 3-minute medical time-out is allowed for injury, illness and heat related condition.

A maximum 15-minute medical time out is allowed for bleeding injury. If bleeding continues and match doesn’t resume within 15 minutes, the match is retired.

If a player cannot complete the match, the match is retired. Scores are entered as played, e.g. 6-3, 2-0, RETIRED (not completed). Reference “FRIEND AT COURT” 2022 version Table 13, pp. 97-98 for detail.

38. INJURY CAUSED BY PLAYER

When a player accidentally injures an opponent, the opponent suffers the consequences. Consider the situation where the server’s racket accidentally strikes the receiver and incapacitates the receiver. The receiver is unable to resume play within the time limit. Even though the server caused the injury, the server wins the match by retirement. On the other hand, when a player deliberately injures an opponent and affects the opponent’s ability to play, then the opponent wins the match by default. Hitting a ball or throwing a racket in anger is considered a deliberate act.

SCORING & TIE BREAKS

• When the score is 6-6, you must start the 7 Point Set Tiebreak this will decide the winner of that set.
• Once the set win is 1-1, you would play a 10 Point Coman Tiebreak
• CHANGE SCORE after EVERY point to ensure accuracy of scoring

• 7 POINT SET TIEBREAK:

  • Starts after the 6-6 is reached.
  • The next team that was to serve, will serve the 1st Point
  • Then the opposing team will serve the next 2 Points (7 points win by 2)
  • Continue to serve every 2 points
  • Change sides every 6 points or at the end of the tie break without a rest
  • Reported as 7-6 (winner-not winner)

• 10 POINT COMAN TIEBREAK

  • This is to be played in lieu of a third set and will determine the winner of the match
  • The procedure is the same as the 7-Point Coman Tiebreak EXCEPT...
    • The first team to reach 10 points WITH a 2 point margin wins
    • Change ends after 1st and every 4 points (games) completed until the tie break is complete 1-5-9-13
    • 1st serve on duce side and then the next one starts opponent on the add stay put until 4.
    • You continue to serve every 4 points and switch sides the 4th point

TIE BREAK RULES DETAILS

b. Tie-break game During a tie-break game, points are scored “Zero”,“1”,“2”,“3”, etc. The first player/team to win seven points wins the “Game” and “Set”, provided there is a margin of two points over the opponent(s). If necessary, the tie-break game shall continue until this margin is achieved.

• The player whose turn it is to serve shall serve the first point of the tiebreak game.
• The following two points shall be served by the opponent(s) (in doubles, the player of the opposing team due to serve next).
• After this, each player/team shall serve alternately for two consecutive points until the end of the tie-break game (in doubles, the rotation of service within each team shall continue in the same order as during that set)
• The player/team whose turn it was to serve first in the tie-break game shall be the receiver in the first game of the following set. Additional approved alternative scoring methods can be found in Appendix V
• The tiebreak game should not be confused with the 10-Point Match Tiebreak, which under certain circumstances may be played in lieu of the deciding final set. The 10-Point Match Tiebreak is described in Appendix V.
• When do the players change ends during a tiebreak? Players change ends after every six points and at the end of the tiebreak. (See Rule 10.) They shall change ends during the tiebreak without a rest. See Appendix V for an exception when using the Coman Tiebreak Procedure
• 6. SCORE IN A SET There are different methods of scoring in a set. The two main methods are the “Advantage Set” and the “Tie-break Set”. Either method may be used provided that the one to be used is announced in advance of the event. If the “Tie-break Set” method is to be used, it must also be announced whether the final set will be played as a “Tie-break Set” or an “Advantage Set”.
  • a. “Advantage Set” The first player/team to win six games wins that “Set”, provided there is a margin of two games over the opponent(s). If necessary, the set shall continue until this margin is achieved.
  • b. “Tie-break Set” The first player/team to win six games wins that “Set”, provided there is a margin of two games over the opponent(s). If the score reaches six games all, a tie-break game shall be played. Additional approved alternative scoring methods can be found in Appendix V.
• USTA Comment 10.1: When do the players change ends during a tiebreak that uses the Coman Tiebreak Procedure? The Coman Tiebreak Procedure is identical to the regular procedure except that the players change ends after the first point, then after every four points, and at the conclusion of the tiebreak.
• During a standard game or a tie-break game in doubles, if there is an error in the order of receiving, this shall remain as altered until the end of the game in which the erroris discovered. For the next game in which they are the receivers in that set, the partners shall then resume the original order of receiving.
  • f. If in error a tie-break game is started at 6 games all, when it was previously agreed that the set would be an “Advantage Set”, the error shall be corrected immediately if only one point has been played.
  • If the error is discovered after the second point is in play, the set will continue as a “Tie-break Set”.
  • If in error a standard game is started at 6 games all, when it was previously agreed that the set would be a “Tie-break Set”, the error shall be corrected immediately if only one point has been played.
  • If the error is discovered after the second point is in play, the set will continue as an “Advantage Set” until the score reaches 8 games all (or a higher even number), when a tie-break game shall be played.
    • h. If in error an “Advantage Set” or “Tie-break Set” is started, when it was previously agreed that the final set would be a match tie-break, the error shall be corrected immediately if only one point has been played.
    • If the error is discovered after the second point is in play, the set will continue either until a player or team wins three games (and therefore the set) or until the score reaches 2 games all, when a match tie-break shall be played.
    • However, if the error is discovered after the second point of the fifth game has started, the set will continue as a “Tie-break Set”. (See Appendix V.)

3. MATCH TIE-BREAK (7 POINTS) When the score in a match is one set all, or two sets all in best of five sets matches, one tie-break game shall be played to decide the match. This tie-break game replaces the deciding final set. The player/team who first wins seven points shall win this match tie-break and the match provided there is a margin of two points over the opponent(s).

4. MATCH TIE-BREAK (10 POINTS) When the score in a match is one set all, or two sets all in best of five sets matches, one tie-break game shall be played to decide the match. This tie-break game replaces the deciding final set. The player/team who first wins ten points shall win this match tie-break and the match provided there is a margin of two points over the opponent(s)

CHANGE OF ENDS (Rule 10) (Coman Tiebreak Procedure): During a tie-break game, players shall change ends after the first point and thereafter after every four points.

NEW!!!  TO RESOLVE A DISAGREEMENT

The players are expected to resolve disagreements on the court. Friend At Court, “The Code” describes a 3-step process for score disputes, in order of preference:

1. All points & games are agreed upon by the players and REPLAY ONLY the disputed points or games.

2. Play from a score that is agreed upon by all players.

3. Spin a racquet or toss a coin.

NOTE! Under no circumstances may any other person or Captain intervene in a match in progress.

7N. TO RESOLVE A DISAGREEMENT. The players are expected to resolve disagreements on the court. Friend At Court, “The Code” describes a 3-step process for score disputes, in order of preference:

7J (1) All points & games are agreed upon by the players and REPLAY ONLY the disputed points or games.

7J (2) Play from a score that is agreed upon by all players.

7J (3) Spin a racquet or toss a coin.

7J (4) Under no circumstances may any other person or Captain intervene in a match in progress.

COACHING

Coaching is considered to be communication, advice or instruction of any kind and by any means to a player.

In team events where there is a team captain sitting on-court, the team captain may coach the player(s) during a set break and when the players change ends at the end of a game, but not when the players change ends after the first game of each set and not during a tie-break game.

In all other matches, coaching is not allowed.

USTA Comment 30.1: A player may bring to the court written notes that were prepared before the start of the match and may read these notes during the match. While on court or during a match, a player may not receive information via electronic devices capable of receiving communications such as cell phones and smartwatches.

USTA Comment 30.2: Is coaching permitted during a rest period? Yes. Coaching is permitted during a 3-minute or 10-minute rest period. However, coaching is not allowed in the following situations: • A toilet/change of attire break; • A 2-minute set break; • A Medical timeout; • Bleeding timeout; • A wheelchair repair timeout; • When a Quad wheelchair player is given additional time to re-strap their racket; • When players remain on court for a short stoppage of play such as during slight rain or repair of the net or net strap; • When a player leaves the court seeking the assistance of the Referee; or • When equipment or clothing is being adjusted.

NEW!!!  PACE OF PLAY.

As per the 2023 USTA Dallas Rules and Regulations:

7L. Play should be continuous.  Between points, a maximum 25 seconds is allowed.  When players change ends at the end of a game, a maximum 90 seconds is allowed.  At set break, 120 second (2 minutes) is allowed.

There is no break after the 1st game of any set.

7M. Play should be continuous.  Between points, a maximum 25 seconds is allowed.  When players change ends at the end of a game, a maximum 90 seconds is allowed.  At set break, 120 second (2 minutes) is allowed.

There is no break after the 1st game of any set.

Between points, a maximum of twenty-five (25) seconds is allowed. When the players change ends at the end of a game, a maximum of ninety (90) seconds are allowed. However, after the first game of each set and during a tie-break game, play shall be continuous and the players shall change ends without a rest. USTA Comment 29.1: The 25-second time limit does not apply if a player has to chase a stray ball. USTA Comment 29.2: The 90-second changeover limit and 120-second set break limit does not apply when a Quad wheelchair player needs extra time to re-strap a racket. See USTA Regulation III.G.2.

At the end of each set there shall be a set break of a maximum of one hundred and twenty (120) seconds. The maximum time starts from the moment that one point finishes until the first service is struck for the next point.

7K. Cell Phones & Other Electronic Devices

All communication devices are to be turned off during play.  Should a player’s communication devise go off during play their opponent may call a let on the first offense and warn the offender that any subsequent offense will result in the loss of that point.

13. BALL TOUCHES A PERMANENT FIXTURE

If the ball in play touches a permanent fixture after it has hit the correct court, the player who hit the ball wins the point. If the ball in play touches a permanent fixture before it hits the ground, the player who hit the ball loses the point. USTA Comment 13.1: What happens if a ball hits an object attached to the net or post (such as a scoring device) or the top of the net outside the singles stick and then lands in the court? The player who hit the ball loses the point because it hit a permanent fixture before landing in the court.

HINDRANCE

36. Let due to unintentional hindrance and loss of point due to deliberate hindrance. A player who is hindered by an opponent’s unintentional act or by something else outside the player’s control is entitled to a let only if the player could have made the shot had the player not been hindered. A player’s racket coming out of the hand or a shoe coming off is not the basis for either player claiming a let. A let is never authorized for a hindrance caused by something within a player’s control, such as when a player’s racket comes out of a hand, when a player’s shoe comes off, or when a player trips over the player’s own hat. However, if a player’s hat falls off during a point, an opponent may immediately call a let due to unintentional hindrance. Out calls and other noises from spectators are not hindrances and, therefore, are not considered grounds for a player calling a let or claiming the point. A ringing cell phone is a deliberate hindrance; if an opponent’s cell phone rings during a point, the player may immediately stop and claim the point. Another example of a deliberate hindrance occurs when the receiver asks the server to stop discarding the second ball after serving, and the server continues to discard the second ball. Continued discarding of the ball constitutes a deliberate hindrance, entitling the receiver to immediately stop play and claim the point.

GRUNTING

37. Grunting. A player should avoid grunting and making other loud noises. Grunting and other loud noises may bother not only opponents but also players on adjacent courts. In an extreme case, an opponent or a player on an adjacent court may seek the assistance of an official. Grunting and the making of loud noises that affect the outcome of a point are hindrances. Only an official may rule that these actions are hindrances and order that a let be played or a loss of point, depending on whether an official had previously warned the offending player.