| Tennis and racquetball can be a great way to burn up | | | | Never throw one too hard or out of reach with the |
| some excess calories, burn off some steam, and | | | | assumption that it will stop rolling when it hits the fence. |
| spend some quality time with your coworkers and | | | | Instead, easily bounce the tennis ball to your opponent |
| friends. | | | | in such a way that they can easily catch it with one |
| While all of us were beginners at one time and failed | | | | hand. |
| to observe some of the finer points in the unofficial | | | | Keeping score |
| and unwritten code of ethics associated with racket | | | | The end of the match is not the time to haggle out |
| sports, a willful neglect of tennis' on-court manners will | | | | how many points each player has earned or has not |
| likely result in fewer and fewer tennis dates. | | | | earned. Point disputes should be handled as they arise, |
| With that said, let's look at some of the more common | | | | and it is each player's responsibility to stay aware of |
| unmannerly habits that have been picked up by tennis | | | | the current score. With two brains, a more accurate |
| players of all experience and expertise levels. Keep in | | | | counting of points can take place. Here are a couple |
| mind that these rules are not in the official rules of | | | | of tips: |
| tennis but are more common sense or respect your | | | | · It is the server's responsibility to announce the |
| opponent type ethics. | | | | score at the start of each game and at the start of |
| Ball handling ethics | | | | the second point and each following point thereafter. |
| Have you ever played tennis with someone who | | | | · If the receiver cannot hear the announced |
| seemingly refuses to collect tennis balls from the court | | | | scores, he or she should ask for it to be repeated. As I |
| when they are needed for the next serve? The truth | | | | said earlier, the end of the game is a bad time to |
| is that this is not an uncommon problem, and there are | | | | replay the game point by point to see who actually |
| many people that, while not refusing to collect balls for | | | | won. Plus telling someone that they're lying, that they |
| play, do not do much to speed up the procession of | | | | didn't actually score the winning point, is no way to |
| the game by efficiently handling tennis balls during | | | | make friends or long-term tennis partners. |
| plays. Are you one of these people? You may be and | | | | Making line calls |
| not even realize it. Follow these tips to keep your | | | | Again, do not infer that your opponent is a liar or cheat |
| tennis ball handling ethics those of unquestionably high | | | | here. Always defer to your opponent's point of view |
| standards. | | | | on whether a ball is in or out. Yes, they may be wrong, |
| · Keep extra tennis balls nearby. You should | | | | but it's only a game, and there is a possibility that your |
| always have spare tennis balls used for play either in | | | | eyes were deceiving you, especially if the line call |
| hand, in a pocket or ball clip, or against the fence | | | | happens on their side of the net. Along the same lines, |
| directly behind the center mark. | | | | if you miss a call and they argue it, offer to replay the |
| · If your opponent has to walk to pick up | | | | point again. It's just a game! |
| played tennis balls around the court to continue the | | | | Another word of advice is to always act and look like |
| play, do the same thing on your side of the court. | | | | you are enjoying your time on the court. If you are a |
| · If there are no balls for play, the player who | | | | sore loser, try your best not to look like one. And most |
| has a ball closest to him or her should go after a ball. | | | | of all, just have fun, be a joy to play with, and respect |
| There is really no sense in making your opponent walk | | | | your opponent. If you do all of this, you will be sure to |
| a great distance for a ball when you have one a | | | | not become one of those people that never gets |
| couple of feet away, even if it is their serve. | | | | invited to play tennis. |
| · Be careful in throwing a ball to your opponent. | | | | |