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Forecourt 2 - Backcourt 3 - Baseline 4 - Center Mark 5 - Center Service Line 6 - Right Service Court 7 - Left Service Court 8 - Alley 9 - Singles Sideline 10 - Doubles Sideline |
Tennis
Rules
Tennis is played around the world with the same rules and scoring system (indoors &outdoors)
Court: 78' long / 36' wide
Net: 3 1/2' high(at posts) and 3' high at center
Singles is played by two players opposing each other on a court
27' wide
Doubles is played by two on each side of the net opposing each
other (court 36' wide)
Ball: rubber, felt-covered ball
Objective is to hit the ball back and forth till someone is
unable to return it.
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The game is started from
behind the baseline to the right of the center mark -- Serve to
the opponent.
The serve must go digonally to the opposite service court
If the first serve is unsuccessful, the server has another chance
If the second serve is a fault, the receiver wins a point.
The second point is started from the left of the center mark
(etc. until the game is over)
If the serve is good, the receiver attempts to return the ball
anywhere on the opponent's court.
The RALLY continues until someone hits the ball into the net,
outside the opponent's court, or lets the ball bounce twice.
A served ball must bounce inside the proper service court but once the ball is returned, a player may VOLLEY the ball.
At the end of the game, the server becomes the receiver and the receiver becomes the server.
Courts (Rules say nothing about the court surface)
Major categories of court surfaces:
(1) Grass (Orginal surface for lawn tennis)
Only one of the world's major championships is played on grass - Wimbledon
(2) Clay-type courts
Most common surface
Grand slam event (The French Open)
(3) Hard courts (Concrete, wood, asphalt, other)
Most are colored
Two grand slam events (Australian and US Opens
(4) Artificial Surfaces
Textile or plastic surface
Can be placed on hard surfaces
Usually indoors
Before using a court, check for loose material or slipery spots
Balls
Balls are made with molded rubber covered with fuzzy material filled with pressureized air.
Balls were originally white -- Changed because bright color allows the player to see the ball sooner.
Rackets
The hitting surface of the racket must be flat.
The crossed strings must be uniform and connected to the fram.
The frame cannot be longer than 32" or wider than 12 1/2".
The strung surface should not be longer than 15 1/2" nore wider than 11 1/2"
Singles
Two players stand on
opposite sides of the net.
Server- The player who puts the ball into play.
Receiver- The player who receives the serve.
The server serves for an entire game.
Server and receiver alternate serving each game of the match.
Players decide who serves first from which side of the net with a
"toss" (coin or racket spin).
The player winning the toss can choose (or require the opponent
to choose) one of the following:
To serve or to receive
To begin play on the north or south end of the court
The server must stand with
both feet behind the baseline and between the center mark and the
singles sideline.
The server should remain in a stationairy position until after
the ball is contacted.
The server must toss the ball into the air and strike it before
it hits the ground (overhand, sidearm, or underhand).
If you do not attempt to hit a tossed ball, it doesn't count
against you.
If you swing at a ball and miss, it is a fault.
Alternating courts
Server begins each game
from theright of the center mark & serves to the diagonally
opposite service court.
The second point is started from the left of the center mark
Alternation service continues until the game is finished.
Even number of points played in a game -- Start next serve from
right side.
Odd number of points played in a game -- Start next serve from
left side.
If service is made from the wrong side of the court, All Points Played Stand and you correct your position.
Falts/Lets
The server has two chances
to hit the ball in bounds.
A serve that is not good is called a fault.
If the first serve is a fault, the server tries again -- If the
second is also a fault (double-fault), the receiver wins a point.
Ways in which a fault can occur:
Foot fault
Server delivers the serve in an illegal manner
Server misses the ball while attempting to strike it
A served ball does not land in the proper service court
A served ball touches a permanent fixture other than the net
A served ball hits the server's partner
The service is a LET if it touches the
top of the net and is otherwise good.
There is no limit to the number of lets that can occur.
A Let must be "re-played".
The service is also a LET if the receiver is not ready or the
player is unable to play the ball because of circumstances bdyoun
control.
When a LET is called due to an interuption of play, the entire
point is replayed.
Receiving the Serve
The receiver may stand in
any position desired.
The receiver must allow the served ball to bounce before
returning it.
The ball must be returned before it bounces twice.
After the Serve
You loose the point is:
The ball bounces twice on your side
You fail to return the ball into your opponent's court
You touch the ball before it bounces
You deliberately hit the ball more than once in making a shot(double hit in the course of a single stroke and shots hit off the frame of the racket are legal)
You, your racket, or your clothing touch any part of the net
You hit the ball before it corsses the net
You permit a ball in play to touch you
You throw your racket at and hit the ball
You commit any act that hinders your opponent making a shot
It is a good serve if:
A ball lands on a boundary line (any part)
The ball touches the net as it passes over and lands in the proper court
The ball is returned outside the net posts even if it touches the post and bounces in the proper court
A ball in play strikes a ball left lying on hte court -- The player must return the ball or loose the point.
Scoring
A contest in tennis is based on 3 units of scoring: points, games, sets
A player must win at least
4 points to win a game
A player must win at least 6 games to win a set
A player must win at least 2 sets to win a match
0 points = Love
1 point = 15
2 points = 30
3 points = 40
4 points = Game
If each player has won three points, the score is Duece [one player must win two consecutive points to win a game].
First point after Duece is called Advantage: "Ad-in" if the server wins the point or "Ad-out" if the reciver wins the point.
If you have Advantage and
win the next point -- You win the game!
If you have Advantage and lose the next point -- The score is
duece again!
The server's score is
always called first
To win a set you must win 6 games and be at least 2 games ahead.
To win a match, you must win two sets
Men's matches are usually 3 out of 5 set matches
Players change ends of the
court after the first, third, and every odd game of each set.
Play should be continuous from the first service until the match
is concluded.
A ten minut rest is permitted after the third set(men) and after
the second set(women).
Changing ends can take no more than 1 minute 30 seconds and the maximum time between points is 25 seconds.
Doubles
The playing court is enlarged by Alleys. The Service courts are the same as for singles.
Order of service is decided at the beginning of each set and must be maintained throughout the set.
Teams must serve alternately throughout the match. Partners must alternate serving. If you serve out of turn, your partner takes over serving as soon as the mistake is realized. All points and faults which occurred before the discovery are counted. If the game is completed before the mistake is noticed, the order remains altered for the rest of the set. The server’s partner may take any position on his/her side of the net. If the served ball touches the partner, it is a fault.
Receiving
The order of receiving is decided at the beginning of each set and must be maintained throughout the set. Partners must receive serves throughout the set on the same sides of the court.
The receiver’s partner may take any position on the receiving side of the net.
If the served ball hits the partner, the serving team wins the point.
After the serve and return, the ball must be hit alternately by the opposing teams.
Tiebreak Procedures
A tiebreak goes into effect when the set score reaches 6 games all.
The 12-Point Tiebreak
To win this tiebreak, a player must win at least 7 points (by 2 points). The score is kept numerically.
When the score of the set reaches 6 games all, you serve the first point from the right court.
Your opponent serves points 2 and 3 from the left court and right court.
Then you serve point 4 from the left court and point 5 from the right court. Your opponent serves point 6 from the left court. Players then change ends (no rest) any your opponent serves point 7 from the right court. The pattern is followed until one player goes ahead by two points.
Essential Skills:
Expert Skills: