Here is a copy of an email I received this weekend. What would your answer be???
Do you know the answer to this?
During a drill there was a discussion .... one of the pro's told the group that the receiver's partner can stand anywhere on the court. "Even sit on the bench if he/she wants to." ... at the beginning or during the point.
FAC Rule 8 SERVER & RECEIVER p.8 ... Case 1: Is the receiver allowed to stand outside the lines of the court? Decision: The May take any position inside or outside the lines on the receiver's side of the net.
FAC Rule 26 HINDERANCE p19 Case 5: In doubles where are the server's partner and receiver's partner allowed to stand? Decision: The server's partner and the receiver's partner may take any position on their own side of the net, inside or outside the court. However, if a player is creating a hinderance to the opponent(s), the hinderance rule should be used.
FAC Rule 15 ORDER OF RECEIVING IN DOUBLES p.11 Case 1: Is one member of a doubles team allowed to play alone against the opponents? Decision: NO
If the receiver's partner was sitting on the bench, would it then be 2 playing against 1? .... in violation of Rule 15? However, if the receiver's partner was injured and couldn't run, didn't want to retire, but chose to stand in one spot and let his partner do the running, would that be within the confines of the rules? Could the opposing team of the "bench sitter" say the person sitting on the bench was a hinderance.
I can't imagine one player sitting on the bench, while his partner played the match ... but the debate was about ...... was it within the rules.
9 comments:
In UIL and ITA they are not permitted to stand in the receiver's box when they are receiving.
In USTA if they are standing in the receiver's box then just hit them with the serve and you win the point.
Under the rules, the receiver's partner can take up a position anywhere on their side of the court, within the court and/or outside of the court boundaries. Therefore, if the bench is located on the player's side of the court, then they are well within their rights to use it to sit down during the point, as long as it isn't a distraction to the opponents. I can't imagine this would be a distraction, unless the player is having convulsions or something like that.
If one player is sitting on the bench then there is no intent to play. Rule 15 would apply.
Or to look at it another way. It could be taunting. My team is SO much better than your team, I can sit on the bench and not play. Unsportsman like conduct.
My simple answer- No, it is not within the rules.
I would say they may STAND there, but SITTING on the bench would result in a time violation for the team with the player sitting on the bench. It would not be a hindrance, it would be delay of game since both players must play. Also, the returning team may stand anywhere, but standing in the servers box where the server is about to serve can be considered intentional hindrance and/or "unsportsmanlike conduct".
Addressing the injury questions, I've seen this happen at Regionals for UIL before where one mixed doubles team had a player with severe cramps and that player just stood there and returned the ball while the other teammate did all the running. He's technically playing because he returns serve (which is all that is required)...it'd be like a situation where one team would pick on the weaker player and hit almost exclusively to them. It was bad tennis, but good enough to make it to State since it happened late in the match when they were up a set and a break
I agree with you John, use common sence... that is not playing and you have to be playing (acting like it at least). HOWEVER, if the players are not distracted - don't worry... let them play. I have seen professional players at the open tank matches and the fan are booing and their is nothing a Chair can do about it...
Speaking of, Ernest, you have some good points earlier... The ladies and some guys (when tanking) provide us fans with BORING STUFF and they get paid TOO much for it!
Here is an idea for Tennis - make all matches best of three and the third is a super tie-breaker... For television (major money factor) - you will get (almost) timed matches! Local events would run MUCH smoother and Texas people would NOT DIE in this HEAT!!!
Also, TAKE AWAY THE SERVICE LET!
AND AS FAR AS SOOOO MANY OFFICIALS- It is crazy to turn on the TV and see as many officials in the stands as spectators... If I was a new player I would be intimidated to play tennis with all the rules you must have to know...
How about we let the pro players call the lines up until the USTA series. If the players make three mistakes - they are in the code... The chairs will have to be good. Can you imagine how much money the ITF/USTA would save? And the cost of tickets could be cut down.
IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN - we've taken the HONOR out of sportsmanship and too many people make a living on the line...
BACO
Well, the Myronian was taught at A&M to always hit the opponent on the first point of a doubles match. I guess that could be done even if they were sitting on the bench.
If the server aimed his serve at and hit the "bench sitter", would he be considered a permanent fixture like a spectator ..... Or, because he's the receiver's partner would the server win the point?
The player in question would still be permitted to play as long as takes up a position somewhere on their side of the court and attempts to take a "wack" at the ball when it is their turn to receive. The player would not be allowed to sit on the bench since Case 1 to Rule 15 states that one member of a doubles team is not allowed to play alone against the opponents. You could always tell the player to stand up against the net and not move, similar to what sometimes happens in a mixed doubles match.
I would stop play and call Pizza Hut so we could discuss the situation over lunch. That would surely bring all the officials out of hibernation.
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