What do you do when a ball rolls on the court during play? Do you call a let if the ball is rolling along the back fence? When do you call a let? All of these are frustrating and legitimate questions.
Here are the rules:
FAC p. 50. 18. Let called when the ball rolls on the court. When a ball from another court enters the playing area, any player on the court affected may call a let as soon as the player becomes aware of the ball.
FAC p. 233. 12 Lets. Requests for lets may not be made after a point has ended. The Solo Chair Umpire or the Roving Official may call a let for a ball that is endangering a player or interruption of play.
Both rules are very plain but still doesn't resolve the issue in many instances...
SCENARIO ONE
In a men's ITA doubles match, team A hits the ball and it is obviously going to hit the wall behind team B. Immediately before the ball strikes the back wall, team A sees a ball against the back fence behind them and calls a let. The ball in no way endangered a player or interrupted play but the referee allowed the let.
SCENARIO TWO
In a women's ITA doubles match, team A is preparing to hit a sitter lob for a winning overhead. Team B sees a ball rolling along the back fence behind Team A and immediately calls a let before Team A can hit the winner. The chair official allows the let.
SCENARIO THREE
In a men's ITA doubles match, team A is preparing to hit a sitter lob. Team A notices a ball rolling on the back of the court behind team B. Team A goes ahead and hits the winner. The chair official does not call a let.
All three of these are actual events (in fact, Scenario One occurred at the men's national indoor tournament.)
Do you agree with the rulings? How would you have ruled if you disagree?
My personal interpretation is that if the balls is rolling behind the player and endangers the player, then immediately call a let. If the ball is along the back fence and does not disrupt play or endanger a player, then leave it alone.
Unfortunately many players (and ITA players specifically) have eagles eyes and can spot a loose ball anywhere on the court and they are extra quick in calling lets. Remember--any player can call a let but then its up to the discretion of the chair official as to whether the let will be allowed.
And the debate goes on...
5 comments:
You forgot the over-hyped official who calls a let BEFORE a ball rolls onto court, in anticipation of things to follow.
Scenario D: just happened over weekend, ball on adjacent court hits back fence and never crosses over to the court but bounds towards the middle area between, but never crosses the middle area. Player A calls let before ball even comes close to crossing the center area.
Official denied the let call.
You are the Chair Umpire, make a decision, you make the final call. Don't be one that just keeps the score and agrees with every call, do the job.
What about players who call a let receiving serve simply because they weren't ready, or "thought" the ball from the next call might come over?
Good way to buy time and avoid playing at the pace of the server.
to 7:46 AM think looking at ITA let calls, in your situation the receiver does not have to play at the pace of the receiver.
to 9:28 PM I was the chair and did deny the let since the ball never broke the middle imaginary plane nor did it for another 10-15 seconds after the attempted let call by the player that was on the opposite side of the net as well.
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