On a windy day ITA Player A places the third ball at the base of the back fence and prepares to serve. He serves, putting the ball in play and the rally gets underway. During the rally, the wind blows the third ball away from the fence and toward the baseline where Player A is rallying, oblivious to the ball rolling toward him. The Chair Umpire calls a let as he considers the third ball a hazard to Player A. Player B’s coach says no let may be awarded in this case because the ball was not secured by Player A, and Player A should lose the point.
How do you rule?
5 comments:
After 19 stitches and 3 broken fingers after stepping on a ball that rolled under my foot, I would call a let. But, the chair should have told the players that he would call a let when he saw a ball that was placed on the back fence, being blown by the wind, rolling under either feet whcih could create a dangerous situation.
It's better for the chair to call a let to keep a player from being seriously injured than to just a coach complain. What if it hadbeen the coaches player where the ball was running under his foot and taking the chance of getting injured.
When it is extremely windy I always tell both coaches that we will "err on the side of caution" and call lets when a ball is rolling under a player's feet. If the problem persists, then the chair should advise the player to be sure the ball is moved or put it in his/her pocket.
If they have been warned and then fail to act, then I would not allow or call a let.
The coach who got upset was being foolish. The chair should call a let for any potential hazarrd to the players, regardless of if the chair informed them before hand or not. It is implied by the fact that the match was chaired in the first place.
I think this was handled correctly. The wind created a condition that was potentially dangerous to the player.
The chair should remind players to secure the ball and let them know he/she is not going to continue calling lets for this reason.
Hmm. The match should have been postponed and moved indoors for dangerous conditions. haha
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