Club Rules and Etiquette : Rockcliffe Lawn Tennis Club : Ottawa, Ontario

Club Rules and Etiquette

Court Usage by Members

Adult members have priority on clay courts. Juniors play on hard courts and a combination of adult and junior players may play on any available court in accordance with the "first-come-first-served" policy.

Prior to and after the Junior & Teenage Summer Tennis Camps, Monday and Friday morning round robins have priority on up to four clay courts and two hard courts, if required from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; additional hard courts may be used for a thirty-minute period at a time, if not in demand by other players.

During the Junior & Teenage Summer Camps, round robins have priority on up to four clay courts, while the camps can occupy up to 3 of the hard courts.

The Club's teaching staff gives lessons on court 8 of the hard courts. A clay court may be used, upon approval by the Club Manager, if all hard courts are in use by the Junior & Teenage Summer Camp program and if not in demand by other players immediately prior to the commencement of the instruction period.

Before going on court

Members and guests must wear predominantly white proper tennis attire on court (no more than 10% colour.) Only white tennis clothing is permitted including collared or collar-less shirts for men, shorts, skirts, dresses, warm-ups, sweaters, hats and socks. Coloured warm-up clothing may be worn in cold weather and for warming up.

Large logos, advertising or colour images on clothing are not acceptable. Plain or tournament T-shirts may be worn only by juniors.

White tennis shoes with non-marking, non-damaging soles are required on all tennis courts. Jogging shoes are unacceptable since they can damage the clay courts and mark hard courts.

Members and their guests who are unsuitably attired will be asked to leave the courts. Please inform your guest of the Club's dress code in advance. If you have any doubts as to whether or not your attire is proper, feel free to seek the advice of the Club Manager. (Please note that the Manager keeps clean,
appropriate, loaner clothing – shirts, shorts, skirts – for use by members and guests.)

In tennis, one shows consideration not only for one's partner and opponent, but also for those who are playing on adjacent courts. Please keep your voice low while on the clubhouse veranda and grounds so as not to disturb players on the courts.

Booking a court

Court bookings are on a “first come first serve” basis. For both hard and soft courts:

To sign up for a singles court both players must be present
To sign up for a doubles court, three of four players must be present

Play times:

Singles – 45 minutes
Doubles – 1 hour

Adult members have priority on the soft courts. Round Robins, League events, Tournaments and Club events have court priority. Hard courts # 5 and #6 are reserved at all times for juniors.

The soft courts are swept daily. Should you wish to sweep your court prior to play, you are welcome to use the equipment provided; please return it to its proper location.

Water, containers and glasses are available for your use however, glass receptacles are not allowed.

When entering the court

When preparing to enter the court, please wait quietly at the gate until the players on the courts nearest the gate have finished a point. Then, quickly go to your assigned court, ensuring that you are not moving behind a court where a point is in play. Wait until the point is over then move quickly along the fence line to your own court. Make sure you completely close the gate so balls cannot roll out.

During play

The rules of tennis call for “play to be continuous”. The server should be sure his or her opponent is ready before serving; while the receiver must be prepared to play to the pace of the server.

The server should always have two balls available before serving to avoid delays between first and second serves.

Always control your temper – do not throw your racquet or equipment; do not smash a ball in frustration.

Changing ends after every odd numbered game of each set (1 - 3 - 5, etc.) is consistent with the rules of the game and helps balance the effects of sun and wind.

Players should not argue about the score. It is the responsibility of person serving to call out the score in advance of serving. Each player (or team) should call all balls that bounce on their side of the net.

One of the most fundamental principles of tennis when played without an umpire is that you must always give your opponent the benefit of the doubt . The rules provide that a ball is “in” unless it is clearly seen as “out”. If a ball has touched even a portion of the line, it is good. If you are in doubt as to how to call a ball because you have not seen it clearly, you may ask your opponent to help you on the call. If you do so, you must accept your opponent's call. Never play a let because you are unsure of the call.

Do not offer calls on your opponent's side unless asked for assistance by him or her.

A ball is in play until it strikes the ground or fence outside the court. Allow a ball that appear to be going long to bounce before calling it out or hitting, catching or otherwise touching it.

Never ask a person not directly involved in your match for assistance on a matter of ‘fact'. You may seek the advice of the Club Pro regarding the ‘rules' of tennis but not for assistance with interpreting the facts of any given situation on your court.

Do not talk or shout to a player while a point is in play. And do not talk to players involved in a match on another court until their match is over.

Ball rolling onto other courts

If a ball rolls onto your court from an adjacent court and you are rallying (not yet playing a match) – stop rallying and return the ball immediately to one of the people on the next court. If the players from whose court the ball came are in mid-point, wait until they finish or gently roll their ball along the fence behind them. If the ball is from a court farther away, wait until play on any intervening court is stopped.

If a ball rolls onto your court from an adjacent court and you are in the middle of a point – either stop the point immediately, if the ball disturbs you or your opponent (in which case you must replay the point), or return the ball as soon as the point is over.

If your ball rolls onto an adjacent court, stop rallying, wait until the players on other court are not in the middle of a point, then tell them that the ball is from your court and ask for its return.

When your opponent is serving and the point is over, if there are any balls on your side of the net, pick them up quickly and return them directly to the server.

If your opponent has served a fault, quickly clear a ball that is inter-fering with play but otherwise do not go after it. Wait until the point is over to return balls to the server. If an extraordinary delay is created between first and second serves replay the first serve.

When leaving the court

When you have finished playing, always thank your opponent(s) and your partner, in doubles. In match play, shake hands with your opponent(s).

Wait until players on the court between you and the gate are finished a point before crossing their court. Then, move quickly along the fence line to the exit, ensuring to completely close the gate behind you.

Please clean the clay off your shoes before entering the clubhouse.

			Club Rules and Etiquette Court Usage by Members Adult members have priority on clay courts. Juniors play on hard courts and a combination of adult and junior players may play on any available court in accordance with the "first-come-first-served" policy. Prior to and after the Junior & Teenage Summer Tennis Camps, Monday and Friday morning round robins have priority on up to four clay courts and two hard courts, if required from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; additional hard courts may be used for a thirty-minute period at a time, if not in demand by other players. During the Junior & Teenage Summer Camps, round robins have priority on up to four clay courts, while the camps can occupy up to 3 of the hard courts. The Club's teaching staff gives lessons on court 8 of the hard courts. A clay court may be used, upon approval by the Club Manager, if all hard courts are in use by the Junior & Teenage Summer Camp program and if not in demand by other players immediately prior to the commencement of the instruction period. Before going on court Members and guests must wear predominantly white proper tennis attire on court (no more than 10% colour.) Only white tennis clothing is permitted including collared or collar-less shirts for men, shorts, skirts, dresses, warm-ups, sweaters, hats and socks. Coloured warm-up clothing may be worn in cold weather and for warming up. Large logos, advertising or colour images on clothing are not acceptable. Plain or tournament T-shirts may be worn only by juniors. White tennis shoes with non-marking, non-damaging soles are required on all tennis courts. Jogging shoes are unacceptable since they can damage the clay courts and mark hard courts. Members and their guests who are unsuitably attired will be asked to leave the courts. Please inform your guest of the Club's dress code in advance. If you have any doubts as to whether or not your attire is proper, feel free to seek the advice of the Club Manager. (Please note that the Manager keeps clean, appropriate, loaner clothing – shirts, shorts, skirts – for use by members and guests.) In tennis, one shows consideration not only for one's partner and opponent, but also for those who are playing on adjacent courts. Please keep your voice low while on the clubhouse veranda and grounds so as not to disturb players on the courts. Booking a court Court bookings are on a “first come first serve” basis. For both hard and soft courts: To sign up for a singles court both players must be present To sign up for a doubles court, three of four players must be present Play times: Singles – 45 minutes Doubles – 1 hour Adult members have priority on the soft courts. Round Robins, League events, Tournaments and Club events have court priority. Hard courts # 5 and #6 are reserved at all times for juniors. The soft courts are swept daily. Should you wish to sweep your court prior to play, you are welcome to use the equipment provided; please return it to its proper location. Water, containers and glasses are available for your use however, glass receptacles are not allowed. When entering the court When preparing to enter the court, please wait quietly at the gate until the players on the courts nearest the gate have finished a point. Then, quickly go to your assigned court, ensuring that you are not moving behind a court where a point is in play. Wait until the point is over then move quickly along the fence line to your own court. Make sure you completely close the gate so balls cannot roll out. During play The rules of tennis call for “play to be continuous”. The server should be sure his or her opponent is ready before serving; while the receiver must be prepared to play to the pace of the server. The server should always have two balls available before serving to avoid delays between first and second serves. Always control your temper – do not throw your racquet or equipment; do not smash a ball in frustration. Changing ends after every odd numbered game of each set (1 - 3 - 5, etc.) is consistent with the rules of the game and helps balance the effects of sun and wind. Players should not argue about the score. It is the responsibility of person serving to call out the score in advance of serving. Each player (or team) should call all balls that bounce on their side of the net. One of the most fundamental principles of tennis when played without an umpire is that you must always give your opponent the benefit of the doubt . The rules provide that a ball is “in” unless it is clearly seen as “out”. If a ball has touched even a portion of the line, it is good. If you are in doubt as to how to call a ball because you have not seen it clearly, you may ask your opponent to help you on the call. If you do so, you must accept your opponent's call. Never play a let because you are unsure of the call. Do not offer calls on your opponent's side unless asked for assistance by him or her. A ball is in play until it strikes the ground or fence outside the court. Allow a ball that appear to be going long to bounce before calling it out or hitting, catching or otherwise touching it. Never ask a person not directly involved in your match for assistance on a matter of ‘fact'. You may seek the advice of the Club Pro regarding the ‘rules' of tennis but not for assistance with interpreting the facts of any given situation on your court. Do not talk or shout to a player while a point is in play. And do not talk to players involved in a match on another court until their match is over. Ball rolling onto other courts If a ball rolls onto your court from an adjacent court and you are rallying (not yet playing a match) – stop rallying and return the ball immediately to one of the people on the next court. If the players from whose court the ball came are in mid-point, wait until they finish or gently roll their ball along the fence behind them. If the ball is from a court farther away, wait until play on any intervening court is stopped. If a ball rolls onto your court from an adjacent court and you are in the middle of a point – either stop the point immediately, if the ball disturbs you or your opponent (in which case you must replay the point), or return the ball as soon as the point is over. If your ball rolls onto an adjacent court, stop rallying, wait until the players on other court are not in the middle of a point, then tell them that the ball is from your court and ask for its return. When your opponent is serving and the point is over, if there are any balls on your side of the net, pick them up quickly and return them directly to the server. If your opponent has served a fault, quickly clear a ball that is inter-fering with play but otherwise do not go after it. Wait until the point is over to return balls to the server. If an extraordinary delay is created between first and second serves replay the first serve. When leaving the court When you have finished playing, always thank your opponent(s) and your partner, in doubles. In match play, shake hands with your opponent(s). Wait until players on the court between you and the gate are finished a point before crossing their court. Then, move quickly along the fence line to the exit, ensuring to completely close the gate behind you. Please clean the clay off your shoes before entering the clubhouse.

	March 10, 2010