Ethics



About Constitution Captain's Packet Code of Ethics Match Forms 9 Point Tie Break Men Open Men A Men B Men C Mens Novice Womens A Womens B Womens C Womens Novice		HONOLULU TENNIS LEAGUE Honor Code of Ethics Because of its favorable allâ€“year climate, Hawaii has the potential for developing the top tennis players of the world. Each year there are many new potential champions along with an equal number of followers in the form of parents, coaches and friends. The vast number of these tennis enthusiasts do not have the opportunity to learn the very large code of unwritten rules that are so much a part of, and unique to, the game of tennis, except as handed down from other players and through the sometimes bitter experience of tournament competition. The Honolulu Tennis League, under the Hawaii Tennis Association, has adopted this Honor Code of Ethics in order that all followers of tennis will know what is expected of them as players and as spectators and thereby enhance the enjoyment of this wonderful game for everyone. The Honolulu Tennis League urges all tennis players to review and play by these unwritten rules of tennis. Courtesy should be extended to your opponent. If you do not know him, introduce yourself. Offer to spin your racket to determine side and serve. At the conclusion of the match, shake hands and, if your opponent has won, offer him your congratulations. If you do not have an umpire, then you must take on the job of linesman as well as player. You must call all balls as you would if you were a linesman and not the player--except that any doubt must be resolved in favor of your opponent. When you are your own linesman, your obligation is to call all balls on your side of the net, but also to help your opponent when requested. You must call against yourself any ball that you clearly see out on the opponent's side whether he has asked your opinion or not. (An exception is your partner's first serve in doubles. Do not question your opponent's call unless asked. Ask your opponent's opinion when he is in a better position to see the ball than you. Do not enlist the aid of a spectator. You may think the spectator is qualified, but your opponent may not. Calls of "out" and "let" should be made instantaneously. A delay or doubtful call implies that it was not seen clearly, and a ball you can't call out is presumed good. On a point ending placement, in which you have no chance to return the ball, the instantaneous call is not so important as it may be to achieve accuracy in the call with a more careful look. In any event, do not claim a "let" because you did not see the ball. In doubles, if one partner calls the ball good and the other calls it out, the point goes to the opponents, as doubt has been raised, and it is not up to the two partners to come to an agreement. In doubles, the receiver's partner should call the service line, and the receiver together with his partner should call the center and side lines of the service court. When the first serve is obviously out, it is discourteous to re-return it across the net, unless, of course, it is impossible to avoid the return. The footfault is one violation that cannot be called in the absence of a linesman or umpire. The person who footfaults unknowingly is taking advantage of his opponent. The fairâ€“minded person will break himself of a habitual footfault in practice, by asking others to observe his serve. The person who footfaults knowingly is cheating. Exclamations in the course of play can be used against you, as the opponent is entitled to demand a replay. However, he must do so immediately and not go ahead with the point and claim a replay later after he has lost the point. In doubles, in the course of play there should be no conversation between partners except brief and simple instructions, such as "mine", "out", "run", etcetera. The intentional swinging of a racket or your arms, or the making of noise to distract your opponent is not permissible. With matches going on in adjoining courts, extend the same courtesies to those players that you would want for yourself. Do not retrieve your ball from or behind the adjoining court while play is going on. Do not ask for your ball or return a ball to the adjoining court while play is in progress. You must volunteer honestly against yourself such violation as double-hit, double-bounce, ball touching your body or clothing, touching the net, reaching over the net, etc. Never try to take advantage of an opponent by serving before he is ready. Your opponent may ask for a "let" if you "quickâ€“serve" him. However, if he either hits the ball or tries to hit the ball, he cannot then claim he was not ready. During the match with no umpire present, the players must conduct the match in accordance with the rules. Players may accept coaching during the match as long as it is done during the one minute change of sides. Other than this, play shall never be delayed or interfered with for the purpose of enabling a player to recover his strength or his wind, or to receive instructions or advice. It is discourteous and distracting for parents, friends, or coaches to volunteer advice on line calls, scoring, or the conduct of the match. Gross unfairness should be reported to the HTL Protest Committee in writing (see section on Protests in the Constitution). Do not be a staller. This is gamesmanship to upset your opponent and a form of discourtesy. Stalling is: (a) excessive time being taken in arriving at the match to be played; (b) excessive warm-up (excess of five minutes); (c) moving at abnormally slow speed between points; (d) excessive time in toweling between games (limit one minute); (3) extra time at the end of the first set that ends on even games (play must be continuous); (f) server waiting at the net while receiver retrieves the ball; (g) unnecessary discussion to catch breath; (h) delay in clearing balls from the court between serves. Tennis is an enjoyable game for all participants. You are exhibiting poor sportsmanship if you engage in (a) loud postmortems after each point; (b) complaints of the type of shots your opponent makes; (c) sulking when you are losing; (d) throwing your racket; (e) hitting the ball in anger; (f) losing your temper; (g) use of vile language. Spectators must show consideration for the players by avoiding DISTRACTING MOVEMENTS, ROWDY BEHAVIOR, DEROGATORY COMMENTS, and LOUD CONVERSATIONS, during the course of the match. If it is necessary for a player to request quiet of an audience, it should be done in a gentlemanly manner and through his team captain. Drinking alcoholic beverages during a match is prohibited. Players must know who knowingly and continually violates this Honor Code will be guilty of unsportsmanlike conduct. At the discretion of the HTL Governing Council, he may be prohibited from further League play. The HONOR CODE is a way of life: Learned in tennis, as part of the game, it will serve you wellâ€“all your life.

About Constitution Captain's Packet Code of Ethics Match Forms 9 Point Tie Break Men Open Men A Men B Men C Mens Novice Womens A Womens B Womens C Womens Novice

HONOLULU TENNIS LEAGUE

Honor Code of Ethics

Because of its favorable allâ€“year climate, Hawaii has the potential for developing the top tennis players of the world. Each year there are many new potential champions along with an equal number of followers in the form of parents, coaches and friends. The vast number of these tennis enthusiasts do not have the opportunity to learn the very large code of unwritten rules that are so much a part of, and unique to, the game of tennis, except as handed down from other players and through the sometimes bitter experience of tournament competition. The Honolulu Tennis League, under the Hawaii Tennis Association, has adopted this Honor Code of Ethics in order that all followers of tennis will know what is expected of them as players and as spectators and thereby enhance the enjoyment of this wonderful game for everyone.

The Honolulu Tennis League urges all tennis players to review and play by these unwritten rules of tennis.

Courtesy should be extended to your opponent. If you do not know him, introduce yourself. Offer to spin your racket to determine side and serve. At the conclusion of the match, shake hands and, if your opponent has won, offer him your congratulations.
If you do not have an umpire, then you must take on the job of linesman as well as player. You must call all balls as you would if you were a linesman and not the player--except that any doubt must be resolved in favor of your opponent.
When you are your own linesman, your obligation is to call all balls on your side of the net, but also to help your opponent when requested. You must call against yourself any ball that you clearly see out on the opponent's side whether he has asked your opinion or not. (An exception is your partner's first serve in doubles.
Do not question your opponent's call unless asked. Ask your opponent's opinion when he is in a better position to see the ball than you. Do not enlist the aid of a spectator. You may think the spectator is qualified, but your opponent may not.
Calls of "out" and "let" should be made instantaneously. A delay or doubtful call implies that it was not seen clearly, and a ball you can't call out is presumed good. On a point ending placement, in which you have no chance to return the ball, the instantaneous call is not so important as it may be to achieve accuracy in the call with a more careful look. In any event, do not claim a "let" because you did not see the ball.
In doubles, if one partner calls the ball good and the other calls it out, the point goes to the opponents, as doubt has been raised, and it is not up to the two partners to come to an agreement.
In doubles, the receiver's partner should call the service line, and the receiver together with his partner should call the center and side lines of the service court.
When the first serve is obviously out, it is discourteous to re-return it across the net, unless, of course, it is impossible to avoid the return.
The footfault is one violation that cannot be called in the absence of a linesman or umpire. The person who footfaults unknowingly is taking advantage of his opponent. The fairâ€“minded person will break himself of a habitual footfault in practice, by asking others to observe his serve. The person who footfaults knowingly is cheating.
Exclamations in the course of play can be used against you, as the opponent is entitled to demand a replay. However, he must do so immediately and not go ahead with the point and claim a replay later after he has lost the point.
In doubles, in the course of play there should be no conversation between partners except brief and simple instructions, such as "mine", "out", "run", etcetera.
The intentional swinging of a racket or your arms, or the making of noise to distract your opponent is not permissible.
With matches going on in adjoining courts, extend the same courtesies to those players that you would want for yourself. Do not retrieve your ball from or behind the adjoining court while play is going on. Do not ask for your ball or return a ball to the adjoining court while play is in progress.
You must volunteer honestly against yourself such violation as double-hit, double-bounce, ball touching your body or clothing, touching the net, reaching over the net, etc.
Never try to take advantage of an opponent by serving before he is ready. Your opponent may ask for a "let" if you "quickâ€“serve" him. However, if he either hits the ball or tries to hit the ball, he cannot then claim he was not ready.
During the match with no umpire present, the players must conduct the match in accordance with the rules. Players may accept coaching during the match as long as it is done during the one minute change of sides. Other than this, play shall never be delayed or interfered with for the purpose of enabling a player to recover his strength or his wind, or to receive instructions or advice.
It is discourteous and distracting for parents, friends, or coaches to volunteer advice on line calls, scoring, or the conduct of the match. Gross unfairness should be reported to the HTL Protest Committee in writing (see section on Protests in the Constitution).
Do not be a staller. This is gamesmanship to upset your opponent and a form of discourtesy. Stalling is: (a) excessive time being taken in arriving at the match to be played; (b) excessive warm-up (excess of five minutes); (c) moving at abnormally slow speed between points; (d) excessive time in toweling between games (limit one minute); (3) extra time at the end of the first set that ends on even games (play must be continuous); (f) server waiting at the net while receiver retrieves the ball; (g) unnecessary discussion to catch breath; (h) delay in clearing balls from the court between serves.
Tennis is an enjoyable game for all participants. You are exhibiting poor sportsmanship if you engage in (a) loud postmortems after each point; (b) complaints of the type of shots your opponent makes; (c) sulking when you are losing; (d) throwing your racket; (e) hitting the ball in anger; (f) losing your temper; (g) use of vile language.
Spectators must show consideration for the players by avoiding DISTRACTING MOVEMENTS, ROWDY BEHAVIOR, DEROGATORY COMMENTS, and LOUD CONVERSATIONS, during the course of the match. If it is necessary for a player to request quiet of an audience, it should be done in a gentlemanly manner and through his team captain.
Drinking alcoholic beverages during a match is prohibited.
Players must know who knowingly and continually violates this Honor Code will be guilty of unsportsmanlike conduct. At the discretion of the HTL Governing Council, he may be prohibited from further League play.

The HONOR CODE is a way of life: Learned in tennis, as part of the game, it will serve you wellâ€“all your life.