AboutEd Hines Expertise The Rules of Tennis primarily, including junior and collegiate application of the rules as well as recreational play. Please: NO questions about practice drills or ways to improve your game.
Experience Over 30 years playing the game, including USTA and ITA Officials' certification in junior, collegiate, and professional tennis.
Organizations USTA; Atlanta Professional Tennis Umpires Association
Awards and Honors ATP Linesman, Chair Official NCAA Regional Div I and Div III, Blue Gray Tournament Chair, SEC Championships, Southern Conf Championships, Atlantic Sun Conference, Several Junior National and Super National Jr. Tournaments, NCAA Womens Championship Finals, ASI and AT&T (qualifier final) Chair.
Expert: Ed Hines Date: 3/26/2008 Subject: Hindrance issue
Question Ed,
I am very confused about the Hindrance rule concerning where your partner can stand on the court. The rule says the server's partner and the receiver's partner can stand anywhere on their side of the court. I have played matches where the servers partner has stood on the same side of the court to meet the returning cross court return, when that person only has a cross court and can't hit a decent down the line shot. No one ever said it was a problem. Recently, I was playing a doubles match and my partner was receiving the ball. The server had a weak serve and I took a more aggressive position when my partner was returning. Rather than stand close to the service line on my side which is typical, I stood in the middle of the box closer to the net. I was not moving, yelling or waving my racket. I did this in several games. In the middle of the last game of the match, the server's partner yelled at me to move and told me I was hindering her partner from making an effective serve. And, because she perceived my position as a hindrance I had to move. Turns out the server was not affected by my stance and told her partner to let it go. Play continued but the lady was very angry. She told me I could not take a new stance when they were serving out the set. I had never heard this before. I have reread the rule and it says that my act was deliberate(even though I did not intend to hinder anyone) and therefore is considered a hindrance and I lose the point. Couldn't then anyone claim a hindrance at anytime for just about anything? I am stunned. I have been playing this game for 30 years and never had a hindrance called because I was standing in a position the opposing team did not like. Seems like this is a recipe for disaster in unofficiated matches. If standing somewhere can be constituted a hindrance, why does the rule say you can stand anywhere you want? Can you please clarify this issue for me. Thank you very much.
Answer Becky,
It's your opponent and not you that doesn't know the rules. I see nothing wrong in what you did. You can change position any time you want and where ever you want so long as you don't LEGITIMATELY (heck, she could say your skirt color was hindering her) hinder your opponent(s). But you're right about claims of hindrance; I get them all the time, and some are legitimate but are a lot are whacky. And you're also right about unofficiated matches. Not much you can do. But isn't that true most of the time with people who don't know rules or take the game too seriously.
Good luck, and email back if I haven't answered your question or you have more problems.
