The Burnie Tennis Club is a strong advocate of good tennis etiquette both on and of the court. The good name and reutation which the club enjoys started way back in 1890 when the club was founded.
It is important that all players understand the behaviour expected when playing tennis and representing the Burnie Tennis Club.
The code of behaviour document ( click here to view) is a Tennis Australia document to which all players are expected to adhere to. The relevant pages which detail unacceptable behavior are listed in Section 3 Match & Tournament Violations (Appendix I) which starts on page 16 of the document.
all tournaments and weekly competitions in Australia and should be
utilised in conjunction with the discipline regulations contained in
Code of Behaviour – Tournaments,
or Code of Behaviour – Weekly Competitions.
The definitions that appear in the Code of Behaviour regulations apply equally to this document.
Standard Code of Behaviour violations
The following violations amount to breaches of the Code of Behaviour.
1. Commencement of play (‘no show’)
A player is not ready to commence play within 15 minutes of his/her match being called. The
referee shall designate the official timepiece. This can also be deemed a ‘no show’.
2. Physical abuse
A player physically abuses any official, opponent, spectator, or other person within the
precinct.
For the purposes of this rule physical abuse is the unauthorised touching of an
official,
opponent, spectator or other person.
In certain circumstances the matter may also be referred to the police for further investigation
and subsequent possible action.
3. Verbal abuse
Players shall not at any time directly or indirectly verbally abuse any official, opponent,
sponsor,
spectator, or other person within the precincts of the tournament/competition site.
For the purpose of this rule, verbal abuse is defined as a statement about an official, opponent,
sponsor, spectator or other person that implies dishonesty or is derogatory, insulting, racially
or otherwise abusive.
4. Audible obscenity
Players shall not use an audible obscenity within the precincts of the tournament/competition
site. For the purposes of this rule audible obscenity is defined as the use of words commonly
known and understood to be profane and uttered clearly and loudly enough to be heard by
the court officials or spectators.
5. Unsportsmanlike conduct
A player shall not during any tournament/competition engage in conduct that damages the
image and integrity of tennis. Players shall at all times conduct themselves in a sportsmanlike
manner and give due regard to the authority of officials and the rights of opponents,
spectators
and others. For the purposes of this policy, unsportsmanlike conduct is defined as
any misconduct by a player, prior to, during or subsequent to a match that is clearly abusive
or detrimental to the sport, including, but not limited to blatant cheating, but does not
specifically
fall within other violation categories.
6. Unreasonable delays
A player unreasonably delays a match. A player shall commence the match after the expiration
of the established warm-up period. Thereafter, play shall be continuous as provided in the
Rules of Tennis and a player shall not unreasonably delay a match for any cause. When a
violation
is a result of a medical condition, refusal to play or not returning to the court within
the allocated time a code violation (delay of game) penalty shall be assessed in accordance
with the code schedule. Other delays may be dealt with as a time violation.
7. Visible obscenity
A player makes offensive or obscene gestures during any match or within the precinct. For the
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Appendix I
purposes of this rule, visible obscenity is defined as the making of signs by a player with his
hands, body and/or racquet/balls that commonly have an obscene meaning.
8. Abuse of racquets or equipment
A player violently or with anger, hits, kicks or throws a racquet or other equipment, or in any
way unreasonably interferes with any court fixtures and equipment within the precinct. For the
purposes of this rule abuse of racquets or equipment is defined as intentionally and violently
throwing, destroying or damaging racquets or equipment or intentionally and violently hitting
the net, court, umpire’s chair or other fixture during or after a match out of anger or frustration.
9. Abuse of balls
Players shall not violently, dangerously or with anger hit, kick or throw a tennis ball within
the precinct except in the reasonable pursuit of a point during a match (including warm-up).
For the purposes of this rule abuse of balls is defined as intentionally hitting a ball out of the
enclosure of the court, hitting a ball dangerously or recklessly within the court or hitting a ball
with negligent disregard of the consequences.
10. Leaving the court
A player leaves the court area during a match (including the warm-up) without the permission
of an official.
11. Best efforts
A player shall use his/her best efforts to win a match when competing in a tournament/competition.
For the purposes of this rule, the referee shall have the authority to penalise a
player in accordance with the Code of Behaviour.
12. Coaching
A player receives any type of coaching from any person while a match is in progress, except
where special provision is made for a tournament/competition. Communication of any kind,
audible or visible between a player and any other person may be construed as coaching.
Coaching shall be permitted where there is an off-court break between sets or during
interruptions
to play caused by bad weather or light where players leave the court. Coaching is
not permitted while a court is being serviced at the end of or during a set and players are still
on court, or during a toilet break.
13. Failure to complete a match
A player must complete a match in progress unless he/she is reasonably unable to do so. A
violation of this section may subject a player to immediate default.
Non-standard Code of Behaviour violations
14. Dress and equipment
A player does not dress and present himself/herself for play in approved tennis attire (see
Tennis Australia Dress Regulations). Clean and customarily acceptable attire shall be worn
at all times during match play. A player must be given the opportunity to change his/her
clothing
in order to comply with the dress regulations particularly before a match starts. At the
discretion
of the relevant official a maximum period of 10 minutes may be allowed in order for
a player to change attire. A direction to improve the player’s dress before the next tournament/competition
day may also be given by the relevant official. Players should not be defaulted
from matches due to clothing breaches except in exceptional circumstances but failure to
meet dress regulation requests may be reported to TA or the relevant MA via an on-site code
violation after the completion of the match.
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15. Conduct unbecoming
A player who behaves in a manner considered to be detrimental to the best interests of the
event and the sport will be deemed to have committed a violation. For the purpose of this
rule, a violation may occur at, or away from, the precinct e.g. at a place of accommodation. A
relevant report will be provided to the Australian Tennis Organisation with a view to possible
referral to a tribunal.
16. Time violation
Where a player takes longer than the prescribed time between points, or at the change of
ends, the official will determine whether a violation has occurred. If it is determined that a
violation has occurred the first violation shall be penalised by a warning and each subsequent
violation by a point penalty.
Notwithstanding the previous paragraph, when a time violation is a result of natural loss of
physical condition, injury or refusal to play after being ordered to play by an official a penalty
will be assessed in accordance with the code violation – unreasonable delays.
17. Withdrawal from tournament
Where a player withdraws from a tournament/competition after the advertised date upon
which the draw is made, or withdraws from an event during a tournament/competition
entered
by him/her, except in those cases where a medical certificate or other reasonable
cause is provided for non-participation. A player who enters two tournaments and is a late
withdrawal from one will be penalised in accordance with the regulations. A breach of this
violation will attract the appropriate disciplinary points as stated in the regulations.
18. Spectator interference
Where a match is disrupted or interfered with by the action of a spectator who is part of a
player’s
entourage (i.e. parent, family member, coach or friend) the official or tournament
director shall first warn (not part of code schedule) the player and the interfering spectator,
including advising that any further interference by the spectator may result in:
a) the match being suspended until the referee determines that the issue is resolved and that play
can continue without further interruption
b) the ATO (at a later date) refusing the player’s entry into future tournaments/competitionspursuant
to the procedure set out in the following paragraph.
It should be noted that a match default is not an available option.
A disruption may result in the ATO formally raising the matter with the interfering spectator
and the player. The interfering spectator and player will be advised in writing of the
inappropriate
behaviour and may be required to participate in a meeting with the ATO todiscuss
the issue. The object of the meeting will be to educate and counsel the interfering
spectator and to act as a final warning. The spectator will be required to give a written
undertaking
not to attend future matches for a specified period in the case of interference at
future tournaments/competitions.
If there is a failure to give, or breach of, the undertaking of a hearing will be conducted by
the MA. At the hearing, the player will be given the opportunity to be heard on the issue. The
penalty available to the MA is to refuse to accept the player’s future tournament entries for a
specified period of time. For the avoidance of doubt, this entry refusal will apply nationally.
This may also include a spectator bringing the sport into disrepute during an on-site
disruption
or dispute.
Match & Tournament Violations
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