Jr. Tournament bathroom breaks,injury timeout

[SoCal10s]

one of my kids played a tournament this past weekend and his opponent took a bathroom break right after my guy just broke him to go up 5-4 and serving for the set... he took a real long time to come back and eventually won the next game and the match... this I feel is very un-ethical plus the kid took a bathroom break right after the warm up ..
I see a lot of this going on now in Jr. tennis.. a kid I know took an injury time out to stall because he was losing... he too eventually came back to win the match... my kid asked him if he was OK ? and he answered ' I wasn't really hurt,I just needed time to slow things down"
Is there anything a competitor can do to counter this kind of BS strategy?

[Deuce]

I agree that this is a sad and growing trend.

I was recently at a top international Junior tournament, and I cringed every time a kid called for the trainer on court. To see 15, 16 year old kids lying on their stomach on the court while a trainer 'tends' to them.
At best, this reveals the kids as being incredibly spoiled. Is it even possible to have an injured body part at that tender age? This was never seen 15, 20 years ago - yet kids had body parts then, as well, I believe.

At worst, these breaks and 'injury time outs' reveal that the kids are being taught to be dishonest and to manipulate the rules; that they are being taught that the ends justify the means, and that winning at any cost is the 'right' path to take.

[SoCal10s]

when I was playing in Jr. tournament in the 70's ,we were told to take care of business before you enter the court to play... there were no bath=room breaks,unless you go to the 3rd set, and no injury time outs... if you couldn't answer the bell ,you lost.. period..
these kids are taught to do this now and it gets worse in the pro ranks... I see pros getting a massage for an aching body during a match... give me break... what's going on ? it's getting to a point where someone has to really complain and change this rule or procedures... if you are not fit then don't step on the court...

[tennis24fun]

Yes, this is a very distressing trend. Kids from age 8 are being 'mentored':shock: on the nuances of gamesmanship. Tennis is one of the sports where being dishonest (at least selectively) pays to an extent and the rules of this sport are not helping the kids to inculcate the values of sportsmanship and fair play.

[TennisProdigy]

Wow, an opponent takes a bathroom break when hes losing, does that mean you will automatically lose the next game? The answer is no and if you do you should probably quit tennis for lack of mental stability.

If he takes a really long bathroom break and you're afraid you will cool down, then do jumping jacks or if you're smart like me pull your jump rope out of your bag and do sets of 100.

Just b/c the opponent stalls for time when hes losing doesn't mean you have to lose your rhythm and concentration just stay focused and wait until he comes back...

For the record I myself have only used the bathroom once over my 93 tournament matches, and it was after the first game in the second set.

[andfor]

The kid leaving the court is supposed to go straight to a ref or if one is not available to the tournament desk/official and tell them about the break. He then has 5 minutes.

I know the whole thing about bathroom breaks and trainers at junior tournaments can stink at times. My advice is to tell the kid who got thrown off two things. One make sure his opponent finds a ref or tournament official immediately and be sure the 5 minute clock is started. Second tell the kid who's leaving the court he's being timed he's got 5 minutes. That's the rules unfortunately, all players should know them.

I saw a coach walk with his player to the tournament desk and then to the bathroom once. When the coach was confronted by an official he said he did not know he couldn't do that. No warning, weak officiating, sad. Sometime officials can't be everywhere though. Good ones or not.

Time to toughen up.

[10isRocs]

I have known many junior coaches who do coach kids about "bathroom breaks"...it is more to get the kid taking the break to reflect on his game...it has never been suggested to put their opponent off their game...as for calling the trainer...yes, this is wayyyyy out of control!!

[Dashbarr]

I agree that this is a sad and growing trend.

I was recently at a top international Junior tournament, and I cringed every time a kid called for the trainer on court. To see 15, 16 year old kids lying on their stomach on the court while a trainer 'tends' to them.
At best, this reveals the kids as being incredibly spoiled. Is it even possible to have an injured body part at that tender age? This was never seen 15, 20 years ago - yet kids had body parts then, as well, I believe.

At worst, these breaks and 'injury time outs' reveal that the kids are being taught to be dishonest and to manipulate the rules; that they are being taught that the ends justify the means, and that winning at any cost is the 'right' path to take.

At fifteen, I myself have some chronic lower back problems and a bad right ankle. Recently, a study was done on the junior players at the National Junior Training Center, and all of the 30+ kids had back problems, some as serious as fractures. Although I agree that these players are taking wayy too many uncalled for breaks in hopes of stopping any momentum, I feel that most older people instantly assume that younger players, and younger people in general, cannot be injured, do not need the use of Ibuprofen every now and then, and just can't have any semi-serious physical injuries. As sports become more and more intense at the professional age due to training regimens starting younger and younger, it is only natural that more injuries occur at a younger age. Its really a simple concept, but apparently, people around my age are inexplicably 'unable' to have an injured body part.

[GameSetNavritilova]

As Barney Fife once told Sheriff Taylor, you gotta fight fire with fire!

Next time someone does it to one of your kids, have 'em wait until the player gets back, walks on the court with his racquet -- then tell 'em nature's calling and take your sweet time. Seriously, I hate the gamesmanship.

[Deuce]

At fifteen, I myself have some chronic lower back problems and a bad right ankle. Recently, a study was done on the junior players at the National Junior Training Center, and all of the 30+ kids had back problems, some as serious as fractures. Although I agree that these players are taking wayy too many uncalled for breaks in hopes of stopping any momentum, I feel that most older people instantly assume that younger players, and younger people in general, cannot be injured, do not need the use of Ibuprofen every now and then, and just can't have any semi-serious physical injuries. As sports become more and more intense at the professional age due to training regimens starting younger and younger, it is only natural that more injuries occur at a younger age. Its really a simple concept, but apparently, people around my age are inexplicably 'unable' to have an injured body part.
If a teenager has back injuries, as you say, then something is seriously wrong - likely with the way they hit the ball, and/or the way they run.

Kids also recover from injuries faster than adults.
Not to mention that a player in his/her mid 20s has been playing 10 years longer than a 15 year old. Injuries accumulate with wear and tear.

Sorry, but to say that teenagers truly require anywhere near as much 'medical attention' as their adult tennis counterparts is pure BS.

[JLyon]

bathroom breaks are hard to control unless there is a very small official to court ratio. Many times while roving an official will see a player is missing only to find from opponent they went to the restroom.
As for time, there is no definitive time limit other than "reasonable" amount of time.
Officials do try and watch closely for abuse of breaks, such as trying to take 2 breaks in a set, etc.. Also at the national level officials can easily radio to tournament desk of players heading towards the porcelian god.

[xnarek]

one of my kids played a tournament this past weekend and his opponent took a bathroom break right after my guy just broke him to go up 5-4 and serving for the set... he took a real long time to come back and eventually won the next game and the match... this I feel is very un-ethical plus the kid took a bathroom break right after the warm up ..
I see a lot of this going on now in Jr. tennis.. a kid I know took an injury time out to stall because he was losing... he too eventually came back to win the match... my kid asked him if he was OK ? and he answered ' I wasn't really hurt,I just needed time to slow things down"
Is there anything a competitor can do to counter this kind of BS strategy?

What idiot what admit something like that? Was he like 8 ?

[Brendan]

What idiot what admit something like that? Was he like 8 ?

haha, so true.

[Brendan]

If a teenager has back injuries, as you say, then something is seriously wrong - likely with the way they hit the ball, and/or the way they run.

Kids also recover from injuries faster than adults.
Not to mention that a player in his/her mid 20s has been playing 10 years longer than a 15 year old. Injuries accumulate with wear and tear.

Sorry, but to say that teenagers truly require anywhere near as much 'medical attention' as their adult tennis counterparts is pure BS.

Just because kids recover from injuries faster than adults do doesn't mean they aren't going to get injured at all.....wear and tear, yes, most good juniors do train hard every day so obviously their bodies aren't going to be sparkly fresh every single day.

[witt4ace]

I have done it once for strategy. I lost the first set 6-7 against a moonballer that I should have beat like 6-2 6-1. I was cramping because he made me hit so many balls. I took a bathrrom break after the first set to regroup, and I came back and domnated 6-2 and 10-4 in the third set tiebreak. I admit it was gamesmanship, but it is still all legal.

[Deuce]

Just because kids recover from injuries faster than adults do doesn't mean they aren't going to get injured at all.....wear and tear, yes, most good juniors do train hard every day so obviously their bodies aren't going to be sparkly fresh every single day.
Make no mistake - only a very, very small part of the reason that kids are doing this is becauise of a legitimate and honest injury.

The main reasons - BY FAR - that they are doing this are 1)Because they are taught by irresponsible adults to do it as a 'strategic tool' (to change momentum, etc.) 2)Because they are spoiled and they think that every little twitch they feel justifies calling the trainer, and 3)To emulate the pros.
These three reasons all tie in to each other, of course.

[TenniseaWilliams]

I have done it once for strategy. I lost the first set 6-7 against a moonballer that I should have beat like 6-2 6-1. I was cramping because he made me hit so many balls. I took a bathrrom break after the first set to regroup, and I came back and domnated 6-2 and 10-4 in the third set tiebreak. I admit it was gamesmanship, but it is still all legal.

Legal or not, you cheated.

gamesmanship
1 : the art or practice of winning games by questionable expedients without actually violating the rules 2 : the use of ethically dubious methods to gain an objective

[SoCal10s]

just this past weekend,another boy we know from the tournaments pretended he was having problems breething and took a long break... he was losing at the time... he did as he suppose to do... he got a hold of the umpire walking around,told they person that he needed a medical time out .. sat around for about 15 mins. and threw off the oppenents momentum and eventually won the match.... another Djoker in the making....
this is what's happening to USA tennis...the kids are learning all kinds of gamesmanship instead of learning the game... and with the success of idiot guys like Djokovic,I can say a lot of Jr. will be copying his antics more and more....what a sad way to win...

[TennisProdigy]

Wow you guys are incredible, just b/c your opponent takes a break it shouldn't do **** against you.

[andfor]

Wow you guys are incredible, just b/c your opponent takes a break it shouldn't do **** against you.

Have to agree. In tennis, stalling, bad line calls, faking injuries, illegal coaching, bad behavior, psychological gamesmanship, over bearing parents and all sorts of other unsportsmanlike conditions have existed. None of its right. The best way to handle it is to learn how to deal with it with grace, and just win the match. No excuses.

Most players that engage in these games are hiding their own weaknesses that can be easily exposed through superior preparation, mental toughness and use of the rules to counter act the cheater.

[mozzer]

Never seen people take a break for injuries/toilet in the tournaments i have been in (in england). I have seen injured people either play through it like i did or completely retire from the match (crying so i guess it was bad)

[sureshs]

Looks like more of the "we were much better when we were kids" stuff.

Today's tennis is played with more powerful racquets and with more professional coaching and expectations. The balls are hit harder and with more spin. This takes a toll on the body, whether it is an adult pro or a competitive junior. The other aspect is that societies evolve. Now there is a heat rule in the WTA and several ATP players have complained about heat during the AO and other tournaments. If some people want to go back to the age of the Romans to see men being killed by each other in a stadium or eaten by lions, they are welcome to. Players are humans and there are rules now for injury breaks for a reason.

[ben_friendz]

Ok, I agree it is annoying and frustrating. However, it is your own responsibility to take care of business on the court no matter what the circumstances. "Boo hoo he took a wittle bwake now I blew it" your kids own fault, next time get mad and motivated not "whinny" and go put an overhead smash in his @$$ or when he comes to the net hit him in the "private man parts"...

[TennisProdigy]

put an overhead smash in his @$$ or when he comes to the net hit him in the "private man parts"...

The best way is to accompish this is to hit a good drop shot that he can just barely get back. This will give you an easy sitter where you can smash it right at the guy or hit it to either corner. I usually employ this after my opponent makes a questionable call. I usually just go for the chest or anything below just to send a message.

[Charlie_Boy]

I took like a 3 minute break to go grab a gatorade.

The other kid used a much longer bathroom break though.

We were told afterwards to take care of our business beforehand. Never again have I taken a mid match break.

[bumblebee]

yea... i got pissed when my opponent did it... but when he came back, i didnt let him warm up, and while his body had gotten cold during the "medical timeout/bathroom break" i was practicing my serve and hitting with my cousin... and it was a piece of cake beating him

[OleNole]

tennisea, I'm pretty sure that if you don't break the rules, you aren't cheating. Gamesmanship is doing everything within the rules to gain an advantage over your oponent. Cheating is breaking the rules.
SoCal10s, should your monicker be read as SoCal Tennis or SoCal 10's? Because if it's the latter, I find it appalling that 10 year olds would engage in such tactics. On the other hand, I have no problem with 16s and 18s taking breaks to think about what they're doing wrong. It just points to a flaw in the rule.
In my opinion, they should only be allowed to stop play with the approval of an official, whether for injury, restrooms, or heat breaks between 2nd and 3rd set.

[witt4ace]

Legal or not, you cheated.

gamesmanship
1 : the art or practice of winning games by questionable expedients without actually violating the rules 2 : the use of ethically dubious methods to gain an objective

It doesn't say anywhere you can't take bathroom breaks in the rules.

[TenniseaWilliams]

I have done it once for strategy. I lost the first set 6-7 against a moonballer that I should have beat like 6-2 6-1. I was cramping because he made me hit so many balls. I took a bathrrom break after the first set to regroup, and I came back and domnated 6-2 and 10-4 in the third set tiebreak. I admit it was gamesmanship, but it is still all legal.

tennisea, I'm pretty sure that if you don't break the rules, you aren't cheating. Gamesmanship is doing everything within the rules to gain an advantage over your oponent. Cheating is breaking the rules.


It doesn't say anywhere you can't take bathroom breaks in the rules.

The rule to provide a bathroom break was likely to encourage hydration, not for regrouping. witt4ace knew this, he didn't tell his opponent/official, "I need to regroup". He lied to gain an advantage, and deliberately broke the continuous play rule.

[SoCal10s]

tennisea, I'm pretty sure that if you don't break the rules, you aren't cheating. Gamesmanship is doing everything within the rules to gain an advantage over your oponent. Cheating is breaking the rules.
SoCal10s, should your monicker be read as SoCal Tennis or SoCal 10's? Because if it's the latter, I find it appalling that 10 year olds would engage in such tactics. On the other hand, I have no problem with 16s and 18s taking breaks to think about what they're doing wrong. It just points to a flaw in the rule.
In my opinion, they should only be allowed to stop play with the approval of an official, whether for injury, restrooms, or heat breaks between 2nd and 3rd set.

gamesmanship is stretching the rule... the rule says: injury or bathroom break...not for slowing down and thinking about what they're doing wrong...

just like the gamesmanship in doubles play... there is no useful purpose in standing close to the 'T' when the opponent is serving other than to distract... yet almost everyone does it.. and purposely distracting the server against the rule..
it's been going on since I played... if my opponent chooses to stand at the "T" to distract me, then I choose to just blast a serve into their body and win a point...you see move/counter-move... everyone has a choice...

no I'm not a 10 year old...and it should not matter if your 10 or 16 or 18... gamesmanship is BS


""It just points to a flaw in the rule.
In my opinion, they should only be allowed to stop play with the approval of an official, whether for injury, restrooms, or heat breaks between 2nd and 3rd set.""

well that's exactly what the rule says.. with the approval of the USTA official...but the Jr. tournament kids do not always abide with the rules...

[witt4ace]

I asked the official and they said I could (how would they know I had to go to the bathroom or not) it is completely legal. As SoCal said, It is just a flaw in the rule.