Another what would you have done...

prgault · 05-15-2012, 01:35 PM

Wife and I were playing as substitutes in a mixed doubles league against a father daughter team, daughter is a high school player. I tried to get cute on a first serve to the father and ended up hitting the daughter at the net on the leg. After making sure she was OK (she was, after all it was MY serve) I paused for a second to see if they were going to switch positions and they didn't. So I went ahead and hit the second serve.

This is a league and subs can get points for the team they are subbing for, so I feel kind of bad that I didn't claim the point, and a little surprised that the high school player did not know the rule.

Should I have educated them and claimed the point?

P_

OrangePower · 05-15-2012, 01:55 PM

What would I have done... other than the obvious (I would not play mixed, and especially not with my wife!), yes, I would claim the point and educate them if they were not aware. Especially since the kid is a high school player - she needs to understand the rules.

jdubbs · 05-15-2012, 02:29 PM

There's some things more important than the rules, and you showed sportsmanship in redoing the point. Should have claimed a first serve, though.

goober · 05-15-2012, 02:47 PM

Maybe she knew the rule and was trying to pull a fast one on you and you fell for it?

prgault · 05-15-2012, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goober

Maybe she knew the rule and was trying to pull a fast one on you and you fell for it?

the thought did occur to me....

kylebarendrick · 05-15-2012, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdubbs

There's some things more important than the rules, and you showed sportsmanship in redoing the point. Should have claimed a first serve, though.

So what is sportsmanlike about redoing the point? Playing within the rules is a key part of sportsmanship. Replaying the point (against the rules but benefits the opponent) and claiming a first serve (against the rules and benefits yourself) seems even less sportsmanlike.

blakesq · 05-15-2012, 03:48 PM

i hate this response. a good sport plays by the rules.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdubbs

There's some things more important than the rules, and you showed sportsmanship in redoing the point. Should have claimed a first serve, though.

oi

jswinf · 05-15-2012, 04:10 PM

I'm curious where the 'daughter' was positioned, or in other words how far errant your serve was--I know it shouldn't matter, a rule's a rule and all...

gmatheis · 05-15-2012, 05:17 PM

I'm usually a stickler for the rules ... but barring some extenuating circumstances I would just do what you did.

I might let the girl know that in a high school match her opponents could claim that point so she should always be ready to dodge the ball, but I probably wouldn't claim it on her in that situation.

Since it was a league match I wouldn't think any less of anyone who DID claim the point though.

DeShaun · 05-15-2012, 05:28 PM

On most days I would not have claimed that point because i did not know about this rule. Most of the time my priorities lie with enabling tennis that all parties will find very fun. So, even if I knew about the rule, at most I probably would only tease them about the circumstance, before I let go completely of any hope that I may have had for actually being awarded the point. It does not sway me, either, the characterization of my opponent as being someone who perhaps should have known about the rule yet who failed to speak up, because I am well unable to confirm positively the full extent of her awareness and so, can only assume and I wouldn't want to make an *** of myself.

prgault · 05-15-2012, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jswinf

I'm curious where the 'daughter' was positioned, or in other words how far errant your serve was--I know it shouldn't matter, a rule's a rule and all...

She was near the middle of the ad court service box as I was serving to the deuce court. "Slice" serve that would on a good day cross the ad service box and hit near the T.

P_

Cindysphinx · 05-15-2012, 06:23 PM

In any competitive match, I would take the point.

In a social match, no.

MrCLEAN · 05-15-2012, 06:55 PM

You should have taken the point, accidental hit notwithstanding.

On a somewhat unrelated note, once or twice when playing doubles when I'm serving, a receivers partner has hugged the center line and tried to effectively block the down the middle serve. Is it unsportsmanlike to go ahead and hit the middle serve? I've done it, and hit a few partners, and took the point, and they never complained. They were just bluffing to see if I'd stay away from them, perhaps the daughter was doing the same thing?

kylebarendrick · 05-15-2012, 07:31 PM

I have never, in either league or social matches, had an opponent that didn't concede the point after being hit by the ball. Of course I'd take the point, I earned it just as much as if I'd hit a net cord winner.

RadicalMPfan · 05-15-2012, 08:49 PM

Thread should have stopped with Cindy's reply.

05-15-2012, 01:35 PM	#1
prgault New User Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 99	Another what would you have done... Wife and I were playing as substitutes in a mixed doubles league against a father daughter team, daughter is a high school player. I tried to get cute on a first serve to the father and ended up hitting the daughter at the net on the leg. After making sure she was OK (she was, after all it was MY serve) I paused for a second to see if they were going to switch positions and they didn't. So I went ahead and hit the second serve. This is a league and subs can get points for the team they are subbing for, so I feel kind of bad that I didn't claim the point, and a little surprised that the high school player did not know the rule. Should I have educated them and claimed the point? P_

05-15-2012, 05:17 PM	#9
gmatheis Semi-Pro Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 757	I'm usually a stickler for the rules ... but barring some extenuating circumstances I would just do what you did. I might let the girl know that in a high school match her opponents could claim that point so she should always be ready to dodge the ball, but I probably wouldn't claim it on her in that situation. Since it was a league match I wouldn't think any less of anyone who DID claim the point though. __________________ 3 x Völkl PB10 Mid +3.5g lead / BHBR 17 @ 40lbs

05-15-2012, 05:28 PM	#10
DeShaun Hall Of Fame Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 2,623	On most days I would not have claimed that point because i did not know about this rule. Most of the time my priorities lie with enabling tennis that all parties will find very fun. So, even if I knew about the rule, at most I probably would only tease them about the circumstance, before I let go completely of any hope that I may have had for actually being awarded the point. It does not sway me, either, the characterization of my opponent as being someone who perhaps should have known about the rule yet who failed to speak up, because I am well unable to confirm positively the full extent of her awareness and so, can only assume and I wouldn't want to make an *** of myself. __________________ wilson graphite matrix (red/black) : 58# forten nylon : bare leather grip

05-15-2012, 06:23 PM	#12
Cindysphinx G.O.A.T. Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 14,089	In any competitive match, I would take the point. In a social match, no. __________________ -- Random Error Generator, Version 4.0 -- Master Moonballer

05-15-2012, 06:55 PM	#13
MrCLEAN Rookie Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Arlington, TX Posts: 341	You should have taken the point, accidental hit notwithstanding. On a somewhat unrelated note, once or twice when playing doubles when I'm serving, a receivers partner has hugged the center line and tried to effectively block the down the middle serve. Is it unsportsmanlike to go ahead and hit the middle serve? I've done it, and hit a few partners, and took the point, and they never complained. They were just bluffing to see if I'd stay away from them, perhaps the daughter was doing the same thing? __________________ Head LM Radical OS 4.0