Calling footfaults is important

[OrangePower]

Originally Posted by kylebarendrick

What is a "flagrant" footfault? That is easy. It is a footfault so obvious that it can be called with certainty 78 feet away.

What's obvious to you might not be obvious to me, and vice versa.

To make matters worse, not everyone actually understands what constitutes a footfault. Just ask Serena.

[leroy_sunset]

Originally Posted by tennis tom

I guess now that I've lost all my cred here, I'll have to refund you all your money for all the lessons.

Adios amigos!

No Tom, don't go! Without you there would be no one for these gentlemen to argue with!

[sureshs]

Originally Posted by kylebarendrick

What is a "flagrant" footfault? That is easy. It is a footfault so obvious that it can be called with certainty 78 feet away.

It is the pleasing aroma of sweaty feet and socks which can be smelt 78 feet away.
















































Oops this is flagrant not fragrant.

[tennis tom]

Originally Posted by leroy_sunset

No Tom, don't go! Without you there would be no one for these gentlemen to argue with!

OK, due to the outpouring of heartfelt support, I'll cancel my tickets to Palm Springs and spend the winter here posting. I wouldn't be able to face my reflection in those pristine grass-courts knowing I'd abandoned my posts.

[yourmailman]

A friend of mine told me not to worry about my opponent's foot-faults unless they were giving him an advantage.

To me, already being inside the court when striking the ball on serve is an advantage. Sharper angles, less time to react, not to mention the fact that they have a head start in getting to a drop shot.

I play be the rules, and figure my opponent should as well. If I nick a ball, I call it out. If there is a double bounce, I inform them. If I catch a ball in the air, I concede the point. If I touch the net before the ball bounces twice on their side, I announce that it's their point. Whether they saw it or not (which has happened to me on a few occasions).

I work hard at improving my serve and not foot-faulting. Why should I have to abide by a rule that they choose to ignore, or are unaware that they are violating?

I think they should be made aware of their infraction so they can correct it. I played one guy that foot-faulted every time he served to the add court because he stepped way to the right and crossed the center mark (and yes, I would say flagrantly) due to his extreme right moving ball toss.

I won the match, and afterwards, I took him aside and politely let him know about the issue. I told him he was not called on it during the match, but he needed to correct the problem before someone did start calling him on it and it cost him a point, a game, or a match.

He was aware that he was moving across the center line, but didn't know it was illegal since he started completely on the correct side. He only understood that he could not cross the baseline before striking the ball.

He, in turn, politely thanked me for bringing it to his attention in what he considered an honorable way, and left with no hard feelings that I am aware of. The next time I played him, the foot-faulting was gone and he actually served quite a bit better.

Actually calling foot-faults during a match is hard to do in singles unless it is flagrant, but if you see it, you should call it.

I play another gentleman on occasion that hits a very hard first serve, and a pretty darn good second as well. I wasn't paying attention to his feet because I was worried about returning his bullets. I video tape my matches and was shocked when I watched the match and saw that every time he served (first and second), his heal was the only part of his right foot that was not already totally inside the court. By this, I mean his heel was touching the inside of the baseline.

The next time I play him, I plan to watch his feet on the first few points and call the foot-faults right off the bat (warning first time, then points, correct?). I don't want to wait until I am behind an have it appear as gamesmanship. I just want him to play by the same rules. I don't mind losing to a better player, but I do want play to be correct on both sides of the net.

If he denies the problem, or refuses to score correctly, I plan to get the league director to come out and verify.

[Roforot]

I wouldn't necessarily call a foot fault, but I might suggest to him if he steps in 4-5" into the court, then he should lose 4-5" of the service box If he doesn't like that idea then he should keep his feet behind the line.

[spot]

Originally Posted by yourmailman

The next time I play him, I plan to watch his feet on the first few points and call the foot-faults right off the bat.

Make sure you tell him that you noticed his footfaulting on video tape when rewatching your last match so he can have a good story to post on this site

[GlennK]

Originally Posted by spot

Make sure you tell him that you noticed his footfaulting on video tape when rewatching your last match so he can have a good story to post on this site

That was Spot on.

[tennis tom]

Originally Posted by Roforot

I wouldn't necessarily call a foot fault, but I might suggest to him if he steps in 4-5" into the court, then he should lose 4-5" of the service box If he doesn't like that idea then he should keep his feet behind the line.

I like that idea! Call the serves out by the same distance he'e f-f'ing. That might make the point clearer, tell him your reconfiguring the geometry of the court as a compensation, so as to equalize the playing field, as it were.

[Bartelby]

Does anyone actually inform the other side that they intend to enforce strictly foot faults before the match or do they just spring an 'October Surprise'?

[blakesq]

do you inform the other side that you intend to strictly enforce the "in" or "out" rule on tennis balls, that is, if the ball lands out of bounds, you will call it out?

Originally Posted by Bartelby

Does anyone actually inform the other side that they intend to enforce strictly foot faults before the match or do they just spring an 'October Surprise'?

[Bartelby]

These two rules do not have the same status in non-refereed matches as a moment's reflection would tell you, and here is one national association's opinion:


Foot faults may only be called by an official standing on court or by a chair umpire. Players may be
requested to correct their foot faulting problem by a Referee or Court Supervisor, who will require
the player to make an effort during the match to rectify the problem. The receiver may not call a
foot fault against the server.

Originally Posted by blakesq

do you inform the other side that you intend to strictly enforce the "in" or "out" rule on tennis balls, that is, if the ball lands out of bounds, you will call it out?

[Bartelby]

Even the USTA code makes calling foot faults the very last resort, which means basically that they are not really enforceable at all:


Calling foot faults. The receiver or the receiver’s partner may call foot faults
only after all reasonable efforts, such as warning the server and attempting to get an
official to the court, have failed and the foot fault is so flagrant as to be clearly
perceptible from the receiver’s side.

[woodrow1029]

Originally Posted by yourmailman

The next time I play him, I plan to watch his feet on the first few points and call the foot-faults right off the bat (warning first time, then points, correct?).

Not correct. After the warning, and if there are no officials present, and if it is FLAGRANT, then if he foot faults, it's a fault, not a loss of point.

[Nostradamus]

It maybe important. but If you are a amateur player, if you start calling footfaults, no one will want to play with you and same will happen in doubles play too. and soon no one will want you on their league or team play.
Now, this is change if you get to national championships and so on but til then, don't call footfaults.

[Nostradamus]

Originally Posted by woodrow1029

Not correct. After the warning, and if there are no officials present, and if it is FLAGRANT, then if he foot faults, it's a fault, not a loss of point.

Yea and keep going til you win the match in 2 or 3 games. LOL So he wins the match on calling footfaults, is that really worth it ? and you are sitting around after the match by the fireplace in the club, your buddy asks What happenend ? I won on footfaults. LOL . and your opponent will say, you are never going to play with me or on my team.

[tennis tom]

Originally Posted by Bartelby

Even the USTA code makes calling foot faults the very last resort, which means basically that they are not really enforceable at all:

They are as enforceable as you have the balls to stand up for the rules and yourself to enforce them on the cheater--ignorance of the rules or negligent behavior is NOT an excuse to cheat.

Originally Posted by Bartelby

These two rules do not have the same status in non-refereed matches as a moment's reflection would tell you, and here is one national association's opinion:


Foot faults may only be called by an official standing on court or by a chair umpire. Players may be
requested to correct their foot faulting problem by a Referee or Court Supervisor, who will require
the player to make an effort during the match to rectify the problem. The receiver may not call a
foot fault against the server.

WHAT "national association" is that? If there is no official around, it's really not a very important match, it's social-rec tennis, only of any value and significance to the participants. If the f'f'er refuses to fix it or has a mental condition not allowing him to change, your remedies are to put up with it and write it off as exercise and practice. You can choose not to play with that person again and certainly don't have any business dealings with them--how you do one thing is how you do everything.

If it has become legal to foot-fault, we can call it the "Serena USO Rule Modification", and there are no consequences for it then I will employ the remedy below:

Originally Posted by skraggle

I am also baffled by the indifference shown to foot faults. Whether you like it or not, it is a rule and part of the game.

For those who disagree, let's play a virtual set:

I will start by serving from directly behind the net. My serves will be angled out and smashed like easy overheads and impossible to return. You will have no time to react.

You will object and I will move back.

I will move to just behind the service box. It will not as easy as serving right behind the net, but will be a huge advantage for me. Very little time for you to do anything.

You will object and I will move back.

My next serves will be from no man's land. While not the major plus I had before, it will steal time away from you and give me better leverage from which to win serve.

You will object and I will move back.

Now I will serve from one foot in front of the baseline, where foot-faulters frequently make contact and land. I will still take a little time away from you and have slightly better access to angles. While not a huge advantage, it helps me and hurts you to some degree.

Will you now no longer object?

[yourmailman]

Thanx Woodrow,

I meant it is loss of point if it was a second serve. Sorry for not being more clear.

So first would be a warning, then attempt to get an official, then call them as a last resort if they are flagrant?

Like I said earlier, I want to follow ALL of the rules.

I remember the first time I played doubles and I caught an errant serve on the fly and called "out". My partner had to correct me.

Oh, how I long for the blissful days of ignorant youth! Not really!

Maybe all recreation players should be required to watch the entire "Court Calls" body of work from John Lovitz before they can enter a league.

[tennis_ocd]

Thankfully, there exists an inverse relationship between quality of serve and degree of ff'ing making it, despite six pages to the contrary, not worth being bothered about.

[Bartelby]

There are lots of competitive matches without referees and no is supporting not calling foot faults where there is a referee.

Its you who are supporting cheating if you think you can call foot faults from 76 feet and not side on to the line.

So you need to stop cheating if you're doing that because its against the rules.

Originally Posted by tennis tom

They are as enforceable as you have the balls to stand up for the rules and yourself to enforce them on the cheater--ignorance of the rules or negligent behavior is NOT an excuse to cheat.



WHAT "national association" is that? If there is no official around, it's really not a very important match, it's social-rec tennis, only of any value and significance to the participants. If the f'f'er refuses to fix it or has a mental condition not allowing him to change, your remedies are to put up with it and write it off as exercise and practice. You can choose not to play with that person again and certainly don't have any business dealings with them--how you do one thing is how you do everything.

If it has become legal to foot-fault, we can call it the "Serena USO Rule Modification", and there are no consequences for it then I will employ the remedy below: