public park time etiquette

[gmatheis]

Originally Posted by dman72

Okay Mr. Litigation.

Actually, at a local tennis party, one of the coaches just missed hitting me in the eye with an overhead on what I thought was a casual goofing around point that I wasn't prepared for..I actually felt the ball graze past my eye lash, that's how close he came.

After the initial thoughts of turning him into a popsicle stick with his Dunlop, I told him he was lucky he didn't hit me because he'd probably have a lawsuit on his hands, as well as the club he was working for. So what you say isn't completely invalid. I would not hesitate to just walk in the middle of the court under the proposed scenario, though.

LOL ... You were playing a point ... whether in a match or practice it's still a point and hitting an overhead is completely within the rules. Your lawsuit would have gone nowhere.

[Venetian]

Originally Posted by dcdoorknob

Considering it's your first post in the thread too, right back atcha buddy!

Except you manage to come across with a holier-than-thou attitude by accusiont someone of being holier-than-thou, which admittedly is more impressive.

It was my third post actually. Don't take it too seriously though. That's why I left the disclaimer. It was meant as a joke. I actually chuckled at your comment when I read it because it's pretty much what happens in every thread. (End sentence fragments)

[Venetian]

Originally Posted by NLBwell

For a single person, they were not supposed to hold a court by themselves and were breaking the rules. I guess we could have called the police, but since this was an area with a real crime problem, they just would have laughed at us.
If it was people playing tennis and we had been waiting more than an hour, so that they were overstaying their allotted time no matter when they had shown up, we would just mock them with nonsensical exclamations in French.

I think the police would have laughed at you regardless of whether or not they had better things to do. But even if it was the rules of the court, I would still have left the person alone to play, or offered to jump in with them. You have to learn somehow, and maybe he has no one else to play with.

[Cindysphinx]

Originally Posted by NLBwell

For a single person, they were not supposed to hold a court by themselves and were breaking the rules. I guess we could have called the police, but since this was an area with a real crime problem, they just would have laughed at us.
If it was people playing tennis and we had been waiting more than an hour, so that they were overstaying their allotted time no matter when they had shown up, we would just mock them with nonsensical exclamations in French.

Are you saying the posted rules state that singles must yield to groups? If so, I understand your point.

If you are just talking about your own perceptions of etiquette, then I think you are being quite rude and selfish to harass a solo tennis player because you and a buddy want to use a public court.

[chatt_town]

I'll have to check for posted signs here. It's a rare problem here. There are courts everywhere. It does get crowded when the weather breaks but for the most part, there are enough courts and enough different levels where people can jump in. The main courts where I play I want to say there are about 10 or 12 courts. They just refinished them. There are also certain days where it is ghost town so me and the guy I normally play just go out like on Wednesdays there are usually 8 courts available on that day. Tuesday and Thursday you may have to jump in, but again there are so many courts I have never really looked for a rule on it.

Originally Posted by OHBH

Depends on where you are really. Here in NJ, it is first come first served for the most part, and I prefer it that way. Though we have plenty of courts relative to the amount of people that play over here. In places like Florida and California where tennis players abound I can see the need for such rules.

[sureshs]

Originally Posted by tennis tom

Finally got that, I would do nothing but slice.

But many people have not got it yet .........

[Cindysphinx]

Originally Posted by sureshs

But many people have not got it yet .........

I thought you had lost your mind completely and did not get the joke at all.

Which brings up the question: If a joke lands in a thread and nobody gets it, is it a joke?

[tennis tom]

Originally Posted by Cindysphinx

I thought you had lost your mind completely and did not get the joke at all.

Which brings up the question: If a joke lands in a thread and nobody gets it, is it a joke?

No, that's a redwood tree falling in the forest.

[sureshs]

Originally Posted by Cindysphinx

I thought you had lost your mind completely and did not get the joke at all.

Which brings up the question: If a joke lands in a thread and nobody gets it, is it a joke?

It was cold and damp on Tuesday and I missed my usual tennis session. So I am all upset and picking on everyone. I think it is going to rain tomorrow so I will continue to be upset and making jokes like this.

[Mauvaise]

Originally Posted by sureshs

But many people have not got it yet .........

Or got it and ignored it


As for the topic at hand: Unless there is a sign that states one person can not hold a court if two or more show up to play, then it is not selfish to use a public tennis court to practice (either with a ball machine or a hopper). Public courts (unless otherwise stated by signs from the city/park) are, and should be, first come first serve and you should only have to follow any time rules as posted.

[tennis tom]

Originally Posted by sureshs

It was cold and damp on Tuesday and I missed my usual tennis session. So I am all upset and picking on everyone. I think it is going to rain tomorrow so I will continue to be upset and making jokes like this.

Sounds like you need cheering up, watch this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxHGJMy8KFg

[sureshs]

^^^ Seen similar ones before. I would rather play tennis instead.

[NLBwell]

Originally Posted by Cindysphinx

Are you saying the posted rules state that singles must yield to groups? If so, I understand your point.

If you are just talking about your own perceptions of etiquette, then I think you are being quite rude and selfish to harass a solo tennis player because you and a buddy want to use a public court.

Again, a single person. Not people actually playing tennis. Yes, a single person was not supposed to hold a court. After school/work, it was usually at least an hour wait for a court, if not 2 hours, with multiple groups waiting. A single person just practicing his serve would not be allowed to hold a court. It was the rare total jerk who tried to practice his serve for an hour with maybe 10 or 20 people waiting for courts. They were made to leave.

Also, if people were waiting,you were supposed to play doubles. However, no one worried much about that rule. If it was a long wait and there was a couple people playing singles, you might offer to play doubles - they could stay longer and you didn't have to wait as long.

(Oh, the joys of the tennis boom)

[sureshs]

Originally Posted by tennis tom

Sounds like you need cheering up, watch this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxHGJMy8KFg

Got in some tennis today. Feeling much better.

[Drop Snot]

At public parks the best policy is first come first serve and stay as long as you want as long as you're playing tennis. Rules that set time limits aren't fair because it punishes the people that planned ahead and got there early. People should be allowed to finish their matches or practice session.

Time limits give people permission to put the blame on everyone else but themselves. A "play as long as you need to play" policy puts the onus on the late comer to either come earlier next time or have an alternate plan. This leads to a healthier point of view in my opinion with less anger directed at innocent parties.

[stapletonj]

"Your balls are probably spraying everywhere."

I saw what you did there...

In response to the last post, I respectfullly could not disagree more. I have a job, so I cannot just "get there earlier". Since I have a job I pay taxes. My tax dollars pay for that court. The guy or gal that sets up at 3:00 and stays until 8:00 PM screwing around or playing tennis, should not be able to monopolize the Court.

Court time after work hours and before dark in playable weather is a scarce commodity. The courts are a government owned resource. IT is therefore well within the rights of the government to set reasonable rules for the use of the government owned resourse to allow the greatest good for the greatest number.

[Cindysphinx]

Yes, court time can be a scarce resource.

What I don't understand is why some folks think they have a greater right to the resource and can just evict others?

Do you think you can decide that someone is hogging a sweet parking spot? A shaded picnic table? A prime spot on the beach? Oh, you're entitled because you pay taxes? Well, so do I.

Look. Government can set time limits. Parking meters are a good example. Metered parking is a first come first served fee-based allocation system for a scarce resource. It works if and only if there is aggressive enforcement.

Since there can be no aggressive enforcement at public tennis courts, it is dumb to have time limits. It would work as well as metered parking without "meter maids".

If you work and want to play tennis and cannot get to the courts first, best join a Club.

[LeeD]

Hi, future wife....
I play on public courts.
One of the dumbest rules is....4 players playing doubles have exactly the same time constraints as 2 players playing singles....
That is idiotic! FOUR people get to play 1/2 hour after someone is waiting, just like a singles set.

[Cindysphinx]

Originally Posted by LeeD

Hi, future wife....
I play on public courts.
One of the dumbest rules is....4 players playing doubles have exactly the same time constraints as 2 players playing singles....
That is idiotic! FOUR people get to play 1/2 hour after someone is waiting, just like a singles set.

Dearest future husband,

By that logic, four people in a car should have the right to evict from a parking space two people in a car.

By that logic, a family of 10 wishing to picnic at the lone picnic table in the park can dislodge a couple wishing to picnic.

By that logic, a group with a huge beach tend and 8 chairs can tell a family of three with a small umbrella to vacate.

Again, people should follow the *posted rules.* If there are none or if the rules do not address the size of the party hoping to use a scarce public resource, then there are no rules. That it might seem unfair to some is kind of beside the point.

Now. Please do what proper husbands do and stop arguing with me. And take out the trash.

[Overdrive]

Originally Posted by LeeD

Hi, future wife....
I play on public courts.
One of the dumbest rules is....4 players playing doubles have exactly the same time constraints as 2 players playing singles....
That is idiotic! FOUR people get to play 1/2 hour after someone is waiting, just like a singles set.

Mr.Lee, you're notoriously bad at being a husband.