1st tourney: what newbie things annoy u?

[ghssf]

Hi,

I am playing in my first NTRP tournament this weekend (4.0) and not exactly sure how these go or what to expect.

So i was wondering if there are etiquette-type things that first-timers do or don't do that bother you so I can avoid common newbie mistakes.

Thanks!

[OrangeOne]

Originally Posted by ghssf

Hi,

I am playing in my first NTRP tournament this weekend (4.0) and not exactly sure how these go or what to expect.

So i was wondering if there are etiquette-type things that first-timers do or don't do that bother you so I can avoid common newbie mistakes.

Thanks!

Someone should give you a prize, this is the most polite and thoughtful post I've seen on these boards in ages!

For me at a tournament, I'd only be annoyed with someone else / an opponent if they:

a. Cheated
b. Arrived late
c. Didn't come prepared and asked me to borrow something major
d. Grunted like screamapova
e. Walked onto my court mid-point to get a ball

Yup, I think that covers it. In reality, the last tournament I played the only people I found annoying in any way were the horrid parents of some of the juniors!

[penpal]

OrangeOne pretty much covered everything. One other thing that has annoyed me in the past though is when a player isn't familiar with the standard warm-up routine. It wouldn't bother me at the 3.0 level, but at 3.5 and 4.0 levels it seems like this is something they should know.

Very minor in the big scheme of things though. Just have fun and you'll be fine.

[bleach]

One thing that bothers me is when players don't know the rules! Example, I played a guys and won the first set 6-1. So, we changed sides after the game/set. Then after the first game of the second set, I went to change sides. He got all upset, saying it wasn't fair and he should get a chance to play on the other side. I didn't have a rule book with me (never make that mistake again) and I couldn't get a ref over (I don't understand that). So I just gave in, not like it mattered.

So, take a little time and read or read again the rules and the Code.
I learn a little something everytime I do.

[Supernatural_Serve]

Originally Posted by bleach

One thing that bothers me is when players don't know the rules!

You can almost overlook new players not knowing rules, what is worse is the number of so called experienced players who don't know the rules and have never read the Code.

I don't like talking with opponents, new or otherwise. So, avoid talking to someone who is interested in playing tennis and not interested in talking to you about your game, equipment, or troubles.

[Indy Tennis]

I played in an Open 45s tournament once and this guy I played didn't know how to play or score a tiebreaker. In fact he barely knew how to keep score period.

This guy was amazing! He was the tennis version of an idiot savant. He’d never played a tournament in his life and was clueless about the rules of the game, but he had an almost un-returnable 125-130 mph 1st and 2nd serve and ripped forehand winners all match long.

He had no backhand whatsoever, and if I drew him to the net his volley attempts were the ugliest thing you ever saw.

He said he’s just started playing about a year earlier and I believed he was telling the truth.

I looked up and nearly the entire club (all the other tournament players who weren’t playing and the club’s staff) were gathered around watching our match. You could here laughs of disbelief when this guy would boom a serve, or rip one of his 100 mph forehands. It was unreal.

I’ll never forget the sound of his serve. It was like a mini sonic boom! It was an indoor tournament so it magnified the sound even more.

I could not break him and he got me in a third-set tiebreak. Then to add insult to injury the guy never showed up for his next round and has never been heard from since.

[bigfoot910]

Indy Tennis nailed it right on the head! It kills me when I am playing a 4.5 player and they tell me they don't know how to play a tiebreak, its worse when they try to fudge through it and don't tell you! How did you make it to 4.5 without ever playing a tiebreak?!?!?!?

[Joeyg]

Guys trying to intimidate you in the warm up by going for winners are just too funny. I don't even move, just say nice shot and feed another ball. Passing you on volley warmups too. When the match starts, I usually say something like "nice warm up, kid. Sorry but I don't rattle!" This usually has the effect of ******* off the intimidators. This has happened MANY times and I can truthfully say I have never lost to one of these guys.

[tennismike33]

I hate the guy who shows up and is carrying 2 bags of equipment onto the court. Leave your change of clothes in the car, if you need to change it isn't a big deal.

FOOT FAULTS!!!!!!

[goober]

Originally Posted by tennismike33

I hate the guy who shows up and is carrying 2 bags of equipment onto the court. Leave your change of clothes in the car, if you need to change it isn't a big deal.

I am not sure what the big deal is with two bags. It is not like his bag is keeping you from sitting or is taking up too much space. My bag is big enough I put everything in it even if I have to change.

In some tennis centers though the distance from the locker room back to your car and back to the courts is not short. If you are coming from work and you are on tight schedule it is not worth the time to go back to your car to put your clothes.

[OrangeOne]

Originally Posted by bleach

He got all upset, saying it wasn't fair and he should get a chance to play on the other side. I didn't have a rule book with me (never make that mistake again) and I couldn't get a ref over (I don't understand that). So I just gave in, not like it mattered.

Wouldn't that have had you changing on evens instead of odds? Weird, I certainly wouldn't have given in there....

Originally Posted by tennismike33

I hate the guy who shows up and is carrying 2 bags of equipment onto the court. Leave your change of clothes in the car, if you need to change it isn't a big deal.

As goober said, I don't see how this affects you? In fact, I'd much rather an opponent bring *everything* they think they'll need on to the court, it means that breaks will be minimal. I'd personally much rather be prepared than be short something I just might need....

[zapvor]

what about between points people from teh next court walk onto your court to fetch a ball.

[OrangeOne]

Originally Posted by zapvor

what about between points people from teh next court walk onto your court to fetch a ball.

Sorry, I don't get it. What's the problem with this happening between points?

[35ft6]

Show up on time. Give the opponent a decent warmup (like don't blast balls when he's taking volleys... make the lobs relatively easy for him to overhead... don't blast returns when he's practicing his serve...).

Consider taking a lawn chair. A white towel to cover your head if it's sunny. Sun screen. Baby Wipes!!! Great for cleaning your hand of sunscreen or whatever else. Also, good for wiping sweat salt off your face and neck when a bathroom isn't convenient.

[Raiden.Kaminari]

Rule #1 Treat others as you would have them treat you
Rule #2 Show up at least 30 minutes prior to the match starting time (in case tournament is running early)
Rule #3 If you have to withdraw from the tournament, make sure you communicate it to your tournament director and/or referee

Other issues were covered by the other posters. But to reiterate the bigger issues:

1. The warm up is limited to 5 minutes. So no blaster ball tennis. If you think you can intimidate experienced players, you can't. (rule #1)
2. Avoid excessive chatting, unless the other player is willing to (rule #1)
3. Avoid interrupting other matches (chasing down stray ball, excessive chattiness, etc.) (rule #1)
4. Be prepared and bring your own gear (rule #1)
5. Know the ITF rules of tennis and The Code (again, rule #1)
6. Be courteous towards the other player (ie. don't selfishly take the only chair with your gear) (again, rule #1)
7. Winning without honor is not winning at all.

[Geezer Guy]

I second almost everything above - especially Raiden.Kaminari's stuff. But what especially get's to me is Stray Balls. Unless you've got barriers between courts, most tournaments have every court in session, and balls flying everywhere. It's sometimes impossible to play a LONG point without a stray ball rolling through your court.

So, keep an eye on YOUR balls.
If your ball is rolling towards another court, stop it before it gets there.
Don't hit sharply angled cross-court shots if you're playing in the middle of a long string of courts.
If you see someone in danger of stepping on a ball they don't see, warn them.
Return balls promptly that are hit onto your court.
Apologize for your balls that wonder onto other courts.

[BiGGieStuFF]

Originally Posted by Geezer Guy

Don't hit sharply angled cross-court shots if you're playing in the middle of a

If i'm playing a tournament I"m not gonna worry where my ball lands if i'm playing a point. I'm out to win the point first and if it so happens i have to win with a sharp crosscourt point then so be it.

Maybe you meant don't do that while practicing.

[zapvor]

Originally Posted by OrangeOne

Sorry, I don't get it. What's the problem with this happening between points?

like a point just ended, and as you are walking from ad to deuce court for next point, this guy just walks across the court to fetch a ball.

[BiGGieStuFF]

Originally Posted by zapvor

like a point just ended, and as you are walking from ad to deuce court for next point, this guy just walks across the court to fetch a ball.

Is he running to get the ball that is in YOUR court or did it roll to another court. Because if his ball rolled onto your court then I would have cleared it out before I started the point. Sometimes you can't control where the balls roll but at least you can always try and be polite about retrieving it or asking for it to be returned.

[zapvor]

Originally Posted by BiGGieStuFF

Is he running to get the ball that is in YOUR court or did it roll to another court. Because if his ball rolled onto your court then I would have cleared it out before I started the point. Sometimes you can't control where the balls roll but at least you can always try and be polite about retrieving it or asking for it to be returned.

ok yea i didint clarify:

it's in the middle of a point, everything is fine, and neither one of us see a ball roll onto our court. the court is clear. but when the point is over, this guy from the court next to us walks over onto our court, and not behind me, and fetches a ball that is not on our court. honestly i dont really care but i was just like 'why cant you walk behind me instead of going right on the court?"