Best Rules for Public Courts

[lcalamar]

Curious if this has been discussed before - if so - point me there, otherwise, here is my discussion starter.

Many public courts have rules to limit play when players are waiting. Often the rules are 1 set for singles and 2 sets for doubles.

I don't like that rule. Why should someone be forced to play a set if I want to just hit?

What I'd propose is simple - any 1 player can play only 1 hour if the courts are full and people are waiting. This would go for doubles also. Yes - I understand that a doubles court holds 2x as many players. But in reality - it must means people playing doubles get 2x the playing time. Not sure why people who prefer doubles get that benefit? (I don't know of anyone who plays doubles to get 2x the playing time - they just play doubles because - they like to play doubles).

Here is another issue - mostly with doubles. Often a public court will have people 'tag teaming'... a group will hold a court and then swap in new players. Often this means 1 set of players is on the court for several hours at a time - even when other players are waiting.

This is why I like the simple rule - you get 1 continuous hour on the court. This includes socializing and group hugging. If you've played an hour - singles or doubles, games or hitting - and people are waiting - you have to get off the court. You can certainly get back in line to get back on.... but you have to give up the court.

What has worked well for others?

[kylebarendrick]

Nothing seems to work. People play as long as they want, they lie about how long they have been there, and they get mad at you if you try to enforce time limits.

[gmatheis]

At the public courts I use they have 4 courts which are rarely all in use.

The last time I was there and the courts were full I was already on a court just hitting singles with someone. I saw another group come out to play and I gave them my court since I had been there for a bit. Me and my hitting partner waited about 10-15 minutes until another court opened up and got back on.

Another time visiting up north in upstate NY I went to a public court with lights for 2 courts ... people were already on the courts playing singles but they were together so they grouped up to play doubles and let me and my friend have a court.

Why can't people just have common sense / common courtesy such as in the examples above?

[Cindysphinx]

OP, we have something similar to what you describe. It does not work. Not even a little bit.

The posted rule on our county public court is that courts must turn over on the hour when others are waiting. Say there is a solo court. My group arrives at 9:45 and starts warming up. Your group arrives at 9:59. At 10:00, you can kick us off the court. If someone is waiting at 11:00, they can then kick you off. If, however, someone arrives at 11:05, then they cannot kick you off until noon.

Is this stupid? Totally. For so many reasons.

If I am there at 9:45, what interest is served by my sitting on the bench leaving the court unused for 15 minutes? What if I spent ten minutes cleaning sticks and leaves and trash and debris off the court and then started playing at 9:55? Why should someone else kick me off and get the benefit of my clean-up work?

What if there is more than one court (there usually is)? Which group has to vacate on the hour? The rules are silent about this. I have seen people arrive on the hour and demand a court, and each group already playing says the same thing: "We're not finished, go ask someone else." Then the party that just arrived actually calls the police to resolve it (!).

I'm sorry, but I think "first come, first served" should mean exactly that.

If you arrive at the courts and they are occupied, you may politely ask each group when they will finish. You may beg, bribe and cajole all you want. If no one wishes to stop, then you should conclude *the courts are not available.* Rather than confront people and try to evict them and call the police if they blow you off, how about you get in your car and try a different set of courts? Or if your time is so valuable, join a private club where you can have a reservation? Why is someone entitled to a public court if someone else is using that court to play tennis?

Sheez.

[spot]

I can't see what rule could work past "first come first serve". Stay until your match is finished. This means that people can't be all ****y if someone comes up and asks them how long they intend to keep playing.

To the OP- An hour for doubles? Whats the point of an hour of doubles? I guess we are just spoiled here in Atlanta where public courts are abundant but we would never bother getting together to play just 1 hour.

If there is going to be a rule- then 1 set for singles, 2 sets for doubles, or an hour for just hitting makes sense. Doubles should give extra time. Lets say there are 2 people hitting singles and 2 extra people come up and are waiting. If they just decide to play doubles instead that doesn't tie up the court any longer than it would have if the 2 groups went back to back. If they are fine sharing then they should get the courts longer.

Personally I think that in the world of cell phones, all public courts at this point should have a website where you can reserve court time if you want to for a fee. If people want to jump on free courts when they are unavailable then fine, but if someone else has paid then they get the courts.

[TimothyO]

"Personally I think that in the world of cell phones, all public courts at this point should have a website where you can reserve court time if you want to for a fee. If people want to jump on free courts when they are unavailable then fine, but if someone else has paid then they get the courts."

Good idea but even in private clubs like ours people don't respect that system. We have a wonderful online system. It's a club so there's no cost to book a court (outside of initial and annual fees!). The problem arises when people book courts and then don't show up. Thus people who need to play (eg flex leagues) can't get a court since, according to the online system, the courts appear fully booked. We have six courts but when ALTA and USTA practices and matches are in season prime time gets crowded.

On the other side of the coin are people who poach reserved courts. Even with the online reservation system people get hissy when asked to surrender a reserved court. Teaching pros are the worst in that regard. Even if there's a visibly "open" court it may have been reserved so it's not always a good idea to just pick a different court if yours is poached since you may get bounced yourself during crowded prime time (the courts are usually empty out-of-season on summer afternoons...I love the heat but few people want to play on hardcourt when it's 100 degrees).

[spot]

Originally Posted by TimothyO

"Personally I think that in the world of cell phones, all public courts at this point should have a website where you can reserve court time if you want to for a fee. If people want to jump on free courts when they are unavailable then fine, but if someone else has paid then they get the courts."

Good idea but even in private clubs like ours people don't respect that system. We have a wonderful online system. It's a club so there's no cost to book a court (outside of initial and annual fees!). The problem arises when people book courts and then don't show up. Thus people who need to play (eg flex leagues) can't get a court since, according to the online system, the courts appear fully booked. We have six courts but when ALTA and USTA practices and matches are in season prime time gets crowded.

But in my idea the people have to pay for the courts up front to avoid this problem. If people paid for the court and just didn't cancel within a reasonable time then they would lose the money even if they didn't show up. If other people showed up to play on the courts hoping to play for free then they would be fine because no one would be there to cut them off.

On the other side of the coin are people who poach reserved courts. Even with the online reservation system people get hissy when asked to surrender a reserved court. Teaching pros are the worst in that regard. Even if there's a visibly "open" court it may have been reserved so it's not always a good idea to just pick a different court if yours is poached since you may get bounced yourself during crowded prime time (the courts are usually empty out-of-season on summer afternoons...I love the heat but few people want to play on hardcourt when it's 100 degrees).

I agree there is no easy solution to what happens if someone is on the court and refuses to get off of them even if someone has it reserved. Lets say the rules are posted but there is some group of people who thinks that they are unfair and simply refuses to use the online system. No easy solution to that... But I suppose that applies to any other sort of rules as well.

[CaldwellYSR]

I don't really think there's any way to enforce these rules. The public courts in my town allow for 1 set when someone is waiting or 1hr whichever comes first. That said there are 6 courts so if they are full (rare unless high school is practicing) then everyone just plays til they are done and you wait.

I personally love Spot's idea about having an online thing to see when times are reserved. Even have it to where you just check in when you're there and out when you leave so other people could see if there were open courts before they left the house. Problem there is that there are ALOT of people who aren't tech savvy (read old probably) that would refuse to abide by it.

[TeflonTom]

join a club

but seriously, sets make the most sense. if i arrive n u have been there for an hr, u just have 2 tell me u only just arrived n then u get another hr

if u are callin out scores then we all know when ur set is gunna be finished

The best rule is either/or. if someone is waitin, u finish ur set. if u arent playin a set, u have to vacate after half an hr

[floridatennisdude]

Best public court rule I have come across: under 18 must have an adult with them after 5:00

In a nutshell, the kids have all day to use the courts. After work, it's the adults time to play. They can play with their kid if they want, but 2 14 y/o kids would surrender their court

[TeflonTom]

i think that rule prolly has less 2 do with lettin adults use the courts, n more bout ppl bein worried that unaccompanied kids after dark might come across a sketchy guy in too tight tennis shorts askin them if they wanna play with his woodie

[TennisDawg]

Originally Posted by lcalamar

Curious if this has been discussed before - if so - point me there, otherwise, here is my discussion starter.

Many public courts have rules to limit play when players are waiting. Often the rules are 1 set for singles and 2 sets for doubles.

I don't like that rule. Why should someone be forced to play a set if I want to just hit?

What I'd propose is simple - any 1 player can play only 1 hour if the courts are full and people are waiting. This would go for doubles also. Yes - I understand that a doubles court holds 2x as many players. But in reality - it must means people playing doubles get 2x the playing time. Not sure why people who prefer doubles get that benefit? (I don't know of anyone who plays doubles to get 2x the playing time - they just play doubles because - they like to play doubles).

Here is another issue - mostly with doubles. Often a public court will have people 'tag teaming'... a group will hold a court and then swap in new players. Often this means 1 set of players is on the court for several hours at a time - even when other players are waiting.

This is why I like the simple rule - you get 1 continuous hour on the court. This includes socializing and group hugging. If you've played an hour - singles or doubles, games or hitting - and people are waiting - you have to get off the court. You can certainly get back in line to get back on.... but you have to give up the court.

What has worked well for others?

Occasionally, I play at a public tennis park in Raleigh, NC. They have a system that works out pretty good. They have a court that is reserved for drop ins, you challenge either for singles or doubles. If two are playing singles, they winner plays anyone waiting to challenge. If a doubles team is waiting to challenge, the two playing singles have to play doubles when the challenge is made, not after they finish the set. The winner takes on any challengers. It works out great. I like it because it's similar to pickup basketball, a little jocularity going on, a little trash-talkin all good natured, sometimes it gets serious, but everyone shakes hands at the end. The level of play varies, I would say 3.0 to 4.0, mostly. If you keep winning you keep playing.
If you want to just hit that's all fine and good, unless someone challenges which is a fair way to do it.

[corbind]

You snooze you lose for outdoor public courts. First Come, first served without a time limit is the only way to have zero disputes.

[spot]

Originally Posted by corbind

You snooze you lose for outdoor public courts. First Come, first served without a time limit is the only way to have zero disputes.

Even that can have disputes. The one I most often see is when one person gets there early to make sure to get the court while another group has 4 people there waiting. (Note... this is why its a good idea to bring the hopper of balls if you are trying to save a court!)

[Herdsman76]

Gosh, I must live in a town where tennis doesn't exist because I've almost never had to wait to play on any of the available public courts in my town. Of course I realize there are several factors that both benefit and hinder my "claim". During the rare occassions where we had to wait for a court, it usually wasn't a wait of more than 20-30 minutes. Most of that time was spent jaw-jacking with my hitting partner/opponent. And yes, although it isn't written anywhere, our system is first come first served.

Not much input I know but I'm glad I live in an area where there are enough courts to go around...

H76

[Avles]

Originally Posted by TennisDawg

Occasionally, I play at a public tennis park in Raleigh, NC. They have a system that works out pretty good.

Which park is that? I'm in the area and would be interested in checking this out...

[Cindysphinx]

Spot, I like your idea. Here's how I envision it would work.

Say you want to play from 8 am to 11 am on a weekend at Cabin John Regional Park (nine outdoor free public courts). You could go on-line and reserve the courts for a fee. The fee should be nominal but enough to discourage people from booking courts they don't plan to use. You could not reserve any later than 24 hours ahead of time, no refunds if you change your mind or it rains. You could book as many consecutive hours as you want.

Say I had reserved Court Three and people are playing on it when I arrive. I would be required to show them my receipt, and they would have to clear out immediately. If you fail to bring the receipt, too bad.

I think that system would pay for itself very quickly. I would love it. As it stands, I deal with the high demand at certain times (after business hours, weekends, holidays, beautiful weather) by not playing. I would far prefer to know I have a court waiting for me.

[goober]

Nobody really enforces the rules on public courts. People just play until they want to get off.

What works for our group is that we are willing to get to courts early on weekends when they are likely to be busy before the crowd hits. If 8 am is not early enough we will keep adjusting until we are one of the first ones- 7 AM or earlier not a problem. IF you really want to play at a certain time and be certain you play- courts with reservations (either public or private) are the way to go.

[Fuji]

It really depends on your locations of courts. The way mine work are: My home courts have 4 courts, they are the closest and usually the most busy during the evening from 5pm-12pm. The next closest are 15 minutes away, and they have 8 courts, which are usually busy from 10am-5pm for the "afternoon socials" but are dead in the evening.

I'm lucky that within a half an hour drive from my home courts there are at least 5 other places to play. I normally don't ask people to leave the courts. If there is a single person practising I will always ask them if they want to practice together however!

-Fuji

[kylebarendrick]

Originally Posted by corbind

You snooze you lose for outdoor public courts. First Come, first served without a time limit is the only way to have zero disputes.

4 people show up and play three sets of doubles. During the second set someone starts waiting for the court. During the third set, two friends of the people on the court show up. The friends swap into the doubles (so they start their first set with 2 guys now playing their 4th). The people that started waiting in the second set have been passed over, are still waiting, and starting to get ****ed off. Another two friends of the players show up and swap into the still going marathon.

At this point the people that have waited the longest are still waiting and 4 fresh players jumped in front of them and are on the court. I've seen this scenario play out a bunch of times. It isn't first come first served and there can be plenty of disputes.