At what point would you call Fault?

[tntmail]

I was playing doubles in our league when a player literally walked into the court while serving. I would say 2-3 feet. I called it once and he was really upset.

But I have to tell you this guy was one of the tightest line watchers I've ever played with. I know many of our shots were on the line but "OUT" was the call over and over.

Go figure..............................................

 

[volleyman]

Assuming he showed this off during warm up, I'd remind everyone that in league play, you can call foot faults.

The first time he did it in play, I'd probably repeat the warning or call a let.

Every time thereafter I'd call the fault.

I've actually had to mentioning calling foot faults on a handful of occasions. So far, that has always solved the problem and I've not had to actually call a foot fault in a match.

 

[raiden031]

Isn't it true that you have to attempt to locate an official before you can start calling foot faults yourself? I would definitely say something to the guy if it was a league match the first time it happens. If the guy barely touches the line I'll probably let it go but if his entire foot is inside the baseline, I will say something.

 

[drakulie]

Under your scenario I would call him on it. If he continues to do it, when it is your turn to serve, serve from the net and just hit the serves straight down so they pop over the fence. (I actually did this once).

When he says you can't serve from there, remind him he can't serve from where he is serving either. He'll get the point.

 

[tbini87]

Under your scenario I would call him on it. If he continues to do it, when it is your turn to serve, serve from the net and just hit the serves straight down so they pop over the fence. (I actually did this once).

When he says you can't serve from there, remind him he can't serve from where he is serving either. He'll get the point.

wow drak! haha. i agree that in that scenario he should call it, and not back off of it. if the guy cuts it down from ft to inches you will know he was making an effort to fix it, which is good enough for me!

 

[rasajadad]

I remember playing a doubles match where both my opponents were footfaulting BADLY. After asking them nicely to serve from behind the baseline and them not heeding my request I started serving my next game from 3 feet inside the baseline. When my opponents complained, I told them if they were going to footfault every point, so was I. Then THEY called for a referee!

 

[Gimmick]

I observed once in a recreational match that my opponent was stuttering over the line before he served and mentioned it to him. He thanked me for pointing it out because he said his serves were worse when he stutter stepped. He then proceeded to serve better and cleaner and took that game. The next service game I didn't bother mentioning it when he started it again and I broke his serve.

Which is worse, pointing it out when it wasn't a big deal, or letting it go the next time to win?

 

[tfm1973]

i had a thought. our cellphones and digital cameras can all record some video clips. i wonder if we could just record someone serving and focus on their feet and line and between change overs show them. "see. you really are foot faulting."

the camera does not lie.

 

[Geezer Guy]

I usually pay no attention to whether or not my opponent is ff'ing, unless they're stepping over the middle hash.

Even then, I've never called an opponent on it.

However, I was watching a match the other day and one of the players was actually STARTING their service motion (dribbling the ball) standing ON the line. Then, they'd toss the ball, step into the court, and hit it.

Now THAT person I mighta called.

 

[Loco4Tennis]

some people dont know about what the foot fault rule is all about
they think its not stepping on the line prior to the toss and do not know that they cannot step in the court or the line until you hit the ball,
i would clear that up after a couple of these faults, specially at the lower levels

 

[Babb]

I only call foot faults on serve and volleyers... otherwise, it's not a huge deal to me...

 

[Gugafan_Redux]

i had a thought. our cellphones and digital cameras can all record some video clips. i wonder if we could just record someone serving and focus on their feet and line and between change overs show them. "see. you really are foot faulting."

the camera does not lie.

my friend wants me to bring my camera and video this guy, put it on youtube, and send him the link. He takes a huge, jerky step into the court right before contact every time. Even worse on second serves.

 

[r2473]

..........

 

[Nellie]

Before a match last week, the opponent very nicely told me during warm ups- "Hey, I am not going to call this during the match, but you are foot faulting on your serves." I thanked them and made an effort to move back and keep my feet out of the court. I really like the way it was handled.

 

[atomicx]

If the foot faults are as blatant as the OP describes I would say you would have to call those. Not only is the person serving inside the baseline, but the person is taking actual steps while serving which annoys me even more. Blatant foot faults like these are easy to spot and you should bring it to the attention of your opponent.

Other than the blatant faults like this though, I probably wouldn't see them so obviously I wouldn't call them. When someone is serving to me my eyes never leave the ball as soon as it's tossed, so I wouldn't see a subtle foot fault. Other than doubles where you have a partner that can catch the foot faults how do you singles players even see them? I don't think I could return serve well if I was watching someones feet during the serve and then trying to find the ball for the return. Just curious...

 

[Geezer Guy]

Before a match last week, the opponent very nicely told me during warm ups- "Hey, I am not going to call this during the match, but you are foot faulting on your serves." I thanked them and made an effort to move back and keep my feet out of the court. I really like the way it was handled.

Well, the cynic in me says that could have been pure gamesmanship - trying to get you to think about your motion and change your usual pattern. He could just as easily kept his mouth shut (since he wasn't going to call any FF's anyway) and told you AFTER the match.

 

[tntmail]

Doubles

If the foot faults are as blatant as the OP describes I would say you would have to call those. Not only is the person serving inside the baseline, but the person is taking actual steps while serving which annoys me even more. Blatant foot faults like these are easy to spot and you should bring it to the attention of your opponent.

Other than the blatant faults like this though, I probably wouldn't see them so obviously I wouldn't call them. When someone is serving to me my eyes never leave the ball as soon as it's tossed, so I wouldn't see a subtle foot fault. Other than doubles where you have a partner that can catch the foot faults how do you singles players even see them? I don't think I could return serve well if I was watching someones feet during the serve and then trying to find the ball for the return. Just curious...

Yes this was doubles and clearly both feet in side as he walked forward.

 

[JavierLW]

Assuming he showed this off during warm up, I'd remind everyone that in league play, you can call foot faults.

The first time he did it in play, I'd probably repeat the warning or call a let.

Every time thereafter I'd call the fault.

I've actually had to mentioning calling foot faults on a handful of occasions. So far, that has always solved the problem and I've not had to actually call a foot fault in a match.

This is what I would say.

I think it's fair to warn them in the warmup as well, especially if it's so obvious.

It's probally not wrong but waiting until you are down at some point in the match and then bringing it up like some people do, even seems dirty to me, so giving them more than ample warning is a nice thing to do.

And that if he has a big problem with it (which is more than likely), then hope to god you never play this guy ever again.

 

[beernutz]

I remember playing a doubles match where both my opponents were footfaulting BADLY. After asking them nicely to serve from behind the baseline and them not heeding my request I started serving my next game from 3 feet inside the baseline. When my opponents complained, I told them if they were going to footfault every point, so was I. Then THEY called for a referee!

People are funny. What happened when the referee started watching the match?

Semi-Unrelated Foot Fault Story: I was watching a college match last week between my University (South Alabama) and the University of North Florida. A directional school showdown, so to speak. It was the last match of the day and would decide the outcome of the dual meet so players from both teams, as well as some fans, were standing right up next to the short fence for the court.

During this match a spectator screams out 'Foot Fault' as the UNF player is serving and all hell breaks loose. No one was sure who said it, although everyone at first assumed it had been one of the USA players standing close to the court. EVERYONE had to back away from the court and sit in the stands afterward and everyone was warned to be quiet during the match.

As it happens, I was sitting right on a line with the server and did notice that his toe barely touched the baseline on his serve (he started his service motion standing about 4-5 inches behind the line but then did a little hop) but certainly there is no way his opponent could have seen or called a foot fault.

FWIW, the UNF player won the match even though his serving was probably negatively affected by the phantom foot fault call as he double faulted twice to lose that particular game.

 

[wmrhawk]

the youtube idea is brilliant

i took many years off and find that foot faulting these days has reached epidemic levels (at least where i play) . it saddens me in a way as if this is another example of the decline of civilization. alright, that's a bit dramatic but still. . . it bugs me. i've never called it a fault in usta, although i once politely as posible informed a dubs opponent that he was foot faulting and asked if he would try not to.-- it didn't do any good.

 

[fe6250]

i took many years off and find that foot faulting these days has reached epidemic levels (at least where i play) . it saddens me in a way as if this is another example of the decline of civilization. alright, that's a bit dramatic but still. . . it bugs me. i've never called it a fault in usta, although i once politely as posible informed a dubs opponent that he was foot faulting and asked if he would try not to.-- it didn't do any good.

I think what may be bothersome is that people really don't care if they are doing it or not. It's not part of their thinking.

 

[tntmail]

Yep

I think what may be bothersome is that people really don't care if they are doing it or not. It's not part of their thinking.

Agreed totally. My experience has been the same folks can be very tight on line calls.