ITF Rules (date unknown) with USTA Comments
Some USTA Comments on the ITF rules:
Unfortunately the date of these particular ITF rules was not included in the link
http://tennisclub.gsfc.nasa.gov/ITFrules.pdf
Some USTA clarification comments. Pages 14 & 15 0n the serve.
USTA Comment 8.1: What does the rule mean when it says that
the Server may “not change his position by walking or running”? One
key to understanding this rule is to realize that the Server’s feet must be
at rest immediately before beginning to serve. The delivery of the service
then begins with any arm or racket motion and ends when the racket
contacts the ball (or misses the ball in attempt to strike it).
To define walking or running with precision is difficult. This rule is
intended to prevent the Server from taking advantage of the Receiver by
serving while “on the move” and requiring the Receiver to guess the
position from which the serve will be launched, and the rule should be
enforced with that intent in mind.
• A Server who takes more than one step with either foot after the
“feet at rest” position described above is at risk for being called
for a foot fault. The serve becomes a foot fault when, in the
judgment of an experienced official, the Server has materially
changed position before or during any racket or arm motion.
• A Server whose footwork changes significantly from one serve
to the next is at risk for being called for a foot fault.
• Serves that look like the running volleyball serve violate the
rule. Serves in which the Server runs or walks from a point
well behind the baseline to the baseline are also illegal, as are
serves in which the Server walks or runs along the baseline before
choosing a spot from which to deliver the serve.
USTA Comment 8.2: When does a foot fault occur? A player commits
a foot fault if after the player’s feet are at rest but before the player
strikes the ball, either foot touches:
• the Court, including the baseline;
• any part of the imaginary extension of the center mark; or
• beyond the imaginary extension of the outside of the singles
sideline in singles or the doubles sideline in doubles.
USTA Comment 8.3: Is it a foot fault if the Server’s foot touches
the baseline and then the Server catches the tossed ball instead of attempting
to strike it? This is not a foot fault as long as the Server makes
no attempt to strike the ball.
USTA Comment 8.4: May a player ask an official how he foot faulted?
Yes. The official should then give a brief answer.
USTA Comment 8.5: When may the Receiver or the Receiver’s
partner call foot faults? In a non-officiated match, the Receiver or the
Receiver’s partner may call foot faults after all efforts (appeal to the
Server’s request for an official) have failed and the foot faulting is flagrant
as to clearly perceptible from the Receiver’s side.
All is all, the ITF rule could be more precisely stated. Being stationary before the service motion begins then requires a definition of what the 'beginning of the service motion' is. For example, stand stationary 10 steps back from the baseline and then 'begin the service motion' by running up to the baseline.....?
A point of interest - in the 1960s or 1970s the rule for serving was changed to allow jumping off the ground while impacting the ball. Before that one or both feet had to be in contact with the ground.
