USTA - Wearing Earbuds during Match OK or Violation?

[FiguringItOut]

I've taken a year off competitive play to sort out and try to solve my mental weaknesses on court.
During this break, during my practice matches, I tried playing with one earbud in while listening to music I'm VERY familiar with - for reasons I don't mind explaining if anyone asks.
Anyhoo, the effect on my play was INCREDIBLE.

And so now I'm wondering: Can I legally do that during USTA League matches?

 

[esgee48]

Very borderline. You cannot use devices that could receive advice during games. You can bring notes to read during changeover. Coaching of any form can only occur per regs. If your opponent asks you to remove it, would you refuse? You use it as a crutch which could be interpreted as coaching ie coach signaling you to stay calm or relaxed. The music is your crutch or cue to focus, relax, etc. In written form, no problem. While playing, it may be an issue. That’s why I say it is borderline. It would be better to just have words you can tell yourself eg focus, move the feet, watch the ball, etc.

 

[travlerajm]

If you get DQ’d from a 3.0 ntrp usta league singles match for wearing an earbud and being accused of illegal coaching, you’d be a TTW legend.

 

[Cashman]

this is the most zoomer thing I have ever read

 

[onehandbh]

Is singing while playing tennis aloud?

Or is that a pun-ishable crime?

 

[NTRP_3.75_Patrick_Rafter]

Weird but I don't really see any advantage with it and I'd hate to be the guy that makes an issue of a guy I am playing against wearing them.

Probably a breach of etiquette as there usually needs to be some level of communication whether it be calling the score, calling balls out, small talk on crossovers, etc. and it isn't particularly easy to do that with earbuds in.

 

[Pass750]

Weird but I don't really see any advantage with it and I'd hate to be the guy that makes an issue of a guy I am playing against wearing them.

Probably a breach of etiquette as there usually needs to be some level of communication whether it be calling the score, calling balls out, small talk on crossovers, etc. and it isn't particularly easy to do that with earbuds in.

Exactly on the communication aspect of this.

 

[stapletonj]

Is singing while playing tennis aloud?

Or is that a pun-ishable crime?

sing all you want, but only while the ball is travelling towards you ......... /s/.

 

[FiguringItOut]

OMG. I don't know why I bother to post here anymore.
Folks, ONE EARBUD - it's in the OP.
Also, I'm 51. I'm not a Zoomer. I'm Gen X.

Thank you to

esgee48​

for their reply.

I'll research this elsewhere.
Peace -

 

[nyta2]

Can I legally do that during USTA League matches?

http://assets.usta.com/assets/636/USTA_Import/images/sitecore_ustasections/EASTERN/Document%20Assets/Juniors/ElectronicDevices.pdf

but i'd be impressed if anyone enforced the rule... just like foot faulting... most will not actually say anything if you do...

 

[darkhorse]

http://assets.usta.com/assets/636/USTA_Import/images/sitecore_ustasections/EASTERN/Document%20Assets/Juniors/ElectronicDevices.pdf

but i'd be impressed if anyone enforced the rule... just like foot faulting... most will not actually say anything if you do...

I'd enforce it the first time the earbud fell out or a call wasn't heard because my opponent had an earbud in.

What are you going to do when it loses the connection to your phone? Or somebody calls you? Like I get trying things to improve mentally but this seems beyond the pale in an official match. Do whatever you want in practice matches but for a league setting I'd suggest finding another method.

 

[nyta2]

I'd enforce it the first time the earbud fell out or a call wasn't heard because my opponent had an earbud in.

What are you going to do when it loses the connection to your phone? Or somebody calls you? Like I get trying things to improve mentally but this seems beyond the pale in an official match. Do whatever you want in practice matches but for a league setting I'd suggest finding another method.

you'd probably enforce that he can't call a let and/or you can call a let... (like ball falling out of his pocket)
not hearing the call/score... i wouldn't care, as long as i know i made the call and always call the score... but still wouldn't make a deal of his earbud... i'd just presume he's deaf.

those other questions... who are we to question his process... if he needs music or whatever, that's his thing... but yeah, i agree, listening to music generally wouldn't work for you & me (and most)... but that's his method that seems to work for him.

 

[darkhorse]

you'd probably enforce that he can't call a let and/or you can call a let... (like ball falling out of his pocket)
not hearing the call/score... i wouldn't care, as long as i know i made the call and always call the score... but still wouldn't make a deal of his earbud... i'd just presume he's deaf.

those other questions... who are we to question his process... if he needs music or whatever, that's his thing... but yeah, i agree, listening to music generally wouldn't work for you & me (and most)... but that's his method that seems to work for him.

I would agree with everything you're saying if there wasn't a rule that specifically prohibits what he's doing. But I would probably let it go unless the earbud caused some kind of disruption, as if you enforce the letter of the rule you posted, the smartwatch I wear (and I assume a lot of other players do as well) when I play would violate the rule.

 

[tennis3]

this is the most zoomer thing I have ever read

Music is pretty much standard fare on tennis courts and golf courses now. It's funny to see the generations "interact" on this issue.

The Rodney Dangerfield joke in Caddyshack where he has the stereo in his golf bag isn't even funny anymore. It's everyday reality.

 

[nyta2]

I would agree with everything you're saying if there wasn't a rule that specifically prohibits what he's doing. But I would probably let it go unless the earbud caused some kind of disruption, as if you enforce the letter of the rule you posted, the smartwatch I wear (and I assume a lot of other players do as well) when I play would violate the rule.

ah, yeah, i wear an iwatch all the time... so i'm technically in breach every time i play...

 

[NTRP_3.75_Patrick_Rafter]

OMG. I don't know why I bother to post here anymore.
Folks, ONE EARBUD - it's in the OP.
Also, I'm 51. I'm not a Zoomer. I'm Gen X.
T
Thank you to

esgee48​

for their reply.

I'll research this elsewhere.
Peace -

I'll wear one earbud sometimes when multitasking and it's still difficult to engage with other people. No different really than talking on the phone and having someone walk up to you and try to talk to you at the same time. You're distracted and it is prolly off putting if not rude to not give your opponent your full attention.

I don't know how it wouldn't fall out at some point either.

LOL at 'I came here for advice and didn't like what I heard so I am going elsewhere!'. You might be Gen X but you're acting like a Zoomer, whatever that is.

Handle DOES NOT check out BTW.

 

[chic]

Phone on airplane mode or dnd would solve most potential issues although letter of the law I'd say headphones are against the rules due to coaching potential. I think smart watches have made hazy what used to be a clear delineation on what should and shouldn't be accessible during official matchplay.

With even the ATP allowing limited coaching now though, I expect general consensus to be 'who gives a sh*t of they're getting some quick mismatch tips and lying about it'. Most people will give the benefit of the doubt you're just listing to music.

@FiguringItOut have you tried bone conduction headphones at all (ie aftershockz). Slightly worse sound quality but they leave your ears open and you can still hear stuff while you listen to music. I love them for biking my commute because it lets me stay way more aware of any drivers doing something stupid. I'll wear them when rallying too sometimes if we don't have a speaker going.

 

[Chalkdust]

From a moral standpoint, I see no problem with it.

If there is in fact a rule against this (no idea either way), then it is de facto unenforceable - if questioned about it (extremely unlikely), the OP just has to say it's a hearing aid device.

 

[tennis3]

From a moral standpoint, I see no problem with it.

If there is in fact a rule against this (no idea either way), then it is de facto unenforceable -

Probably a breach of etiquette as there usually needs to be some level of communication whether it be calling the score, calling balls out, small talk on crossovers, etc. and it isn't particularly easy to do that with earbuds in.

These are your two ways of looking at it.

Is it a strict question of rules (which even if there is a rule, it's not enforceable), or is it a question of etiquette? If it's a question of etiquette, who gets to set the standard?

And breaches of etiquette are only important to people if there are consequences (a club or a person / group that you will have to interact with more than once). Otherwise, etiquette is for suckers (ever been to Costco?).

So basically, just do whatever you want (and have the ego / attitude to back it up).

 

[Cashman]

Music is pretty much standard fare on tennis courts and golf courses now. It's funny to see the generations "interact" on this issue.

Not where I live thankfully, that must be horrific

It’s mostly just funny to me that kids like OP can’t even unplug from their devices for an hour to play a couple of sets of tennis

 

[tennis3]

Not where I live thankfully, that must be horrific

It is horrific. And it's not just young people anymore. Everyone, no matter what age, now brings their music everywhere.

When it first started to happen on both golf courses and tennis courts, people would tell those playing music to turn it off and not bring it. The guys that brought the music would say it's a public court, I can do whatever I want. The response would be something like, I can't make you stop, but it's very impolite to those around you, please turn it off. And the response would be to mind your own business. If the music bothers you, don't listen (or something like that) and again repeating that "you can't do anything to stop me". Basically the "OK Boomer" response. And to make it even funnier, the people playing the music would continue to grumble at how impolite everyone else is, for trying to tell them what to do. I'm sure you've seen this before.

And that's how it stands now. You can't do anything. So you either just put up with it or leave and find some place else to play. On the golf course, there isn't much you can do. I'd say fully half (or more) of people on a driving range now have some speaker device in their "box" and have to play their music loud enough to drown out everyone else (so it's loud). You can look online yourself and find lots of companies that sell speaker devices specifically to put into a golf cart. I'd say more groups are now playing music than aren't. So you hear it all over the course.

I actually don't even notice it anymore. It's just what I expect to see now.

 

[esgee48]

OP wanted to know if this would be legal in USTA matches. Answer is maybe. There is a rule (#30) that says any device capable of receiving messages or text during play is not legal. I do know at a club, members are not allowed to do this. No phones are allowed on the course, courts or restaurant. You can get booted from the club if you irritate enough members. If one player complains that the offending player is not capable of hearing calls or otw not paying attention to calls due to music in his ear, it could be construed to be a hindrance. I could care less if it is a public court. They can have earphones on. Not my worry if they can't hear me warning them that there is a ball behind them.

 

[NTRP_3.75_Patrick_Rafter]

These are your two ways of looking at it.

Is it a strict question of rules (which even if there is a rule, it's not enforceable), or is it a question of etiquette? If it's a question of etiquette, who gets to set the standard?

And breaches of etiquette are only important to people if there are consequences (a club or a person / group that you will have to interact with more than once). Otherwise, etiquette is for suckers (ever been to Costco?).

So basically, just do whatever you want (and have the ego / attitude to back it up).

In terms of etiquette if it's something you have to ask about on the court you should probably leave it alone. There's general expected behavior on the court for a 100+ year old game. It shouldn't be hard to figure out what is okay and what isn't.

Honestly he could just ask too.

I am probably a little suspect of any claim that listening to music during any match let alone a USTA one or a tournament or whatever is a benefit. It might feel that way but if I am being honest I'd prolly prefer my opponent be as distracted as possible. I think 99 times out of 100 an opponent would be fine with it, at least to start. Whether or not it brings unintended consequences like score confusion, line calls, etc. is another question.

 

[Bill Lobsalot]

Wearing something in your ear can affect your balance. So enjoy your Taylor Swift music at your own peril.

 

[Airspun]

is next on court

 

[cks]

Do whatever you want in practice matches but for a league setting I'd suggest finding another method.

+1

 

[ngoster]

As an opponent, I wouldn't care unless it distracts you from being present on the court like being unable to keep score correctly or not hearing me make out calls, basically, anything that would disrupt the flow of play.

At the rec league level, especially anything lower than high 4.0, all previously mentioned things that are considered distracting...come on folks, it ain't going to make our games look uglier than it already is .

 

[ChaelAZ]

... i'd be impressed if anyone enforced the rule... just like foot faulting...

Essential Tennis approves and justifies this message.

 

[chuckersthenut]

OMG. I don't know why I bother to post here anymore.
Folks, ONE EARBUD - it's in the OP.
Also, I'm 51. I'm not a Zoomer. I'm Gen X.

Thank you to

esgee48​

for their reply.

I'll research this elsewhere.
Peace -

Your mental weaknesses show off the court too.

 

[Rattler]

OP wanted to know if this would be legal in USTA matches. Answer is maybe. There is a rule (#30) that says any device capable of receiving messages or text during play is not legal. I do know at a club, members are not allowed to do this. No phones are allowed on the course, courts or restaurant. You can get booted from the club if you irritate enough members. If one player complains that the offending player is not capable of hearing calls or otw not paying attention to calls due to music in his ear, it could be construed to be a hindrance. I could care less if it is a public court. They can have earphones on. Not my worry if they can't hear me warning them that there is a ball behind them.

Interesting begs the question about fitbits and other wearable devices that can receive text messages and IF this rule is enforced regarding them.

My guess is no.

 

[Humbi_HTX]

@FiguringItOut can you share the Playlist? I am actually curious what a 50 year old man would play during a tennis match.

 

[stapletonj]

Go on auction site, find old .mp3 player (not phone) only.
Find some of those hats they used to make with .mp3 player slots/pockets for them.
plug in WIRED earphones.
Play your playlist bro!

(I used to do this when doing distance running back in the day, I kept trying early bluetooth setups, but they sucked)
BTW - this is going to make you hit a LOT of estate sales/flea markets!

 

[JordanWinning]

Interesting begs the question about fitbits and other wearable devices that can receive text messages and IF this rule is enforced regarding them.

My guess is no.

Played sectionals this weekend in Indianapolis. Officials specifically told us before the match we could (and would) be given point/game/default penalty for wearing smart watches. Obviously there aren’t USTA officials at Monday night league matches, but I’d say it’s a clear stance on smart devices (and probably ear buds also)