What to do in a situation like this?

[pyrokid]

We had districts today, and seeing as I have an injury, I had to play doubles.

But we played a fairly good team in the semis who augmented their decent tennis skills with loads of bad calls and other ways to steal points.

Like, any time one of us hit a volley winner, they would call us for crossing the netcord, sometimes when we were back at the service line. Now, the first time this happened was when we were up 40-0 5-1, and I hit a really nice shot down the line, and everyone was cheering and happy and stuff. Then, after about ten seconds, he decided to call the netcord thing. I told him that no, I did not cross the cord, that they had to warn me first before they could take a point penalty, and that I had to call it. They said no, you're a lying sloot. (no, not exactly like that, but that summarizes it.) and called their coach out. Our coach was on the singles court, and their coach basically forced us to continue play and give them the point. (we still won the game, but boy was I pissed.) This happened another six times, but then our coach came out and yelled at the other coach. Then they stopped.

All throughout the match they called out winners long or wide, or whatever suited them. And you could tell they knew they were doing it because of the looks on their faces and the long pause between the call and the shot. (and the moaning of the crowd.)

In HS districts, there are no linejudges. So you can't call them out.
So what do you do in this situation? Don't say cheat back, that's not an option, and we tried yelling at them about it.

I realize that this is more of a juniors issue, but I think the advice I'll get here will be better.

 

[OrangeOne]

Don't say cheat back, that's not an option

I am so, so glad to hear a junior player say this. Well done pyro, well done.

As for what to do,

a. Never give up a point, irrespective of what the 'coach' says (or at least I wouldn't).
b. Make sure your coach is available ASAP when you know such slimey opponents are up next.

Again - well done on having some decent morals in regards to calling. I reckon 2 out of 3 kids I know would just cheat back, which just drives the match into farce.

 

[tennis tom]

At Senior Adult Age Group tournaments there is a USTA umpire or referee, who can be called to resolve disputes or umpire the match. Was there no such official present at your event?

 

[pyrokid]

At Senior Adult Age Group tournaments there is a USTA umpire or referee, who can be called to resolve disputes or umpire the match. Was there no such official present at your event?

I don't think so. It was a high school districts tournament.

a. Never give up a point, irrespective of what the 'coach' says (or at least I wouldn't).
b. Make sure your coach is available ASAP when you know such slimey opponents are up next.

I just didn't know what to do here, because as there was nobody to act as an impartial line judge, there was really no higher up to dictate who got the point, so we eventually had to go half and half. I know this is really lame, but there was nothing we could do. It eventually got down to:
"You have to be kidding me! do you seriously believe that they're not cheating with calls like that?"
"I think they're being very fair."

And I had no idea those guys cheated so badly, or I most definitely had my coach watching at all times. But we hadn't played the guys in our regular season, so we'd never seen them before.

 

[mikro112]

We had districts today, and seeing as I have an injury, I had to play doubles.

But we played a fairly good team in the semis who augmented their decent tennis skills with loads of bad calls and other ways to steal points.

Like, any time one of us hit a volley winner, they would call us for crossing the netcord, sometimes when we were back at the service line. Now, the first time this happened was when we were up 40-0 5-1, and I hit a really nice shot down the line, and everyone was cheering and happy and stuff. Then, after about ten seconds, he decided to call the netcord thing. I told him that no, I did not cross the cord, that they had to warn me first before they could take a point penalty, and that I had to call it. They said no, you're a lying sloot. (no, not exactly like that, but that summarizes it.) and called their coach out. Our coach was on the singles court, and their coach basically forced us to continue play and give them the point. (we still won the game, but boy was I pissed.) This happened another six times, but then our coach came out and yelled at the other coach. Then they stopped.

All throughout the match they called out winners long or wide, or whatever suited them. And you could tell they knew they were doing it because of the looks on their faces and the long pause between the call and the shot. (and the moaning of the crowd.)

In HS districts, there are no linejudges. So you can't call them out.
So what do you do in this situation? Don't say cheat back, that's not an option, and we tried yelling at them about it.

I realize that this is more of a juniors issue, but I think the advice I'll get here will be better.

If you ask them to stop it and they don't stop, I'd probably choose this option:

- Do exactly the same. If the ball bounces 4 feet inside the baseline, call it out. However, tell them immediately that you don't want to play like this, but because of their behavior you can't see any other options. Then ask them again to stop that BS. If they stop, you play fair, if they continue, you continue as well.

Another, not really sportsmenlike, option is to constantly try to hit their bodies. Hammer them once or twice, apologize for that with a short "Sorry!" and on the changeover you ask them again to play fair.

I'd go with option 1 though! Before using option 1, I'd go to my coach immediately (e.g. toilet break on the next changeover) and have him talk to their coach immediately. If the other coach doesn't correct his players, you use option 1.

 

[Panic492]

I thought crossing the net was not a problem as long as you dont touch it. I have seen the pros do it it tournaments 2-3 times lately. They will fall over the net and use their racquet to stop themselves on the other side so they don't touch the net.

 

[IrishFan]

I am a HS coach in Alabama. Here at districts, if you think that you are receiving bad calls, you (or your coach) can call for an impartial judge. This will usually be the coach of a team that not involved in the match and while this judge will not call lines, he or she will settle all disputed calls. I was actually asked to serve as a line judge at our state tournament and after I showed up on court there were no more disputes or bad calls

 

[podge]

I thought crossing the net was not a problem as long as you dont touch it. I have seen the pros do it it tournaments 2-3 times lately. They will fall over the net and use their racquet to stop themselves on the other side so they don't touch the net.

Before or after the point was finished?

 

[Kostas]

If you or your coach can't get an official (really? at districts?) then just focus on "shortening the court".

 

[beernutz]

I am a HS coach in Alabama. Here at districts, if you think that you are receiving bad calls, you (or your coach) can call for an impartial judge. This will usually be the coach of a team that not involved in the match and while this judge will not call lines, he or she will settle all disputed calls. I was actually asked to serve as a line judge at our state tournament and after I showed up on court there were no more disputes or bad calls

Hey IrishFan, which HS team do you coach? I live in Mobile as well.

 

[IrishFan]

Hey IrishFan, which HS team do you coach? I live in Mobile as well.

McGill Toolen

 

[beernutz]

McGill Toolen

Congrats on the 4th place at state.

The person who decided to put blue text links on a black background on your website should be skinned though.

 

[Yenster]

Well in our league, our coach tells us to call line judge. And so a person from each team go watch the match and the players actually playing appeal to them.