Q. I hit a high ball to the opponent. Just as the ball was landing, the opposing net player called, "OUT". Her partner hit the ball. The net player then said, "IN." My partner and I quit playing the point when the initial call was made of "OUT." The opponents argued the net player was simply advising her partner to bounce the ball as it might be going out. She (or one of them) then called, "IN" to indicate that the ball was good and she had returned it and to continue playing. I think the answer was that it was our point. With an "OUT followed by an "IN" call, there was a discrepency on the call and the point is our point.........I think. I think once the opponent calls the ball OUT, the play is dead. Regardless of whether the ball was truly out or in. (We replayed the point because 3 of us could agree there was some confusion and also because the net player, the disagreeable 4th, became so hostile.) Who got this point or what action should have been taken?
If the opponent calls a ball OUT before it bounces, and it lands IN, the ball is good and it is our point. Regardless of what happens next. Correct?
If the opponent calls the ball OUT before it bounces, it lands IN and she returns it for a "winner" but we had quit playing the point because of the OUT call, who gets the point?
If the opponent calls the ball OUT before it bounces, and it lands OUT. What is the call? In other words, is the opponent penalized for calling a ball before it actually lands? (I think a kind warning is in order (which is what I gave during the set changeover) but then what if those early calls continue? What is the final ruling? When I hear "OUT" called, I assume the point has ended and stop playing. (In this case, the person was not communicating with her partner and using OUT as a substitute for "Bounce It", she was celarly calling the ball OUT....just calling it before it landed. I also suggested to opponents during set changeover that it would be better to use the terms BOUNCE IT or WATCH IT rather than OUT in communicating with her partner in order to avoid any further misunderstandings.
If the opponent/receiver calls a serve IN and the partner disagrees, the receiver returns the ball, the server hits the ball rather than stopping play (perhaps by setting down her racket), what is the call?
Thank you for any light you can shed!
A. This is always an interesting case.
First, despite what some people think, there is no rule that says you cannot say 'out' or other words of communication to your partner, especially when you are at the net and the ball is coming in your direction or the ball has not come close to landing on the court. And because such communication would invariably occur long before the ball has bounced, the claim that this could be mistaken for a line call is not really valid if everyone is paying attention. (Communicating by screaming or yelling is not permitted at any time and could be deemed a hindrance no matter when it occurs.)
The only time confusion can occur is in the case when a player says 'out' or another form of communication to his/her partner standing at the baseline at the time when the ball bounces. One player is in the position to make a return of the ball and did so. In that case, saying "leave it" or "NO" would be preferable to saying 'out'. However, any word used when the ball lands on the ground or close to the ground when your partner hits the ball could be construed as a call.
If a player yells "out” at the moment or close to the moment their partner played the ball, I think it can hinder the opponents. If this is the case,
and the return was a weak return or the ball did not go into the opposing court, the returning team loses the point. If the return is strong and the best the opponents could have done was to keep the ball in play, then a let should be played. This is assuming that the players stopped play. If the players who may have been confused by the communication or call continue to play the point, they may not then claim the point due to hindrance after the entire point has been completed. If a player believes that they were truly hindered, they MUST stop.
You offer a number of scenarios and it does depend on when the communication came from the opponents. The best thing to do is keep playing the point if there is some question on whether there was a call or just communication. If the ball has not come very close to landing in or out and the players communicate, claiming hindrance is not really justified. Players should not be penalized for communicating when the ball still has a way to travel before landing on the court.
When partners disagree on a call the benefit of doubt must go to the opponents. If an out call was made (not communication) then play has stopped.
Again, if the return was a weak return or the ball did not go into the opposing court, the returning team loses the point. If the return is strong and the best the opponents could have done was to keep the ball in play, then a let should be played.
