“Your behavior influences the people around you, and you are responsible for that!”

Court Etiquette

 1. Know, respect, and follow the policies of the venue.
 2. Become familiar with the rules of the game.
 3. Stow personal items securely away from the playing surface. Never suspend anything from the net system. While waiting, stand or sit at least seven feet from the court lines when possible.
 4. In periods of high demand; avoid singles’ only games, practice sessions, drills and teaching on courts. Keep to doubles’ only games at prime time which allows for maximum resource utilization.
 5.  Allow waiting players to "mix" in.
 6. Do not cross, enter, or travel near a court that has a game in session. Wait until plays stops.
 7. Begin each game by acknowledging the other players and introduce yourself if you don’t know someone.
 8. During open play, embrace and expect to play with people of mixed experience levels. You can benefit from interacting with all players, regardless of their skill set.
 9. In recreational play, don’t exploit someone’s physical limitations. This is just not cool, and you learn little from the practice.
 10. When participating in recreational play, avoid lobbing the ball behind a physically restricted or less mobile player. Its unsafe, disrespectful, cheap, and annoying.
11. Hit to your more advanced opponent during recreational play, not just the weaker partner. The advanced player also wants to participate. Your skill in turn will improve over time.
12. Players should consider switching court ends halfway through a game if environmental conditions create an unfair advantage.
13. Assure that players are ready for the serve.
14. Announce and communicate the score before you serve. Avoid “quick” serves.
15. Raise your hand to stop play at any time or turn your back to indicate that you are not ready for a serve.
16. It is the players’ choice to stop their rally for loose balls or hinders. Holler “Ball on court!” if you believe there is a hazard. Do not expect players to stop play to “fetch” a loose ball.
17. Avoid traveling onto another court with a game in session to fetch your loose ball.
18. When returning a loose ball, be certain you make visual or verbal contact with the person to whom you will be delivering the ball. Give the same ball back. Thank a person for their effort in retrieving.
19. If the ball is “out,” and it’s on your side, call it out. If it’s close, give the benefit of the doubt to your opponent. This is hard to do when the score is close but do it anyway.
20. Call a fault on your team if you or your partner return a volley while traveling in the non-volley zone.
21. Avoid giving tips, lecturing, or coaching during a game unless your partner or opponents welcome the advice.
22. Meet at the net after a game, touch paddles and extend congratulatory remarks.
23. Spectators must refrain from comments that are loud, disruptive, argumentative, hostile, or combative.  Spectators never call a ball out or faults during a rally.
24. Keep your rage in check. No one likes a toxic environment.
25. Do not throw a paddle, squash a ball in anger or trash a player. You will be asked to leave.
26. If you see a significant wait queue for the next available court, don’t dawdle! Be ready for your game. Talk about how to improve on your plays after you exit the court.
27. Share. Be fair. Follow the venue’s queuing system for the next available court.
28. Clean up after yourself when finished.
29. Most important; smile and find your moment of joy.