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Appendix5
Role Of Court Officials
APPENDIX5
ROLE OF COURT OFFICIALS
The referee is the final authority on all questions of tennis law and the referees decision is final.
In matches where a chair umpire is assigned, the chair umpire is the final authority on all questions of fact during the match.
The players have the right to call the referee to court if they disagree with a chair umpires interpretation of tennis law.
In matches where line umpires and net umpires are assigned, they make all calls (including foot-fault calls) relating to that line or net. The chair umpire has the right to overrule a line umpire or a net umpire if the chair umpire is sure that a clear mistake has been made. The chair umpire is responsible for calling any line (including foot-faults) or net where no line umpire or net umpire is assigned.
A line umpire who cannot make a call shall signal this immediately to the chair umpire who shall make a decision. If the line umpire can not make a call, or if there is no line umpire, and the chair umpire can not make a decision on a question of fact, the point shall be replayed.
In team events where the referee is sitting on-court, the referee is also the final authority on questions of fact.
Play may be stopped or suspended at any time the chair umpire decides it is necessary or appropriate.
The referee may also stop or suspend play in the case of darkness, weather or adverse court conditions. When play is suspended for darkness, this should be done at the end of a set, or after an even number of games have been played in the set in progress. After a suspension in play, the score and position of players on-court in the match shall stand when the match resumes.
The chair umpire or referee shall make decisions regarding continuous play and coaching in respect of any Code of Conduct that is approved and in operation.
Case 1: The chair umpire awards the server a first service after an overrule, but the receiver argues that it should be a second service, since the server had already served a fault. Should the referee be called to court to give a decision?
Decision: Yes. The chair umpire makes the first decision about questions of tennis law (issues relating to the application of specific facts). However, if a player appeals the chair umpires decision, then the referee shall be called to make the final decision.
Case 2: A ball is called out, but a player claims that the ball was good. May the referee be called to court to make a decision? Decision: No. The chair umpire makes the final decision on questions of fact (issues relating to what actually happened during a specific incident). Case 3: Is a chair umpire allowed to overrule a line umpire at the end of a point if, in the chair umpires opinion, a clear mistake was made earlier in the point?
Decision: No. A chair umpire may only overrule a line umpire immediately after the clear mistake has been made.
Case 4: A line umpire calls a ball Out and then the player argues that the ball was good. Is the chair umpire allowed to overrule the line umpire?
Decision: No. A chair umpire must never overrule as the result of the protest or appeal by a player.
Case 5: A line umpire calls a ball Out. The chair umpire was unable to see clearly, but thought the ball was in. May the chair umpire overrule the line umpire?
Decision: No. The chair umpire may only overrule when sure that the line umpire made a clear mistake.
Case 6: Is a line umpire allowed to change the call after the chair umpire has announced the score?
Decision: Yes. If a line umpire realises a mistake, a correction should be made as soon as possible provided it is not as the result of a protest or appeal of a player.
Case 7: If a chair umpire or line umpire calls out and then corrects the call to good, what is the correct decision?
Decision: The chair umpire must decide if the original out call was a hindrance to either player. If it was a hindrance, the point shall be replayed. If it was not a hindrance, the player who hit the ball wins the point.
Case 8: A ball is blown back over the net and the player correctly reaches over the net to try to play the ball. The opponen(s)t hinders the player from doing this. What is the correct decision?
Decision: The chair umpire must decide if the hindrance was deliberate or unintentional and either awards the point to the hindered player or order the point to be replayed.
Appendix5
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