Dyke Park Tennis Club

INTRODUCTION

This Code of Conduct and Policy on Court Etiquette sets out what the Club regards as good practice for all members to follow and is available so that every member is clear as to what creates a great playing environment in which everyone can enjoy their tennis.

Both the Code of Conduct and the Policy on Court Etiquette reflect the friendly and co-operative spirit which members at the Club have enjoyed for many years, as well as advice from the LTA. The Committee of the Club is confident that this ethos will continue and sees this as important in maintaining the Club’s reputation.

The Code of Conduct sets out minimum standards of behaviour, which all members are expected to follow, and seeks to avoid any serious issues arising.

The Policy on Court Etiquette describes the best way of acting on and around the tennis court.

Should a breach of the code of conduct or a serious breach of the policy on court etiquette occur, a complaints and sanctions process is set out below – See also our Complaints policy.

AIMS OF THE CODE OF CONDUCT AND POLICY ON COURT ETIQUETTE

The aims of this code of conduct and policy on court etiquette are to:

• Ensure that all members are treated fairly and with respect.
• Advise all members of the standards of behaviour and court etiquette which they are expected to meet so that an environment is created within which members can enjoy their tennis and the club can continue to flourish.
• Provide a complaints and sanctions process so that any issues can be addressed.

CODE OF CONDUCT – STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOUR

All members are expected to treat all other members and all other players respectfully. The Club will not accept any behaviour that may cause any physical or mental harm to any other member or player. Unacceptable actions will include:

• Being abusive or showing aggression towards another member or player.
• Swearing.
• Racket throwing.
• Creating a danger to another member or player such as hitting balls aggressively outside of a point.
• Intimidating another member or player.
• Calling into doubt the integrity of another member or player such as by repeatedly querying line calls.

POLICY ON COURT ETIQUETTE

Tennis etiquette covers different areas from those addressed within the rules of the game. Etiquette covers a range of actions and behaviours that are considered acceptable on and around the tennis court.

The DPTC policy on etiquette covers these areas:

Showing respect and being courteous

Welcoming new members and players to the Club irrespective of their experience of the game and their level of play.

Showing respect and courtesy to your partner, your opponents and others on or around the courts. Do not criticise your partner or opponent, offer encouragement.

If a loud dispute during a match occurs, take it off court and away from other players on adjacent courts.

Courtesy to your opponents should include leaving the court together at the end of the match. Do not walk onto another court during a game.

Keep a good speed of play between points and for change of ends / in-between sets.

Accessing a court whilst others are in use

Wherever possible access the court by means of an external gate. If not possible, before crossing a court to get to yours, wait for the conclusion of the point or if the match is a competitive one wait until the end of game, or until you are invited to cross, and do so as quickly as possible.

Be aware if you are already playing on court that others may wish to cross your court in order to access their own court and facilitate that where possible.

If your ball rolls onto an adjacent court, wait for a break in the play in that court before politely requesting its return rather than retrieving it yourself.

Close all gates behind you.

Line Calls

Only call the lines on your side of the net and call clearly.

If you are not certain, or did not see the ball clearly, the ball was good and the doubt must be given in favour of the opponent.

If there is doubt over a line call, consider offering to replay the point.

Keeping score

The server should announce the score before each point.

If the server forgets or does so inaudibly, the receiver should request the server to make an audible announcement of the score.

If the server announces the score loudly and audibly, the receiver should challenge the score at that point if they believe the score to be wrong.

Mobile phones

Mobile phone calls should not be made or received on court: leave the court to make or receive a call.

Mobile phones taken onto court should be switched off, or put on silent or vibrate mode, so as to avoid creating a distraction, unless there is an exceptional reason not to and if so communicate this to your opponent.

Clothing and footwear

Players should wear recognised tennis clothing of any colour together with tennis footwear.

Tennis footwear is required both to promote safety, as unsuitable footwear can provide insufficient grip, and also to prevent damage to the courts.

COMPLAINTS AND SANCTIONS

If any member(s) believes that they have experienced either a breach of the code of conduct or a serious breach of the policy on court etiquette then they should contact the Chair or Club Secretary, or the Welfare Officer if they feel it is a safeguarding issue.

A member of the Committee will then arrange separate meetings with the member(s) and the person/people who are the subject of the complaint to discuss the issue.

In considering the complaint, the Committee will take into account any background information they consider relevant, including the personal circumstances of the person who is the subject of the complaint, together with any external advice or guidance available to them that may be appropriate.

After the Committee has deliberated and decided on a course of action with regards to the complaint a feedback meeting with the member(s) concerned will be arranged.

In the event of any complaint being upheld, the Committee will make a decision in line with Rules of DPTC and may impose any one or more of the following sanctions on a member found to be in breach of this Code of Conduct or in serious breach of this Policy on Court Etiquette as it considers appropriate in all the circumstances, namely:

• A warning as to future conduct.
• Disqualification from any event or tournament in which the breach has taken place.
• Suspension of a member from membership.
• Exclusion of a non-member from the club’s premises.
• Expulsion of a member from the club.
• If the matter is a safeguarding issue, then the appropriate line of action will be taken in accordance with the club’s Safeguarding Policy and Procedures.

If in any doubt – ASK. Please speak to any member of the committee for any further advice.

We want everyone to enjoy their tennis and love the club as much as we do!