USTA Rules, Regulations, & Ethical Practices 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A player claims a ball was out but has no clear view of the mark. According to the ITF Code of Ethics for players, they should:
- Call it out since they believe it may have been out
- Give the benefit of the doubt to the opponent and call it in (Correct answer)
- Request the opponent replay the point
- Ask a bystander for their opinion
Correct answer: Give the benefit of the doubt to the opponent and call it in
The ITF Friend at Court states that any ball that cannot be called out with certainty must be played as good.
Question 2: What does the USTA Code of Conduct prohibit coaches from doing during a sanctioned junior match?
- Sitting courtside
- Giving audible coaching between points during play (Correct answer)
- Discussing match strategy during changeovers
- Keeping score for the players
Correct answer: Giving audible coaching between points during play
Coaches are prohibited from coaching players during points; audible coaching between points is also regulated or prohibited depending on the level.
Question 3: In a third-set tiebreak scenario, the score is 6-6 in the final set. Which format does USTA most commonly use at recreational league level?
- Full advantage set
- 10-point match tiebreak (Correct answer)
- 7-point tiebreak
- Super tiebreak to 15
Correct answer: 10-point match tiebreak
USTA recreational leagues commonly use the 10-point match tiebreak in lieu of a full third set.
Question 4: A USTA coach is approached by a sponsor offering gifts in exchange for steering players toward their products. The ethical response is to:
- Accept the gifts and disclose to players later
- Decline and report the offer if it violates USTA policies (Correct answer)
- Accept only non-monetary gifts
- Discuss it with other coaches before deciding
Correct answer: Decline and report the offer if it violates USTA policies
Accepting gifts that create conflicts of interest violates USTA ethical standards; coaches must decline and may need to report such approaches.
Question 5: When a ball from an adjacent court rolls onto the playing court during a point, the correct ruling is:
- The point is automatically replayed (Correct answer)
- Play continues unless a let is called before or during the shot
- The player must stop and wait
- The point goes to the player who was not distracted
Correct answer: The point is automatically replayed
A ball entering the court during play is grounds for a let, allowing the point to be replayed.
Question 6: Which USTA policy specifically addresses the appropriate use of social media by coaches toward minors?
- USTA Concussion Protocol
- USTA Safe Play Policy (Correct answer)
- USTA Anti-Doping Program
- USTA Grievance Procedures
Correct answer: USTA Safe Play Policy
The USTA Safe Play Policy includes guidelines for appropriate digital and social media communication between coaches and minor players.
Question 7: A player disputes a line call during a self-officiated match. According to ITF rules, the player who made the call:
- Must change the call if the opponent disputes it
- May overrule their own call only if they are certain the call was wrong (Correct answer)
- Is always right since they are closest to the ball
- Must replay the point whenever disputed
Correct answer: May overrule their own call only if they are certain the call was wrong
A player may correct their own error only when they are certain a previous call was wrong; otherwise the original call stands.
USTA Rules, Regulations, & Ethical Practices 3
A player claims a ball was out but has no clear view of the mark.
According to the ITF Code of Ethics for players, they should: