Platform Tennis Etiquette
Platform tennis is a highly social sport, with a majority of participants being adult members of golf and country clubs. There are no serious junior players competing for rankings, college scholarships or pro tours. Most play is local and competitively compatible players tend to come in contact with each other dozens of times each season. Though the strategic elements of the sport are best experienced under competitive conditions, the low stakes and player familiarity typically keep most negative elements of competition in check.
Platform Tennis Leaguers generally conduct themselves extremely well on and off the court. In 4+ years, we have not had any serious incidents related to cheating, temper tantrums, disrespect of playing partners and/or opponents or general disrespect of the sport and/or the league. As our league continues to grow, we add dozens of players each session who are unfamiliar with typical platform tennis etiquette. In order to grow yet maintain this unique social/competitive balance, the existing player base needs to set appropriate examples for newcomers and be diligent in correcting problematic behavior.
Most Frowned Upon Act In Our Sport: Court Abuse
Never throw, kick, drop or pound your paddle in anger while inside a PT court. Intentional court abuse is the single most frowned upon act in our sport and is extremely selfish in nature. Unlike in tennis, where a racket thrower simply does damage to his or her own equipment and reputation, paddle throwers cause surface chipping and screen dents that others have to deal with for a long time. Our sport only has a couple of court builders capable of doing professional repairs, thus court fixes are extremely complicated, expensive and can take months to schedule. Because this act is so blatantly disrespectful, it often makes playing conditions uncomfortable for others and can reflect negatively on playing partners, opponents and other team and league members.
Zero Tolerance: Since a large number of our players are guests at the clubs participating in our league, we are held to very strict standards. Even minimal neglect or disregard for this item has the potential to limit the future of our league. Because of this, we have absolutely no tolerance for this behavior. Expulsion from the league, lack of future invites and liability for property damage will be considered if this behavior is witnessed.
Second Most Frowned Upon Act In Our Sport: Human Abuse
While scarcity of courts and clubs supporting PT make court abuse the unforgivable sin, human abuse is probably not such a great idea either. So please, no retaliatory headhunting or screaming obscenities at yourself, opponents or playing partners. This is more of a recommendation than a requirement. Apparently most prefer pleasantness to turmoil in leisure activities. So, please be respectful.
Wall Climbing Enhances No Shot
There is no shot in PT that requires a player to use the screens for propulsion to hit a shot. This especially goes for going foot first into a screen and jumping off of it. In addition to potentially damaging screens, such efforts serve no purpose and make you look ridiculous.
Blatant Foot Faulting Is Cheating
If you are an egregious foot-faulter, you are a cheater. It is simply your responsibility to stop cheating. Very few people are going to confront you on your foot faulting. You may feel it is not a big deal or that it has not been noticed. I can assure you it has.
Occasional, minor foot faulting (foot on line 1 of 10 serves) is extremely common and should not be made an issue unless you are playing in high level tournaments. There is no way for anyone other than a specific foot fault judge to make these calls.
Simply Replay The Point
First, remember the stakes of your local league PT match are extremely small. Second, this means your opponent is probably not looking to intentionally and repeatedly cheat you on calls (exception: egregious foot-faulters). Third, use basic conversational skills to talk through the situation. If the team making the call agrees there is some uncertainty, simply replay the point. Replaying the point is common in PT, as opposed to giving the point outright to the opponent as there is rarely an unretrievable ball. With that in mind, a team overruling itself on a line call can make a judgement call on retrievability and award the point outright to their opponents.
Bring a Friggin' Ball to Pick Up Matches
Everybody should bring at least one new ball to pickup matches and offer to use it. No exceptions.
Seriously, No Mittens
Only boxers can wear mittens without belittling their sport.
Platform Tennis Leaguers generally conduct themselves extremely well on and off the court. In 4+ years, we have not had any serious incidents related to cheating, temper tantrums, disrespect of playing partners and/or opponents or general disrespect of the sport and/or the league. As our league continues to grow, we add dozens of players each session who are unfamiliar with typical platform tennis etiquette. In order to grow yet maintain this unique social/competitive balance, the existing player base needs to set appropriate examples for newcomers and be diligent in correcting problematic behavior.
Most Frowned Upon Act In Our Sport: Court Abuse
Never throw, kick, drop or pound your paddle in anger while inside a PT court. Intentional court abuse is the single most frowned upon act in our sport and is extremely selfish in nature. Unlike in tennis, where a racket thrower simply does damage to his or her own equipment and reputation, paddle throwers cause surface chipping and screen dents that others have to deal with for a long time. Our sport only has a couple of court builders capable of doing professional repairs, thus court fixes are extremely complicated, expensive and can take months to schedule. Because this act is so blatantly disrespectful, it often makes playing conditions uncomfortable for others and can reflect negatively on playing partners, opponents and other team and league members.
Zero Tolerance: Since a large number of our players are guests at the clubs participating in our league, we are held to very strict standards. Even minimal neglect or disregard for this item has the potential to limit the future of our league. Because of this, we have absolutely no tolerance for this behavior. Expulsion from the league, lack of future invites and liability for property damage will be considered if this behavior is witnessed.
Second Most Frowned Upon Act In Our Sport: Human Abuse
While scarcity of courts and clubs supporting PT make court abuse the unforgivable sin, human abuse is probably not such a great idea either. So please, no retaliatory headhunting or screaming obscenities at yourself, opponents or playing partners. This is more of a recommendation than a requirement. Apparently most prefer pleasantness to turmoil in leisure activities. So, please be respectful.
Wall Climbing Enhances No Shot
There is no shot in PT that requires a player to use the screens for propulsion to hit a shot. This especially goes for going foot first into a screen and jumping off of it. In addition to potentially damaging screens, such efforts serve no purpose and make you look ridiculous.
Blatant Foot Faulting Is Cheating
If you are an egregious foot-faulter, you are a cheater. It is simply your responsibility to stop cheating. Very few people are going to confront you on your foot faulting. You may feel it is not a big deal or that it has not been noticed. I can assure you it has.
Occasional, minor foot faulting (foot on line 1 of 10 serves) is extremely common and should not be made an issue unless you are playing in high level tournaments. There is no way for anyone other than a specific foot fault judge to make these calls.
Simply Replay The Point
First, remember the stakes of your local league PT match are extremely small. Second, this means your opponent is probably not looking to intentionally and repeatedly cheat you on calls (exception: egregious foot-faulters). Third, use basic conversational skills to talk through the situation. If the team making the call agrees there is some uncertainty, simply replay the point. Replaying the point is common in PT, as opposed to giving the point outright to the opponent as there is rarely an unretrievable ball. With that in mind, a team overruling itself on a line call can make a judgement call on retrievability and award the point outright to their opponents.
Bring a Friggin' Ball to Pick Up Matches
Everybody should bring at least one new ball to pickup matches and offer to use it. No exceptions.
Seriously, No Mittens
Only boxers can wear mittens without belittling their sport.