Tournament Ball Safety Protocols
A deep dive into ball hygiene protocols implemented at a recent UTR tournament conducted in my geographic region.
2 responsesSix Weeks to a Better Level of Tennis: Week Two
This project has brought me to the realization that my tennis training has been suffering under the tyranny of the calendar. Due to my age and geographic good fortune, I have a lot of opportunities to play both league and tournament tennis. I habitually fill my calendar with those opportunities. Consequently I am perpetually heading into some sort of match that matters.
Tennis… We Need To Discuss Your Ball Hygiene
I was kind of surprised at the focus of the most skeptical comments I received following “Special Edition: COVID-19 and Recreational Tennis.” Those comments were in response to the recommendation to have a dedicated set of balls for each player and to avoid touching the other players balls. A few people asserted that it would simply be impossible to do that. There was also a contingent that conceded that it was possible, but regarded the practice as more trouble than it is worth.
COVID-19: Many Happy Returns?
It seems like forever ago, but back in March, I passed on recommendations on how play tennis safely during the COVID-19 social distancing guidelines in “Special Edition: COVID-19 and Recreational Tennis.” The USTA finally (and relatively recently) got around to posting their own recommendations on a “USTA COVID-19 Updates” web page which is prominently currently featured on their home page.
Wrapping Up Tennis Hindrance: ITF Hindrance Video
To tie a bow on the Hindrance Section in the ITF Rules of Tennis, I want to share a video that the ITF published on Hindrance. I don’t know exactly when the video was made, but Tennis Australia posted it on YouTube in 2010.
Tennis Hindrance: Dastardly Doubles
Today we will dispense with the final Case Decision in the Hindrance section of the ITF Rules of Tennis. It is also an excellent case study for discussion on how seemingly arbitrary the hindrance rule can be at times.
3 responsesTennis Hindrance: Stray Balls
In “Ball Strikes Ball” I confessed that I may have made a rules based error when chastising the umpire I gave birth to for not clearing stray tennis balls off her court during her matches. Specifically, I mentioned that I carried a dog eared copy of the “ITF Rules of Tennis” in my bag as supporting evidence for my assertion that leaving balls on the court would result in a loss of the point.
The May Introspection: The New Normal
I have been thinking a lot about what the “new normal” will be when competitive tennis resumes. I am starting to see some tentative plans for flex singles leagues and tournament announcements. Will tournament swag bags contain a mask to wear in the pro-shop and a bottle of hand sanitizer?
Six Weeks to a Better Level of Tennis: Week One
My Week 1 progress report of my implementation of Dennis Ralston’s “Six Weeks to a Better Level of Tennis.” I describe the general process I use to identify and track training activities. Details are also provided on Ralston’s “Davis Cup Workout” along with how it lead me to discover a new muscle in my body that up to this point has apparently just been along for the ride.
Tennis Hindrance: Going a Little Batty
As I have progressed through this project I have encountered rules and ITF Case Decisions that seem pretty straight forward at first glance. Sometimes as I start exploring such rules, complexity emerges that was not immediately apparent to me. Today’s ITF Case Decision is one of those instances.