The Rules of Tennis
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) asserts the authority over whether Player Analysis Technology is legal for use during sanctioned play. Section 31 of the ITF Rules of Tennis published in the USTA Friend at Court essentially boils down to specification of the policy and procedures. The definition of Player Analysis Technology is actually in an appendix to the rules, and was the subject of last week’s post.
There are a wide variety of ways that the ITF examination of a particular items of Player Analysis Technology can be initiated. The ITF can decide to examine a device or a party with a “bona fide interest” can make an application. That could be a player, equipment manufacturer, or a national association such as the USTA. The ITF has Procedures for Review and Hearings in an appendix to the rules. I am sure that will make for scintillating posts once we get to that point.
As mentioned last week, the ITF publishes a list of approved Player Analysis Products on their website. They do not publish a list of products that are disapproved for use. This begs the question as to how knowledge of a prohibited device is communicated.
One good example is the Apple Watch which was released in 2015. From my own player experience, USTA umpires were acutely aware that the Apple Watch as well as other smartwatches were banned shortly thereafter. That mechanism of communication was typically provided via verbal communication prior to the start of the match.
Smartwatches are explicitly prohibited in USTA Comment 30.1. That comment is in the coaching section of the rules rather than in Player Analysis Technology.
USTA Comment 30.1: A player may bring to the court written notes that were prepared before the start of the match and may read these notes during the match. While on court or during a match, a player may not receive information via electronic devices capable of receiving communications such as cell phones and smartwatches.
USTA Comment 30.1, 2020 Friend at Court.
That comment obviously reflects a very recent addition to the rules since the word smartwatch was not in the common vernacular until after the introduction of those devices into the consumer market. In fact, the wording of the same comment in 2015 prior to the release of the Apple Watch is a walk down consumer technology memory lane.
USTA Comment 30.1: A player may bring to the court written notes that were prepared before the start of the match and may read these notes during the match. A player may not use electronic devices such as cell phones, digital messaging systems, radios, mp3 players, cd and dvd players, cassette players, and any device capable of receiving communication. Hearing aids and watches not capable of receiving messages are permitted. A player desiring to use any other electronic device should first ask the Referee whether the device may be used.
USTA Comment 30.1, 2015 USTA Friend at Court
These two comments together are the perfect illustration of the less is more principle. Rather that listing prohibited devices, it simply explains why such devices are prohibited, which is because they can send and receive messages. I seriously doubt that any player ever received illicit coaching from a cassette player.
- United States Tennis Association (2020) Friend at Court. White Plains, NY
- United States Tennis Association (2015) Friend at Court. White Plains, NY
- Approved PAT Products, ITF Web Page, viewed 12/16/2020
