Tennis Etiquette, Rules, and Regulations
The following is a modified excerpt from the WRA Members Handbook. Bold indicates comments that are not in the Members Handbook. Italics provide standard tennis etiquette that is not spelled out in the Members Handbook.
Every player on the courts must be a WRA member or a valid guest. Periodic inspections will be conducted to ensure that MEMBERS or valid guests ONLY are using the tennis facilities. Only overnight house guests will be permitted to use the courts without being accompanied by a WRA member.
- Who Can Play: Members of WRA and their authorized guests. WRA procedures for guests and guest fees apply to guests using the tennis courts. Procedures for guests and guest fees are spelled out in the Membership Handbook.
- Tennis Etiquette and Sportsmanship: All WRA tennis players and guests are expected to follow established tennis etiquette and to exhibit a high level of sportsmanship. Learn the rules, respect the rights of others, and enjoy the game. The Members Handbook does not spell out “established tennis etiquette” in any detail. What follows in italics is a summary of the points of “established tennis etiquette” about which members have complained in the past due to infractions of standard etiquette.
- WRA tennis courts are for tennis only. Scooters, skateboards, roller skates, in-line skates, etc. are prohibited on WRA tennis courts.
- Appropriate attire is required. Tennis shoes are required. Flip flops and sandals are not tennis shoes. A shirt is also required.
- Never walk behind players when a point is in progress. Wait outside the courts or outside the court limits until the point is completed and then cross the court without undue delay. If the lifeguards have forgotten to open both gates to the tennis courts, ask them to do so to minimize the need to cross courts in use.
- Wait for a pause in play to ask for a ball to be returned.
- Retrieve balls for others promptly.
- Leave the court free of debris. WRA is a volunteer organization and nothing prohibits members from picking up stray balls, empty tennis cans, and other debris on the courts or from emptying courtside trash receptacles when they are full.
- Reservations: Courts 1 and 2 may be reserved in advance by signing up on the sign-up sheet located by the gate to Court 3. Court #3 is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Although not stated in the Members Handbook, these sign-up sheets also function as a record of tennis court use. Members are urged to sign in when they use the courts to provide a record of court usage in addition to the scheduled group activities.
- Procedures for Making Reservations: [See Members Handbook for details].
- Group Tennis Activities: Group activities may be scheduled on all courts. Examples of group activities include team practice, authorized lessons, round robins, and team matches. Only the Tennis Chairman may reserve block times for group activities, and this will usually be done before the sign-up sheet is posted. Group activity coordinators are responsible for ensuring clearing their activity through the Tennis Chairman and that block times are minimized. Although not mentioned in the Members Handbook, there is a schedule of the weekly court usage posted on the tennis bulletin board in the pool house. The purpose of this schedule is to alert all members to times when group activities are scheduled.
- Tennis Court Keys: WRA tennis players must obtain a tennis court key to use the tennis courts. Courts are kept locked at all times when the pool is not open. Keys cost $15 are available from the Tennis Chairman payable by check made out to WRA.
- Tennis Lights: Players may operate the lights from early dusk to 10:00 p.m. during the spring and summer months. Winter curfew is 9:00 p.m. The switch is on the pole nearest the gate at Court 3. The lights will remain on for intervals of 20-25 minutes. A red warning light will flash when the lights are within 5 minutes of turning off. Players must push the switch to reset the lights for the next interval. If the lights go out, there is an unavoidable 5-10 minute cool-down and restart time. Just push the switch and wait.
- Equipment Restrictions: No skateboards, bikes, scooters, or other recreational equipment except tennis-related equipment are allowed on the courts. No pets are allowed on the courts at any time. Courts are to be locked at all times, except when someone is playing or the pool is open. The last person to leave the courts will ensure that they are locked.
This content last updated April 15, 2009 @ 10:14 am