FNQ regional assembly - Junior Development Series

Player Code of Conduct

The Purpose of the Code

To preserve the image and integrity of tennis in Australia and to promote sportsmanlike conduct in tournaments by dealing with breaches of discipline in a consistent manner.

Application

The Code of Behaviour applies to violations occurring during tournaments in Australia (including ITF, ATP and WTA tournaments held in Australia) or at officially sanctioned activities related to these tournaments. It also applies to instances of unacceptable behaviour (as deemed by TA) that may occur off-precinct during a tournament.

Incidents involving harassment, discrimination, abuse (not verbal abuse within the Code of Behaviour) and vilification (all of which are defined within the Member Protection Policy) may be dealt with pursuant to the TA Member Protection Policy and not these regulations.

Interpretation and on-site administration

The Tournament Director and all officials appointed by the tournament are empowered with the authority of administering these regulations. All officials appointed by the tournament are empowered with the authority to interpret and determine match offences documented within these regulations, and take appropriate action. The referee is the final on-site authority regarding the interpretation of match and tournament offences within the Code of Behaviour regulations.

Mutual recognition

Any penalty imposed upon a player under this Code of Behaviour will be recognised and respected by all ATOs. A player is not permitted to play any tournaments or weekly competitions during the time of any suspension imposed under this Code of Behaviour.

Disciplinary process

Breaches of the Code of Behaviour will be dealt with according to the guidelines as detailed on pages 7 – 9 of the Tennis Australia Code of Behaviour.

 Standard Code of Behaviour violations include:

 

  1. Commencement of play (‘no show’)

A player is not ready to commence play within 15 minutes of his/her match being called. The referee shall designate the official timepiece. This can also be deemed a ‘no show’.

  1. Physical abuse

A player physically abuses any official, opponent, spectator, or other person within the precinct. For the purposes of this rule physical abuse is the unauthorised touching of an official, opponent, spectator or other person.

  1. Verbal abuse

Players shall not at any time directly or indirectly verbally abuse any official, opponent, sponsor, spectator, or other person within the precincts of the tournament/competition site. For the purpose of this rule, verbal abuse is defined as a statement about an official, opponent, sponsor, spectator or other person that implies dishonesty or is derogatory, insulting, racially or otherwise abusive.

  1. Audible obscenity

Players shall not use an audible obscenity within the precincts of the tournament/competition site. For the purposes of this rule audible obscenity is defined as the use of words commonly known and understood to be profane and uttered clearly and loudly enough to be heard by the court officials or spectators.

  1. Unsportsmanlike conduct

A player shall not during any tournament/competition engage in conduct that damages the image and integrity of tennis. Players shall at all times conduct themselves in a sportsmanlike manner and give due regard to the authority of officials and the rights of opponents, spectators and others. For the purposes of this policy, unsportsmanlike conduct is defined as any misconduct by a player, prior to, during or subsequent to a match that is clearly abusive or detrimental to the sport, including, but not limited to blatant cheating, but does not specifically fall within other violation categories. 

  1. Unreasonable delays

A player unreasonably delays a match. A player shall commence the match after the expiration of the established warm-up period. Thereafter, play shall be continuous as provided in the Rules of Tennis and a player shall not unreasonably delay a match for any cause. When a violation is a result of a medical condition, refusal to play or not returning to the court within the allocated time a code violation (delay of game) penalty shall be assessed in accordance with the code schedule. Other delays may be dealt with as a time violation.

  1. Visible obscenity

A player makes offensive or obscene gestures during any match or within the precinct. For the purposes of this rule, visible obscenity is defined as the making of signs by a player with his hands, body and/or racquet/balls that commonly have an obscene meaning.

  1. Abuse of racquets or equipment

A player violently or with anger, hits, kicks or throws a racquet or other equipment, or in any way unreasonably interferes with any court fixtures and equipment within the precinct.

  1. Abuse of balls

Players shall not violently, dangerously or with anger hit, kick or throw a tennis ball within the precinct except in the reasonable pursuit of a point during a match (including warm-up).

  1. Leaving the court

A player leaves the court area during a match (including the warm-up) without the permission of an official.

  1. Best efforts

A player shall use his/her best efforts to win a match when competing in a tournament/ competition. For the purposes of this rule, the referee shall have the authority to penalise a player in accordance with the Code of Behaviour.

  1. Coaching

A player receives any type of coaching from any person while a match is in progress, except where special provision is made for a tournament/competition. Communication of any kind, audible or visible between a player and any other person may be construed as coaching. Coaching shall be permitted where there is an off-court break between sets or during interruptions to play caused by bad weather or light where players leave the court. Coaching is not permitted while a court is being serviced at the end of or during a set and players are still on court, or during a toilet break.

  1. Failure to complete a match

A player must complete a match in progress unless he/she is reasonably unable to do so. A violation of this section may subject a player to immediate default.

  1. Conduct unbecoming

A player who behaves in a manner considered to be detrimental to the best interests of the event and the sport will be deemed to have committed a violation. For the purpose of this rule, a violation may occur at, or away from, the precinct e.g. at a place of accommodation. A relevant report will be provided to the Australian Tennis Organisation with a view to possible referral to a tribunal.

  1. Time violation

Where a player takes longer than the prescribed time between points, or at the change of ends, the official will determine whether a violation has occurred. If it is determined that a violation has occurred the first violation shall be penalised by a warning and each subsequent violation by a point penalty.

Notwithstanding the previous paragraph, when a time violation is a result of natural loss of physical condition, injury or refusal to play after being ordered to play by an official a penalty will be assessed in accordance with the code violation – unreasonable delays. 

OTHER DETAILS

No player should leave the playing venue without the express permission of the Circuit Administrator or Tournament Director. If leaving, players should ensure that there are no further matches scheduled during their absence as a forfeit may result.

Players must keep in mind that matches could be called earlier than the scheduled time!

Ideally, all players are required to be present for the presentation of trophies, however, as we often lead busy lives this is not always possible.

If you are to receive a trophy and cannot attend the presentation, please let the TD or Circuit Administrator know so that an alternate presentation time can be arranged.

Photos of the winners and runners-up are to be taken at each event for media and recording purposes.

The Code of Behaviour On-Court Process to be implemented will depend upon your specific club/association procedures.

The below process is to be employed at all Australian Ranking Tournaments in accordance with the Tennis Code of Behaviour:-

Where an Official has a reasonable and reliable belief that a Standard Code Violation has occurred, the Official shall issue the following penalties in any one match:-

  • 1st Offence – Code Violation
  • 2nd Offence – Point Penalty
  • 3rd Offence – Match Default*

* A match default can only be administered by the Tournament Referee

The tournament referee, after consultation with any official and taking into account all the facts, may determine that a significant violation warrants an immediate match default without progressing through the above stages. In addition, after consultation with the tournament director it may be determined that the violation also warrants suspension from the remainder of the tournament.

Where any point penalty is applied in accordance with the regulations the player shall be notified immediately where a chair umpire is present, or applied within the specific game by the relevant official in the case of non-chair umpired matches.

If the point penalty cannot be issued during the specific game, a code violation second offence will still be issued.

 

WholeHealth Points Race

U10 (Green) U11 and U13 (Yellow) evens will be participating in the WholeHealth Points Race.

Points will be allocated as follows:

1st = 150 points 2nd = 110 points 3rd = 75 points
4th = 60 points 5th = 40 points 6th = 30 points
7th = 25 points 8th = 13 points 9th + = 5 points

Code Violations:

Any Points Race player receiving a Code Violation will lose 20 points with the 1st Code Violation; 2nd Code will lose 40 points and a Point Penalty imposed; 3rd Code Violation will see all points for that event lost and be defaulted from the even. In addition, it will attract a review by the TCS.

U15 and U17 events

Offences are accumulative. Best behaviour means giving players a better chance of playing their best tennis.

Upon the third standard code violation, the TSC will review the details on a case by case basis and determine is such behaviour warrants suspension of participation for the next FNQ JDS event.