In USTA league tennis, it is certainly against the rules to foot fault. However, it is an area of the game that players tend to give each other some leeway, if they even pay any attention to it at all.

The time to call it is when it’s blatantly obvious and repetitive. Typically, this is rare in singles play. The vantage point is just not there to be sure. In doubles though, if a player is consistently stepping way over the line when serving, and it’s flagrantly obvious, here’s what I recommend:

1. Warn His/Her Partner

Generally, the player’s own partner is the best one to deliver the news to the server. Just make a quick, polite comment like “Your partner is stepping on the line when serving, I haven’t called it yet but you should probably mention it”. If this is too wishy washy for you (or you’re playing singles), move on to #2.

2. Warn The Server

After the server finishes the game (or point for extremely obvious foot faulting), let the server know they are foot faulting. Usually, this is enough to make them aware of the problem and fix it.

3. Warn Them Again

If they still foot faul, it’s time to increase the pressure a tad. Warn them that you will have to call them on a foot fault the next time you see it happen. They aren’t going to like this but hey, rules are rules and you’ve given them more than enough polite warnings. If they STILL foot fault, move on to #4.

4. Call The Foot Faults

Each time you see it, call it. At this point you’ve done all you can and have been more than fair. If they complain, you can say you’ve warned them. If this is an official USTA event/match, you can request a line judge to come watch for the foot faults as well.

More Information

Read #24 of the USTA’s “THE CODE: The Players’ Guide for Unofficiated Matches” for more information on foot faulting in USTA League play.

All the ball needs to do is touch the line. Even if most of the ball is outside the line, it’s in. Along with this rule comes tennis etiquette. If it’s too close to call, and in most cases it is, the ball should be played. It’s only out if it is clearly outside and not touching the line should it be called out to end the point.

Look at the picture below. If you were playing doubles, which of these three balls (A, B, and C) would you call out?

If you answered:

A – You’d be wrong. This ball clearly landed on the line.
B – You’d be wrong. This ball caught the edge of the line; it’s in.
C – You’d be wrong, and a cheater. You should not be allowed to play tennis and should be fined/imprisoned.

If you said “none”, congratulations! You are capable of understanding a basic rule of tennis! Pat yourself on your back and rub your tummy.

Novak foot faulting.

It’s USTA league season again (well, when isn’t it?). And one of the most missed/ignored rules is the foot fault. Here’s a reminder from Sheila Banks, Director of Adult/Senior Recreation USTA/Pacific Northwest, reminding players of the foot fault rule and how to handle a team that is committing foot faults:

Please pass this on to your Captains as I have received concerns that many players are footfaulting during their matches.

Foot Faults are considered cheating and at no time to be allowed. Here is the description of a Foot Fault as well as how to handle it in an unofficiated match. We have allowed Court assistant to help out in these cases and they may be spectators or additional team members. Once the individual comes to the net, the person should not make a call unless a player appeals to the court assistant.

Friend at Court – Foot Fault p.15

During the service motion, the server shall not:

• Change position by walking or running, although slight movements of the feet are permitted or
• Touch the baseline or the court with either foot or
• Touch the area outside the imaginary extension of the sideline with either foot or
• Touch the imaginary extension of the centre mark with either foot

And for reference:

Code p. 54/55

Footfaults: A player may warn an opponent that the opponent has committed a flagrant foot fault. If the foot faulting continues, the player may attempt to locate an official. If no official is available, the player may call flagrant foot faults. Compliance with the foot fault rule is very much a function of a player’s personal honor system. The plea that a Server should not be penalized because the server only just touched the line and did not rush the net is not acceptable. Habitual foot faulting, whether intentional or careless, is just as surely cheating as is making a deliberate bad call.