Surprisingly Few Tennis Players Have A Knowledge Of The Rules Of The Game

Chronicle (Levin), 7 April 1949, Page 7

Surprisingly Few Tennis Players Have A Knowledge Of The Rules Of The Game

"Volley")

(By

How many of the 40,000 people who play lawn tennis in New Zealand have read tlie rules of the game and the interpretations that have been given them by recognised Umplres' Associatioiis ^ I should be surprised if one per cent could answer truthfully that they had done so. In every game it is one of the first essentials that the rules should be known.

Few players, for example, know definitely what constitutes a foot fault. I have seen players of some ability jumping off the ground as they serve. Others place their for''.ward foot close to the back line and parallel with it; then, as they serve, they turn the foot so that the toe is on the line. Others drag the back foot across the line before the ball is struck. Some walk in to the service. Here is rule (7) relative to serving. The server shall, throughout the delivery of his service (a) not change his position by walking or running; (b) maintain contact with the ground; (c) keep both feet behind (i.e., further from the net than) the base line. Ig would be well for all players to memorise this rule and to read carefully the notes following it in the book of rules of lawn tennis as presented by the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Umpires' Associa'.ion

in their official handbook. i The notes which have- appeared on this page from time to time during this season should have 1 shown 'young players that although tney can acquire a fair amount of proficiency by the light of nature. yet if they wish to become somei thirig more than mere dabblers . in the game, they must make a study of it and themselves. It is a game of science, skill, tenacity and en- : durance. ' A five-set match in the summer Inonths requires perfect physical fitness, and frequently in big.tournaments a player may have to play three such matches. For footbaTl. a game which is not as exacting | physically, training is recognised as an accepted thing. In tennis sY the training can be had on the courts, and players who aspire t take part in big tournament-5 should train by p'aying, getting thc . hardest practice possible.