Duties During Match

• General
• Rules
• Correcting Errors
• More Tips

General

• Call the score.
• Fill in scorecard.
• Ensure that players change ends and that play is continuous.
• Time 25 seconds between points.
• Time 90 second odd game changeovers. Start your stopwatch at end of last point of odd game. When 60 seconds have elapsed, announce "time". The server has 30 seconds to put the ball into play.
• Ensure that a maximum pause of 120 seconds is allowed at the end of each set.
• Ensure that play is resumed promptly after an authorized rest period.
• Watch for foot faults.
• Listen for let serves. Announce "let, first serve" or "let, second serve."
• Enforce the Point Penalty System with immediate action when a violation occurs.
• When game is finished, annouce "game", then player's name, and score.
• At the end of each set, record the time in the "time finished" space on the scorecard.
• During the tie-break, announce the leader's score first, opponent's score, then leader's name, i.e. "3-zero, Stuart".

Some Rules to Remember

The latest edition of Tennis Canada's Rules of the Court gives a comprehensive coverage of all the rules of tennis for singles, doubles and wheelchair tennis matches. There are also sections on:

• Rest Periods
• Suspended and Postponed Matches
• Medical Conditions and Treatment
• Toilet Breaks
• Violations of the Code of Conduct
• The Point Penalty System
• Time Violations
• Chair Umpire Announcements
• Tennis Canada Scorecard
• Code of Conduct for Officials

An additional resource is Friend At Court, the USTA Handbook of Tennis Rules and Regulations.
Read also The Code, which is the players' guide for unofficiated matches.

Correcting Errors

Source: International Tennis Federation

Error	Rule	In Game	Rule	In Tie-Break
Player serves from wrong half of the court	9	Point stands. Correct immediately.	27	Point stands. Correct immediately.
Player serves from wrong half of the court, one fault	11	Correct immediately, second serve.	11	Correct immediately, second serve.
Player serves out of turn	15 37	Point stands. Correct immediately. A fault served shall not count. In doubles if partner serves out of turn a fault served shall count. If game completed order remains as altered.	27 c.3	Point stands. Correct immediately. A fault served shall not count. In doubles if partner serves out of turn a fault served shall count. If game completed order remains as altered.
Error in order of receiving in doubles	38	Remains as altered until the end of the game. Resume original order of receiving for next game of that set.	38	Remains as altered until the end of the game
Mistake when changing ends	16	Point stands. Correct immediately.
Tie-break game/ Advantage game	27 c.1 c.2	If error discovered before second point, point stands, correct immediately. If error discovered after second point, remains as altered.
Ball change	32	If mistake, it shall be corrected when player/team is next due to serve. No ball change at beginning of tie-break game.

More Tips

• Remember to appear confident and in control of the match.
• In order to be as accurate as possible on the serve, watch the server strike the ball and track the ball until it lands.
• Always check the receiver just before the server hits the ball to make sure he/she is ready.
• Try to be aware of all that is happening on and around the court.
• Remember to watch the loser of the point. Usually problems and misconduct arise with the point loser.
• Train yourself to look at the scorecard as little as possible. Just mark the score, then keep your eyes and attention on the court and the players.
• Always look up from the scorecard when announcing the score.
• If you give a penalty for a code violation, the player may ask for and must be given a short explanation.