ITF

21 FACILITIES GUIDE | JUNE 2020 FENCING Fencing has two main purposes: • To contain the ball within the playing area. • To provide security. There are several different types of fencing. The wire type is commonly used because it allows maximum light to pass through and people to see in and out, it's a relatively cost-effective option, and it contains the ball within the court boundaries (the effectiveness of this will depend in part on the height of the fence). Fencing should be constructed of (or covered with) rust resistant material, and should be free of protrusions that would increase the risk of injury to players. Plastic-coated chain-link netting is normally used. The mesh size needs to be sufficiently small to stop the ball going through. The ball is about 65 mm in diameter, so 45 mm or 50 mm mesh is often specified. The mesh should be fixed to the court side of the mounting posts to minimise erratic bounces. Backstop The height of the backstop depends on what is behind it. The minimum fence height is dependent on the location of the court and the problems and dangers associated with the ball going outside of the court confines. A minimum height would normally be 3.0 m, although certain conditions may require something higher, for example, if the court is close to a road or residential area. Sidestop The sidestop should be the same height as the backstop for at least 6.0 m from the backstop, with 9.0 m being recommended. Where a sidestop is used, it should not be less than 0.9 m in height.

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