ITF

ITF Rules of Beach Tennis 2016 Page 7 of 28 Decision: Yes. Once the ball is in play (the server has hit the ball) the receivers can move in any direction and either player can return the serve. Case 6: Can a receiver run forward to block a serve? Decision: Yes. Provided that a) the player's movement is not considered to be distracting to the opposition (Hindrance) and b) the ball has crossed the net before the receiver hits it. 10. CHOICE OF ENDS & SERVICE The choice of ends and the choice to be server or receiver in the first game shall be decided by toss before the warm-up starts. The player/team winning the toss may choose: a. To be server or receiver in the first game of the match, in which case the opponent(s) shall choose the end of the court for the first game of the match; or b. The end of the court for the first game of the match, in which case opponent(s) shall choose to be server or receiver for the first game of the match; or c. To require the opponent(s) to make one of the above choices. Case 1:Do the player/teams have the right to new choices if the warm-up is stopped and the players leave the court? Decision: Yes. The result of the original toss stands, but new choices may be made by the players/teams. 11. CHANGE OF ENDS The player/team shall change ends at the end of the first, third and every subsequent odd game of each set. The player/team shall also change ends at the end of each set unless the total number of games in that set is even, in which case the player/team change ends at the end of the first game of the next set. During a tie-break game, a player/team shall change ends after the first point and thereafter every four points. 12. BALL IN PLAY Unless a fault or a let is called, the ball is in play from the moment the server hits the ball, and remains in play until the point is decided. 13. BALL TOUCHES A LINE If a ball touches a line, it is regarded as touching the court bounded by that line. In case of a change in the position of any line, prior to the start of a point a player/team may request the chair umpire to make taut the line (this may be done by a player in the case of a match without a chair umpire), but any such adjustment will not impact on the outcome of any previous point. 14. BALL TOUCHES A PERMANENT FIXTURE OR NET POST If the ball in play touches a permanent fixture or the net post before it hits the ground, the player who hit the ball loses the point. 15. ORDER OF SERVICE At the end of each standard game, the receiver (s) shall become the server (s) and the server (s) shall become the receiver (s) for the next game. In doubles, the team due to serve in the first game of each set shall decide which member of that doubles team shall serve for that game. Similarly, before the second games starts, their opponents shall decide which player shall serve for that game. The partner of the player who served in the first game shall serve in the third game and the partner of the player who served in the second game shall serve in the fourth game. This rotation shall continue until the end of the set.

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