Teaching Tennis Rules
The best time to teach the rules of tennis is during practice. The Official Special Olympics Sports Rules shall govern all Special Olympics tennis competitions. As an international sports program, Special Olympics has created these rules based upon International Tennis Federation (ITF) Rules for tennis. ITF Rules shall be employed except when they are in conflict with the Official Special Olympics Sports Rules. In such cases, the Official Special Olympics Sports Rules shall apply. Please refer to the
Official Special Olympics Sports Rules for the complete listing of tennis rules.
Match Play Rules
Competition will be governed by the Rules of Tennis from the official code of the ITF. Please note items of particular interest below.
Service: The service motion may be underhand or overhand. The ball shall not bounce before being struck.
Scoring: One six-game, no-ad pro set will be used, with a 12-point tiebreak played at six games all (6-6). Traditional scoring of love, 15, 30, 40, etc. or simplified scoring of 1, 2, 3, 4 may be used. At deuce (or 3-3), the server serves into the side of the court chosen by the receiver.
Continuous play: Umpires allow 25 seconds between points and 90 seconds on changeovers. There is no break after the first game.
Coaching: Players may receive coaching from a designated coach when the player changes ends at the end of a game. Coaching is not allowed during a tiebreaker.
Balls: Three new balls should be used for all matches.
Officials: Officials will call lines, service lets, foot faults, time violations and code violations under the ITF point penalty system. Lateness for match will be penalized in accordance with the point penalty system.
Medical Timeouts and Toilet Breaks: A medical timeout for each new medical condition, or aggravation of a pre-existing condition, may be taken during the warm-up or match for a treatable medical condition. Treatable medical conditions include, but are not limited to, injury, illness, and heat-related conditions and cramps. Once the umpire is notified and the trainer or medical personnel has reached the court and made a diagnosis that the condition is treatable, the three-minute treatment time begins. A player may request one or more toilet breaks during the match. Coaching is not allowed during medical breaks or toilet breaks. Players will be escorted during toilet breaks.
Unified SportsŪ Rules
There are few differences in the rules for Unified Sports doubles competition as stipulated in the Official Special Olympics Sports Rules and modifications outlined in the rules book. The additions are highlighted below.
- Each Unified Sports doubles team shall consist of one athlete and one partner.
- Each team shall determine its own order of service and selection of courts (ad or deuce).
The selection of athletes and partners of similar age and ability is essential for Unified Sports doubles competition. Though rule modifications have been implemented to minimize differences between athletes and partners, inappropriate competition experiences and a higher risk of injury result from teams where athletes and partners are poorly matched.
Protest Procedures
Protest procedures are governed by the rules of competition. The role of the Competition Management Team is to enforce the rules. As coach, your duty to your athletes is to protest an action or event that violates the Official Tennis Rules. Protests should be filed to correct a specific rules violation. Making a protest is a serious matter that impacts the competition schedule. Check with the Competition Management Team prior to competition to learn the protest procedures for that competition.
