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Guidelines for Assessing Penalties

 

TABLE 6
(Table 17 in FAC)
Guidelines for Assessing Penalties

  ACTION ALWAYS PENALIZE GENERALLY PENALIZE SOMETIMES PENALIZE
RACKET ABUSE Throwing a racket that intentionally or inadvertently strikes a person X    

Throwing a racket into the fence or net

  X  
Throwing a racket in anger or any manner that could or does endanger any person or that damages any part of the court surface or equipment   X  
Breaking a racket   X  
Tossing a racket in the air     X
Tossing a racket at the player’s bag     X
Bouncing a racket on the court     X
BALL ABUSE Deliberately hitting, throwing, or kicking a ball that is not in play that hits a person X    
Deliberately hitting, throwing, or kicking a ball that is not in play that comes close to hitting a person   X  
Deliberately hitting, throwing, or kicking a ball that is not in play in a amanner that could cause damage or harm   X  
Deliberately hitting, throwing, or kicking a ball that is not in play in a manner that could cause damage or harm   X  
A player who hits the opponent while legitimately trying to return a ball to the opponent should not be penalized.
AUDIBLE/VISIBLE OBSCENITY OR PROFANITY Words & gestures that are considered patently offensive to court personnel, players, or spectators X    
References to sexual functioning X    
References to deities when associated with curses X    
VERBAL OR PHYSICAL ABUSE Physical attacks even if no one is hurt X    
Traditional fighting words X    
Ethnic or Racial Slurs X    
References to sexual orientation X    
Attacks on the competence of an official   X  
Taunting   X  
Insulting or abusive words & gestures that are directed at a person   X  
Words & gestures that are disrespectful, disruptive, or intimidating such as a loud, “Come on!” or “Okay.” After the opponent double faults or makes an error on an easy shot   X  

Words & gestures that are in the face of a person such as a strong pumped fist directed at close range to an opponent

  X  
COACHING Receipt of coaching X    
UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT Retaliatory Calls X    
Other unsportsmanlike conduct X    
An official may immediately default a player for a single flagrant unsportsmanlike act.  Examples of acts that may justify a penalty of immediate default include:  physical attacks; injury to an official or player through an a ct of racket or ball abuse; spitting, and racial, religious, and sexual orientations slurs.

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