Play will be governed by the United States Tennis Association rules with Intramural exceptions.
Each participant or doubles team will be in a four team league and will play three match games and then the top two individuals from each league will be placed into a single elimination playoff tournament.
Note: To reschedule a match one must follow the Intramural rescheduling policies as outline in the I&D procedures.
If a match is rescheduled the participants must call (862-1884) or email (im@rec.tamu.edu) in their scores to the intramural held desk as soon as the match is completed. When leaving a message please include the following information: Sport played, names of participants, division played (i.e. Men’s independent, or women’s residence hall), skill level played (A, B, or C), and the original time and date of the match that you rescheduled.
Before the server begins to serve, he must stand with both feet behind the baseline within the center mark and sideline.
The service always begins to the right of center mark and is made to the opponent's right service court. After each point is played, service courts are changed for the next service in alternating fashion.
Once the server and receiver are ready, the serve shall commence. The server shall project the ball by hand into the air in any direction and strike it with his racket before it hits the ground. The server has two attempts to put the ball in play without committing a fault.
The ball must clear the net and land in the proper service court or on one of the lines of the proper service court before being hit by the receiver. After the service, the ball may be hit before it bounces.
Foot Faults - A foot fault on the serve will be declared when:
If any of these occur on the first serve, it is a fault. If any occur on both serves, it is a double fault and the point is lost.
A let is a served ball that touches the net, band or strap and is otherwise good.
A let may be called when a player is unable to play the ball due to circumstances beyond his control, such as interference by a ball or player from another court.
A let is called if a service is delivered before the receiver is ready. However, if the receiver makes an attempt to return the ball he is considered to have been ready.
When a let occurs on a service, only that service is repeated. If it occurs during play, the point is replayed.
A player loses the point if:
The ball bounces twice on his side of the net.
The player volleys the ball and fails to make a legal return to his opponent's court, even when standing outside the court.
His/Her body, clothing or racket touch the net while the ball is in play.
The player reaches over the net to play a ball unless the ball has bounced back over the net due to spin or to the wind.
The ball strikes him/her during play, even while out of bounds.
The player throws the racket at the ball and makes an otherwise good return.
The player hits the ball more than once. In doubles, both partners may swing at the ball but only one may make contact.
The player fails to return a ball that lands on a boundary line.
It is a good return when:
The ball touches the top of a net post or net and falls into play in the proper court.
If the ball, served or returned, hits the ground within the proper court and rebounds or is blown back over the net and he plays the ball, provided that neither he nor any part of his clothes or racket touches the net, posts, cord or metal cable, strap or band or the ground within his opponent’s court and that the stroke is otherwise good.
If the player's racket passes over the net after he has returned the ball, provided the ball passes the net before being played and is properly returned.
If a player succeeds in returning the ball, served or in play, which strikes a ball lying in the court.
If a player wins his first point, the score is called 15 for that player. On winning his second point, the score is called 30 for that player; and winning his third point the score is called 40, and the fourth point wona player is scored game for that player except if both players have won 3 points, then the NO-ad system will be used. There will be one point played to determine the game. The receiver has choice of which court to receive in.
Singles: A, having served the first game of the set, serves the first point from the right court; B serves points 2 and 3 (left and right), A serves points 4 and 5 (left and right) ; B serves point 6 (left) and after they change ends, point 7 (right); A serves points 8 and 9 (left and right); B serves points 10 and 11 (left and right), and A serves point 12 (left). A player who reaches 7 points during these first 12 points wins the gain and set. If the score has reached 6 points all, the players change ends and continue in the same pattern until one player establishes a margin of two points, which gives him/her the game and set. (Note: the players change ends every six points and the player who served first serves the first point of the next one from right court). For the following set, the players change ends and B serves the first game.
Doubles: The same pattern is followed with partners preserving their serving sequence. Assume A-B versus C-D, with A having served the first gain of the set. A serves the first point (right); C serves points 2 and 3 (left and right); B serves points 4 and 5 (left and right); D serves point 6 (left) and the team changes ends. D serves point 7 (right); A serves points 8 and 9 (left and right); C serves points 10 and 11 (left and right); B serves point 12 (left). A team that wins 7 points during these first 12 points wins the gain and set. If the score has reached 6 points all, the team change ends. B then serves point 13, (right) and they continue until one team establishes a two-point margin. Change ends for one to start a following set, with team C-D to serve first.
