My Child's Opponents Cheat

There is nothing worse than seeing your child trying hard and playing well yet being denied a victory by an opponent's bad line calling and/or gamesmanship.

It is also very difficult to know what to do during a match if you think it is happening and what to say at the end of the match to a distraught child.

Advice to Parents

During a match

Remember, one bad call, in your eyes, does not constitute cheating - anyone can make a mistake, especially in the heat of a match. However, if you see a pattern appearing you should contact the referee immediately and express your concern.

Unfortunately, there’s not an awful lot else you can do. It is something that all players have to learn how to deal with and the best way to learn is probably to fight it for themselves.

After a match

Immediately after the match is not the time to discuss what your child could or should have done. Support, understanding and a shoulder to cry on are the main things your child needs right then.

Leave the discussion and the advice until later when things have settled down. The thing that will amaze you is how quickly they get over it.

Advice to Players

Calling your lines

• Be firm but fair: If you are sure that the ball was out then call it out – immediately and firmly. 
• If you are unsure about whether the ball was in or out then play on or if the rally has stopped play a let. 
• Your opponent is allowed to challenge your calls. If they do and you are sure that your call was correct then stick to your call. You are under no obligation to play a let. 
• Your opponent is allowed to call the referee if they are unhappy about your calls. The referee will come onto the court and ask you where the ball landed and if you are sure about your call. Assuming you are, then stick to your call and the referee should rule in your favour.

Calling the score

• After each point make sure you call the score out clearly. 
• If your opponent calls the score and you do not agree – do not play on. Discuss the score with them and if you can not agree by counting back then call the referee.

Your opponent’s line calls

• Your opponent is usually in the best position to call their lines. In most situations you should trust their call even if you are not sure yourself. 
• You do have the right to challenge their call by asking, ‘Are you sure?' If they reply ‘yes' then you have to accept the call. 
• If you are continually unhappy about your opponent’s line calling you have the right to call the referee. The referee will not change calls that have already been made, but they will usually stay and watch to make sure that the lines are being called fairly. 
• Remember bad line calls very rarely decide matches. But how a player reacts to a bad line call can often decide a match. If you feel that you have been the victim of a bad line call then make sure that it only costs you one point by re-focusing immediately and getting on with the next point.

Calling lines on clay

• On clay, the marks left by the ball can be used to judge line calls. 
• If a line call is in question then the player should draw a semi-circle around the mark that the ball left so that it can be examined. 
• If a player removes a mark then it is assumed that the ball was in.