THE FOOTFAULT RULE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17572, 24 June 1925, Page 4

THE FOOTFAULT RULE.

AMENDMENT BY FEDERATION. Probably few laws have received as much attention and amendment as the footfault rule in lawn tennis. In the early days of the game the rule that “the server shall stand with one foot beyond the base line, and with the other foot on the base line, shall deliver the service from right and left courts alternatively, beginning from the right” stood the test of many years. But as the game altered and volleying was introduced it was realised the tremendous advantage a server had by advancing to the net and volleying his opponent’s return. This and the various means employed to serve while on the run necessitated further restriction of the server, and from the time the old rule was first amended attempts have been made almost every year to simplify it and tighten up the interpretation put on the new rule by players ever eager to gain an advantage in their progress to the net, or by umpires who are certainly not unanimous in their mode of thought. Until 1923 the rule was not uniform throughout the playing nations of the world, but in that year the International Lawn Tennis Federation was ( formed and immediately consideration ■ was given to the introduction of a universal footfault rule that would permit of only one interpretation. The | following rule was passed: “Immedi- J ately before commencing to serve the j server shall stand with both feet at rest on the ground behind (that is, further from the net than) the base line, and within the limits of imaginary continuation of the centre-mark and side-line. From the moment he takes his stand and until he strikes the ball with his racquet, both feet must remain behind the base line and one foot, at least, must remain in continuous contact with the ground.” This seems simple enough, and it was immediately acclaimed as the perfect cles interpretations have been applied i which were never intended. Evidently experiencing similar trouble the American Lawn Tennis Association sought to introduce some *of the previous year's rule by the following addition: “The server shall not take a walking or running start, but slight movement of either foot shall not be construed j as a walk or run.” However, this was modified at the annual meeting of the Lawn Tennis f Federation held in Paris last March 1 and attended by delegates from all the • playing nations. The following amendment to last year’s ride was passed, following “from the moment he takes his stand,” he shall “(a) not change position by walking or running; (b) shall maintain contact with the ground; (c) keep both feet behind the base line.” This is merely a simplified and clearer statement of what was intended j last year, and makes it apparent that I a player shall not be permitted to walk j or run; that in order to maintain con- j tact with the ground he must keep at j least one foot on the ground, and that at the time of impact both feet must be behind the base line. It is very clear, and yet one wonders what will be the next amendment necessary.