Florida Gulf Coast University Campus Recreation
Tennis Doubles Rules
Regulations published in the Florida Gulf Coast University Intramural Captain’s Policy &
Procedure Manual will be the governing policies for all Intramural Sports. Team captains are
responsible for possessing a thorough understanding of these regulations and their implications.
Location
 Games will be played on the tennis courts next to the Recreational Outdoor Complex.
Schedule
 Participants are responsible for scheduling their own matches. A list of matches that need
to be played will be released to participants via IMLeagues.com and it is their job to
schedule a match with their opponent. A contact list will be provided to participants that
attend the MANDATORY captain’s meeting. The score must be emailed to
cbleich@fgcu.edu when the match is over.
 Teams must have two members on them. Participants may not switch teams during the
season. Teams may only swap out members with special permission from the intramural
coordinator.
 At the end of the season there will be a seeded playoff bracket with the top teams.

Regular season and playoff brackets will be posted online at imleagues.com. At the
end of the season, teams that qualify for the playoffs will be scheduled to play at
times that will be different than their regular season time so be sure that you have
enough players listed on the roster. Remember that only players who are registered
on www.imleagues.com and have properly signed onto a team are eligible to play.
Equipment
 Provision of Equipment - Each team is responsible for providing tennis balls for each
match they play. Participants are also responsible for providing their own tennis racquet.
Match Structure
 A match will consist one professional set.
 Winning the Set - The set will be won when one team wins eight games. A team does not
have to win by two games.
 Time Limit – There is no time limit.
 Teams must have both team members present for the match to officially count.
Order of Service
 First Serve - To determine the serve in the first game of the first set, the sides will volley.
Once the ball has legally crossed the net three times, the ball will be "live". The team
who wins the volley has choice of serve/receive or side. At the end of the first game the
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Florida Gulf Coast University Campus Recreation

receiver shall become the server, and the server shall become the receiver; and so on
alternately in all subsequent games of a match.
Changing Ends - Teams shall change ends at the end of the first, third and every
subsequent alternate game of each set and at the end of each set unless the total number
of games in that set is even.
The Serve
 Service Location - Before the server contacts the ball, he/she 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.
 Receiving the Serve - 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.
 The service is a fault when the server:
o Assumes the wrong position before serving
o Commits a foot fault
o Misses the ball while attempting to hit it
o Fails to hit the ball into proper service court
o The served ball hits a permanent structure other than the net, strap or band.
o The server hits his/her partner or anything he wears or carries with the served ball.
o ***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.
 Let - A let is a ball which on service touches the net, band or strap and is otherwise good.
A let also occurs if a service is delivered before the receiver is ready. If, however, the
receiver makes an attempt to return the ball he is considered to have been ready.
 Rotating Serve- Partners will alternate serves every game.
Player Faults
 Faults Resulting in Loss of Point - The following result in a point for the opponent of the
player committing the fault:
o The ball bounces twice on his side of the net.
o The player volleys the ball and fails to make a legal return to his opponent's court,
even when standing outside the court.
o His/Her body, clothing or racquet touch the net while the ball is in play.
o 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.
o The ball strikes him/her during play, even while out-of-bounds.
o The player throws the racket at the ball and makes an otherwise good return.
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Florida Gulf Coast University Campus Recreation
o The player hits the ball more than once. In doubles, both partners may swing at
the ball but only one may make contact.
o The player fails to return a ball that lands on a boundary line.
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