2015 SONA National Tennis Championships
Tennis Rules
Level 1: Individual Skills
42’ court with red foam ball
Description sheet follows.
Level 2: Matchplay 42’ court with red foam ball
Events: Singles, Doubles, Unified Sport Doubles,
Play format - 1 traditional No-Ad set. The player/team to win 6 games by 2 games first wins the match. At 6 games
all a 7 point tie break is played. In a tie break, first to win 7 points by 2 points shall win the match.
Scoring: Traditional scoring verbiage: 15, 30, 40, game. Tie breaks verbiage: 1,2,3,4
Rules: All rules apply; exception: Court size 42’ and ball – Red Foam
Divisioning: Based on gender, age and submitted rating score.
All serves would be ITF/USTA legal serves: overhand or underhand with no bounce into the correct service box.
Serves remain consistent through all five levels.
Level 4: Matchplay 78’ Court with Green Dot Ball
Events: Singles, Doubles, Unified Sport Doubles
Format: Best of 3 short sets. First to win 4 games by 2 games wins the set. At 4 games all, a 7pt tie break is played.
The player/team to win 7 points by a margin of two points wins the set. In lieu of the 3rd set, a 10 pt match tie
break is played. First player/team to win 10 points by a margin of 2 points wins the match. If there is to be a match
tie-break for the 3rd set, there is a 3 minute rest period before the tie-break. In those 3 minutes,coaching is
allowed.
Scoring: Traditional scoring verbiage: 15, 30, 40, game. Tie breaks verbiage: 1,2,3,4
Rules: All ITF rules apply
Divisioning: Based on gender, age and submitted rating score.
All serves would be ITF/USTA legal serves: overhand or underhand with no bounce into the correct service box.
Serves remain consistent through all five levels.
Level 5: Matchplay 78' court with yellow ball – Traditional Match play
Events: Singles, Doubles, Unified Sport Doubles
Format: Best of 3 short sets. First to win 4 games by 2 games wins the set. At 4 games all, a 7pt tie break is played.
The player/team to win 7 points by a margin of two points wins the set. In lieu of the 3rd set, a 10 pt tie break is
played. First player/team to win 10 points by a margin of 2 points wins the match. If there is to be a match tiebreak for the 3rd set, there is a 3 minute rest period before the tie-break. In those 3 minutes, coaching is allowed.
L5 - Open Division: Athletes rated 6.0+ may compete in this division. Athletes will play best of 3 full sets. First to
win 6 games by a margin of 2 games wins the set. At 6 games all, a 7pt tie break is played. The player/team to win
7 points by a margin of two points wins the set. In lieu of the 3rd set, a 10 pt tie break is played. First player/team
to win 10 points by a margin of 2 points wins the match.
Scoring: Traditional scoring verbiage: 15, 30, 40, game. Tie breaks verbiage: 1,2,3,4
Rules: All ITF rules apply
Divisioning: Based on gender, age and submitted rating score.
All serves would be ITF/USTA legal serves: overhand or underhand with no bounce into the correct service
box. Serves remain consistent through all five levels.
Note: When using the match tie-break to replace the final set:
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The original order of service continues. (Rules 5 and 14)
In doubles, the order of serving and receiving within the team may be altered, as in the beginning of each set. (Rules 14 and
15)
Before the start of the match tie-break, there shall be a 3 minute set break at which time coaching is allowed.
Penalties: Athletes’ will be access penalties by the official for racquet abuse, verbal abuse, or unsportsmanlike behavior.
Adjusted from USTA Rules: Warning, point, game, default match.
Indoor – Inclement weather
The decision to shorten or delay matches will be made by consensus of the Chief Umpire, Tournament Director and
Director of Sports and Competition for SO_SC.
Monday morning has been set aside, in case of inclement weather. We will continue unfinished matches at that time.
Awards will follow the completion of the division.
If however the need arises to shorten the schedule, due to continuing inclement weather, the following shall be put into
effect for that day’s round. Our goal is for all athletes to have the opportunity to compete in the day’s round.
A 20 minute time limit will be put into effect, playing a 1 no-ad set including a 2 minute warm up. When time is called,
the player who has won the most games shall be declared the winner. If match is tied, one (1) sudden death point shall
be played. The athlete next to serve shall serve and the receiver shall choose which side (Deuce or Ad) to receive on.
Special Olympics Tennis
LEVEL 1 – 42’ court with Red Foam Ball
Individual Skills Competition
NOTE: Competition Managers must specify the type of ball to be used at each ISC competition. These may be a
traditional tennis ball, low compression ball, or foam ball. The preferred ISC ball is the Speed Ball, distributed by the
Professional Tennis Registry (PTR).
a. Forehand Volley
1) The athlete stands approximately one meter from the net with the feeder on the other side positioned halfway between
the service line and the net. Each athlete is given 2 practice and five scoring attempts. The feeder underhand tosses each
ball to the athlete’s forehand side or racquet feed to the athlete’s forehand side
2) The athlete scores five points for hitting into either service box.
b. Backhand Volley
1) Same as forehand volley except feeder sends the balls to athlete’s backhand side. Each athlete is given 2 practice and
five scoring attempts.
2) The athlete scores five points for hitting into either service box.
c. Forehand Groundstroke
1) The athlete stands on or behind the service line. The feeder, positioned halfway between the net and service line on the
opposite side of the net, underhand tosses or racquet feeds the ball so it bounces once before reaching the athlete’s
forehand side. Each athlete is given 2 practice and five scoring attempts.
2) The athlete scores five points for hitting into either service box.
d. Backhand Groundstroke
1) Same as forehand groundstroke except the feeder sends the ball to the athlete’s backhand side. Each athlete is given 2
practice and five scoring attempts.
e. Serve—Deuce Court
1) Each athlete is given 2 practice and five scoring attempts to hit a legal serve from the right court to the deuce service
box. A ball landing in the correct service box will count 10 points. A zero (0) score is recorded if the athlete commits a
foot fault or fails to get the ball in the service box. A foot fault occurs when the athlete steps on or over the service line or
the imaginary extensions of the center mark or sideline.
f. Serve—Advantage Court
1) Same as serve to deuce court but from the left court to the advantage service box. Each athlete is given five attempts.
g. Alternating Groundstrokes with Movement
1) The athlete is positioned at the center service mark on or behind the service line. The feeder, positioned halfway
between the net and service line on the opposite side of the net, underhand tosses or racquet feeds the ball so it alternates
tosses to the athlete’s forehand and backhand sides. Each toss should land at a point which is both halfway between the
net and the service line. The athlete must be allowed to return to the center before feeding the next ball. Each athlete is
given ten attempts.
2) The athlete scores five points for hitting into either service box.
h. Final Score
1) A player’s final score is determined by adding together the scores achieved in each of the seven events which
comprise the Individual Skills Competition.