Leagues Schools Clubs Coaches Tournaments States Australian Open
Menu

Regulations and Code of Behaviour

2024 Australian Competitive Play Regulations

These regulations are in effect from January 1, 2024 until December 31, 2024.

These regulations are in effect from January 01, 2025 until December 31, 2025.

Code of Behaviour

This Code of Behaviour applies to all players, coaches, parents/guardians and spectators participating in or attending a Tournament in Australia.

Tennis Australia, its Member Associations and Affiliates are committed to providing every member of the Australian tennis community a welcoming, safe and inclusive tennis environment that promotes the physical, social and emotional wellbeing of all participants.

Participants are the custodians of the sport of tennis, and responsible for upholding the spirit of tennis.

This new Code of Behaviour is effective immediately.

> View Code of Behaviour: Competitive Play

Code of Behaviour – Update to take effect on 1 January 2025 

As part of our commitment to providing a fair, respectful, and enjoyable competitive play environment, Tennis Australia has recently updated the Code of Behaviour (Code). The revised Code, which reflects extensive feedback from players, parents, coaches, and officials, will take effect on 1 January 2025.

The Code is an important guide that sets standards for conduct at tournaments and competitions, ensuring that everyone involved can enjoy a positive experience. This update includes changes that better support fair play and improve the handling of behavioural issues on and off the court.

Key changes:

Expanded Spectator Misconduct Provisions: To help ensure a positive environment, we’ve expanded the rules around “spectator misconduct.” Disrespectful or derogatory behaviour on the sidelines is now clearly prohibited, so everyone can focus on supporting players in a constructive way.

Trial Allowances for Coaching: Recognising the challenge in enforcing a strict “no-coaching” rule, the Code now allows TA to trial coaching at specific events under controlled conditions. TA will advise participants and officials in advance of any event which is trialling coaching being permitted during matches. TA will then assess whether allowing coaching has a positive impact on player and spectator behaviour, as well as seeking feedback from those who were coaching at these events, prior to making any permanent rule change.

Streamlined Reporting and Complaints Handling: We have improved efficiencies in our complaint handling processes, to ensure all stakeholders are able to report on-court and sideline behavioural incidents and have them addressed promptly and proportionately, across all levels of our competition.

Child-Friendly Version of the Code: To enhance accessibility, a simplified version of the Code, which uses child-friendly language, and a flowchart will be annexures to the Code.

Disciplinary Flexibility: The TA Integrity team and Disciplinary Review Panel now have additional discretion in tailoring penalties to fit the context, allowing for adjustments like fines in place of suspensions where appropriate.

These updates aim to improve the experience for all participants by ensuring that competitive play environments are fair, safe, and respectful.

The new Code will be published here.

Rules of Tennis (ITF)

The International Tennis Federation regulates the Rules of Tennis. The complete Rules of Tennis are available on the ITF website. Rule Books are available from your Member Association.

> View the Rules of Tennis on the ITF’s website

> Video: Officiating – Introduction

 

Extreme Weather Policy

The policy is designed to protect competitive tennis players from injury and illness that may result by playing tennis in extreme weather conditions.

> View the Extreme Weather Policy

 

Player Dress and Equipment

Like most sports in Australia, tennis has certain requirements for players’ dress and equipment. These requirements vary depending on the type and nature of the event.

> View the Australian Tournaments Dress Code

 

Tennis Etiquette and Procedures for Matches Played without a Chair Umpire

The Rules of Tennis, as published by the ITF, assure the presence of a Chair Umpire or other officials to determine and interpret particular situations. Rules for non-umpired matches cover certain situations where players are determining their own matches.

> View the tennis etiquette and procedures for matches played without a chair umpire

 

Correcting Errors

The correcting errors documents provide clear answers to situations where a Rules of Tennis error is made.

> View the Correcting Errors document

© Copyright 2024 Tennis Australia