Tennis Etiquette for Junior Players: Unwritten Rules Every Player Should Know

Tennis has a long tradition of sportsmanship and etiquette. Knowing these unwritten rules makes you a better competitor and earns you respect from opponents, coaches, and tournament officials.

Before the Match

• Introduce yourself to your opponent at the net — a handshake and your name
• Spin the racket or flip a coin to determine who serves first
• Share the warmup fairly — hit to your opponent, not away from them
• The warmup is shared time, not a chance to scope out weaknesses or show off

During the Match

Line Calls

• Call balls on your side of the net only
• If you're not 100% sure a ball is out, it's in — always give the benefit to your opponent
• Make calls immediately and clearly — say "out" loud enough for your opponent to hear
• Never call a ball out after you've played it
• If you make a wrong call, correct it immediately and give the point to your opponent

Scoring

• The server calls the score before every first serve
• If there's a disagreement about the score, go back to the last score both players agree on
• Keep track of the score — it's both players' responsibility

General Court Behavior

• Don't walk behind a court while a point is in play — wait until the point ends
• If a ball from another court rolls onto yours, call a let and replay the point
• Return stray balls to other courts by rolling them to the back fence, not hitting them randomly
• Don't throw your racket, kick balls, or slam equipment — ever
• Don't make loud grunting or shouting noises designed to distract your opponent
• Don't coach yourself loudly to try to intimidate your opponent

Changeovers

• Go directly to your chair or towel — changeovers have a time limit
• Don't take longer than the allowed time (90 seconds for changeovers, 2 minutes between sets)
• If you need a bathroom break, wait for a set break

After the Match

• Shake hands at the net regardless of the result — look your opponent in the eye
• Say 'good match' or 'nice playing'
• Don't make excuses or complain about the outcome
• Report the score to the tournament desk promptly
• If you lost, congratulate your opponent sincerely — it's one of the hardest but most important things in tennis

Why Etiquette Matters

College coaches watch how juniors behave on court just as closely as how they play. A talented player with poor sportsmanship is a red flag. A competitive player with great etiquette is someone coaches want on their team. Your reputation follows you throughout your junior career — make it a good one.