FOOT FAULTS - More Questions Than Answers !!
By David Kjeldsen

I know it may be hard to believe, but I have a life outside of platform tennis. I love watching and or being at the US Open. If I am not at Flushing Meadows, I am watching the matches on television in my office or on my porch. On Day 2 of this year’s contest a situation arose that reminded me that platform tennis still has some unresolved issues.

Marat Safin, prepares his stance, his left foot is just over the “plane” of the center line, he starts his motion, his left foot moves back to clear the plane, both feet are now behind the base line, he strikes his serve. “Fault, foot fault” the line judge shouts.

Yes, one unresolved issue in platform is the “Foot Fault”.

Oh, I know there is an APTA rule which defines a foot fault and what the penalty is for a foot fault. But is the rule still relevant? If, by my estimate, 98% of the players are “afraid” to cite an opponent for foot faulting, what good is the rule? Even the APTA is reticent of foot faults thus the “grace” rule: warn on the first instance. Does this make sense? Do we warn our competition on their first “out” ball? Of course not. An out ball is just that: out. But why isn’t a foot fault just that: a foot fault.

Doesn’t everyone know an egregious foot faulter? Why don’t we call them on it? We all know foot faulting can give the server a tremendous advantage. For the most part, the vast majority of us are reluctant to call our opponents on their rule infraction. Why?

Foot faulting is a violation of the rules. No less a violation than an out ball. It’s not like an out ball is a “major” rule and the foot fault is a “minor” or “optional” rule. There are 27 rules in the Official Rules of Platform Tennis©. The founders must have thought foot faulting is a major problem because foot faults are described and dealt with not in an addendum, not in the etiquette section but front and center in the rule book as Rule 11. Number 11 out of 27; seems pretty important in my book.

We’ve all been in this position. It’s league day. Our opponent is warming up. He takes two plus steps into the court on his practice serve. Wow, what a foot fault. No, that’s incorrect. It’s a body fault! Do I want to look like a jerk telling him that he is so obviously breaking the rules? No, I’d rather stew about it the whole match; this is supposed to be a fun match after all. My opponent is now serving, both feet are squarely on the base line, anyone can see it. He takes a step into the court. He strikes the ball. It lands. I see it one half inch over the service line. I yell “Out!”. My opponent stares me down but lets the call stand. Why was I unafraid to make the tough call when the ball is just out but won’t make the obvious foot fault call? Why won’t my partner call the foot fault? Why don’t I request a foot fault judge to reduce my agida? Does it make me a bad person to request that the rules of the game be adhered to?

Is it time to change the foot fault rule? The current rule states a server shall “not change position by walking or running”. Why isn’t the “jump” serve considered “changing position”? While I love to watch the majesty of a perfectly executed “jump” serve, is such a serve good for our game?

Is it time to consider changing the foot fault rule to require both feet on the ground, behind the base line when serving?

Please let me know your thoughts on how to make the foot fault rule better and enforceable.

US Open day 4; second round match; it is late in the day session; it is set point; Amelie Mauresmo is serving: “Fault, foot fault!” resonates through the grandstand.

what do you think? let me know! info@platformtennisnews.com

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