Photo from Indian Wells

Tennis is one of the few sports where players self officiate in formal competition, unless it's a big tournament with referees, linespeople. For young people in particular, this is monumental as it demonstrates a high degree of trust and promotes self reliance and independent thinking.

Making accurate line calls however, is a learned skill. There are specifics to how it's done and if you know these, you're less likely to make errors in judgement, and you're free to explore the higher levels of the game with your reputation and character intact.

Everyone makes mistakes, but numerous mistakes add up to patterns from which others might evaluate us. The mistakes can also come from the person judging another. Either way, it is painful to be pegged as someone who "hooks" on line calls or cheats. It can cast a shadow on a player but it needn't if the issues are addressed.

Here is the opportunity for prevention. Parents and coaches need to take this seriously because the consequences, bad as they are when your child is labeled or labels someone this way, can be worse as an adult with compromised integrity. So, deal with it now. By addressing these topics, you're helping a child's future.

Let's talk about some reasons why bad line calls occur:

1. Player's vision is off, new glasses or a new prescription are in order.
2. Players haven't been exposed to the dynamics of how a ball can look in and be out and vice versa. (See below diagram)
3. Players are uncertain whose responsibility it is to call the different lines of the court.
4. The most distant player may not have the best look at the ball and perceives a bad line call being made.
5. Players want to win so badly that they will their eyes to see the ball out even though it is in.
6. People cheat because they think they have to win. They believe somehow that a win or a loss defines them. But it doesn't, it's how we deal with these outcomes that is more important and what our intentions are.

Awareness of these points is critical. If it isn't taught, it isn't known, and that lack of knowledge can cause conflict and pain.

Here's the need-to-know info on making line calls:

WHEN THE BALL IS ON THE OPPONENT'S SIDE

Is your view the best to make an accurate call on the far side of the net? Try this exercise next time you're on court:

Stand at the base line and have someone place a few balls, one at a time, on, off and nearly off (by a hair) of the service line on the other side of the court. From the opposite baseline, say out loud whether each ball is in or out. Compare your calls with the other person's answers.

It soon becomes clear that it is impossible to know with an exact degree of certainty whether a ball lands in or out. Keep in mind that the ball compresses and slides too. From that point of view, standing behind the baseline, looking at the service line across the net, face it, you are mostly guessing, so keep this in mind when disputing calls. At best, you'll develop a sense for whether the ball was generally in or not. As for absolute knowing, however, you're too far away or standing in a difficult place to authoritatively argue with your opponent's call. You can civilly ask them if they are certain about the call they made, let them revisit their call, accept the call and move on.

You do however, have a decent view of the singles sideline and the center line on a serve, equal to your opponent's view when she is returning serve. It makes sense that you could more accurately question a call here. Keep in mind once again that balls hit up the middle can look like they're on the other side of the line which is in the line of view of the center strap. It has the potential to get confusing if you're not totally focussed so stay sharp.

WHEN THE BALL IS ON YOUR SIDE

Next, when returning serve in doubles, who should call the service line? You or your partner? The answer is your partner who is standing around the service line and looking at it from the side. Why? For the same reason you had difficulty calling the previous line. From her angle, she can see to what degree the ball has landed in or out. You have less of an exact view.

Likewise, when returning serve in doubles, you should call the center line and the singles side line of the service box because you can see it and your partner should defer to your call in most cases.

This exercise described above is one you will never forget. Do it with a bunch of buddies, make certain you swap roles and you'll all get the picture immediately. Everyone will be down with their job descriptions when you return to the court.

Brad Lum-Tucker communicates effectively in the KRC Open

IN GENERAL

Finally, there's a way to make great line calls. When done well, it is done immediately, in a voice that is definitive, clear, loud enough to be heard but not disruptive. It is accompanied by a hand signal as often times, a car may pass or a plane fly overhead, obscuring your voice, causing miscommunication. Like calling out the score, calling out balls is also done consistently. To not signal, to not say anything is not effective, not ultimately respectful, it's begging confusion and conflict.

If a call is disputed talk to the other person calmly and respectfully. Be careful in accusing someone of bad motives or cheating based on any single call or without any substantial pattern or neutral witnesses. If calls are regarding something on the far side of the net, you might be wrong. If you can damage another persons reputation, someone can also do it to you. If a pattern of contested calls develops, contact an official to alert them to the dispute. An official can help sort out or set the rules and keep a professional eye on the remainder of play.

So, get familiar with your kuleana (responsibilities). Make your line calls audible and visual, practice believing in yourself, practice trusting your eyes (corrected vision) and cultivate good judgement. When disputes arise, you want to be able to trust in yourself, not develop bad patterns. You want to feel able to defend your calls and reputation with clear mind and conscience.

At the same time, those players who give away points because they don't call or just play a ball that is out also need to tighten things up and sharpen their attention and gaze. It's one thing to be cheated, and another to cheat yourself. The answer here is to commit to making accurate audible line calls until the day when Hawkeye does it for you.

Go get 'em!

Coach Leilani

P.S. Here's a good explanation and diagram of why close calls are really tough and it's good to be as accurate as possible at all times.

********************************************************
Source: Tring Lawn Tennis Club
Line calls: LTA guidance - was it in or out?
So was the ball in or was it out? To get the definitive explanation of this rule the LTA have provided the following insight:

The rule states if “any part of the ball touches the line, the ball is in”. The call is made more complicated as the ball “squashes a little on impact”. In fact, the ball squashes a lot on impact, especially on serves and smashes. You may have noticed on Hawkeye replays at Wimbledon that the marks the ball leaves vary in shape and size. For example, if it is a lob, the mark the ball leaves is likely to be almost spherical. If it is a smash, the ball is likely to leave a long, narrower mark. Unfortunately many people think that the rule is similar to a ball crossing the line in football. It is NOT!. A football can still be in play without actually touching the line at all. It is the opposite in tennis, something has to touch the line. (Herts LTA)

So here's the graphic to help us. Example 3 may come as a surprise to some!

The Call:
1. Both the overhead and along-the-line view show the ball touching the line on impact. Ball is IN
2. The overhead view shows the ball touching the line on impact, but this is not conclusive. The along-the-line view shows that the ball squashed on impact and did touch the line. Ball is IN
3. The overhead view shows the ball touching the line on impact, but this is not conclusive. The along-the-line view shows that although the ball overshadowed the line, it did not touch the line. Ball is OUT
4. Both the overhead and along-the-line view show that the ball did not touch the line. Ball is OUT

After all this it's no wonder that we so often have different views on a line call!!