| Rule Submission Title | "Should not question" line calls moved to Section 6 |
|---|---|
| USAP Board Vote | Disapproved |
| USAP Board Vote Reason | Moving the text from the preamble to the rule doesn’t change the guidance. It understood that minor challenges or appeals are acceptable. In an officiated match, referees can apply penalties for unsportsmanlike conduct if a player gets out of hand. |
| Existing Rule # | Section 1 — The Players and 6.C.4. |
| Proposed Rule Change | 6.C.4. Players should not question opponents (including their partner) or comment on an opponent’s line call. Spectators shall not be consulted on any line call. |
| Original Rule Text | Section 1 — Players should not question or comment on an opponent’s call. |
| Reasoning Behind Suggested Change | Asking the opinion of the partner of the line caller is usually done in hopes of finding an element of doubt in the original call. Those asking may simply dispute their opponent's line call, or falsely believe their opponent partners must agree on the call. Many players believe "opponent" in the current Section 1 rule refers to the one making the original call, thus making it acceptable to address the partner of the opponent who made the out call and ask for the partner's opinion on the call.
This proposal clarifies that neither opponent should be questioned on their line call, and increases the awareness of the rule by transferring it to Line Call Section 6.
Why use "should not"? Rather than producing a fault, this "rule" is really meant to function as a deterrent. If an opponent's pattern of line calls reflects an incomplete understanding of the Line Call rules, instructive comments should be allowed.
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| Scenarios In Which the Rules Applies | Any time a player disagrees with his opponent's line call of "out" and is tempted to ask "Are you sure?", or quiz the caller's partner "Did you see it?". The Line Call rules only allow appeal to a referee.
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| Rule Book Year | 2026 |
| Rule Change ID | 2268 |
| Date Created | May 16, 2025 |
| View Comments | View Comments |
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