| Rule Submission Title | No talking to the referee during a rally |
|---|---|
| USAP Board Vote | Disapproved |
| USAP Board Vote Reason | There will be times when it is not clear that the player is talking to the referee. The absolute rule to not allow anything being said to the referee goes too far. Referees have the option to call a distraction fault if appropriate. Technically, a player asking a valid question about the score after the score was called would be a fault based on this rule. |
| Existing Rule # | n/a |
| Proposed Rule Change | The players shall not speak to the referee during a rally. Speaking to the referee will result in a technical warning for unsportsmanlike conduct. The no speaking to the referee window starts at the strike of the serve. A valid hinder would not apply to this rule. |
| Original Rule Text | None |
| Reasoning Behind Suggested Change | The players talking to the referee is a distraction to both the players and the referee. |
| Scenarios In Which the Rules Applies | Anytime during a rally that a player speaks to the referee. |
| Rule Book Year | 2026 |
| Rule Change ID | 2321 |
| Date Created | May 22, 2025 |
| View Comments | View Comments |
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