PREVIOUSLY DISPLAYED RULES
RULE 9 - HITTING AN OPPONENT WITH THE BALL
RULE NO 9 -HITTING AN OPPONENT WITH THE BALL
If the ball, before reaching the front wall, hits the striker's opponent (including anything worn or carried), the ball shall cease to be in play and:
9.1 Unless Rule 9.2 applies, the striker shall win the stroke if the return would have been good and the ball would have struck the front wall without first touching any other wall.
9.2 If the return would have been good but the striker has either followed the ball round and turned or the ball has passed around the striker who, in either case, strikes the ball to the right of the right of the body after the ball has passed to the left (or vice versa) then a let shall be allowed in all cases.
NOTE TO REFEREES - If the striker has followed the ball round and turned, or if the ball has passed around the striker, and the striker chooses not to continue the rally due to a reasonable fear of striking the opponent, then the striker may appeal for a let. The Referee shall not refuse a let if, in the opinion of the Referee, a reasonable possibility of striking the opponent did exist, and the striker would have been able to make a good return.
9.3 If the ball either had struck or would have struck any other wall and the return would have been good, a let shall be allowed unless, in the opinion of the Referee, a winning return has been prevented, in which case the striker shall win the stroke.
NOTE TO REFEREES - The stroke award provision of Rule 9 do not apply to turning, ball passing around the striker, or further attempts.
9.4 If the return would not have been good, the striker shall lose the stroke.
NOTE TO OFFICIALS - When a player has been struck by the ball as described in Rule 9, the Referee shall assess the trajectory of the ball and make the appropriate decision.
If the Referee considers that the behaviour of a player on court could be intimidating or offensive to an opponent, official or spectator, or could in any way bring the game into disrepute, the player shall be penalised.
Offences which should be dealt with under this rule include audible and visible obscenities, verbal and physical abuse, dissent to marker or Referee, abuse of racket, ball or court, and coaching, other than during the interval between games. Other offences include unnecessary physical contact and excessive racket swing (rule 12.10), unfair warm up (Rule 15.2 Note to referees), late back on court (Rule 7.4 Notes to Referees A and B), dangerous play or action (Rule 16.1.3) and time wasting (Rule 7.7).
For these and any other offences which, in the opinion of the Referee, justify the application of this rule, one of the following penalty provisions shall be applied
Warning by the Referee Called a Conduct Warning
Stroke awarded to opponent Called a Conduct Stroke
Game awarded to opponent Called a Conduct Game
Match awarded to opponent Called a Conduct Match
NOTES TO REFEREES
A. If the Referee stops play to give a warning a let shall be allowed.
B. If the Referee stops a rally to award a conduct stroke then that stroke award becomes the result of the rally. If the Referee awards a conduct stroke at the conclusion of a rally, the result of the rally stands and the conduct stroke award is additional but without change of service box.
C. If the Referee awards a game that game shall be the one in progress or the next game if one is not in progress, in which latter case the interval between games shall not apply. The offending player shall retain any points already scored in the game awarded.
12.1 The player whose turn it is to play the ball is entitled to freedom from interference by the opponent.
12.2 To avoid interference the opponent must take every effort to provide the player with:
12.2.1 Unobstructed direct access to the ball
12.2.2 A fair view of the ball
12.2.3 Freedom to hit the ball
12.2.4 Freedom to play the ball directly to any part of the front wall
12.3 Interference occurs if the opponent fails to fulfil any of the requirements of Rule 12.2, irrespective of whether the opponent makes every effort to fulfil those requirements.
NOTE TO REFEREES
A. In Rule 12.2.1 the opponent must move to allow the player direct access to the ball as soon as the opponent has completed a return, i.e at the completion of a reasonable follow-through of the racket swing. The player must also make every effort to get to the ball
B. In Rule 12.2.2 fair view of the ball applies only to its rebound from the front wall
C. In Rule 12.2.3 freedom to hit the ball requires that the opponent permit the player an arc of racket swing comprising reasonable backswing, strike at the ball and reasonable follow-through
Interference caused by a player's excessive backswing cannot result in the award of a stroke to that player.
A player's excessive follow-through may cause interference for the opponent when it becomes the latter's turn to play the ball.
12.4 A player encountering possible interference has the choice of continuing with play or of stopping and appealing to the Referee.
12.4.1 The correct method of appeal, whether a let or a stroke is sought by the player, is with the words "LET PLEASE".
12.4.2 An appeal may be made only by the player (the person whose turn it is to play the ball). The appeal must be made either immediately the interference occurs or, where the player clearly does not continue with play beyond the point of interference, without undue delay.
12.5 The Referee shall decide on the appeal and shall announce the decision with the words "NO LET", "YES LET" or "STROKE TO ..(name of appropriate player). In assessing the situation the only relevant opinion is that of the Referee and the decision of the Referee shall be final.
12.6 The Referee shall not allow a let and the player shall lose the rally if:
12.6.1 There has been no interference
12.6.2 Interference has occurred but either the player would not have made a good return or the player has not made every effort to get to the ball.
12.6.3 The player has clearly accepted the interference and played on
12.6.4 The player has created the interference in moving to the ball
12.7 The Referee shall allow a let if there has been interference which the opponent has made every effort to avoid and the player would have made a good return
12.8 The Referee shall award a stroke to the player if:
12.8.1 There has been interference which the opponent has not made every effort to avoid and the player would have made a good return
12.8.2 There has been interference which the opponent has made every effort to avoid and the player would have made a winning return
12.8.3 The player has refrained from hitting the ball which, if hit, would clearly have struck the opponent going directly to the front wall; or to a side wall but in the latter case would have been a winning return (unless in either case turning, ball passing around the player, or further attempt applies)
12.9 The Referee is also empowered to allow a let under rule 12.7 or to award a stroke under rule 12.8 without an appeal having been made, if necessary stopping play to do so
12.10 The provision of rule 17 (Conduct on Court) may be applied to interference situations. The Referee shall, stopping play if it has not already stopped, apply an appropriate penalty if:
12.10.1 The player has made unnecessary physical contact with the opponent or vice versa
12.10.2 The player has endangered the opponent with an excessive racket swing.