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Like most sports, we see the teams coaches on the sideline coaching but not in tennis, have you ever thought why is coaching not allowed in tennis? This is a question that has been asked on a very regular base, coaches would normally help to formulate an action plan in the actual competition. When watching on the sideline it’s easier to see where a player is slipping up and would be corrected by the team coach so the question keeps popping up why is catching not allowed.
All that and more will be answered in a short while from now, I know for a fact that there have always been debates about bringing the in-match coaching in tennis however the tennis association body has not agreed to that rule being active. In tennis, they keep in-match adjustments to the players only.
Why Is Coaching not Allowed In Tennis?
The main fact that tennis is an individual sport as well as team sports because we have our doubles as well but for the most part of tennis the fans view it as an individual sport more. Looking at it from an individual sports term it would not have been that relevant for coaching to take place on the tennis court where it’s a 1v1 match.
On a term like that catching on the court would just be a distraction for both the players on the court, giving them less space for max performance. To my knowledge, I think the board of tennis views it in that manner as well, that 1v1 matches should be a skilled match with both players showcasing their skills of what they have learned in training.
Another major reason might be the pay disparity that is pretty evident in tennis. If you compare the money that top-level players make, to that of an entry level player, it will become clear to you that though the tennis court is level, the salaries met out to the players is not.
A world-class player can easily afford to fly an entire team of officials to support his performance, like a coach, a trainer, a dietician and a physiotherapist. However, this is not a luxury that other players can afford. In fact, most entry-level players can barely make ends meet after meeting all their travel and accommodation expenses.
In addition, top-notch players also get added benefits like perks and allowances from endorsements, sponsorships from various investors, favourable draws, etc. This only widens the gap between players. There can be no fairness, pitching, someone who has an army of supporters, against another who is managing by himself. Thus banning coaching is an attempt to make the playing field a bit more level and allow players to rely solely on their skill, to move up the ranks in tennis.
Apart from that, there were times where taking a couch with you on tours and events was just too expensive and that was one the reason why they wouldn’t even turn in at events. Players weren’t getting enough pay to let their trainers accompanied them to the events of which they were performing.
Now all that has changed except for the one rule, no in-match coaching however the players pay has increased allot due to allot more taking place in the world of tennis. The fan-based crowd has increased enormously and we have wealthy companies sponsoring us now. Tennis players now can afford to carry their coaches and other members around with them.
Coaching In Tennis
Tennis events normally go for days, because in-match coaching is not allowed the coaches have to take in everything in that match in terms of player performance and weak spots and try to adjust all that when a break is given or the match has ended.
Coaching a WTA or an ATA tennis player is far from an easy or secure job, tennis players have high counts when it comes to foreign their coaches, there are also frequent times of tennis player firing their coaches without any warning.
One of the downsides of coaching an ATA or WTA player is that you can do everything right and still be fired at the end of the day, it’s just the sad and dark truth. They normally find it easier to fire the coach than to say its the player not performing as they should.
A player that doesn’t perform well in that was coached everything right will still put the blame on the coach, the task of being a coach is not a smooth road as some may think.
We have good catching as well in which the coaches would term the game around exponentially for the players, some event has breaks, season breaks so on those times the coach gets to let them work on all their weak ends thus domination the matches after. Times like there the coaches are then been honored as being great or good coaches for the ATA or WTA players.
A Tennis Coach role
The role of the tennis coach is quite simple and straight forward, its to prepare the player for their matches. It sounds easy but it really not, is like the theory of my mom teaching me how to drive and on my driving day I have to go show my mom how well she thought me, it’s going to be nerve-racking form both me and my mom.
Coaches are very important like teachers they teach us and then send us out in the world with the correct knowledge to utilize it in the best was we can. It’s not an easy task but I guess you get the main picture by now.
When catching for some top tennis players there are good benefits other from good pay. You get to travel with the players staying in first-class hotels you basically don’t have to touch your money and what’s better than not having to spend a dime while you eat and live first class.
What is a Coaching Violation in Tennis?
The rules of no in-match coaching is a very strike rule and should be followed at all times, a coach should be seen doing any gestures of coaching on the tennis court of that a match will be played on. If you are spotted on the court making any unnecessary signs or moves that will be indicated as coaching and a violation. This rule is so strict that it’s illegal to coach even in warm-up practice matches.
There were even ones an event with the popular tennis player Serena Williams and her coach Patrick Mouratoglu the coach was spotted trying to give Serena Williams a small have movement. This matchup was in the finals with the popular known Naomi Osaka she was the first female Asian tennis player to have held the top rankings in the singles.
Let’s get back to what happened, on seeing that the coach was trying to give her hints of how to play she was giving a warning however it didn’t end there. She then under temper smashed her tennis racket on the ground and start talking at an aggressive tone, which leads her to have got a three code violation and one-game penalty.
Has The Rule Been Bent
Tennis, like any other contact sport, is an intensely emotionally charged game. It is only obvious that a bit of coaching comes out here and there, but referees are stern enough to notice it and combat issue warnings with little remorse.
WTA seems to be paving the way to a more coach friendly game of tennis. They have been allowing on-court coaching since 2006. It started off on an experimental basis and must be doing well since it is still allowed. Coaches are allowed to approach players only once during the changeover and between sets, though a player can still choose to uphold the ban.
Why Is The Coach Not Penalized And The Player Is?
This is a very good question however the players are the ones that are responsible for the coaches and their actions so the player takes all the blame. This should not have been the ideal way to handle this I think the coaches should be sanctioned by not being able to turn up at other matches but that not the case. The main fact that the player is in charge of playing the coach that means the players are the bosses.
There are coaches that still try to eye-hint a player to tell them where to be on the court however if that are been caught there will be penalties to pay. Cheating is an absolute no-no the players should be left to utilize what they have learned off the court in training and exercise their skills on the tennis court.
How Many Code Violations Are In Tennis?
In tennis, there are many ways to violate the code, a tennis player can be terminated from the match id he/she three code violations. Violations are any aggressive behaviors that occur on the cour, this behavior can simply be damaging your racquet, verbal, and physical abuse however a physical abuse is a straight disqualification. Physical abuse can even be by touching a player without their consent.
Any act on not being professional on the court can be an offensive act of not bein professionals, you have to be well conducted and leave the aggressive temper and anger home or off the court. It doesn’t matter how popular you are any act of unprofessionalism on the court is a violation and you will be sanctioned accordingly.
Conclusion
As stated above there are persons that are ok with no on-court coaching however some would like to see the on-court coaching as well. We don’t know what the future of tennis will bring, what we do know is now and that’s not legal at this moment so we just have to sit back relax and keep enjoying our favorite sport.
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