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TENNIS CLUB Don Holway, dbh1124@live.com

The members of the women’s competitive team organized our first Tennis Social of the winter
season on Tuesday, November 28. Tennis Club members enjoyed two hours of mixed doubles
and round robin tennis to work up their appetites for a pizza dinner with salad and dessert. A
great time was had by all the attendees. Thank you Suncatchers team.

The Ladies Open Tennis Group is planning to host the next social event on the third Tuesday
of January. More details will be provided by email.

The competitive tennis season began in early November and again, this season, the PGICA
Tennis Club has fielded two women’s teams and three men’s teams. Home matches for the
women’s teams are on Mondays at noon and Fridays at 11. The three men’s teams play home
matches on Thursdays at 9:30 and 11:30.

We would like to welcome new members, Horst and Ute Hasiba.

Scheduling reminder: our courts are now on the winter schedule for dedicated time. Use our online scheduling website
to reserve the ball machine and court time during non-dedicated time periods: http://pgitennis.wikispaces.com. Full
instructions for using the Reservation System are included on the website.

New members are always welcome regardless of their level of play. For more information please visit our website at
www.pgica.org/clubs/tennis.htm or contact Don Holway at 941-347-4420 or dbh1124@live.com.

Rule of the Month from USTA Publication “2017 Friend at Court.” Hindrance Issues
Claiming a hindrance
A player who claims a hindrance must stop play as soon as possible.

Talking when ball is in play
Singles players should not talk during points.
Talking between doubles partners when the ball is moving toward them is allowed.
Doubles players should not talk when the ball is moving toward their opponent’s court.
When talking interferes with an opponent’s ability to play a ball, it is a hindrance.

For example, if a doubles player hits a weak lob and yells “get back” and the yell distracts an opponent who is about to
hit the ball, then the opponent may claim the point based on a deliberate hindrance.
If the opponent chooses to play the lob and misses it, the opponent loses the point because the opponent did not make
a timely claim of hindrance.

If a player yells after an injury or getting stung by a bee, this is an unintentional hindrance that would entitle the
opponent to claim a let.

Body movement
A player may feint with the body while a ball is in play. A player may change position at any time, including while the
server is tossing a ball.

Any other movement or any sound that is made solely to distract an opponent, including, but not limited to, waving arms
or racket or stamping feet, is not allowed.

Let due to unintentional hindrance and loss of point due to deliberate hindrance
A player who is hindered by an opponent’s unintentional act or by something else outside the player’s control is entitled
to a let only if the player could have made the shot had the player not been hindered.

A player’s racket coming out of the hand or a shoe coming off is not the basis for either player claiming a let.

A let is never authorized for a hindrance caused by something within a player’s control, such as when a player’s racket
comes out of a hand, when a player’s shoe comes off, or when a player trips over the player’s own hat. However, if a
player’s hat falls off during a point, an opponent may immediately call a let due to unintentional hindrance.

Out calls and other noises from spectators are not hindrances and, therefore, are not considered grounds for a player
calling a let or claiming the point.

A ringing cell phone is a deliberate hindrance; if an opponent’s cell phone rings during a point, the player may

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