What would you do?

Scott Bondurant
January 13, 2009
Winnetka, IL

The results of the Chicago Charities men's tournament could have been much different were it not for the exemplary sportsmanship of Mike Stulac and Mike Marino.

Marino - Stulac were leading Jon Lebow and Steve DeRose 4-2 in the 3rd set with the game score at deuce. At the end of an exceptionally long and dramatic point, Stulac hit an angled drop volley from the ad side. Lebow and DeRose were out of position and couldn't get a good look at exactly where the ball bounced. Prepared to give the point up, they asked Stulac if it was in. The prevailing custom in tournament matches seems to be for the ball striker to say that it was too close for him to call, effectively claiming the point. If Stulac had done that, they would have been one point away from a probably insurmountable 5-2 lead in the 3rd set. Instead, Stulac called his shot wide and gave Lebow - DeRose the ad, which they converted to make the score 4-3. Lebow and DeRose eventually won the match 7-5 in the third.

While Stulac's call was clearly an act of exemplary sportsmanship, it was also in line with the rules of the game. In the Official Rules of Platform Tennis, Rule 10 states:

In an unofficiated match, the usual procedure is for the receiving team to make line calls on its own side of the net, i.e. you call lines on your side, the opponents call lines on their side. However, players may assist their opponents with "out" calls in the opponents' court, if requested. They should also call against themselves any ball that is clearly "out" on the opponents' side of the court if not called by the opponents.

The bottom line is that it is incumbent on the ball striking team to call their shots out, should they see the ball clearly out. This rule would most commonly be applied when a player at the net hits a ball close to the sideline. Often the person returning the ball is focused on his or her shot and doesn't get a good look at where the ball lands. The returner’s partner, standing on the other side of the court, has a poor angle to make the call. The ball-striker is clearly in the best position to make the call and, if he or she sees the shot as clearly out, is obligated to make the call. It is the correct thing to do and is completely consistent with both the spirit and the rules of the game for this call to be made on a regular basis.

Think about it.