Thousands of rules and regulations govern the game of tennis, and most of them apply to competition in junior, high school, college or professional play. Some of the basics regarding equipment, scoring, court size and coaching are generally followed by all who play the game, whether it's a match with your neighbor for fun or a tournament.
Equipment
A tennis racket must be free of objects and not exceed 29 inches in length, including the handle, and 12.5 inches in width. The hitting surface may not be more than 15.5 inches long and 11.5 inches wide. For USTA-regulated play, a tennis ball needs to weigh between 1.975 and 2.095 oz. and be from 2.57-to 2.70 inches wide. Younger children and beginners may play with a ball that is larger and softer. Exceptions to the ball sizes also are made for play in high altitude or on courts with unusual speed.
Scoring and Matches
Scoring for tennis is rather unusual as "love" means zero and the sequence of points doesn't make much sense. The first point won gives a player 15, the second is 30 and the third is 40. You win a game after capturing four points, but you must win by two. If the score is 40-40, it is called "deuce" and someone must win two points in a row. Sometimes, as in men's doubles, no-ad scoring is used and there is one deciding point instead of going to deuce. Players must win at least six games to win a set and either two or three sets to win a match.
Court Size
A tennis court is 78 feet long. For singles play, it should be 27 feet wide and for doubles it is expanded to 36 feet wide. An exception to the court size rules has been made as of 2012 for players who are under 10 years of age. Courts are 36 feet long for players under 8 and 60 feet long for 9- and 10-year-olds. More experienced players within these age groups may play on a regulation court.
Coaching
In junior team, high school and college tennis events, coaching is allowed during matches at the discretion of the referee. In fact, college coaches are allowed to sit and even walk around on the court giving instructions to players during play. They have a lot of leeway as long as they aren't being disruptive or speaking to the opposing player. Coaching is never allowed in individual junior tennis competition during the match, nor in professional tennis.
Considerations
Tennis will always be played with a ball and racket on a court. Beyond those specifications, rules and regulations are all subject to change by the governing body; for example, the ATP in men's tennis, WTA for women's tennis, Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) for collegiate tennis, and the United States Tennis Association, which oversees junior, league and college play. In addition, rules may be changed at an event to compensate for weather disturbances, such as extreme heat or numerous rain delays.
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