Summary of 2024-2025 ITA Rule Additions, Changes & Clarifications

On Wednesday, June 5th, the ITA Rules Committee completed its annual rules review process. As you know, this process began in early March with a rules feedback survey that offered coaches, school administrators, ITA-certified officials, and conference administrators the opportunity to provide suggestions to the ITA Rules Committee regarding potential rule changes. Following the completion of that survey, the ITA Rules Committee convened throughout the next several months vetting those and other potential rule changes and clarifications. The ITA Rules Committee also worked closely with the NCAA Tennis Rules Subcommittee during this time. Many thanks to the members of the 2023-24 ITA Rules Committee for their hard work and dedication to this important process.

RULE ADDITIONS, CHANGES & CLARIFICATIONS

• PENALTIES FOR BEING OVERRULED
  • New: The number of overrules before a player is assessed a code violation in all matches has been reduced to one. A player who has been overruled more than once shall be penalized under the ITA Point Penalty System for all subsequent overrules by an official.
  • Rationale: To address feedback concerning the continual use of incorrect line calls, made intentionally, to influence play with the knowledge that no penalty will be incurred. The committee notes that while players and officials can make mistakes, player line calls improve dramatically once a player is on the verge of entering the PPS based upon overrules. Once on the verge of entering the PPS, player line calls more closely resemble current rules language including “whenever a player is in doubt, the call shall be made in favor of the opponent. Balls should be called ‘out’ only when there is a space visible between the ball and the line.” The committee also notes that the number of overrules prior to entering the PPS deemed acceptable should be the same among all divisions and not differ based on the frequency of intentionally poor line calls within any given division. Divisions with low rates of intentionally poor line calls should see little to no negative impact as a result of this rule change.

• BATHROOM VISITS
  • New: The restriction of one bathroom break per match at the set break has been adopted for all divisions not previously observing this rule. The bathroom break may only occur on a set break and may include up to three (3) minutes additional time for a total of “up to” five (5) minutes. Players may also use the bathroom during any 90 second changeover or two (2) minute set break with the permission of an Official. If a player wishes to use the bathroom during any other time, the player may also take their one Medical Timeout (if the player has not already taken their Medical Timeout). Returning late from the bathroom for any of the above scenarios will result in consecutive Bathroom Break, Time Violation penalties until the player is ready to play.
  • Rationale: For divisions not previously observing this rule, to address the use of extended bathroom breaks during critical junctures of a match (late in sets, tiebreaks, etc.) in an effort to stall or break momentum. Additionally, it unifies all divisions under the same rule as bathroom visits/needs do not significantly differ by division. The committee recognizes that one extended bathroom break is sufficient during a match while noting that additional visits can be used during changeovers and set breaks (or the MTO) provided players adhere to the allotted time.

• MEDICAL TIMEOUTS 
  • New: The assessment of a point penalty when a medical timeout is taken has been adopted across all divisions and genders not previously observing this rule. In all divisions and genders, if a player takes a medical timeout, the player shall be assessed one point. This assessed point is not part of the Point Penalty System.
  • Rationale: To address feedback concerning a rise in gamesmanship involving the unnecessary use of medical timeouts among both genders and across all divisions not previously observing this rule. More specifically, unnecessary medical timeouts being used at critical junctures of a match (late in sets, tiebreaks, to attempt to avoid a loss in a clinch-clinch scenario, etc.) or on multiple courts at the same time in an effort to stall or break momentum. The penalty of one point is seen as a sufficient deterrent during those critical junctures of a match without seriously impacting the use of a medical timeout under legitimate circumstances.

• CARRYOVER PENALTIES 
  • New: Carryover penalties will now be assessed immediately to the highest remaining doubles or singles match still in progress regardless of the score. Previously, carryover penalties were assessed at the start of the next game or immediately only if in a tiebreak. Carryover default penalties will continue to be assessed immediately. 
  • Rationale: The committee found no legitimate reasons why Carryover codes were assessed at the start of the next game (when not in the tiebreak) and immediately (when in the tiebreak). Further, the old system did – albeit in rare circumstances – result in Carryover codes not being implemented due to the “next game” never occurring on all matches left in play. In order to maintain the deterrent effect embodied by the Carryover penalty system, the committee felt Carryover penalties should be implemented uniformly and immediately.

• WHEELCHAIR TENNIS 
  • New: ITA wheelchair tennis rules of play, ITA wheelchair tennis dual match format rules, and ITA wheelchair tennis tournament regulations were adopted and added to the ITA Rulebook.
  • Rationale: To address the expansion of wheelchair tennis into collegiate athletics as well as within the ITA.

• DIVISION III SCORING FORMAT PILOT 
  • New Pilot: During the 2024-25 season, the ITA and the NCAA are partnering on a dual match scoring format pilot for Division III tennis. The following format shall be used for all ITA Division III non-conference dual matches and for the 2025 NCAA Division III Tennis Team Championships: 
    • Dual Match Team Score: Seven team points. The team that wins two of the three doubles matches receives one dual match point. Each singles match is worth one point. Four or more points are required to win the dual match. 
    • Order of Play: Three doubles followed by six singles. The format is three 6-game set doubles matches with a 7-point tiebreak at 6-all. Doubles will be followed by six best-of-three set singles matches. 
    • Play-Play Format (ITA Division III Non-Conference Dual Matches Only)
      • Doubles – For Division III, all doubles matches shall be played to completion unless both coaches agree otherwise prior to the start of the dual match. 
      • Singles – For Division Ill, all singles matches shall be played to completion unless both coaches agree otherwise prior to the start of the dual match. 
• Note: The “play-play” format will be the default format for all non-conference play. Conferences and team tournaments (ITA Team Indoor Championships, NCAA Championships, etc.) can still set their own policies related to play-play, clinch-play, or clinch-clinch formats. Reasons both coaches might opt-in to the clinch-play or clinch-clinch format include situations involving the need to further preserve time (double-headers, playing on less than 6 courts, long-distance travel, etc.) or preserve player energy (team championships playing on consecutive days). The ITA office will look to confirm the format intentions of each Division III conference during the month of August. 
• Rationale: As the next step in a multi-year review of Division III scoring format, to expose the whole of Division III membership to the proposed format, and to better understand the impacts of the new format on match duration and the overall student-athlete experience.

• TENNIS BALLS 
  • New: Dunlop has been designated as the Official Tennis Ball of the ITA and college tennis. 
    • Division I Men will use the ATP Extra Duty Ball and all other divisions and genders will use the Dunlop Grand Prix Extra Duty Ball. High altitude programs at all divisions will use the ATP High Altitude Extra Duty Ball. 
    • The Official Tennis Ball of the ITA (Dunlop) is highly recommended for non-conference ITA dual matches. Conferences maintain the ability to determine which ball they will use for conference play provided that ball is USTA/ITF approved. The NCAA Championships will use Wilson balls for the 2024-25 season.
    • The Official Tennis Ball of the ITA (Dunlop) shall be used for all ITA Regional, ITA Sectional, ITA National, and all ITA Sanctioned Tournaments or Events.
• Rationale: The prior “Official Tennis Ball of the ITA” agreement expired on June 30, 2024 and Dunlop was selected following an extensive review/bid process.

• ALLOWABLE AREAS 
  • New: The “allowable area” language for non-playing bench players and team personnel has been edited to more specifically define those areas, provide a prioritized list of preferences for those areas, and to permit “on-court” allowable areas only if specified requirements can be satisfied. 
    • Clarification of existing “allowable areas.” The current definitions of a permissible “allowable area” have been clarified. Under the new rules: 
      • Bench players and participating players (after their matches are completed) are not spectators and are always held to the highest standards of sportsmanship. 
      • The home coach and the ITA referee will establish the bench player and team personnel “allowable area” at the facility. Each head coach and the referee shall review the “allowable area” with the visiting coach either 30 minutes prior to the start of the dual match or before the line-up exchange. 
      • If the “allowable area” is in the spectator seating area, the “allowable area” cannot be generally interspersed amongst spectator seating. While the “allowable area” may be located within the spectator seating area, the “allowable area” (for both teams) must be clearly designated with appropriate signage or other markings and specific seating must be reserved solely for the bench players from each team. 
      • The “allowable area” cannot be a high traffic area that is open to general spectators. 
      • The “allowable area” cannot be behind a curtain or fence that is directly behind courts that are in play. 
      • The “allowable area” may now be located on court. If the “allowable area” is located on court, the following requirements must be satisfied: 
        • For facilities with banks of 3 or less courts, the on court “allowable areas” shall be restricted to the bookend courts provided there is enough room to clearly delineate the participating player bench area and the non-participating players “allowable area.”
        • For facilities with banks of four (4) or more courts, the “allowable area” may be on the bookends of any facility or as follows provided there is enough room to clearly delineate the participating player bench area and the non-participating players allowable area:” 
        • The “allowable area” may be on court provided that the “allowable area” is not adjacent to or near any participating player benches (e.g., on the opposite side of the court of any player benches). Such a setup requires that the “allowable area” and the player benches be staggered (i.e., not all on the same side). It does not require the chair umpires to be staggered. 
        • When the “allowable area” is on court, the “allowable area” cannot extend beyond the service lines. 
        • When the “allowable area” is on court, all bench players must remain seated while the ball is in play on any courts adjacent to the “allowable area.” Bench players must move to open adjacent courts (center service line) as those courts become available. 
        • The Referee has the right, after issuing a bench player harassment warning, to move the “allowable area” for one or both teams to any area further away from the courts in play. 
  • Rationale: The committee recognizes the challenges associated with defining the “allowable area” for bench players and team personnel given the variety of court configurations and facilities in the college tennis landscape. However, following the successful completion of a two-year pilot involving on-court “allowable areas” at the National Team Indoor events, the committee felt comfortable moving forward. This move is part of the committee’s multi-year effort to: 
    • Improve the spectator experience by further separating team personnel and spectator areas. Hold team personnel accountable for their behavior by assigning them to areas where they can be fully observed by officials and coaches.
  • The following button includes diagrams of permissible “allowable areas” for various court with defining the “allowable area” at their facility. You may contact the below members with any questions concerning an acceptable “allowable areas” under the new rules:
    • Anthony Montero (Director of Officiating) – [email protected] 
    • Andrew Rogers (National Officials Committee Co-Chair) – [email protected]
    • Cody Johnson (DI Men) – [email protected] 
    • Liz Bothwell (DI Women) – [email protected] 
    • Cory Brooks (Managing Director) – [email protected]
      • Lizzie Conti (DII, DIII, NAIA, JUCO Men & Women) – [email protected]

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