Following a majority vote at the 2024 ITF AGM in Hong Kong, the ITF Rules of Tennis will allow off-court coaching starting January 1, 2025.
What Caused this change?
Since 2017, trials of off-court coaching have taken place across all major tennis events, including the Grand Slams, ATP, WTA, ITF World Tennis Tour, and ITF UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour. Feedback from players, coaches, and umpires has been positive. The ITF Rules Committee believes this change will align coaching regulations across bodies, reduce the burden on umpires, and support player development while making the sport fairer while potentially adding to the entertainment value of the sport.
How Will this Change the Game?
Here are some of the changes we will see starting January 2025:
– Off-court coaching may be allowed, depending on the event’s sanctioning body.
– In team events, on-court coaching by a team captain may be permitted.
– On-court coaching remains prohibited in all other competitions.
– Sanctioning bodies may allow Player Analysis Technology when coaching is permitted.
How will it work
If allowed, coaching will be permitted between points, at changeovers, and set breaks. Communication can be verbal when the coach and player are on the same side or via hand signals. Coaching must be brief and discreet.
Stuart Miller, ITF Senior Executive Director, Integrity & Legal in a statement said in a statement said “Since 2017, off-court coaching has been trialed across the professional game, and feedback from players, coaches, and umpires has been positive. Players find it engaging, coaches say it enhances development, and umpires prefer focusing on the game rather than policing coaching violations.”
Sanctioning bodies will have to decide the following:
– Whether to allow coaching in their events.
– Whether umpires must be present for coaching.
– Eligibility of coaches and use of Player Analysis Technology.
– Where coaches must be located.
– Who enforces the rules and what penalties apply for violations.
How the players will receive this change is yet to be seen with Taylor Fritz being one of the first to register his dissatisfaction with the move on social media.
https://x.com/Taylor_Fritz97/status/1848442159038665164
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