I. Tournament Regulations
Excerpts from Rule N. Standards of Conduct

1. General. Players, persons who appear to be associated with a player (including, but not limited to, parents and coaches), officials, and organizers of any tennis tournament, match, or exhibition are under a duty to encourage and maintain high standards of proper conduct, fair play, and good sportsmanship. They are under an obligation to avoid acts which may be considered detrimental to the game of tennis.

2. Tennis Anti-Doping Program. The USTA is committed to ensure fair and drug free competition.

3. Flat-soled shoes. A player may not wear shoes other than flat-soled shoes without heels, except that he may wear special grass court shoes when the Referee authorizes their use.

4. Warm-up. A player who refuses to warm-up with his opponent forfeits his right to a warm-up. During the warm-up or a re-warm-up, a player may have any person hit with him if his opponent refuses to do so.

5. Leaving the playing area. Once a match has begun, a player may not leave the playing area without permission from the Chair Umpire. In a non-officiated match a player may leave the playing area for the purpose of contacting the Referee for a toilet break or equipment adjustment, provided he does this with minimum delay.

8. Inspection of ball marks. A player shall not pass the net to inspect a ball mark.

9. No coaching. Except as permitted under Rule 31 (team competition) of the Rules of Tennis, a player may not receive coaching during any suspension or interruption of play

Coaching is permitted during an authorized rest period under Rule 30(e) and during any other authorized suspension of play under either USTA Regulation I.T. or Rule 30(d). A temporary interruption of play during which the players do not leave the playing area is not a "suspension" of play for these purposes. Coaching is not permitted during any warm-up.

17. Player shall not engage in unsportsmanlike conduct. During the course of a match a player shall not engage in:

a. Verbal abuse. Swear at an official, a spectator or an opponent in a voice that can be heard by any person;

b. Visible or audible profanity. Use profanity or insulting, abusive or obscene language in any way that may be heard by any person or use obscene, insulting or abusive gestures;

c. Racket abuse. Throw in any manner a racket;

d. Ball abuse. Deliberately throw or hit a ball in the direction of an official or the spectators;

e. Physical abuse. Threaten or inflict bodily injury to anyone; or

f. Other unsportsmanlike conduct.

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