Official's Guide to Tennis Canada Officiating Rules of the Court 2026

• Questions of fact (what actually happened): the chair umpire makes the final decision. A referee cannot be called to court to review whether a ball was out.
• Questions of law (applying the rules to specific facts): the chair umpire makes the first decision, and the players have the right to call the referee to court if they disagree. The referee's decision is final.
• The referee is the final authority on all questions of tennis law and the final on-site authority on the Tournament Regulations, Code of Conduct and Rules of Tennis. If a chair or roving umpire cannot decide a point of law, the referee does. Where the score of the match is in question, the umpire suspends play and brings it to the referee at once; in other cases play continues while an appeal is considered.
• Roving umpire: where one is appointed, their decision is final. Where a referee is also appointed, a player may appeal to the referee on a question of law and the referee's decision is final.
• No chair umpire: the roving umpire, assistant referee or referee can correct clear line call errors by players when watching the court directly.
• If neither a line umpire nor the chair can make a decision on a question of fact, the point is replayed.

Line umpire duties:

• Rule on all balls on or near their assigned line. The decision is final unless, in the chair umpire's opinion, a clear mistake was made; the chair may then reverse the call or have a let played.
• Signal immediately to the chair umpire (unsighted signal) when unable to make a call.
• Correct an erroneous "Out" call immediately. If they realise they gave a "safe" signal on a ball that was out, they make the correct call immediately. If an "out" ball was not called out immediately, they stay silent.
• Call foot faults on their line (or its imaginary extension) after the serve is struck, and tell a player what caused a foot fault call if asked.
• Report to the chair any Code of Conduct violations they see or hear that the chair did not.
• A line umpire never works in a match that has no chair umpire.

Overrules (Appendix VII cases):

• The chair may overrule only when sure a clear mistake was made, and only immediately after the mistake, not at the end of the point.
• The chair must never overrule as a result of a player's protest or appeal.
• If the chair is unsure but thinks the ball was in, the chair may not overrule.
• A line umpire may correct a call after the score is announced, provided it is not because of a player's protest.
• If an "Out" call is corrected to good, the chair decides whether the original call was a hindrance: if so, replay the point; if not, the player who hit the ball wins the point.

The chair umpire is responsible for all aspects of the match they are assigned, applying the Rules of Tennis, the Code of Conduct and the Tournament Regulations on court. They:

• call the lines (including foot faults) when no line umpire is assigned, and assign line and net umpires to positions when there is less than a full crew;
• announce points, games and sets at the end of each, and when reasonably asked by a player;
• ensure play is continuous: 25 seconds between points, a maximum 90-second changeover (none after the first game of a set or in a tie-break), and a maximum 120-second set break;
• record points, games and sets on the scorecard, sign it at the end and deliver it without delay to the Chief Umpire, Referee or other designated person (failing to sign or deliver it does not invalidate the match);
• order a replay if a line umpire cannot make a call and the chair cannot make a valid call;
• permit no coaching except as the rules allow;
• call service lets and "walking or running" foot faults, and violations such as a ball touching a player, a player touching the net, invading the opponent's court, a double bounce, an illegal carry or double hit, or a ball passing through the net;
• call for a ball change at another time if abnormal conditions warrant it, and tell the Referee when conditions justify suspending the match.

If a player asks for the chair umpire's removal, the chair relays the request to the Referee and play continues pending the decision. The chair will not remove a line umpire solely on a player's request.

The Code of Conduct violations in the 2026 Rules of the Court "include but are not limited to":

• Ball abuse: violently, dangerously or with anger hitting, kicking or throwing a ball, other than in reasonable pursuit of a point.
• Racket or equipment abuse: violently, dangerously or angrily hitting, kicking or throwing a racquet or equipment, or intentionally hitting the net, court or umpire's chair out of anger.
• Physical abuse: unauthorized touching of an official, opponent, spectator or other person.
• Verbal abuse: statements implying dishonesty or that are derogatory, insulting or abusive.
• Audible obscenity and visible obscenity.
• Unreasonable delay (Delay of Game): includes gamesmanship by a receiver, not being ready within 25 seconds of an instruction to play, and delay resuming after medical treatment.
• Coaching (except where Tournament Regulation 24 permits it), and abuse or obscenity by coaches, parents or other player support team members.
• Best efforts, unsportsmanlike conduct (examples include visible taunting, loud shouting at the opponent after a point, intentional bad line calls and refusing to call the score), improper attire, ceremonies, no show, concurrency and leaving the court without permission.
• Bribes and guarantees: association with professional gamblers, betting, or accepting money to lose or win by a margin.

The Code applies to players and their support team members, in all places and at all times in the tournament environment, not only on court.

Point Penalty Schedule (Code of Conduct, section 2):

• First offence: Warning
• Second offence: Point Penalty
• Third and each subsequent offence: Game Penalty

After the third Code Violation, the Referee determines whether each subsequent offence constitutes a default. A serious violation can lead to an immediate default without going through the steps. In doubles the schedule applies to the team, not the individual players.

The referee's imposition of a penalty (Warning, Point, Game, Default) is final and unappealable. (Separately, a player issued a Code Violation by the chair or roving umpire can appeal to the Referee, whose decision is final.)

A game penalty during a tie-break game costs that game. Because a match tie-break and a final set tie-break are tie-break games, a game penalty in either costs the tie-break and so the match.

Code Violations are counted per match: a violation from one day does not carry over to the next match.

Recording: all penalties must be entered in the tournament software when assessed. The Offenses Report must be submitted as soon as possible and no later than three days after the event, to both the PTTA and Tennis Canada.

Limits (Code of Conduct, Time Violations):

• Between points: maximum 25 seconds from the ball going out of play to the ball being struck for the first serve of the next point. If that serve is a fault, the second serve must be struck without delay.
• Changeovers: maximum 90 seconds. After the first game of each set and during a tie-break, play is continuous with no rest.
• Set breaks: maximum 120 seconds.
• The receiver must play to the reasonable pace of the server.

Penalties: the first violation (as server or receiver) is a Time Violation Warning. Each later non-consecutive violation is a "fault" for the server and a "point penalty" for the receiver.

Separate schedule: Time Violations do not form part of the Code of Conduct Point Penalty Schedule. Two Time Violations are not issued back to back for the same situation: a player who gets a Time Violation Warning and is still not ready after a further 25 seconds receives a Code Violation for Delay of Game, with the penalty depending on earlier Code Violations in the match.

Exceptions: a delay resuming after an authorized rest period between the second and third sets, or an emergency toilet break during a game or before the opponent's serve, results in consecutive Time Violations. For the toilet break the clock runs from when the player leaves the court until they are due to serve next, so the maximum penalty is the loss of the game in progress (if serving) plus the next game.

Players must make correct and honest calls on their side, clearly and promptly. In matches with no chair umpire, a referee, assistant referee or roving umpire who is directly observing the court can correct or overrule clear line call errors.

Normal procedure (offences are counted across the whole tournament, qualifying and main draw together):

1. First overrule: the call is corrected, the corrected player loses the point, and gets a soft warning (only one per player per tournament).
2. Second: corrected, point lost, formal Warning.
3. Third: corrected, point lost, plus a Point Penalty.
4. Fourth and fifth: Game Penalty.
5. Sixth: Default.

Departures: at the referee's discretion, officials may skip the warnings for a blatantly incorrect call (for example a serve that clearly lands in the box) and go straight to a Point Penalty, or do so on a first overrule for a player with a recent history of systematically erroneous calls. Four or more incorrect calls in the past three tournaments would normally be grounds. That approach is for calls the player knows, or is believed to know, are intentionally wrong, not an honest error on a very close ball.

These violations are tracked separately from the Code Violation point penalty schedule, but they combine with it when tallying Suspension Points.

Under the Ball Mark Inspection Procedures in the Rules of the Court:

1. Ball mark inspections can only be made on clay courts.
2. A player-requested inspection is allowed only if the chair umpire cannot determine the call with certainty from the chair, on either a point-ending shot or when the player stops playing the point during a rally (returns are permitted but then the player must immediately stop).
3. When the chair umpire decides to inspect, they go down from the chair and inspect the mark themselves. If they do not know where the mark is, they can ask the line umpire to help locate it, but the chair umpire shall inspect it.
4. The original call or overrule stands if the line umpire and chair umpire cannot find the mark or it is unreadable.
5. Once the chair umpire has identified and ruled on a mark, the decision is final and not appealable.
6. On clay the chair umpire should not be too quick to announce the score unless absolutely certain of the call; if in doubt, wait to see whether an inspection is needed.
7. In doubles the appeal must stop play or the chair umpire must stop it; if the procedure was wrong or late, the chair umpire may determine the opponents were deliberately hindered.
8. A player who erases the mark before the chair umpire's final decision concedes the call.
9. A player may not cross the net to check a mark (Unsportsmanlike provision of the Code of Conduct). In a match with no chair umpire on clay, a player can ask the opponent to show the mark and then cross to check it.

Systems (Tournament Regulation 26): Tennis Canada authorizes Electronic Line Calling (ELC) at sanctioned events. A "Review" system needs the player to challenge a call; a "Live" system makes calls without a challenge. Systems must be ITF certified (Silver or Gold) and approved by Tennis Canada, and used only on the surface they are accredited for. Before the tournament, players must be told the system name, instructions, challenge protocol and number of challenges.

When a chair umpire makes the line calls (Electronic Review Procedures):

• A player can request a review only on a point-ending shot, or when the player stops playing the point during a rally (returns are permitted but the player must then stop immediately).
• The chair umpire should use the review when in doubt about the call, but may refuse if the request is unreasonable or not timely.
• In doubles, the appeal must stop play or the chair umpire must stop it. If it was incorrect or late, the chair umpire may rule the opponents deliberately hindered and the appealing team loses the point.
• If the system cannot decide, the original call or overrule stands.
• The chair umpire's final decision is the outcome of the review and is not appealable.
• Each player (team) gets three unsuccessful appeals per set, plus one more in the tie-break. With advantage sets, the count restarts at 6-6 and every 12 games after. A match tie-break counts as a new set with three appeals. Successful appeals are unlimited.

Overturned calls: under Regulation 26, an overturned player call counts as an overrule, and an Incorrect Line Call Violation applies if the official determines a clear error occurred.

Match Assistants assist the chair umpire when Live ELC is used in place of line umpires.

Tennis Canada oversees the training, certification, designation and evaluation of all tennis officials in Canada, working with the Provincial and Territorial Tennis Associations (PTTAs).

Eligibility: at least 16 years old, natural or corrected vision of 20-20, and normal hearing.

Step 1: the Introduction to Officiating clinic is required for everyone. It costs $100 plus tax, payable before the clinic; fees do not guarantee certification and are not refunded if you miss the clinic or decide not to pursue officiating.

Then, to be certified as a Novice Roving Umpire:

1. Complete at least five training sessions (minimum 3 hours each) at Tennis Canada or PTTA-sanctioned events.
2. Complete the Respect in Sport for Officials online module.
3. Sign the Tennis Canada Sport Safety Code of Conduct, Discipline and Complaints Policy.
4. Sign the Code of Conduct for Officials.
5. Submit a background screening application and receive the certificate.
6. Pass the certification exam.

To ask about a clinic near you, use the online interest form on the officiating clinics page or email officiating@tenniscanada.com.

Advanced clinics are by prerequisite. Tennis Canada's officiating clinics page lists these (no clinics were scheduled when checked):

• Roving Umpire 1: at least 10 full days at Provincial, National and/or ITF non-professional events in the past 12 months, satisfactory evaluations, and regular work as a roving umpire.
• Roving Umpire 2: at least 20 full days in the past 12 months (at least 10 at National or ITF non-professional level), satisfactory evaluations, regular roving work. Roving Umpire 2 officials train, mentor and coach less experienced officials.
• Introduction to Chair Umpiring: certification as Roving Umpire 1, regular work in that role and sound knowledge of the rules and procedures; Tennis Canada Officiating decides who is considered. After the in-class modules you must work at least three matches as chair umpire at provincial or national level.
• Chair Umpire 1: certification as a Novice Chair Umpire, at least 10 matches at Provincial, National and/or ITF non-professional events in the past 12 months, satisfactory evaluations and regular chair work.
• Referee 1: certification as Roving Umpire 2, in-depth knowledge of the rules, procedures and Code of Conduct, and invitation at the discretion of the Tennis Canada Officiating Department.
• Referee 2: at least two full tournaments as Referee at Provincial events and/or Assistant Referee at National or ITF non-professional events in the past 12 months (at least one at National or ITF non-professional level), satisfactory evaluations and regular work as a referee.

Certified officials also need to meet Tennis Canada's Officiating Recertification Requirements document, available to certified officials.