WRA Tennis Etiquette, Rules, and Regulations

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The following is a modified excerpt from the WRA Member Handbook. Bold indicates comments that are not in the Member Handbook. Italics provide standard tennis etiquette that is not spelled out in the Member Handbook.

Every player on the courts must be a WRA member or a valid guest. Periodic inspections will be conducted to ensure that MEMBERS or valid guests ONLY are using the tennis facilities. Only overnight house guests will be permitted to use the courts without being accompanied by a WRA member.

Who Can Play: Members of WRA and their authorized guests. Procedures for guests and guest fees are spelled out in the Membership Handbook and apply to use of the tennis courts.
Tennis Etiquette and Sportsmanship: All WRA tennis players and guests are expected to follow established tennis etiquette and to exhibit a high level of sportsmanship. Learn the rules, respect the rights of others, and enjoy the game. The Members Handbook does not spell out “established tennis etiquette” in any detail. What follows in italics is a summary of the points of “established tennis etiquette” about which members have complained in the past due to infractions of standard etiquette.
WRA tennis courts are for tennis or pickleball only. Playing lacrosse or other sports and using scooters, skateboards, roller skates, in-line skates, etc. are prohibited on WRA tennis courts.
Appropriate attire is required. Non-marking tennis shoes and a shirt are required tennis attire. Flip flops and sandals are not tennis shoes.
Never walk behind players when a point is in progress. Wait outside the courts or outside the court limits until the point is completed and then cross the court without undue delay.
Wait for a pause in play to ask for a ball to be returned.
Retrieve balls for others promptly.
Leave the court free of debris. WRA is a volunteer organization and nothing prohibits members from picking up stray balls, empty tennis cans, and other debris on the courts or from emptying courtside trash receptacles when they are full.
Group Tennis Activities: Group activities may be scheduled on all courts. Examples of group activities include team practice, authorized lessons, round robins, and team matches. Only the Sports Chairman may reserve block times for group activities. Group activity coordinators are responsible for ensuring clearing their activity through the Sports Chairman and that block times are minimized. These group activities will be blocked on the online reservation schedule.
Tennis Lights: Players may operate the lights from early dusk to 10:00 p.m. during the spring and summer months. Winter curfew is 9:00 p.m. The switch is on the pole nearest the gate at Court 3.
Equipment Restrictions: No skateboards, bikes, scooters, or other recreational equipment except tennis-related equipment are allowed on the courts. No pets are allowed on the courts at any time. Courts are to be locked at all times, except when someone is playing. The last person to leave the courts will ensure that they are locked.