Guideline 6 - MAKING EVERY EFFORT AND MINIMAL INTERFERENCE

Idea by Clive Pollard

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G6. MAKING EVERY EFFORT AND MINIMAL INTERFERENCE

The opponent must make every effort to clear the ball after playing a return. The opponent's route should allow the player unobstructed direct access to the ball, provided the player has not moved in to play the ball so quickly as to block the opponent's exit. In the latter case, the Referee shall allow a let unless the player could not have made a good return, in which case the Referee shall not allow a let.

However, it is equally important for the player to make every effort to get to and play the ball. If the player does not make every effort to get to and play the ball, that is a significant factor in the Referee's assessment of whether or not that player could have reached the ball and made a good return.

The Referee shall decide the degree of effort that the player should make to demonstrate "making every effort". This does not give the player the right to abuse the opponent physically, and the Referee shall penalise significant or deliberate physical contact under Rule 12 or Rule 17.

When a player appeals for a let having encountered some interference, the Referee, when deciding that the interference had no effect on that player's sighting of the ball and freedom to get to and play the ball, shall not allow a let. This is minimal interference and includes situations in which: the opponent 'crossed the flight' of the ball very early in its trajectory from the front wall but still allowed the player time to sight the ball; or the player brushed past the opponent on the way to the ball without affecting the player's direct access; or the racket swing brushed the opponent, the opponent's clothing or racket without affecting the racket's swing.

However, when interference has occurred, the Referee shall allow a let in situations in which the player was clearly making every effort (albeit short of physical contact with the opponent) to get to and play the ball and had demonstrated to the Referee the ability to reach the ball.

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