Rule 13 - LETS

Idea by Clive Pollard

Do you have any comments on the content or any suggestions ?

Please fill in our comments form

13. LETS

In addition to lets allowed under other Rules, the Referee may or shall allow lets in certain other cases. A player should ask for a let by saying "Let please". The Referee, if uncertain of the reason for a player asking for a let, may ask the player for an explanation (before making the decision).

13.1 The Referee may allow a let if:

13.1.1 the ball in play touches any article lying on the floor (see Rule 15.3 - no objects on court).

But note that an object may fall on the floor during a rally - see Rule 7.7

Guideline 7

13.1.2 the player refrains from hitting the ball onto any of the walls including the back wall owing to a reasonable fear of injuring the opponent.

13.1.3 the Referee decides that an occurrence on or off the court distracted a player. A player making an appeal for distraction must do so immediately the distraction occurs. However, the Referee may award a stroke to a player who has been distracted if that player could have played a winning return if the distraction had not occurred.

13.1.4 the Referee decides that a change in court conditions affected the result of the rally.

13.2 The Referee shall allow a let if:

13.2.1 the receiver is not ready and does not attempt to return the service.

13.2.2 the ball breaks during play.

13.2.3 the Referee is unable to decide an appeal.

13.2.4 a player makes an otherwise good return but either the ball lodges in any part of the playing surface of the court, preventing it from bouncing more than once on the floor, or the ball goes out after its first bounce.

13.3 If the player appeals for a let under Rules 13.1.1 to 13.1.4, the Referee shall allow a let only if the player could have made a good return. For an appeal by the opponent under Rules 13.1.1, 13.1.3 and 13.1.4, this is not a requirement. 

13.4 If the player attempts to play the ball, the Referee may still allow a let under Rules 13.1.1, 13.1.3, 13.1.4, 13.2.2.

13.5 The appeals requirements of Rule 13 are:

13.5.1 A player's appeal is necessary for the Referee to allow a let under Rules 13.1.2 (player only), 13.1.3, 13.2.1 (receiver only) and 13.2.3.

13.5.2 A player's appeal or Referee intervention without appeal is applicable to Rules 13.1.1, 13.1.4, 13.2.2 and 13.2.4.

Continue ?

Read on - Rule 14

Return to Rules index