By Rusty Jones, Senior Day Leagues Vice President
ALTA is about competitive tennis as well as food, fun, friendship, hospitality, and sportsmanship. I would like to address strategies for maintaining a positive approach to play and minimizing behaviors that could conflict with our objectives and competitive spirit on match days. We play matches for fun, to better our tennis skills, to stay in some sort of shape, and to be the best we can be on that particular day, with the intention of making it to the playoffs and then to the City Finals. We must not lose sight of the original ALTA intentions of “Where Atlanta Comes to Play!”
Keep these key principles in mind for every ALTA match:
- Be respectful — shake hands before and after your match.
- Minimize distractions — silence your phone and stay focused while your opponent is serving or hitting.
- Never throw your racquet.
- Make honest line calls and give opponents the benefit of the doubt.
- Use clear hand signals for in or out calls.
- Applaud good shots to foster a positive atmosphere.
By adhering to these etiquette guidelines, players contribute to a positive and respectful environment on the tennis court, ensuring everyone enjoys the experience. If you notice a player or a whole team going above and beyond to make your match experience a great one, consider nominating them for a Sportsmanship Award. You can do this on the ALTA website. Go to ALTA Documents>>Sportsmanship Award. Click on the nomination form and follow the instructions. We love hearing about our members who go the extra mile!
