The object of the USTA Point Penalty System (PPS) is to help officials fulfill their role of ensuring fair conditions of play, to act as a deterrent to bad conduct, and to allow a player to bring himself under control. The PPS gives the chair umpire the power to deal with unsportsmanlike behavior or misconduct by issuing penalties. Points are awarded to the opponent, usually, but not necessarily, after one warning. In tournaments having no chair umpire, the referee, or an appointed designee on the basis of first-hand observation, may issue penalties. Use of the PPS is mandatory in any sanctioned tournament. This system applies to any violations occurring during both the warm-up period and the match.

There are numerous types and degrees of unsportsmanlike behavior. Although some guidelines have been suggested in the USTA Yearbook, the chair umpire/referee has the final authority to determine the seriousness of the offense and to issue penalties accordingly. For example, the umpire is allowed to be the sole judge as to whether a player is deliberately stalling to gain time or to upset his opponent. The following are the guidelines for issuing point penalties suggested by the USTA Umpires Committee:

            First Offense — Point

            Second Offense — Game

            Third Offense — Default

• Not resuming play after a medical time-out

• Obvious cramping immediately after a medical time-out

• Not resuming play after a treatment on a changeover or set break

• Not playing within 20 seconds of having been directed to resume play

• Passage of 20 seconds after any time violation

• Leaving the playing area for an unauthorized reason

• Visible or audible profanity or obscenity

• Abuse of racquet, balls or equipment

• Verbal or physical abuse of a player or official

• Coaching

• Abusive conduct by a player or a person associated with a player

• Retaliatory calls (an obvious bad call made in retaliation for an opponent's call)

• Unsportsmanlike conduct or any other conduct that is abusive or detrimental to the sport

• Violation of any USTA tournament regulation

            First Offense — Warning

            Each Additional Violation — One Point Penalty

• Delay between points or after warm-up

• Violation of the 90-second changeover or 120-second set break rules

• Both players equally late - less than 15 minutes — No penalty

• Both players arrive late but at different times: The penalty accrues with the arrival of the first player (A). His opponent (B) loses the serve/end option and the loss of one, two, or three games depending on the time elapsing between A's arrival and BŐs arrival.

• Both players are more than 15 minutes late: The referee may default both players, or he may reinstate the match using the principle in effect when both players are late but arrive different times.

• 5 minutes or less — Loss of toss plus 1 game

• More than 5 minutes to 10 minutes — Loss of toss plus two (2) games

• More than 10 minutes to 15 minutes — Loss of toss plus three (3) games

• More than 15 minutes — Default

A player is deemed to have arrived when the player checks in at the place designated for checking in and is properly clothed, equipped and ready to play. The lateness penalty clock starts at the scheduled match time, regardless of court availability. The referee is not required to keep a court open while a penalty is accruing. Except for a default, the referee shall never assess more than a 3-game penalty for lateness.

• Both players equally late - up to 15 minutes — No penalty

• Both players late but arrive at different times: The penalty accrues with the arrival of the first player (A). His opponent (B) loses 1 game unless B arrives more than 5 minutes later than A, in which case B is defaulted.

• Both players are more than 5 minutes: The referee may default both players. The referee may reinstate the match without penalties when both players are equally late. The referee may reinstate the match and impose the penalties described above when both players are late but arrive at different times.

The USTA NorCal Point Penalty Suspension System (PPSS) applies to all USTA NorCal sanctioned junior tournaments. It is a system that levies suspension points for code violations under the USTA Point Penalty System, violations of the standards of conduct in the USTA Regulations, no shows and other defaults, and other misconduct. The behavior of the players as well as their parents, friends and coaches is subject to the PPSS. If improper behavior persists and a player accumulates points, they are subject to suspension from play in USTA NorCal. A copy of the PPSS can be found on the USTA NorCal website.