The ATP has announced that it will allow so -called ‘coaching’, where coaches can directly give instructions to their players on the court during a match.
The initiative will first be tested in the second half of the season and if the experience is positive it will definitely be established on the circuit, as has happened in some seasons in women’s tennis.
In this experimental phase that will begin in the week ofl July 11until the end of the year, including US Open and the ATP Finals, in November, coaches can provide instructions and advise tennis players from the coaches ’seats, both in the previous stages of the tournament and in the final draw.
Instructions by trainers to their players on the court have been banned until now and tennis players can even be sanctioned if communication between the two is clear and seen by the referee judge.
The coaches ’instructions have been allowed in women’s tennis tournaments for some time. It is common to see how in the exchange of sides, while the players are seated, the coach advises his students on the track itself.
For ATP, the initiative could be “a benefit to players and fans.” “This trial phase will also try to increase moments of intrigue and closeness to improve the viewers experience,” he added.
Teaching is permitted under the following conditions:
– Coaches must sit in the seats designated by the tournament. Coaching (verbal and non-verbal) is only allowed if it does not interrupt the game or create disruption at the opponent’s point time.
– Verbal coaching is only allowed when the player is on the same side of the court.
– Non-verbal coaching (hand signals) is allowed at any time.
– Verbal coaching may consist of a few words and/or short phrases (conversations not allowed).
– Coaches should not talk to their players when they leave the pitch for any reason.
– Penalties and fines will be applied for abuse or misuse of previous conditions.
The testing phase will undergo a collective review at the end of the 2022 season to determine the potential inclusion of off-piste coaching in subsequent seasons.
Source: La Verdad
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