Friend at Court

Friend at Court is the book of rules and regulations under which tennis is played in the United States. It includes the ITF Rules of Tennis, The Code, and USTA Regulations. It is recommended reading for players, parents, coaches, teachers, tournament directors, league officials and anyone who wants a finer understanding of the game.

Click here for the latest edition of Friend at Court. 

Click here for the Spanish version of The Code.

Additional officiating documents/resources

USTA Officiating: Scenarios and Interpretations - A helpful guide for officials to interpret the rules and regulations to resolve scenarios that could occur in a match or tournament. 

USTA Officiating: Techniques and Procedures - A detailed overview of an official's roles and responsiblities. 

USTA Officiating: Certifications - Get information on officiating certification requirements.

USTA Junior and League Regulations

Additional resources including USTA League Regulations and USTA Junior National Tournament, Rankings, and Sanctioning Regulations are available here. 

ITF duties and procedures

Learn more about the duties and procedures of officials for all events that are sanctioned or recognized by the International Tennis Federation.

Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) rules page

Click here for the ITA Officials page and the latest edition of the ITA Rulebook. 

What's the call?

Have you ever had a question about a call or ruling on court? Submit your question to the Final Word email and it could be featured on the website. Click here to see previous answers.