Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-25
Frencbman Gets Even.
FIXING UP FOOT BALL RULES
British Authorities Determining
What IL to Control Hereafter.

hrItlAn AutnOr1tieA ermtnt
what IL to Control Hereafter.
GLASGOW. Jan. 23.-At the annual gen.
eral meeting OF the Lawn Tennis associa-
ton. held In London a few days ago, the
chief business was the consideration of
some important resolutions affecting the
service laws. The committee has made a
praiseworthy attempt to solve the long
standing difficulty of accurately defining
what a proper service shall be. The reso-
luton, embodying the new law as to posi-
ton, which was submitted and passed at
the meeting is as follows:
Law THE server shall before COM
mencing to serve stand with both feet at
rest on the ground behind Il. e., further
from the net than the base line and
within the limits of the imaginary contin-
uation of the half court and side lines, and
Thereafter the server shall not rum. walk.
hop or jump before the service has been de-
livered. but the server may raise ore foot
from land II desired replace 1t on) the
ground, provided that both feet are kept
behind the base line until the service has
been delivered. 0
The chief difference between this and the
previous rule Is that 1t is now laid down
that both feet must be at rest on the
ground behind the base line before dellv-
ering service, whereas in the old rule 1t
simply e~njofned that the feet must be be-
hind the base line. The rule further de-
fines that no movement of the feet OF any
kind can be permitted in the delivery of
the service, excepting the raising OF one
foot. Neither a hop, walk nor Jump will be
permitted. Any breach OF this law will
constitute a fault.
The committee also put forward a reso-
luton to alter the regulations for prize
meetings to the effect that an umpire must
in every case where he is not satisfied
-
observed call a fault. A similar duty was
proposed to be laid upon the line umpire
insofar as the particular line with which
he was concerned. The obvious intention
of the committee, OF course. was to take
every means possible to stamp out the
slsckness which has grown up around
those service laws and to strengthen an
umpire's hand in penaliEing It in every
case. These resolutions were, however, de-
feated at the meeting and probably nc
great harm has been done. Al present the
umpire has II in his absolute Judgment
whether or no he will impose a fault for a
breach OF the service laws, and IL there
fore for any reason whatever he is unable
10 give u decision on the point It is the
usual practice to allow a let. IL would
seem manifestly unfair to bind an umpin
TO penalize a player who happens TO be the
server in a case where the umpire is not IL
a position to give a definite decision. II
is to be hoped that players generally will
carefully digest these new laws and tina
club and tournament committee will make 1
their duty to seq that they are faithfully
fulfilled.
II is quite a common sight in importan
club matches to see men delivering theil
first serve quite correctly, but making tn,
most obvious foot faults in their seconC
service. It Is likewise the rarest thing 4
find umpires imposing the proper penalt!
for this breach OF the law. 1t may b.
said, Of course, that II IL is a general prac
tice no harm Is done. but, on the contrary
there Is a great deal OF harm being done
because such a player gets into the habl
of making this improper service. with tn
effect that II he goes to play with play
ers In other districts where the rule 1
' strictly observed he Is pulled up yer!
sharply. and this usually has the most dis
astrous effect upon his subsequent play
4 As has been said, therefore, II behoove
players 10 carefully study this rule and I
remedy a very noticeable defect IN thel
. general play.
Another important resolution was sub
mitted and carried by a large majority I
the effect that the Lawn Tennis association
request all clubs holding championships I
seriously consider making the holder in Al
such competitions play through the event
Both the Scottish and the West OF Scotlan
championships are decided on this prinei
pie, which undoubtedly is the sound one
an equal test of both lawn tennis and en-
durance is TO be afforded.