Foot faults are front and center in the news again.

They were the subject of the back cover advertisement by the APTA in the December issue of Platform Tennis Magazine. Bob Callaway, PPTA Master Professional, devotes his column to them In the February issue. I have visited the subject before and now will take one more stab at it.

I was a spectator at a championship final this season and once again observed that even in an officiated match, foot faults are not called. Why? It’s simple; it is extremely difficult to make the call. As the above photo shows, the paddle striking the ball and the foot hitting the deck are so simultaneous that the foot fault violation, especially from the location of an umpire’s chair, is almost impossible to detect correctly on a consistent basis.

Surprisingly, the umpire in this match did call a foot fault but not on this player. I was not in a position to view that violation but the fact that it was called indicates that the umpire was knowledgeable about the rule and his responsibility for the enforcement of it.

I sincerely appreciate Bob Callaway’s effort to have teaching professionals instruct their students on the proper form when serving. But I’m afraid, however, that the players who take lessons from pros are a distinct minority. Too many players do not concern themselves with the error of their serving ways and opponents don’t like to make the call, sometimes when it is even very obvious. So what can be done?

For platform tennis, the rule must be changed. Because of the smaller court and the priority of following the serve to the net, I believe the rule of tennis must be modified in order to apply to our sport. I contend that both feet must be in contact with the deck before the ball is struck by the paddle during the serve. No more “broad jumping” with both feet, like it was a track meet; no more legs flying over the end line in the process of making the serve. It sounds radical but it can be done and many of the best players will have no problem with it. Average players will also benefit, in my opinion, by hitting fewer serves into the net because their motion will not be “as wild”.

Furthermore I contend that if this rule were in place, foot faults would be easier to detect and therefore, enforce. The violation will be more obvious to both an umpire in an officiated match and to opponents, who would be responsible for the call, in play where an umpire is not present.

I suggest that the APTA officials who are responsible for rule changes should gather for a “summit” meeting in order to emphasize consideration of changes to Rule 11. For the good of the game, this rule needs help.