Coaching and time violations are about when help and delay are allowed.

How officials judge it

1. Confirm whether the competition permits coaching and from what location.
2. Identify when the communication happened: during a point, between points, at a changeover, at a set break, or during another authorised break.
3. Decide whether the message was brief, discreet, and within the permitted form for that event.
4. Track the restart clock separately: 25 seconds between points, 90 seconds at most changeovers, and 120 seconds at set breaks under the standard ITF timing rule.
5. If a player is late or uses coaching to delay play, apply the event's time-violation or code-violation procedure.

What counts as coaching

Coaching means advice or instruction of any kind, by any means, to a player. That can include spoken advice, hand signals, tactical reminders, or approved player-analysis information when the event permits it. The important point is not only what was said, but whether the competition allows that kind of help at that moment.

When coaching may be legal

• Off-court coaching: may be allowed by the sanctioning body for an event played under the Rules of Tennis.
• Between points: if coaching is permitted, it can usually happen between points, at changeovers, and at set breaks.
• Team events: a team captain sitting on court may coach at the times allowed by that competition.
• Player-analysis technology: players may access approved technology only at times when coaching is allowed.

What coaching is still not allowed

Coaching is not permitted during the playing of a point. In non-team competitions, on-court coaching is not allowed unless the applicable rules create a permitted coaching arrangement. Even when coaching is permitted, between-point coaching must be brief and discreet, and the event can set limits on who may coach, where the coach must sit, and how penalties are enforced.

The basic timing rule

• Between points: a maximum of 25 seconds is allowed from the end of one point until the first service is struck for the next point.
• Changeovers: a maximum of 90 seconds is allowed when players change ends at the end of a game.
• Set breaks: a maximum of 120 seconds is allowed at the end of a set.
• No-rest moments: after the first game of a set and during a tiebreak, players change ends without a normal rest period.

When extra time may be allowed

Officials can allow reasonable extra time for problems outside a player's control, such as broken clothing, footwear, or necessary equipment other than the racket. A treatable medical condition, toilet break, change of attire break, rest period, heat rule, or weather delay is handled under the event's separate break procedures. Ordinary tiredness is not a reason to add recovery time between points.

"Coaching is always banned"

That is outdated as a broad statement. Since the modern ITF coaching framework allows sanctioning bodies to permit off-court coaching, the correct question is whether this event permits it and whether the communication stayed inside the allowed time, place, and form. A gesture that is legal at one event may still be illegal in another if that competition has not allowed coaching in the same way.

"The shot clock starts only when the player is ready"

The standard continuous-play rule measures the maximum time from the end of the previous point until the next first serve is struck. Tour procedures may define exactly how the umpire or shot clock starts and can allow special-circumstance discretion, but the player does not control the clock simply by walking slowly, towelling off, or continuing a conversation with a coach.

Delay can come from either player

The server must serve within the allowed time, but the receiver also has to be ready at the reasonable pace of the server. If the receiver delays the server, the official can intervene. If either player uses coaching, equipment, or repeated routines to slow the match beyond the permitted limits, the issue can move from a simple timing matter into delay or conduct enforcement.

How enforcement usually escalates

The exact penalty ladder depends on the event rules. At professional level, a first in-match time violation often starts with a warning, while later violations can cost the server a first serve or cost the receiver a point. Repeated delay after medical treatment, refusal to play, or deliberate gamesmanship may be treated as a code violation rather than just another time warning.

How the same facts can change the ruling

• Coach signals between points: legal only if the event permits that coaching and the signal stays within the allowed conditions.
• Coach shouts during a rally: not permitted during the playing of a point and may also create a hindrance issue.
• Player asks for advice at a changeover: may be allowed, but the player still has to be ready before the changeover time expires.
• Receiver repeatedly turns away at 20 seconds: officials may treat that as delaying the reasonable pace of the server.

Next tennis topics

• Medical timeouts, code violations, and challenges
• Serve order and changeovers
• Line calls and hindrance
• Service, lets, and foot faults
• Back to tennis overview

Source material

• ITF Rules and Regulations
• ITF Rules of Tennis
• ITF explanation of off-court coaching
• ATP Official Rulebook
• WTA Rules