Ball Abuse

Ball abuse is defined in the FIP code of conduct as any deliberate misuse of the ball during a match that goes beyond the normal course of play. It is treated as a code violation and penalised under the standard progressive penalty system.

What Counts as Ball Abuse

Ball abuse includes:

• Deliberately hitting the ball out of the court — striking the ball away into the stands, over the fence, or out of the court enclosure in frustration or as a time-wasting tactic
• Hitting the ball dangerously — striking the ball at high speed towards a spectator, official, or another player when not in the course of a rally
• Destroying or deliberately damaging a ball — puncturing, deforming, or otherwise rendering a ball unplayable on purpose
• Refusing to return the ball to the server or ball boys/girls in a timely manner (when this is clearly deliberate and a pattern of time wasting)

A player who accidentally mishits a ball out of court during a moment of frustration is not automatically penalised — the referee uses discretion to determine whether the act was deliberate.

Penalties

Ball abuse follows the standard code of conduct penalty ladder:

1. First offence: Warning — the referee verbally warns the player and records the violation
2. Second offence: Warning + point penalty — one point is awarded to the opposing team
3. Third offence: Warning + disqualification from the match

If the ball abuse is particularly serious — for example, hitting a ball at a person — the referee may escalate immediately beyond a warning.

Practical Context

Ball abuse calls are most common when a player hits a ball away in frustration after losing a point. Even if the player retrieves the ball immediately, the deliberate nature of the act is sufficient for the referee to call a violation.

Players are responsible for keeping their emotions under control. If play is stopped and a ball is missing from the court because a player hit it away, the time taken to retrieve it may also be counted as time wasting.

Summary

Act	Penalty (first offence)
Hitting ball away in frustration	Warning
Ball hit dangerously at a person	Warning or escalated penalty
Deliberate ball damage	Warning or escalated penalty
Repeated ball abuse	Escalates: point penalty → disqualification