12.1 The
player whose turn it is to play the ball is entitled to freedom
from interference by the opponent
12.2 To
avoid interference the opponent must make every effort to
provide the player with:
(G6)
12.2.1 unobstructed direct access to the ball after
completion of a reasonable follow-through;
12.2.2 a
fair view of the ball on its rebound from the front wall;
(G7)
12.2.3 freedom to hit the ball with a reasonable swing;
12.2.4
freedom to play the ball directly to any part of the front
wall.
12.3
Interference occurs if the opponent fails to fulfil any of the
requirements of Rule 12.2, even though the opponent makes every
effort to fulfil those requirements.
12.4 A
player’s excessive swing can contribute to interference for the
opponent when it becomes the latter's turn to play the ball.
12.5 A
player encountering possible interference has the choice of
continuing to play or of stopping and appealing to the Referee.
(G8)
12.5.1 A player seeking a let or a stroke should appeal by
saying "Let please".
(G9,
G10) 12.5.2 Only the player whose turn it is to play the
ball may appeal. The player must appeal either immediately the
interference occurs or, when clearly not continuing play
beyond the point of interference, without undue delay.
12.6 The
Referee shall decide on the appeal and shall announce the
decision with the words "No let", "Stroke to (name of player or
team)", or "Yes let" (see flowchart in
Appendix 4.1). The Referee alone makes all decisions, which
are final. The Referee, if uncertain of the reason for an
appeal, may ask the player for an explanation.
12.7 The
Referee shall not allow a let and the player shall lose the
rally if the Referee decides:
(G6)
12.7.1 there was no interference or the interference was so
minimal that the player’s fair view of the ball and freedom to
get to and play the ball were not affected;
(G6)
12.7.2 interference occurred but either the player would not
have made a good return or the player has not made every
effort to get to and play the ball;
12.7.3
the player moved past the point of interference and played on;
(G11)
12.7.4 the player created the interference in moving to the
ball.
12.8 The
Referee shall award a stroke to the player if:
12.8.1 there was interference, which the opponent did not
make every effort to avoid, and the player would have made a
good return;
(G7)
12.8.2 there was interference, which the opponent made every
effort to avoid, but the opponent’s position prevented the
player’s reasonable swing and the player would have
been able to make a good return;
(G7)
12.8.3 there was interference, which the opponent made every
effort to avoid, and the player would have made a winning
return;
12.8.4
the player refrained from hitting the ball which, if hit,
would clearly have struck the opponent going directly to the
front wall; or to a side wall but in the latter case would
have been a winning return (unless in either case turning or
further attempt applies).
12.9 The
Referee shall allow a let if there was interference, which the
opponent made every effort to avoid, and the player would have
made a good return.
12.10 The
Referee shall not award a stroke to a player who causes
interference with an excessive swing.
12.11 The
Referee may allow a let under Rule 12.9 or award a stroke under
Rule 12.8 without an appeal, if necessary stopping play to do
so.
12.12 The
Referee may also apply Rule 17
when interference occurs. The Referee shall, stopping play if it
has not already stopped, apply an appropriate penalty if:
(G12)
12.12.1 the player made significant or deliberate physical
contact with the opponent;
12.12.2
the player endangered the opponent with an excessive swing.
13. LETS
In addition
to lets allowed under other rules, the Referee may or shall
allow lets in certain other cases. A player should request a let
by saying "Let please". The Referee, if uncertain of the reason
for an appeal, may ask the player for an explanation.
13.1 The
Referee may allow a let if:
13.1.1 the ball in play touches any article lying on the
floor (see Rule 15.3);
(G7)
13.1.2 the striker refrains from hitting the ball onto any of
the walls including the back wall owing to a reasonable fear
of injuring the opponent;
13.1.3
the Referee determines that an occurrence on or off the court
distracted either player. A player appealing for distraction
must do so immediately the distraction occurs. Notwithstanding
the above the Referee may award a stroke to a player who has
been distracted if that player could have played a winning
return but for the distraction;
13.1.4
the Referee determines that a change in court conditions
affected the result of the rally.
13.2 The
Referee shall allow a let if:
13.2.1 the receiver is not ready and does not attempt to
return the service;
13.2.2
the ball breaks during play;
13.2.3
the Referee is unable to decide an appeal;
13.2.4 a
player makes an otherwise good return but either the ball
lodges in any part of the playing surface of the court,
preventing it from bouncing more than once on the floor, or
the ball goes out after its first bounce.
13.3 If the
striker appeals for a let under Rules 13.1.1 to 13.1.4, the
Referee shall allow a let only if the striker can make a good
return. For a non-striker appeal under Rules 13.1.1, 13.1.3 and
13.1.4 this is not a requirement.
13.4 If the
striker attempts to play the ball, the Referee may still allow a
let under Rules 13.1.1, 13.1.3, 13.1.4 and 13.2.2.
13.5 The
appeals requirements of Rule 13 are:
13.5.1 a player’s appeal is necessary for the Referee to
allow a let under Rules 13.1.2 (striker only), 13.1.3,
13.2.1 (receiver only) and 13.2.3;
13.5.2 a
player’s appeal or Referee intervention without appeal is
applicable to Rules 13.1.1, 13.1.4, 13.2.2 and 13.2.4.
