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12. INTERFERENCE
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.
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