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17.1 If the Referee considers that a player’s behaviour is disruptive, intimidating or offensive to the opponent, an official or a spectator, or could in any way bring the game into disrepute, the Referee shall penalise the player.

(G15) 17.2 Offences with which the Referee shall deal under this rule include audible and visible obscenities, verbal and physical abuse, dissent to Marker or Referee, abuse of racket, ball or court and coaching, other than during the interval between games. Other offences include significant or deliberate physical contact (Rule 12.12.1), excessive racket swing (Rule 12.4), unfair warm-up (Rule 3.2), late back on court (Rule 7.4), dangerous play or action (Rule 16.3.1.3) and time-wasting (Rule 7.6).

(G16) 17.3 The Referee shall apply one of the following penalties for these and any other offences.

Stroke awarded to opponent (called a Conduct Stroke).

Game awarded to opponent (called a Conduct Game).

Match awarded to opponent (called a Conduct Match).

17.3.1 If the Referee stops play to give a Conduct Warning, the Referee shall allow a let.

17.3.2 During a rally, if an incident occurs warranting the award of a Conduct Stroke, the Referee shall stop play, if it has not already ceased, and award a stroke. Application of the Conduct Stroke becomes the result of the rally.

17.3.3 If the Referee awards a Conduct Stroke as a result of an incident between rallies, the result of the completed rally stands and the Conduct Stroke award is additional to the score but without further change of service box.

17.3.4 If the Referee awards a Conduct Game, that game shall be the one in progress or the next game if one is not in progress. In the latter case the interval between games shall not apply. The offending player shall retain any points already scored in the game awarded.

(G17) 18.1 A Referee, assisted by a Marker, normally controls a match. Although the Referee may undertake the duties of the Marker as well, the WSF recommends that separate officials carry out the two roles.

18.2 The correct location for the Referee and Marker is at the centre of the back wall, as close to that wall as possible, above the out line on the back wall and preferably with seating.

(G18) 19.1 The Marker shall call the play, followed by the score, with the server's score called first. The Marker shall call services and returns which are not good using the recognised calls of "Fault", "Foot-fault", "Not up", "Down", "Out", "Hand-out" and "Stop" (see Appendix 3.1) as appropriate and shall repeat the Referee's decisions.

19.2 At the end of the rally the Marker shall call the score without delay and after the Referee has decided any appeals.

19.3 If the Marker makes a call, the rally shall cease.

19.4 The Marker, if unsighted or uncertain, shall make no call.

19.5 If play ceases without the Marker having made a call, the Marker, if unsighted or uncertain, shall advise the players and the Referee shall make the relevant decision. If also uncertain, the Referee shall allow a let.

19.6 The Marker shall keep a written record of the score and the correct side for service.

20.1 The Referee shall rule on all appeals, make decisions where the Rules call for them and shall decide all appeals against the Marker's calls or lack of calls. The decision of the Referee shall be final.

The Referee must announce all decisions to the players on the court and must make all calls in a voice loud enough to be heard on the court and in the gallery.

20.2 The Referee shall exercise control:

20.2.2 to ensure that all relevant rules are applied correctly;

20.2.3 when the behaviour of any spectator, official, manager or coach is disruptive to the play or offensive to the players, officials or spectators. The Referee shall suspend play until the disruption has ceased and, if necessary, shall require the offending person(s) to leave the court area.

20.3 The Referee shall not intervene in the Marker's calling of the score unless the Referee decides that the Marker has called the score incorrectly. In that case the Referee shall correct the score and the Marker shall repeat the corrected score.

20.4 The Referee shall not intervene in the Marker's calling of the play unless the Referee decides that the Marker has made an error in stopping play or allowing play to continue, in which case the Referee shall immediately rule accordingly.

20.5 The Referee shall enforce all Rules relating to time.

20.6 The Referee shall keep a written record of the score and the correct side for service.

20.7 The Referee is responsible for ensuring that court conditions are satisfactory for play.

20.8 The Referee may award a match to a player whose opponent is not present on court, ready to play, within ten minutes after the announced time of play.

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