8 Sports That Desperately Need A Rule Change
3. Coaching In A Match - Tennis
This rule probably would have been lesser known if it weren't for the Serena Williams controversy in which there was a confrontation between her and the umpire, Carlos Ramos.
It arised after Williams received a gesture from her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, in the stands, violating the rule of not receiving coaching during a match. As a result, Williams received a warning and it started the argument between her and the umpire. In the very same match, she smashed her racket, which is an immediate violation code and resulted in a point penalty. She accused Ramos of stealing the point from her, which meant a third rule break for verbal abuse and a win for her opponent Naomi Osaka.
According to the 2018 Grand Slam Rule Book:
Players shall not receive coaching during a match (including the warm-up). Communications of any kind, audible or visible, between a player and a coach may be constructed as coaching.
This rule seems particularly unfair as it will be the actual player who comes under the code violation, despite it being the coach's actions. Furthermore, it seems to be foggy on some areas of what counts as coaching - whilst clapping and cheering is not generally seen as support, the rules state that communications 'audible or visible' can be perceived as coaching.