Coaching During Tennis Matches
Is Coaching Allowed During a Tennis Match? The Rules Now
Coaching during a tennis match is now allowed on both professional tours, but only within firm limits. What a coach may say, from where and when depends on whether the event is played under the ITF Rules of Tennis, the ATP Rulebook or the WTA Rulebook.
The ITF base rule
The ITF Rules of Tennis define coaching as "advice or instruction of any kind and by any means to a player", and state that "coaching is not permitted during the playing of a point." Off-court coaching may be permitted by the body that sanctions the event. In team events with a captain sitting on court, such as the Davis Cup or the Billie Jean King Cup, the captain may coach at the times the competition allows. In all other competitions, on-court coaching is not permitted.
These base rules apply to a large part of club, junior and ITF tennis unless the organiser has adopted its own coaching rules. Check the regulations of each competition.
ATP and WTA rules today
The 2025 ATP Rulebook allows coaching at ATP Tour and Challenger events, with the coach seated in the tournament's designated coaches' seats. Verbal coaching is permitted only when the player is at the same end of the court, and it may be "a few words or short phrases", not conversations. Hand signals are allowed. Players may also talk to their coach during an opponent's medical time-out, a toilet or change-of-attire break, or another break approved by the chair umpire. Coaching must never interrupt play or hinder the opponent.
The WTA Rulebook allows coaching during a match under the conditions set in its coaching section. Any communication between player and coach outside those conditions is a coaching violation. In team events with an on-court captain, the captain may coach during set breaks and at changes of ends, but not after the first game of a set and not during a tiebreak.
What still differs
The Grand Slams set their own rules, and have moved towards allowing limited off-court coaching in recent seasons. Junior events, national leagues and club tournaments often keep stricter rules. A coaching violation is usually handled through the code-of-conduct scale: a warning, then a point penalty, then a game penalty.
Rules on coaching have been reviewed several times since the tours first ran trials. Before a match, players and coaches should read the current rulebook of the tour or the competition's own regulations.
Rules, point tables and prize money are set by the tours and the ITF for each season. Check the official source named in the text before relying on a figure.
