ITF's 2025 off-court coaching rule: What’s changing in tennis?

The ITF announced changes to the off-court coaching regulations starting in 2025 after a majority vote by the National Association delegates at the 2024 ITF AGM in Hong Kong. The change will come into effect on January 1, 2025.

Specifically, the ITF aims to standardize the approach to off-court coaching. After on-court coaching trials between 2017 and 2023, it was decided to allow coaches to give instructions to players, but only from off-court. This applies to events on the ITF World Tour, ITF Wheelchair Tour, ATP, WTA, and the four Grand Slam tournaments.

According to the ITF, the trials received positive evaluations, and all relevant bodies supported the permanent change in the Tennis Rules. Among the reasons cited, it was said that the change would align coaching approaches across official tournaments, reduce the burden on chair umpires to monitor restrictions, and prevent subjectivity in enforcing the current rule.

The organization also considered that the measure benefits players and aims to 'make tennis fairer and, potentially, more entertaining.'

Currently, Rule 30 on ‘coaching’ defines it as any communication, advice, or instruction of any kind, by any means, to players.

Although the rule will now permit communication between coaches and players, it will always remain off-court, with the only exceptions being team competitions such as the Davis Cup or the United Cup, where it is customary for coaches to sit on the player’s bench and provide instructions during side changes.

Off-court coaching will be allowed between points and on side changes, as well as during set breaks and any time that is not during a point. The communication may be verbal if the coach and player are on the same side of the court, or by hand signals. Additionally, coaching must be brief between points, while during breaks, the regulatory time limit will apply.

Stuart Miller, ITF Senior Executive Director of Integrity & Legal, said: "This has been going on in trial form since 2017. People who have been watching the sport, particularly over the last two years, will have seen trials going on across the whole of the professional game, including the ITF World Tennis Tour, ATP and WTA Tours, and all Grand Slams."

"We’ve gathered feedback from all key stakeholders, including players, coaches, and chair umpires. Players felt it was a positive development and makes tournaments more interesting for them," he added. "Coaches have said it helps player development and improves the standing of their profession. Chair umpires have said it improves their ability to focus on monitoring the game and making the right decisions, rather than whether or not a coach is coaching against the rules. So all parties have welcomed this, and it’s good to see the AGM support what we think is going to be a positive change for the game of tennis."