What is a fault in soft tennis?
B · Beginner · Serving and receiving · 5 of 7A serve is a fault if it misses the proper service court, if the tossed ball is not hit, if it is hit twice or if two balls are tossed. Stepping on the base line, sideline or centre mark while serving is a foot fault. After one fault the server has a second serve; two faults in a row lose the point.
How it works
- Missed court: the serve does not land in the proper service court, unless it is a let.
- Toss not hit: the ball was tossed for the serve but not struck.
- Two balls: two tossed together, or one dropped while the other is in the air.
- Double hit: the ball touches the server's racket more than once.
- After the net: a serve that clips the net and then touches the server or the server's racket.
- Over the net: the server's racket, body or clothing crosses or touches the net before the ball lands.
- Foot fault: touching the base line, sideline or centre mark, or stepping into the court, while serving.
- In the air: a server who is over the line but still off the ground when hitting is not foot-faulting.
- Double fault: two faults in a row lose the point.
The glossary has the fault, the foot fault, the double fault, the serve, the lines and the umpire's signals and calls.
Tricky cases
The server jumps, lands in the court after hitting. Foot fault?
No. Being over the line in the air at the hit is allowed.
Two balls are in the server's hand and one slips while tossing the other. Fault?
Yes.
The serve clips the net and lands in the proper court. Fault?
No. It is a let, and the serve is taken again.
Who calls a foot fault?
The chair umpire, vice umpire and linesmen can all call it.
Why the rule exists
The foot-fault rule stops servers gaining ground before the hit. Counting a dropped toss as a fault stops servers from re-tossing to upset the receiver's timing.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Faults | Six kinds | ISTF C 25.1 |
| Second serve | After one fault | ISTF C 25.2 |
| Double fault | Point lost | ISTF C 27 |
From the rule book
International Soft Tennis Federation, Technical Rules (web text, site snapshot of 30 January 2024): Rules for Competitions, articles 25 and 27; Rules for Umpiring, articles 8(2) and 11(3). Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the ISTF Technical Rules, published on the federation's website.