When is a point replayed in soft tennis?
A · Advanced · The rally · 3 of 6If a rally is spoiled by an umpire's mistaken call, a ball from another court or someone outside the match, the chair umpire calls "No count". The point is replayed from the first serve. It is also used when both pairs would lose the point at the same moment, and in other cases the chair umpire accepts.
How it works
- Umpire's mistake: play was stopped or disturbed by a wrong judgement.
- Outside disturbance: an unforeseen incident, a ball from another match or a person outside the match.
- Both at once: both pairs commit a point-losing act at the same moment.
- Discretion: any other case the chair umpire accepts.
- Replay: the point restarts with a first serve, even if the first serve had been a fault.
- Not during the serve: a disturbance before the receive is a let instead.
- Signal: the vice umpire crosses both arms in front of the face.
The glossary has the no count, the let (serve), the umpire's signals and calls, the chair umpire, vice umpire and linesmen, the loss of point and the serve.
Tricky cases
The vice umpire wrongly calls out and play stops. What happens?
If the call hindered play, the chair umpire calls no count and the point is replayed.
A ball from the next court rolls in mid-rally. Replay?
Yes, if the chair umpire accepts it as a disturbance.
The first serve was a fault, then a no count was called. First or second serve?
First serve. A no count restarts the point from the first serve.
Both players touch the net at once. Whose point?
Nobody's. It is a no count.
Why the rule exists
Neither pair should lose a point to something outside the play. A full replay from the first serve puts both back where they were.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| In a rally | No count, replay from first serve | ISTF C 36 |
| Before the receive | Let | ISTF C 26.1(3) |
| Wrong umpire call | No count or let | ISTF U 16 |
From the rule book
International Soft Tennis Federation, Technical Rules (web text, site snapshot of 30 January 2024): Rules for Competitions, articles 26.1(3) and 36; Rules for Umpiring, articles 11(3) and 16. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the ISTF Technical Rules, published on the federation's website.