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Tennis was originally developed as a form of exercise. One of the complaints I’ve heard most often year after year, is that of one player in a group taking the fun out of the match by stalling the action intentionally or unintentionally between points, games, and sets.

The time allotted between points seems to have evolved from the time necessary to collect the stray balls and move to a position to begin the next point, into a rest break or worse still a time to socialize and catch up on the latest news.

I know the tennis most of us play is not high level tournament play but we owe it to our partners and opponents, even in a casual social mode of play, to keep to the tempo and rhythm the founders of the game intended.

Here is a short list of dos and don’ts to keep everyone happy.

• Show up on time — Having three people waiting for you every time you play won’t build your popularity.

• Be aware of the score and announce it every time you are about to serve.

• When a point ends look around for any balls on your side of the net and then get them to the server without hesitation.

• Go immediately to the proper position to begin the point once the server is ready to play.

• Understand that the time between points is 20 seconds, between changeover games 90 seconds and those seconds are counted from the time the point ends with a placement or error until the next serve is struck.

• Save your funny stories or the discussion of your medical condition until you are enjoying a cold drink after the match. At least then your audience can escape if they want to!

Tennis is a sport not a game! Keep it moving and keep it fun!

Don’t be the member of your foursome that everyone complains about to me.

Feel free to clip this article and sneak it carefully into “that persons” tennis bag.

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Howie Burnett is a member of the United States Professional Tennis Association and tennis director at the Island Country Club on Marco Island. Burnett welcomes questions on strokes, tactics or etiquette. To reach him, call the tennis shop at 394-4464 or e-mail him at islandclubtennis@hotmail.com.