Rule 4.9 Technicals

A technical is assessed for unsportsmanlike behavior or for improperly wearing eye protection. If a referee issues a technical, one point shall be deducted from the offending side's score. The technical has no effect on service changes or handouts. If the technical occurs between games or when the offending side has no points, the result will be that the offender's score will be a negative one. Three technicals (or two for eye protection) on a side in a match will result in a forfeiture.

Some examples of actions that may result in technicals are:

1) Too frequent complaints made against the referee's judgment.

2) Abuse of appeal privileges.

3) Profanity.

4) Excessive arguing.

5) Threat of any nature to opponent or referee.

6) Excessive or hard striking, throwing or kicking of ball between rallies (See Interpretation No. 20).

7) Failure to properly wear eye protection.

8) Protests lost in the absence of timeouts.

9) Anything considered to be unsportsmanlike behavior.

If a player's behavior is not so severe as to warrant a technical, a technical warning may be issued without a point deduction and should be accompanied by a brief explanation of the reason for a warning. A technical warning may precede the penalty of a technical but is not necessary.