Notes on the Etiquette of Eton Fives
Prepared by A S Day (Charterhouse) and first published in the 1966/67 EFA Annual Report.
There is seldom a referee in Fives. The game depends a good deal on all four players observing the unwritten rules of the game, which are its ETIQUETTE.
Getting Out of the Way Every effort must be made to enable one's opponents to play their shots without interference. This often means quick movement and anticipation. For instance, it is your opponent's right to stand behind the buttress ready to volley when your partner is playing a shot on the step. You must not impede him. Again, when you are on the step and your opponent is playing a shot from the back of the court, you may have to crouch down in order to allow him a free choice of shot. You must not force him to play an inferior shot because he feels he may hit you if he plays the correct one.
Calling "Not Up" The player of the shot is the best judge of when a ball is "not up" and should himself announce the fact. He should also always query his shot if he feels doubtful about it.
Game-Ball Cut The cutter's partner should stand well clear of his opponent at the back of the court (probably just out of court), as you are not allowed to stop your partner's cut going out of court at Game-ball.
Service It is the duty of the server to give his opponent the service he wants. As a server you have plenty of time to come out from the box, serve, and then retire in order to receive the cut.
The More Lets Offered and the Fewer Claimed the Better The correct procedure is for the player who feels he has impeded his opponent to offer a let and for the opponent to decide whether to accept it or not. A let should only be asked for when it is felt that there is a strong case and one has not been offered. The sucess of any game of Eton Fives depends on all four players being scrupulously fair in the matter of lets, at all times.
Created by Mike Fenn
19th June 2001
efa@etonfives.co.uk