Which action should immediately follow a whistle for a fault?

Which action should immediately follow a whistle for a fault?

• A. Whistle, Award the Point, Signal the Nature of the Fault
• B. Award the Point, Whistle, Signal the Nature of the Fault
• C. Whistle, Signal the Fault, Award the Point
• D. Signal the Fault, Whistle, Award the Point

Answer: (A)

When a fault is called, play is dead and the rally outcome must be settled first. The official should immediately award the point (or side out) to finalize what happened, then signal the specific fault to the players and bench. This order keeps the scoring clear and the game moving, so everyone knows the result before hearing or seeing the exact fault. Signaling the fault before awarding the point can cause confusion about the rally’s outcome, and delaying the point disrupts the flow. So the correct sequence after the whistle is: award the point, then signal the nature of the fault.

When a fault is called, play is dead and the rally outcome must be settled first. The official should immediately award the point (or side out) to finalize what happened, then signal the specific fault to the players and bench. This order keeps the scoring clear and the game moving, so everyone knows the result before hearing or seeing the exact fault. Signaling the fault before awarding the point can cause confusion about the rally’s outcome, and delaying the point disrupts the flow. So the correct sequence after the whistle is: award the point, then signal the nature of the fault.