Fault Called for a Split Step | Challenged call screwed this team, a pickleball breakdown
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.พ. 2025
- Two controversial instances during Major League Pickleball's intense weekend.
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I have an immediate newfound respect for the Aces that shows some real integrity to overturn their own calls
Sportsmanship, integrity and the community is what makes pickleball special. Michelle esquivel not challenging the call is her own decision and it is allowed, however these decisions will ultimately deteriorate the amazing culture pickleball has. I get it’s for money and that in other sports no one would even consider this, but pickleball should be different.
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The second the hinderance fault was called I immediately thought, “Well I know what Fifth Shot Media’s next video is going to be about.”
You didn’t disappoint. Excellent content as usual.
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It’s ridiculous to have players making their own calls at this level. This isn’t highschool tennis and with the prize money at stake it simply cannot be up to the players who are trying to do a million things at once to make a judgment over a few inches
It may be time to have line judges like most other court sports (tennis, squash, badminton, volleyball, etc.). Calling one's own lines makes no sense at this level.
Agreed ... if MLP can afford $1mil prize money, they should be able to afford extra line judges.
Meanwhile, whether it's MLP or local tourneys, the baseline player has no business calling out in similar cases, because there is no freaking way he had seen a "gap" between the ball and the line. His teammate would have been a lot more credible in my view.
I see pro players cheat calls ALL the time
@@Aaron-mn2ro Agreed ... every time I watch a pro tournament there are several questionable calls. I know that each team has a number of reviews, but the reality is that players should not be calling the lines. One thing I saw done in PSA squash tournaments is to have other players (not playing) serve as judges, in this case, line judges.
I love your production and narration! Very engaging and professional
1. The whole event was an embarrassment to the sport due to the high volume histrionics between every point, especially bad given the interaction between fans, sideline players and on-court players.
2. The split step was not a hindrance and that ref is an idiot.
3. Esquivel shows a lack of character by not challenging the call. Arrogance and greed on full display.
So disappointing all around.
Dow calls balls the way I was taught when learning the game. If you can't clearly see it out, then the ball is in. Too often now players call close shots "out" that are really 50/50.
I'm finding g this even in recent play. I would not challenge on that but I had the advantage of a replay. I wasn't there. Personally I only play recent so I wouldn't challenge on that. If I don't see it at all I'm going to assume it's in. Sad that I lose a lot of games because my opponents won't do the same.
If pickleball wants to raise its stature among other popular sports, then they need to have more line judges in place to make these calls. Ownership has the money to pay a little bit more for some line judges and it would be a worthwhile investment in the long run. Leaving it up to the the players will only lead to drama like this. And this is not a good look for the sport.
Really enjoy this format. I believe this is the future of Pickleball. The rules should allow for a more equitable challenge system. Initiating a challenge on yourself to help the other team makes no sense. Better challenges and better officiating.
They should start adding line judges
You are right that the classy thing to do would be to challenge their own call since the Aces did the same earlier but, I totally understand why Esquivel chose not to. I don't necessarily blame them, it does suck, but I feel like the real blame should go towards the refs just not having good calls this weekend. There were two refs that should have seen the ball was in still, and then there wouldn't need to be this controversy.
The split step call was INSANE, and I'm so glad they just replayed the point, but man.. The MLP refs need to figure something out because this weekend was packed with controversial calls.
Great content as usual! So happy that you went over these two bits of drama! So excited to see what else we go over from this tournament since there was a lot!
I do blame them. If this isn’t judged by the viewing public as lacking in character then there really is no recourse. I don’t believe they should be crucified online but they deserve to be called out so as to warn players that this will not go unnoticed.
Yeah but if the refs aren't going to make good calls... Wouldn't you prefer the refs to be better at making the calls than allowing players to make decisions like this. And I feel that this helps make that possible and more necessary
If you go back and watch Ignatowich in previous points, this particular instance did seem to be much louder than any of the others. I went back and watched the previous 5-6 points and while he does stutter and split step, he didn't pound his feet as he did on that play. I didn't go back through all of the points, but that particular one did stand out. Personally, I think the hindrance call is weak (in general), but it does seem like a prime example of hindrance based on the rules.
I also must say that James's response in the interview after the game was awesome and he was a total class act about the whole thing. I think the rule, in general, is silly and it should probably be changed (as he probably does too), but his response to the situation was classic.
I love this and totally agree. Like he did happen to do it way louder, I don't necessarily think it was because he was trying to distract the other team. But he was so nice and respectful to the refs after when he could have been frustrated by them.
If the sound of a foot "stomp" really distracts you, you need to find another sport. Maybe chess is your game.
But, let’s be honest…those here who play know that sneakers screech constantly and that it’s a part of the game as is split stepping. Do you honestly think the other team was bothered by it? I get the rules. But, for integrities sake of which I’m starting to get concerned about moving forward, obviously j and the other team would have freaked out if it was called on them and the tables were turned.
I guess you have to really be mindful and ensure you prance around and not play too aggressively when it comes to footwork. Sad
First, it's not a 'hinder'; rule 3.A.15. ("...not caused by a player..."). It would be (was) a 'distraction'; rule 3.A.6. ("Examples include , but are not limited to, making loud noises, stomping feet...). He did stomp his feet much harder and more noticeably that time. I'll be sure to use this as an example in my next referee clinics.
All I gathered from this video is there are a ton of d-bags on the pickleball tour now. These people need to chill out. For real.
Team pickleball makes no sense; it's a singles or doubles sport. I just can't get excited about a gimmick event that arbitrarily teams people up based on someone with money picking them rather than tournament matchups sorting out the best of the best in their divisions.
will go the way of Team Tennis in the 70s...
This type of crap just makes me want to stick with amatuer play. I love the fun atmosphere around playing with great local players. competive... but honestly, i dont care who wins or loses. It's a damn whiffle ball in the end. I'd rather lose 9-11 than win 11-0 any day.
This entire event was an absolute disgrace to sportsmanship and professionalism among the players, their opponents, and especially the spectators/teammates not involved in the play. Very cringe and very hard to respect the sport with this behavior on such gross full display……especially the cheating.
The off court "noise" could come down quite a bit as I see it. Just a fan.
Regarding the Out Call: Very classless move from Michelle Esquivel and the team owner. Dow tried to play it as fair as possible to keep the spirit and integrity of the games alive and competitive, but the opposition intentionally screwed them over for the win. I guess pickleball is turning into every other damn sport where winning is more important than sportsmanship and integrity. Disgusting display.
Regarding the Hindrance/splitstep call: It's a bit of a difficult one. The WAY he splitstep was kinda funky and I could see why a hindrance was called. It seemed a bit wonky and a bit louder than, more boisterous than it needed to be. That being said, I don't think I'd want that to be called a hindrance if I was playing against them. It seems a bit much to call hindrance on that one, but I can see why some people would think it was hindrance and would want it called as such.
I don't think the slit step is a hindrance. I also think play should be fair, so not challenging the call is uncool. I think it's dumb when top pros act like such big babies. We don't need more prissy tennis rules.
I saw that and had to replay about ten times to figure out what the hell they were called for. IMO, both calls were WAY to picky. Ignatowich went WAY up in my estimation with his interview. Earnest, witty, and self deprecating.
On the Cassidy thing, I think the captain and the owner were real pricks for not returning the good sportsmanship. If I was a pro, I think I would tell prospective owners and sponsors that such issues are MINE to resolve, not theirs, and if they don't like that, pick another player. There were a couple of incidents that confirmed my fear that once the big money got into the game, the respect and sportsmanship would go out the window. Sad, but I suppose, inevitable.
I loved all of Ignatowichs interviews. Definitely one I'm excited to watch this year!
hahah great video! a lot of true colors shined during this tourney lol.
Lost my respect Michelle. Should be the talk of "The Hub" this week.
this challenge rule seems dumb, once a team loses their challenge the other team can just call everything out? What am I missing?
So, we have a completely untrained referee who doesn't know what a common split-step is and makes a bad call at a critical time in the match. The athletes all knew immediately what a terrible call that was.
Re: baseline call - His partner should have been asked if she thought it was in because laterally she had a better view than him. If she said she was sure it was out, then she wasn't really paying attention, but the call would stand. If she even hesitated before saying it was out, then she should be asked again.
Tennis players can see whether a tennis ball is in or out when it's close to the baseline because they are a little bit laterally viewing the ball contact the surface because of the length of a tennis racquet. In pickleball, the viewing angle is much more looking down on the ball and there is an optical hinderance by the ball itself and probably something to due with depth perception. He thought he saw paint between the line and the ball, but even if he did, he can't precisely see where the ball made contact on the surface.
Moral of the story, tennis players need to understand when they are on top of close fast baseline balls in pickleball, they shouldn't trust their eyes, just their partner's.
th-cam.com/video/EsKUScB9hbc/w-d-xo.html
Not only is that not a hinder, it was after she had already hit. Absolutely terrible call, they better clean up the reffing pronto if they expect people to wager on this shit.
She was distracted by the noise that she knew as going to happen 😂
There should be free challenges for integrity calls
Brah, I'm 6'4" and 295. My split step sounds like that all the time... lol
Players not playing in MPL need to be seated. All this screaming and hanging around the sidelines makes this look amateurish.
I agree.. kinda.. i think the rule regarding technical fouls needs to be in place for this.. needs to be cleaned up a lil…. I do t know about sitting down.. thats not good for athletes.. but discretion of refs to contain them.. yes
@@bonniebowers4603 Agreed! Perhaps not sitting down but running out on the court to high five on what seems like everry point is ridiculous. Look at how team tennis behaves.
Is Connor Pardoe the team owner? Bad move imo. Same goes for Michelle
great video as always!
James--it wasn't your "happy feet" that were the issue. It was your clearly, exaggerated stomp split-step landing, clearly timed to distract just as Alyce dinked. Ref got it right & announcer called it too, before backtracking. Michelle Esquivel----no class. Will you be teaching bad sportsmanship at The Hub?
Ridiculous to call a hindrance for a split step noise.
These events were interesting for sure. Somehow I feel like this kind of thing happened rarely before the new owners and teams began. What do you think? I guess I have to remain open for the inevitable change that comes as a sport (evolves?) or grows.
Use cyclops or whatever is used in tennis for line calls.
No calls should be made by the players. All calls should be made by line judges, referees or whatever they want to call them.
That hindrance call is an absolute joke. Embarrassing. Also the conduct of the athletes and the people alongside the court is atrocious. They better get a handle on this otherwise this sport is doomed. That the matches have one official is ridiculous... c'mon. The sport needs a lot of help. If they want people to take this serious they better start taking it serious as well.
I enjoy playing pickleball, but some of its rules -- especially these hindrance rulings -- are just dumb. Truly dumb.
Maybe now that money is involved we use the video eye or actual line judges so these things don't happen? Just a thought.
There should be fast replays on close calls. As many as it takes. Get it right
I play pickleball almost every day and to try and play and make a line call is impossible. The ball is moving so fast and to try to hit it and see if it is in or out is hard or impossible. We play just for fun and we will have a do over in we are not sure of in or out. We have a fair number of do overs. Thank you Ben
Penalty for a split step? A lot of obnoxious behavior for a game that is annoying to begin with. Staring down in pickleball? That's hilarious. Then there is all the constant complaining by both sides and bench. These players are not likeable.
Not a good look for pickleball
Not necessarily. I think what MLP does after this tournament will determine how this looks for pickleball. I would think that this kind of thing happens to some degree in all sports and its tough for refs to make these calls in the moment. It'll be interesting to see how they adapt.
@@JoshVin Learn from your mistakes, make changes where needed. A "Players Association" is needed for sure. This situation makes that pretty clear to me.
As a complete noob to the sport, this is a ridiculous rule. To call a hindrance on the sound that shoes make is insane. Having a hindrance foul rule at all is insane. Idk seems incredibly soft for a competitive sport.
What’s crazy to me is if you look at the video he actually split steps after she hits the ball
Not a split-step. A split-stomp.
These hindrance cans are ridiculous. Hindrance should only be called very rarely in extreme circumstances. A jump stop or someone yelling in the crowd should not count… also the refs need to call the balls in it out not the players. Is this a professional sport or not!?
Professional pickleball should have line judges. That would take care of this problem.
what a mess, stupid rules and too many rules.
He was doing his “split set” through the game…. Come on ref’s….
I can’t believe the announcer say “I saw it as well I’m not gonna lie”. This is all such bunk. That is a natural motion. If we’re going to start calling people for how they move or walk the game is doomed. My husband literally makes the house shake because he walks so heavy so I guess he’s not going to be able to play pickleball ever because his natural movements would be considered a distraction.
Young people should be playing tennis, not this.
MLP team owners want to turn pickleball into WWE?
That "split step" had him landing with flat fleet in a deliberate effort to make noise and distract, in my opinion. Have you ever seen a professional do that in any racquet sport? You're supposed to land on the balls of your feet. I think the ref made a fair call according to the rules but in actuality the sound probably didn't bother the opponent at all so it shouldn't have been brought up.
The split step is a standard movement in tennis and paddle tennis, and is taught to tennis students early in their playing days. It was a ridiculous call by a clueless referee. The player it was called on was incredibly gracious toward the referee after the match. I doubt if I could have been.
@@msilverthorpe It was a terrible split step then and he needs practice.
@@jemkogen It was a normal split step and I highly doubt it hindered anyone.
spot on.
@@msilverthorpe incorrect. You do not try to land flat-footed and as hard as possible.
calling it a PRO TOUR with amateur officiating isn't much of a pro tour!!