The other issue is that coaching is now widely spread in WTA and also ITF tourneys.
As I mentioned in another post, I have not seen a single match (either in ITF or WTA tourney) where there was not at least one player coached.
During one match, I was so upset that I went to see the tournament Director and asked him to check a little bit more the match. The player got a warning then.
But only because she was not experienced enough and looked at her coach when he spoke to her. I think that if the player does not look at the coach when he speaks, there can then be no fine for side coaching.
It is besides impossible for an umpire in most cases to understand what the coach is saying to the player (so many different languages). So while coaching is prohibited, supporting the player is not. How to know what the coach is saying?
I think that because it is presently so difficult to regulate side coaching (as detailed above), officials are considering allowing it.
Another important point is that allowing coaching during matches will bring more interest to the game for the spectators. There would be more suspens as players would get advice from their coach in order to change a momentum that would otherwise lead to a quick loss.
It will obviously not solve all problems as it is true that several ITF players have no coach or share the same coach. But it will clear a situation that is presently not sustainable.
I am personally not in favour of coaching as I believe that players must be mentally independant and able to change of strategy by themselves during a match. Allowing side coaching would only make players more dependant from their coaches. And I felt already that players were depending a lot from their coaches. Like 5 year old kids depend from their parents. It does not help these teenagers to grow up and mature.
But I believe this switch in the rules is inevitable
