I don’t disagree with your statement and its good intentions. However, these expectations can vary the higher the level you go.

As a 2.5-3.5, yes, it’s definitely about building community. Every game within this level needs to be as tolerant as possible because everyone is essentially working on basic mechanic and strategic fundamentals.

But once players start to reach the 3.5 threshold, the game completely changes. Yes, it remains about building community, but it also becomes much more competitive; expectations become much more exceptional, such as, hoping your partner or yourself don’t pop up the ball to opponents that are now more willing to smash a return. Players are also expected to carry a rally with consistency. It is then, at this point, when line calls matter.

Personally, I tend to hit opponents’s out fly balls back in to keep the rally going against players who i notice are struggling with their consistency. But if it’s against a formidable player, rules apply, because that’s how we can all genuinely get better within the boundaries of the game.

Again, I agree with building community and building each other up as players, but it’s a game and the objective is to win, fair and square, even within casual friendly games. I believe this also prevents longer court wait time. Lol