2018 USTA Local League ESL Regulations-Memphis Jackie Mills-LLC

Transcription

1 2018 USTA Local League ESL Regulations-Memphis Jackie Mills-LLC Facebook: Memphis USTA 18 & over, 40 &over, 55 & over, 65 & over and Early Start League From this point forward, for the purpose of these regulations, 18 & Over may be called All participants must be current members of the USTA and have reached the minimum age for league type within the calendar year. Each player shall have reached the required minimum age prior to or during the calendar year in which such player participates in his or her first local league. Registration opens August 1, 2017 in TennisLink. 2. Each player must pay a $23 league fee for each team that he/she is joining. This will be paid at the time of registration. There will also be a $3 fee paid to TennisLink at the time of registration. Total fee on TennisLink will be $26 per registrant per team. TennisLink has a NO REFUND policy. Captains will use TN/Memphis/CaptainʼsLastName when registering the team. For example: TN/Memphis/Smith. Make sure players are aware there is a no refund policy for registration fees. 3. Each player will use his/her most current NTRP Computer Rating on file in TennisLink. Players who do not have a computer rating on file in TennisLink shall self-rate in accordance with the National Tennis Rating. 4. Self-rated players who enter the USTA League Tennis Program by misrepresenting their actual skill level are considered to have violated the standards of good conduct, fair play, and good sportsmanship and may be subject to a grievance complaint and possible disqualification. A Captain, Local League Coordinator, or member of the State League Committee can file a NTRP grievance. A player with a valid NTRP Computer (C) rating or granted an Automatic Appeal (A) rating of a Computer (C) rating is not subject to an NTRP Grievance. Any other player is subject to an NTRP Grievance. There will be NO Early Start ratings in 2018 and players will use their current 2017 NTRP ratings for ESL. Early Start League matches will count toward end of year ratings. 5. Deadline for completed registration of legal team rosters on TennisLink for 18+ is Sunday, September 10, 2017 at 11 PM Central Time. A legal roster consists of eight (8) players for Adult 18+ & five (5) players for 2.5 teams. If this deadline is not met, it will be at the discretion of the LLC (Local League Coordinator) if the team will still be allowed to play. If the LLC determines that a good faith effort has been made, the team might be allowed to play if the schedule preparation has not yet started. League play will begin early to mid-october. Last day to add a player is Sunday November 5, 2017 at 11 PM Central Time. Captains need to be sure there are enough scheduled matches for the added on player to qualify for advancement, if desired. There will be two matches per week for weekday and weekend players if it is needed to complete all matches by deadlines. There could possibly be a tournament style day for weekday players and a tournament style weekend for weekend players if needed. 6. All teams must maintain its roster with at least 50% of its players at the designated NTRP level of play. For example, if a 4.0 team has a total of 14 players, then 7 of those players must be rated 4.0. Not

2 more than 50% of the team roster can be out of state residents. 7. On 18+ there will be a limit of 18 players with the exception of 2.5 teams. 2.5 teams will have a limit of 12 players. All players must play in two (2) matches locally to qualify for advancement to State League Championships with only one (1) default counting. A retired match counts for all players. City playoffs count towards local league play qualification. See Chart for number of required matches to advance to State, Sectional and National Championships: MATCHES REQUIRED TO ADVANCE TO CHAMPIONSHIPS FOR ADULT DIVISIONS SECTIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS AND BELOW NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS LOCAL MATCHES REQUIRED To advance to any championship level through Sectional Championship DEFAULTS THAT COUNT To advance to any championship level through Sectional Championship TOTAL MATCHES REQUIRED THROUGH SECTIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP To advance to National Championship DEFAULTS THAT COUNT To advance to National Championship 2 matches 1 default received shall count A RETIRED MATCH COUNTS FOR ALL PLAYERS 3 matches NO defaults shall count 8. Adults may play at two different NTRP adult 18 & over levels. 9. Players must qualify separately for each team he/she plays on to advance with that team. Players can advance to the Tennessee State Championship on more than one adult 18&over team. Players can only advance to the Southern Sectional Championship on one adult 18&over team.absolutely NO SCHEDULING accommodations will be made at the Tennessee State League Championship to accommodate those players playing on more than one team. Players may advance to state championships and sectional championships with the rating they had during ESL season. If a player s rating moves up, she/he may not play with this team at Nationals. 10. Every team must have a Captain designated on TennisLink. The Captain is the person who is to communicate with the LLC and serves as the liaison between the players and the LLC. Captains must determine a site for their teamʼs home matches and designate home facility in TennisLink. Captains must always confirm site usage with the Tennis Director/Facility Coordinator. If a home site is not registered on TennisLink by the team registration deadline, the LLC will assign a home site

3 and it might be the least used public facility. Home teams are responsible for court fees. Captains will need to make sure the team can play out of a facility by asking facility director/head Teaching Pro. Facility must be able to accommodate half of the scheduled matches or LLC will assign a different site for home matches needing to be scheduled. Captains should always confirm with the home courts and opposing captain the time and place of the scheduled match before the day of play. The schedule will be posted on TennisLink. It is the captain s responsibility to keep players informed of match times, locations, etc. Captains are responsible for their players, team administrative matters and representation of their team in league matters. 11. There will be a weekday schedule made for any level of play that has a minimum of 3 teams registered by the deadline. If there isn t three teams in a weekday bracket, the LLC will determine if brackets are combined with weekend or played separately. If there is only one weekend team in a bracket, the weekday teams will play against that one team on a weekend day and that weekend team will be moved to the weekday bracket, but all of their matches will be on the weekend. If there are more matches than the weeks of play, teams may have two matches per week. 12. With the exception of 2.5 level,teams will play two singles and three double matches; 2.5 will play one singles and two doubles matches. With the exception of 2.5,a team wins a team match if it wins three or more individual matches (courts). In 2.5,a team wins the team match if it wins two or more individual matches (courts). 13. A level that has at least 12 teams might be subdivided into flights/brackets per the LLCʼs discretion. If a bracket has 5 or less teams it will play each team more than once and have at least a double round robin. Each bracket is guaranteed at least 5 matches. Brackets with 6 or more teams are guaranteed a single round robin only. 14. If a level has more than one flight/bracket, a playoff will be played to determine which team/teams advance to the 2018 TN State Championships. The top two teams from brackets with 7 or more teams will advance to city playoffs. If bracket has 6 or fewer teams, then only one team will advance to city playoffs. The winner of the playoff will be the first place team of that local league level. If any additional teams are needed to fill spots at city playoffs, it will be based on the team that has the next best record out of flights. Winning team from Early Start League will advance to USTA TN State Championship in spring of Playoffs are tentatively set for November 17-22, These dates may change based on size of each league. 15. Home teams will pay the court fees for any regularly season matches. Visiting teams will provide new balls for each match. Teams will split the cost of indoor matches if weather conditions make it impossible to play outdoors and both captains have agreed to move indoors. Each team must have access to at least three courts for home matches. Split matches may be necessary for a 5 court match. If a home court has numerous blackout dates and cannot accommodate half of the scheduled matches as home matches for a particular bracket, that team may be scheduled matches at a different site and will be required to pay the court costs as the home team. If a facility does not allow Tuesday play then 18&over teams may be required to play home matches at a different venue and be responsible for the court fees. The LLC will notify 18+ captains if this is a possibility and give said teams an opportunity to change venues. It is best for 18+ teams to find an alternate facility if the home courts do not allow Tuesday play. 16. Matches may be played on any court surface the home team chooses. If a facility has both hard courts and clay courts available for team play, the captain must designate clay if the team is to play their home matches on the clay courts. For example: TN/Memphis/JohnsonClay. If a team that plays on a clay surface only has 4 courts available but a 5th court is available on an alternate surface they may choose to play the 5th court on that surface. This is at the discretion of the home team and will be declared at time of registration. If a team does not declare this by the deadline but they find that a 5th court is available for their match and it can be played to eliminate the need for a split match it will be allowed as long as it is agreed upon by both captains (or team representative if the captain is unavailable). The match to be played on that alternate surface is always 3rd court doubles unless agreed upon by both captains prior to the exchange of lineups. If a match has begun and is interrupted by the weather, the teams may continue their match on an alternate surface, if both

4 captains agree and if a court is available for play or if the match has to be played at another time. Home captains need to communicate split courts/split surface to captains each week when confirming the match with opposing captains. This will avoid confusion. 17. Matches will be begin as early as needed to have all local play, including playoffs completed by all deadlines set by USTA TN. a.) Weekend team matches will be scheduled both Saturdays and Sundays. Saturday play to start no earlier than 8 AM, and no later than 6 PM. On Sundays matches will start no earlier than 12 PM, but if there are not enough weeks of play to get the matches completed by the deadlines set by USTA TN, it is possible to have a tournament style weekend and play may start as early as 8 am Sunday with play as late as 6 pm. Earlier than 12noon play on Sunday will be avoided unless absolutely necessary and only if a tournament style weekend is planned. If necessary to get all matches played by the TTA deadlines, some/all teams may play both Saturday and Sunday in the same weekend. Weekday night matches may also be scheduled. b.) Weekday play will be on Wednesday and Thursday with Tuesday play if necessary and allowed by facility. See chart for further explanation. Early Start League Early Start League Early Start League Tuesday Wednesday Thursday 9AM & 11 AM 9AM & 11 AM 9AM & 11 AM 1 PM if needed 1 PM if needed 1 PM if needed Overflow matches or Second match of week 8 AM-6 PM Saturday Level: 2.5,3.5,4.5 Overflow matches from Sunday brackets (2 nd weekend match) Level: 2.5, 3.5, 4.5 Possible overflow Matches Sunday 12:00-6 PM start times Level: 3.0, 4.0 Overflow matches from Saturday (2 nd weekend match) SUBJECT TO CHANGE Levels: 3.0 & 4.0 Possible overflow Matches 18. All local leagues and State Championship matches will be the best of two sets with a Set Tiebreak (first to 7 by 2) used at 6 all in each set. After each set there is a two minute rest period allowed. There is NO changing of ends, unless it is a change over time. No coaching will be allowed during set breaks. After the first game of each set, players change ends without a rest period (continuous play). All other changeovers within a set will have a 90-second rest period. In lieu of a

5 19. When individual matches in a team match do not begin all at the same time, the order of matches shall be as follows,: #1 singles, #2 singles, #1 doubles, #2 doubles, and #3 doubles; unless both captains agree to change. 20. If a team must forfeit one or more individual matches, it must forfeit #3 doubles before #2 doubles and #2 singles before #1 singles. In other words, those players who do show up must play at the highest possible positions. A team MUST play enough courts to make it a valid match (2 courts for 2.5, 3 courts for all other levels). 21. If a team is going to default/forfeit an entire team match, the captain must notify the Local League Coordinator (LLC) by at memphiscombo@gmail.com as well as the opposing captain. This must be done in a timely manner. For example, if you know a week ahead of time you will be defaulting an entire match, donʼt wait until the day before to notify the LLC or opposing captain. Once a captain has forfeited his/her entire team match and has contacted the LLC and/or the opposing team captain, it becomes final. The opposing team captain must contact the LLC at memphiscombo@gmail.com and verify the opposing team default or the team must be present and ready to play at the scheduled match time, or it becomes a double default/forfeit. If a team forfeits an entire team match and that forfeit affects the outcome of the top standings of the local league, then all matches played by the forfeiting team will be removed from the standings. If the forfeiting team has no effect on the outcome of the top standings of the local league, matches played by the team will stand. If a team fails to show up for a match at all and has not notified the LLC by then a grievance may be filed against that team. The Grievance committee may impose sanctions or penalties deemed necessary, including possibly not allowing the team to play in the upcoming spring season. 23. An inclement weather reschedule because of rain, snow, ice, darkness or weather below 40 degrees becomes official if courts or conditions are unplayable for more than 40 minutes during the 2 hour block matches are scheduled to be played. If colder than 40 degrees play may take place if both captains agree. The supervisor of the courts will determine whether they are playable; if there is no supervisor, the team captains will jointly make that determination. If the captains are not able to reach each other to determine if a match is eligible for inclement weather reschedule, the teams must go to the courts and be ready to play. TEAMS CAN PLAY IF BELOW 40 DEGREES IF BOTH CAPTAINS AGREE. a.) If match play has already started and then the match is rained out or meets the criteria in above regulation, all points, games and sets played at the time the match is rained out will count; make-up matches will begin at the point they are terminated and may be played on an alternate surface if both captains agree. The players on the court should make note of the score, who is serving and all other matters concerning the match. If a team has forfeited a court on the original written and exchanged line up that forfeits stands and all players involved in such forfeits cannot participate in the re-schedule. Forfeits offered verbally prior to the original written lineup exchange are nullified when the match is rescheduled due to rain or inclement weather. b.) If a written line up has been exchanged but play did not start, substitutions from the team roster may be made on any non default court. The individual courts do not have to be made up at the same time. c.) If a makeup match is required, the 2 team captains shall agree on a date for the make-up match. The individual courts do not have to be made up at the same time. Once the captains have agreed on a match date and time, that date and time is official and cannot be changed. The new match date, time and location should be ed to memphiscombo@gmail.com by both team captains. Once both captains have agreed upon this date, the match date and time become official and the match date and time cannot be changed without the consent of the LLC. The match must be made up within 14 days from original match date. If captains cannot agree on a date, the match will automatically be scheduled for 5 pm 14 days from the original match date. The LLC reserves the right to book the match at another facility if the home courts are not available on that 14 th day. If that make-up time is rained out, the match will be played the very next day at 5 pm. If that make-up is rained out, the match will be played on the following day and so on until the match is played. Therefore, rain outs that occur the last weekend of league play will be scheduled immediately by the LLC. NO EXCEPTIONS! 24. Lineups are to be exchanged at the scheduled match time, or before if captains agree and are ready to play. In the event of illness, injury, disqualification, or no-show of a player prior to the start of an individual match (once the lineup has been exchanged), a team may substitute a player in the affected position within the 15-minute default time, using a player not

6 (Southern Regulation 2.01C(5)a). There will be a 5 minute warm up locally. If your teamʼs match is not finished by the time the next scheduled match starts, your players may have to vacate the courts and finish per Rule 21 a & c if one or both of the next scheduled match captains so desire. a.) For each team match, a majority of the individual matches must actually be played to constitute a valid team match. In a situation where the majority of the individual matches would be not played (not a valid team match) The first course of action would be for both captains to agree on what individual matches, based on the number of players present, or to be present, can be played to constitute a valid team match. Once that is determined, both captains will re-exchange scorecards. If both captains cannot come to an agreement on what lines will be played to constitute a valid team match, based on the number of players present, or to be present, then the following individual matches will be assigned in sequential order to be played: FORMAT REQUIRED MATCHES IN SEQUENTIAL ORDER MINIMUM # OF PLAYERS REQUIRED FOR EACH TEAM IN VALID TEAM MATCH 2 SINGLES 3 DOUBLES #1 and #2 singles, and #1 doubles (priority); #2 doubles if enough players present 4 1 SINGLES 2 DOUBLES #1 singles and #1 doubles 3 b.) If a team shows up without the minimum # of players required for the team match based on the number of players present, or to be present, it will be a full team default in favor of the opponents. This is a Southern Section Rule (2.01c2) 25. There shall be no signals, verbal instruction, or coaching from a team member, coach, or spectator to a player during a USTA League match (when a player walks on the court, the no coaching rule applies). Remember tennis etiquette when watching or playing a match. Teammates, spectators, and coaches may not comment on the line calls, scoring or the conduct of a match while it is being played. The home team will be responsible for controlling spectatorʼs conduct during match play. 26. All completed match scores must be entered into TennisLink within 48 hours of the completion of the team match. The winning captain typically reports match results; however either captain can enter the scores within 48 hours. The opposing captain needs to verify and confirm the recorded match scores. All recorded scores will be final 48 hours from match time. Any disputes must be made on TennisLink and the LLC must be notified by before the 48 hours is up. If a score or name has been entered incorrectly on tennislink, the LLC at memphiscombo@gmail.com including the changes to be made along with the match number. 27. In good sportsmanship and in fairness to other teams in a flight/bracket: If your team knows before local playoffs start that your team cannot advance to the State Championships, you will need to let the LLC know ahead of time so that your team s spot in the playoffs can be offered to the next team in line. Playoff teams may be asked to commit to State Championships by if the LLC requests. If a team enters the playoffs and knows they can t play a minimum of the courts for playoff matches, to have valid matches, or the team knows they will not advance to the state championships if given the opportunity a grievance will be filed on the captain and possibly team members. ALL TEAMS PLAYING IN CITY PLAYOFFS WILL BE REQUIRED TO PAY A $250 SECURITY DEPOSIT (PAYABLE TO MTA), WHICH WILL BE DESTROYED UPON COMPLETION OF CITY PLAYOFFS IF TEAM HAS PLAYED ALL OF ITS SCHEDULED PLAYOFF MATCHES. TEAMS WHICH WIN CITY PLAYOFFS WILL HAVE SECURITY DEPOSIT CHECK DESTROYED ONCE IT COMMITS TO STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS. IF YOU KNOW YOUR TEAM WILL NOT BE GOING TO STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS, PLEASE DO NOT PLAY IN CITY PLAYOFFS.

7 28. Play may be necessary during USTA Southern Combo Sectionals, or any other USTA Championship League event. A team that has at least 6 players that are playing in a USTA championship may reschedule their match. The 6 players must go and attend the championships for the team to be eligible to reschedule their match. The captain of the team that needs to reschedule, must notify the opposing team captain at least 7 days prior to the scheduled match. Then, both captains must notify the LLC by at memphiscombo@gmail.com that the match is to be rescheduled. The same rules that apply to rainout reschedules will apply to this type of reschedule: see # 23. NO EXCEPTIONS! Keep in mind all matches must be completed by local deadlines. Therefore, rain outs that occur the last weekend of league play will be scheduled immediately by the LLC. NO EXCEPTIONS! 29. A minimum of eight (8) players for all levels except 2.5 (five (5) players for 2.5) who were on the final roster of the local league team at the conclusion of local league play must be available and eligible to compete at the Tennessee State League Championship. The Tennessee State League Championship Committee can reduce that number to not less than four. Any team defaulting a court at the USTA TN State League Championship without prior approval from the Championship Committee will be fined fifty ($50) dollars per defaulted court. The total fine is due immediately. If not paid at the championships, USTA-TN will invoice the team captain immediately following the championships and the captain will have seven (7) days to pay the total fine. If the fine is not paid in full, all players listed on the championship roster will be subject to a grievance filed by the Championship Committee with a recommendation players should not be able to participate in USTA Leagues the following year. 30. All players advancing to the USTA Tennessee State Championship will be charged thirty-five ($35) dollars per person for the championship entry fee. Players must be registered in Tennis Link and registered for the championship event in order to participate at the State Championships. Championship registration is handled online via USTATN.com. Championship entry fees are not refundable. In addition, each advancing team must send a deposit check to your state league coordinator in the amount of $ immediately following the end of your local season. Checks are to be made out to USTA Tennessee. The deposit check will be disposed of at the conclusion of the championship matches. Teams withdrawing from tournament after tentative schedule is posted (one week prior to Championship event), having multiple defaults and/or teams leaving the tournament early are each factors that will result in the forfeit of the $ deposit. 31. Players must qualify separately for each team he/she plays on to advance with that team. Players can advance to the Tennessee State Championship on more than one adult 18&over team. A Players cannot advance in the same age/level in Early Start and Spring league. Each player has to declare a team to advance to state on if you are on a team in the 18 & Over that win the same level in Early Start League & Adult 18 & Over Spring League. B. Players can only advance to the Southern Sectional Championship on one adult 18&over team C. Absolutely NO SCHEDULING accommodations will be made at the Tennessee State League Championship to accommodate those players playing on more than one team. The USTA League Tennis National and Southern Section Regulations have full force and applicability at all levels of play in the USTA Southern Section. The TN State Regulations have full force and applicability in the state of TN; and there is no authorization to modify, amplify, or change them by players, captains, or League Coordinators. The USTA Southern Section has approved the TN State League Regulations for the Adult and Mixed programs. If a certain regulation is not listed in the TN State League Regulations it will be defaulted to the Southern regulations Local Grievance Committee: Angie Tyner, Phil Chamberlain, Laura Suzanne Local Grievance Appeals Committee: Susan Parker, Marla Goodwin, MJ Garrett Playoffs will be announced after team registration is complete. State and Sectional dates and locations will be announced by January. Helpful websites: Memphis Tennis Association: www. memphista.com USTA TN: Southern Section: southern.usta.com

8