USTA/Greater Milwaukee League Tennis Standing Rules & Regulations 2012

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1 A. LEAGUE 1. All USTA Rules, 2012 USTA LEAGUE REGULATIONS, and 2012 USTA/Midwest Section League Regulations, shall apply with the exceptions listed below. 2. The Code of Conduct will apply for all matches conducted without officials. See The Code in 2012 Friend at Court pages USTA League or Greater Milwaukee League (GML) Rules and Regulations that are not followed, may result in suspension from league play for a period of time to be determined. B. ELIGIBILITY OF PLAYERS 1. Every captain and co-captain must be eligible league players and listed on the team roster prior to match play. 2. A player may participate in more than one NTRP level in the same division in the same season. (i.e., and 3.5 for a 3.0 rated player). A player may play on more than one team within the District in the same season, (i.e., on an adult league in Milwaukee and an adult league in Madison.) Players may only play up by one NTRP level of play. (i.e., 3.0 may play 3.0 and 3.5, but not 4.0) a) A player, who qualifies for Championship level competition within a division on two different NTRP levels, may play on both teams but there will be no accommodation in the championship schedule. 3. USTA membership for the 2012 USTA League must be valid through December 31, No player may participate in an adult/senior league match until they have registered on TennisLink. All team members must have a current NTRP rating. Team members who do not have a current NTRP computer generated rating will declare a self-rating when he/she registers for a team. There will be a Self-Rate Declaration Box on the registration screen. Existing players begin the new season with their end-of-year rating from the last season that they played. Any computer rating generated from the league year of 2009 will be good for three years (2010 for players 60 years or older) or until a new computer rating is generated. DISQUALIFICATION No dynamic disqualification of Year-end Computer (C) or Benchmark (B) players (NTRP Dynamic Disqualification Table inside back cover of 2012 USTA League Regulations) So - Who can be dynamically disqualified? NTRP published level followed by A (appeal - all), S (self-rated), M (mixed exclusive), T (tournament exclusive), D (dynamic rating or NTRP complaint disqualified), E (dynamic rated players for early Start Leagues) in the Adult and Senior divisions through the Section Championships. In the event of an NTRP disqualification for that particular level of play, all matches played at the disqualification level or below and any subsequent match played by the player shall be considered losses and those matches shall be considered wins for the opposing player or doubles team. Players may join a team at their new level up to two 1

2 weeks before the end of the season. Dynamic disqualification only applies to adult/senior. If a player is DQ d at a certain level in an adult or senior league, and also is participating in a mixed doubles league, the new rating will be used in the combination of the mixed doubles pairing (i.e., player participating in 8.0 Mixed League that was rated a 4.0, was DQ d at that level, and now is rated a 4.5, needs to pair up with a 3.5 rated player to be a qualified team). 5. Each team captain must sign a Team Waiver form on behalf of their team prior to the first match. 6. For each team member to progress, they must have competed in at least two local season matches on the same team to be eligible for flight playoffs at Heyer Park or championship play through Section Championships. Only one default will count for advancing. 7. The last day to add a new player to your team is July 20, Each player shall have reached eighteen (18) years of age prior to, or during, the calendar year in which such player plays his/her first local league match. C. TENNISLINK - SCORING & TEAM REGISTRATION 1. TennisLink is the official system for player registration, reporting scores and providing standings for the USTA League Tennis Program. 2. USTA League Tennis match scores must be reported and confirmed by BOTH teams within 48 hours of the completion of the match. The District League Coordinator will run the match reports daily for Dynamic Rating computation. a) Any discrepancies found after the scores have been entered into the computer, must be ed to Lois Darkow immediately after checking with the opposing captain to confirm that an error has been made. Scores not confirmed within the 48-hour time line will be considered confirmed. D. COMPETITION FORMAT 1. Time and Day of Matches a) Daytime flights will have a starting time between 9:00 a.m. but not later than 12 p.m. b) Evening flights will have a starting time between 6:00 p.m. but not later than 9:00 p.m. b) BOTH team captains are responsible for contacting each other. 2

3 There must be verbal contact between the captains one week prior to the start of each match. The home team captain must call and confirm time and location of the match. The visiting team captain should call three days prior to the match if the home captain has not called. Messages left on answering machines or with a family member will not be considered verbal contact. Home team captains, it is your responsibility to get your match times from your club coordinator. c) Captains may each other as opposed to verbally contacting the opposing captain in order to communicate the time of the match. The opposing captain must back to confirm that the message has been received. A non response from the initial is considered a non-confirmed or informed match. If both captains have not communicated via then verbal communication must be made between captains. d) Matches where the visiting team was not informed of the change in time and the home team is not present when the visiting team arrives, they will still play the match on the same day as scheduled when courts become available. It is the responsibility of BOTH captains to communicate. (See Section D 1c) e) SPLIT STARTING TIMES - For any match in which all courts cannot be played simultaneously; #1 & #2 singles and #1 doubles will play first or #1 Singles, #1 Doubles and #2 Doubles. In any case, #2 doubles must start play before #3 doubles as described above. f) If the home team moves the match to a different location, the home team is still responsible for ALL fees. (This does not pertain to rain out matches). 2. SETS - Competition will consist of the best 2 out of 3 sets with a SET Tie-Break (first team to 7, win by 2) when games reach 6 all. Regular scoring will be used. Playing a Match Tie Break for the third set IS NOT an option for adult summer league play. A third set must be played to determine the winner. 3. COURT SITE AND TENNIS BALLS - The home team will furnish the courts and balls. If home courts are not available then: A neutral site selected by the home team with no fees to the visiting team The visiting team may supply their courts with no fees to them A neutral site agreed upon by both captains with fees, to both of them. 4. TEAM LINEUP - Team captains will exchange team match lineups AT THE SAME TIME PRIOR to the beginning of the match. a) All players must be present at the start time and when line-ups are 3

4 exchanged. b) No substitutions may be made after the line-up has been presented, except for injury to, illness of, or disqualification of a player prior to the start of the match. If the substitution is made during the warm-up, the substitute player is entitled to a five (5) minute warm up. c) The start of the match is defined as the first point played on any court. 5. WARM UP & INJURY a. A Warm-up is not practice. It is a time to loosen up to play the match. A player should make a special effort to hit shots directly to the opponent. (If partners want to warm each other up while their opponents are warming up, they may do so.) Courtesy dictates that you not practice your service returns when your opponent practices serving. Serves should be caught and served back. b. Warm-ups will be 10 minutes including serves. A player/team that is late for the match but still within the 15 minutes of match time will be allowed to take the 10- minute warm-up. c. In un-officiated matches, players may not leave the court except for an injury or personal emergency. Treatment of an injury is to take no longer than 3 minutes, with a total amount of elapsed time of play stoppage not to exceed 5 minutes or the match is forfeited. (Extra racquets, shoes, knee braces, etc., need to be on the court.) d. A legitimate bathroom visit is permissible and is not regarded as loss of physical condition. e. If injury occurs during a warm-up, a substitute player may be brought in, because the start of the match is defined as the first point played. The sub must be on the court within 15 minutes of the decision and will be entitled to a 5-minute warm-up. f. A 10-minute break may be taken between the 2 nd and 3 rd sets at the request of any player or team. 6. COACHING: See 2012 USTA League Regulations a. Definition of coaching - any advice or instruction either verbal or nonverbal given by any spectator which might alter a player s method or strategy of play. b. Coaching will be allowed only during the break between the second and third sets. c. If coaching occurs during play, a warning will be given to the team being coached and play will not resume until all agree that no more coaching will occur. If coaching continues, you may inform the opponents the match is being played under protest and then file a grievance. 4

5 d. Texting of player cell phones is not allowable. All cell phones are banned from tennis courts during USTA League matches. The offending player/team will lose the point if the cell phone goes off on the court while the match is being played. Players are not allowed to read text messages during crossovers. 7. DEFAULTS a. Individual Court Default 1. Lateness A player is not considered late until 15 minutes after the scheduled match time. I.e. If a match is scheduled for 6:00 p.m., then a player would be considered late at 6:15. Penalties to be assessed if a player arrives 15 minutes or more after the scheduled match time: minutes late, loss of toss plus 1 game. (6:15-6:20) minutes late, loss of toss plus 2 games. (6:21-6:25) minutes late, loss of toss plus 3 games. (6:26-6:30) - More than 30 minutes: Default b. Individual Default before the lineups have been exchanged When a captain is aware before the scheduled match that a singles/doubles position will not be able to be played. Regulation 2.03K Championship Procedures covers this issue as to how defaults are to be taken. The #2 singles before the #1 singles, the #3 doubles before the #2 doubles and the #2 doubles before the #1 doubles. Ineligible Player: Any team fielding an ineligible player will default that position and any positions played below that position. c. Team Defaults Total team defaults are not allowed (3 or more courts of 5 courts in Adults or 2 or more of 3 courts in 2.5 and 5.0 and Seniors, Super Seniors) Matches will not be allowed to be rescheduled. The only exception will be for rain outs and for those matches specifically identified on the schedule by the LLC s. 8. RAIN DELAY a. BEFORE MATCH STARTS - Captains must contact each other to determine the match status when inclement weather may force play indoors. If captains have not communicated with each other prior to match time, both teams must show up at the play site to determine play or make-up matches. 1) Both team captains have to agree to move the match indoors. 2) If captains have agreed to move the match indoors, it is the responsibility of each captain to notify their own team members of the match status. 3) FEES - When rain/darkness forces a match to find a neutral indoor site, each team is responsible for any fees for their players. The fees are 5

6 per team, not per player. Please confirm the cancellation policies of the indoor club prior to booking the courts. Clarification: The site is listed as the home team not the courts. A visiting team is not required to pay whether they play indoors or outdoors at the home team facility. The only time both teams may need to pay a fee is if there is a rain out and the host team does not have indoor facilities. This would cause both teams to go to a second site that has indoor courts. 4) If the match is going to be rescheduled, you must notify your flight chair of the rescheduled date. 5) When no courts have started, but the line up was exchanged: the line-up can be changed for the rescheduled match if necessary. b. RAIN DELAY DURING MATCHES (DARKNESS) - If rain (darkness) begins after the start of the match, the captains have two options: 1) Immediately move all or some matches indoors. (A 10-minute warm up is allowed when there is a change of location.) 2) Reschedule the matches on an individual court basis at a later time. 3) Notify Flight Chair or Local League Coordinator of rescheduled time c. If one or more of the team courts have started the match, and you are prevented from continuing the match due to bad weather, the match must be resumed with the same players for all the courts, even if some courts may not have started. Any defaults must stand. d. No matter when the match is rescheduled, players will begin the match with the score that existed at the time of the rain out. The match continues as if there was no interruption in play except for the 10 minute warm up. The previously existing set score, game score and point-in-the-game score will stand. e. Rescheduled matches must be played within two weeks of the rained out match, or prior to the end of the league season, whichever comes first. The local tennis clubs have asked that you do not reserve courts prior to match day in anticipation of rain. Call the day of the match only. If you reserve courts indoors and it does not rain, you are still responsible for the cost of the courts. (Many clubs require a credit card for the reservation.) 6

7 9. RETIREMENTS A retirement occurs when an individual match has started (points have been played) and a player/team is unable to continue due to injury, loss of condition, or an emergency. 10. STANDINGS a. The team with the most INDIVIDUAL match points accumulated during the season will be the winner. Each singles and doubles match counts as 1 point; a total of 3 points for 2.5, 5.0 and Seniors and 5 points for the Adult league each time team plays. b. Mini Round Robin If your flight plays a mini round robin at the end of the season, the teams that are in 5 th, 6 th, 7 th, or 8 th place are not eligible to place first in their flight c. TIES - No ties will stand at the end of the season. First Place Tie Breaker Procedure: 1) Winner of the better head-to-head individual match points during league play, (i.e. Match 1: Team A wins 4-1 over Team B; in Match 2: Team B wins 3-2 over Team A. Total points for Team A = 6; Total points for Team B = 4. Team A is the Division winner.) If that is a tie then: 2) The fewest number of sets lost during the season; then: 3) The fewest number of games lost during the season. 11. FLIGHT PLAYOFFS & CHAMPIONSHIPS The first place team in every flight will play a round robin competition to determine the overall winner. A second place team with the highest win/loss percentage may be invited to fill out the round robin playoffs at Heyer Park. 7

8 12. EQUIPMENT - RACQUETS AND TENNIS BALLS a. The Head TI. S7 tennis racquet and the Gamma Big Bubba (137) and Big Bubba Pro (137) are illegal racquets according to the Rules of Tennis and therefore not approved for league play. b. If a player plays a match to completion with the Head Titanium racquet or the Gamma Big Bubba and no protest is lodged, the match results stand and may not be protested. If a player plays with the racquet after being asked not to do so, the match may be protested through the normal grievance procedures of the USTA Leagues. c. Over sized rally-type balls may not be used. 13. PHONES & BEEPERS All cellular phones and other electronic devices are banned from tennis courts during USTA League matches. The offending player/team will lose the point if any electronic device goes off on the court while the match is being played. 14. SELF-RATED PLAYERS 1.04F(1)d Players who do not have a computer rating on file in TennisLink will selfrate in accordance with the General & Experienced Player Guidelines Supplement to National Tennis Rating Program (NTRP) Guidelines and complete the self-rating process on TennisLink when registering for a team. Failure to do so or omission of information regarding a player s tennis history will subject the player, the captain and/or others who condoned inaccurate self-rating to sanctions and disqualification. Self-ratings are valid for two years from the date issued or until replaced by a dynamic or computer rating. 15. END OF GML LOCAL SEASON The Adult/Senior tennis local season ends on August 6, 2012 Tri-Level Senior Mixed Combo yet to be determined yet to be determined yet to be determined 8

9 16. MIXED DOUBLES a. Ratings - Mixed Doubles results will not be part of generating a player s year end rating, except for those players who play in the USTA League Mixed Doubles exclusively. Players who only play mixed doubles exclusively and choose to participate in the USTA League Adult, Senior and/or Super Senior divisions the next year must enter those divisions by self-rating with the minimum rating being the higher of the self-rating or mixed exclusive rating. b. A Team will consist of a minimum of three doubles teams (six players, three women & three men) eligible to compete at a specific level of competition. 1) League play will be the combined rating for 2.5, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0 and Each individual mixed doubles team s combined NTRP ratings may not exceed the level entered. 2) The USTA has placed a limit of one (1) point difference between the NTRP ratings of members of a doubles team. For a 7.0 team the following combinations are acceptable ( =7.0, = 7.0 but is NOT acceptable.) 17. GRIEVANCE & GRIEVANCE APPEALS PROCEDURES & NTRP GRIEVANCES A grievance is an allegation that the opponent violated a local, Midwest Section League Standing Order or USTA League Regulation. A NTRP Grievance: A grievance contending that player s NTRP level is lower than the actual skill level. 3.02B a. All grievances shall be directed to the Local League Grievance Committee. There is an Appeals Committee for any member involved in the grievance. b. All NTRP Grievances shall be forward to the Midwest SLC. There is a $50 filing fee. If the grievance is upheld, the $50 fee will be returned. Checks should be made payable to the USTA/Midwest Section c/o Diane Ansay, 1310 E. 96 th St., Suite 100, Indianapolis, IN After July 15, all NTRP Grievances fees go up to $ due to time restraints on determining winners of the local league, or progression of teams to championships. c. A filing fee of $50.00 will be assessed for all complaints. If the original complaint is upheld, the fee will be returned to the filer. Please send a copy and check to Lois Darkow. d. All complaints shall be filed in writing with the appropriate committee. Each committee shall consist of no less than three persons including the chairman 9

10 TENNIS CONDUCT CODE USTA Midwest Section Wisconsin District Guide All players participating in tournaments, leagues and activities operating under the direction of the Wisconsin Tennis Association are subject to the following Tennis Conduct Code. 1. Dress and Decorum: At the beginning of a match a player will introduce himself to his opponent and shake hands. At the end of a match, regardless of the outcome, a player will shake hands and congratulate his opponent. All players will wear clean, correct tennis attire. 2. Calls: In the absence of a referee, a player will call line calls "In" or "Out". Uncertain shots will be called in favor of his opponent. A player will accept calls of his opponent without comment. Repeated errors in opponent's calls shall be referred to the tournament referee or person in charge. 3. Unsportsmanlike Conduct: No player shall deliberately drop, throw his racket or display a loss of temper. No player shall swear, curse, talk unnecessarily, or engage in any gamesmanship tactics intended to interfere with his opponent's game. The USTA Point System will be in effect. in Wisconsin tournament play. 4. Coaching: During a tournament match (other than specified team events), coaching is not allowed except during a break between the second and third sets. A player may be penalized under the USTA Point Penalty System for receiving coaching during a match. WARNING!!! "ANY USTA MEMBERSHIP MISREPRESENTATION MAY BE CAUSE FOR A ONE YEAR SUSPENSION FROM WISCONSIN TENNIS ASSOCIATION SPONSORED EVENTS." (This includes tournaments, leagues, rankings, etc.) 10