WTT.COM 1 WORLD TEAMTENNIS RECREATIONAL LEAGUE HANDBOOK

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1 TABLE OF CONTENTS WELCOME FROM BILLIE JEAN KING JOIN THE WINNING TEAM Professional League Recreational League RECREATIONAL LEAGUE SPONSORS ADDITIONAL WORLD TEAMTENNIS PROGRAMS WORLD TEAMTENNIS What Is It? Who Plays? When Can Your League Start? How Does WTT Help the Tennis Club or Public Facility? WTT Membership Includes What is Needed? Can Seniors Participate? Can Open Players Participate? Can Teams Advance Past the Local Level? WTT Corporate Leagues SCORING Game Scoring Set Scoring Match Scoring and Overtime Substitutions Warm-up Time Service Order Changing Ends Service Lets Coaching/Line Calls Default Rule Explanation of Tiebreakers ADMINISTRATION OF LEAGUES Team Captain League Director Licensing your League or Tournament Fee Structure for a WTT League or Tournament Site License Handling the Cost of the League Tennis Balls PUBLICITY How to Get Publicity Respecting Editors Deadline Using Media Kits SAMPLE NEWS RELEASE WTT.COM 1 WORLD TEAMTENNIS RECREATIONAL LEAGUE HANDBOOK

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS [CONTINUED] WTT RECREATIONAL LEAGUE PRESENTED BY ADVANTA STYLE GUIDE - PUBLIC RELATIONS WTT References - Capitalization Correct Name of Other WTT Events and Affiliated Events USTA Campus Championship WTT Boilerplate WTT Logo Other Notes SAMPLE LEAGUE SCHEDULE HOW TO SET UP A ROUND ROBIN SCHEDULE QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT/EVENT FOR NATIONAL QUALIFIER ADVANCEMENT NATIONAL QUALIFIER RULES WTT NATIONALS RULES NATIONAL QUALIFIERS NATIONALS CONTACTS Copyright WORLD TEAMTENNIS, Inc All rights reserved. WTT IS A COPYRIGHTED TENNIS FORMAT AND MAY NOT BE USED BY ANYONE WITHOUT PRIOR PERMISSION. WORLD TEAMTENNIS RECREATIONAL LEAGUE HANDBOOK 2 WTT.COM

3 Dear WTT League Directors: FOTO: JONATHAN EXLEY CO-FOUNDER OF WORLD TEAMTENNIS For more than 20 years, WTT recreational leagues in more than 1,000 cities across the nation have been helping tennis players of all ages and abilities experience one of the more exciting formats in our great sport. As a director of your local league, you play a major role in helping us introduce more players to the WTT format and our special brand of tennis. Our mission when we founded the WTT Recreational League in 1985 is still very much at the forefront of everything we do today. World TeamTennis is dedicated to promoting the sport of tennis as a sport for everyone and anyone by tapping the fun, competitive, social and entertaining spirit that comes from being part of a team. HOLDER OF A RECORD 20 WIMBLEDON TITLES RANKED IN THE TOP 10 IN THE WORLD FOR 17 YEARS HER MATCH WITH BOBBY RIGGS STILL HOLDS THE RECORD FOR THE MOST PEOPLE TO EVER ATTEND A SINGLE TENNIS MATCH MEMBER OF INTERNATIONAL TENNIS HALL OF FAME FOUNDED THE WOMEN S TENNIS ASSOCIATION (1973) AND THE WOMEN S SPORTS FOUNDATION (1974) MEMBER OF THREE WORLD TEAMTENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS (NY SETS , NY APPLES AND CHICAGO FYRE ) NAMED ONE OF THE 100 MOST IMPORTANT AMERICANS OF THE 20TH CENTURY BY LIFE MAGAZINE IN 1990 FED CUP CAPTAIN 1995, 1996, OLYMPIC CAPTAIN 1996, PHILIPPE CHATRIER AWARD - THE INTERNATIONAL TENNIS FEDERATION S HIGHEST HONOR, RECOGNIZING INDIVIDUALS FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO TENNIS. ON AUGUST 28, 2006, THE NATIONAL TENNIS CENTER, HOME OF THE U.S. OPEN, WAS RENAMED THE USTA BILLIE JEAN KING NATIONAL TENNIS CENTER, IN HONOR OF KING S CONTRIBUTIONS TO TENNIS, SPORTS AND SOCIETY BOTH ON AND OFF THE COURT. IN OCTOBER 2006, THE NATIONAL SPORTS MUSEUM AND THE WOMEN S SPORTS FOUNDATION ANNOUNCED THAT THE BILLIE JEAN KING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN S SPORTS CENTER, THE FIRST HALL OF FAME DEDICATED TO WOMEN S SPORTS, WILL BE HOUSED AT THE NATIONAL SPORTS MUSEUM WHEN IT OPENS IN NEW YORK CITY IN I will forever be very proud of the work we have done together over the years to grow World TeamTennis to where it is today. Rest assured that our job is not done and we will only reach our goal of having World TeamTennis played at the recreational level in thousands of cities throughout the country through the hard work, tireless energy and commitment from you, the WTT League Directors. I wish you the best of luck this year and I am thrilled to have you on the WTT team. WTT.COM 3 WORLD TEAMTENNIS RECREATIONAL LEAGUE HANDBOOK

4 JOIN THE WINNING TEAM WTT PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE PRESENTED BY ADVANTA World TeamTennis (WTT) is the only professional co-ed team sport with men and women equally represented. A team consists of two men, two women and a coach. The 2007 Pro League season will take place July 5 through 25 with the WTT Championship Weekend set for July in Roseville, Calif WTT PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE FRANCHISES: Delaware Smash Hartford FoxForce Kansas City Explorers New York Buzz New York Sportimes Philadelphia Freedoms Sacramento Capitals Boston Lobsters St. Louis Aces Houston Wranglers Springfield Lasers Newport Beach Breakers WTT RECREATIONAL LEAGUE PRESENTED BY ADVANTA WTT Recreational Leagues are played at tennis clubs, public parks, colleges, high schools, corporations, military bases, tennis camps and other facilities all across America. An extension of the WTT Professional League, it is a team effort with men and women competing together using the World TeamTennis format. It is administered through a nationwide structure including Team Captains, League Directors and the National Headquarters in New York. RECREATIONAL LEAGUE SPONSORS ADVANTA For more than 50 years, Advanta has been providing innovative financial services and currently ranks as one of the nation s largest issuers (through Advanta Bank Corp.) of MasterCard business credit cards to small businesses and business professionals. Proud to bring outstanding tennis to the public, Advanta is the presenting sponsor of the World TeamTennis Pro and Rec Leagues and official credit card of WTT. In addition to their involvement with WTT and the their very own Ready, Set, Racquet! program, which has provided 100,000 free racquets to children since 2003, Advanta continues to be involved in numerous tennis charities including WTT Smash Hits, Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education, and Philadelphia Wheelchair Tennis programs. Learn more about Advanta at GATORADE Gatorade Thirst quencher, the nation s leading sports drink, is backed by more than 40 years of research and is scientifically formulated and athletically proven to quench thirst, replace fluids and electrolytes and provide carbohydrate energy to enhance athletic performance. Gatorade is the official sports drink of World TeamTennis, the NFL, NBA, WNBA, NHL, AVP, Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, Major League Lacrosse and numerous professional collegiate and amateur teams and events throughout the world. For more information on the Gatorade Company, visit WILSON Wilson is proud to be the Official Racquet and Ball of World TeamTennis. Wilson s leading racket technology ncode and the exciting new K Factor have been grand slam dominant with Roger s Federer s string of Grand Slam Championships from Wilson s technology has also lead to consistent Grand Slam final presence in recent years from Mike and Bob Bryan, Justine Henin-Hardenne, Lindsay Davenport, Venus and Serena Williams and more. Wilson is also the only racquet equipment company to be the Official Ball of two of the four Grand Slam championships; the US Open and the Australian Open. Wilson is the Name of the Game. BÄLLE DE MÄTCH Bälle de Mätch Tennis Wear is excited to be named the official apparel sponsor for WTT. From its humble beginnings in 1992, the company is experiencing a rebirth since the summer of 2004 because of its commitment to grass roots tennis, which is why our new association with WTT makes so much sense. Inspired by the beach, surf and volleyball communities which are so prevalent in Southern California, Bälle de Mätch offers a comprehensive and cutting edge line of Men s, Women s, and Kid s tennis apparel, all with technical fabrications, moisture wicking materials, UV protection and fashion forward designs. WTT Recreational, Corporate, and Junior Team players now have the opportunity to purchase Bälle de Mätch clothing on line at special discount prices for team uniforms to be used for team play. To learn more about how you can outfit your teams in Bälle de Mätch Tennis Wear, go to or call our Customer Care team at Go YIPPEE Tennis!!!! WORLD TEAMTENNIS RECREATIONAL LEAGUE HANDBOOK 4 WTT.COM

5 ADDITIONAL WORLD TEAMTENNIS PROGRAMS X TEAMTENNNIS Billie Jean King s World TeamTennis now has a quick and exciting twist. The X TeamTennis format features co-ed teams competing in three sets - men s and women s singles and mixed doubles. The unique WTT format, which is also played in the Professional League, includes no-ad scoring, substitution and coaching. The winning team is the team that wins the most total games! Participants MUST have played high school tennis during the school year. Winners of the regional events will qualify for the X TeamTennis National Championships in Southern California. WTT JUNIOR NATIONALS PRESENTED BY ADVANTA 2007 will mark the 12 th year of the annual WTT Junior Nationals presented by Advanta. This premier national junior team championship invites 16 co-ed teams from throughout the United States to play in a non-elimination draw format under the official WTT guidelines. Participating teams are selected by sectional representatives on the basis of district, sectional and national rankings of individual team members. The targeted junior players are years of age. The four-day event will be held in August in San Diego and includes sport science training, college scholarship seminars, a player party and clinic with a popular tennis star. ADVANTA WTT SMASH HITS In conjunction with hosts Billie Jean King and Elton John, World TeamTennis promotes Advanta WTT Smash Hits, a charity tennis event that benefits the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Through 30 years of friendship, Elton and Billie Jean dreamed of joining tennis and music together. Advanta WTT Smash Hits features a WTT format tennis match and a celebrity auction. Past players include Andy Roddick, Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, John McEnroe, Anna Kournikova, Monica Seles, Lindsay Davenport, Mary Pierce, Martina Navratilova, Serena Williams, Venus Williams, James Blake and Martina Hingis. Over the last 14 years, this event has raised more than $8 million for the Elton John AIDS Foundation. The site of the 2007 WTT Smash Hits will be determined later this summer. WTT CHARITIES WTT Charities, Inc. is a non-profit charity with the purpose of promoting health, fitness, education and social change. It was created to provide and enhance opportunities for adults and juniors, regardless of age, gender, race, social or economic background, through the sport of tennis. Funds raised for the charity are used for the organization and promotion of tennis lessons, clinics, league play, tournaments and special events. WORLD TEAMTENNIS WHAT IS IT? WTT Recreational Leagues consist of at least three teams. A team has a minimum of four players two men and two women. The format consists of five or six no-ad sets: men s and women s doubles, men s and women s singles and one or two sets of mixed doubles. A match is won by the team with the most total games won at the end of the final set, unless the trailing team wins the final set. Should this occur, there is an Overtime rule that breathes life back into the trailing team. The final set continues into Overtime until the leading team wins one game or the trailing team ties the match score. If the score becomes tied, the match is decided by a Supertiebreaker (page 8). WHO PLAYS? League participation requires that all players be registered online at WTT.COM as current WTT members and a minimum of 18 years of age. All skill levels participate in WTT. The playing levels of the league will be determined by the League Director. (National Tennis Rating Program (NTRP) ratings are required for National Qualifier competition. See National Qualifier Rules - page 18). WHEN CAN YOUR LEAGUE START? Leagues can start any time of the year that is convenient for you and the players that you service. HOW DOES WTT HELP THE TENNIS CLUB OR PUBLIC FACILITY? WTT presents an exciting team concept to generate new business and interest at the club or public facility. WTT matches, league nights, parties and team practices will help to fill court time, generate lesson revenue and promote interest in other programs. WTT directs new players to your facility through its Program Coordinators and national promotions. WTT.COM 5 WORLD TEAMTENNIS RECREATIONAL LEAGUE HANDBOOK

6 WTT MEMBERSHIP INCLUDES Opportunity to participate in local league play. Two courts for two hours once a week per match when 5 or 6 set format is played. Newsletters. Cinema tickets at reduced prices (Loews/Cineplex and AMC theatres). Rental Car Discounts (AVIS). Hotel Discounts (Days Inn). Bälle de Mätch clothing discounts. Discounted tickets to WTT Professional League matches. Discounted tickets to professional tournaments nationwide. Plus more. WHAT IS NEEDED? Each participant must be registered online as a current WTT member. Three team minimum for a league (maximum of 10 players per team). Team consists of a minimum of two men and two women. Two cans of Wilson tennis balls per match (one can per team). Two courts for two hours once a week per match if six set format is played. One court for two and one half hours once a week per match if five set format is played. (Three hours for six set format) First time League Directors are encouraged to run a mixer party/tournament prior to the season to promote interest and give people a chance to play WTT. CAN SENIORS PARTICIPATE? Two Senior Divisions (50 + years of age) will be offered at the National Qualifiers and WTT Nationals: Senior 3.5/below and Senior 4.0/below. NTRP ratings are required for this division. Participants in the Senior division qualify to attend a National Qualifier by either winning their local league or tournament (if one is available), or by assembling a team if there is not a local league or tournament available. The standard WTT six-set format will be used at all National Qualifiers and WTT Nationals. CAN OPEN PLAYERS PARTICIPATE? YES! Participants in the Open Division qualify to attend a National Qualifier by either winning their local league or tournament (if one is available) or by assembling a team if there is not a local league or tournament available. CAN TEAMS ADVANCE PAST THE LOCAL LEVEL? Local league winners advance to the National Qualifier of their choice within one year of winning their local league. The Corporate Division local league winners advance to the WTT Nationals. The following divisions will be offered at all National Qualifiers: 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 3.5 Senior & 4.0 Senior Divisions. There will be an open division at four selected locations in State Championships will be available in some areas. National Qualifiers will be available throughout the country (see page 19 or WTT.COM). The WTT Nationals will be hosted in November (see page 19). WTT IS OFFERING CORPORATE LEAGUES Along with the WTT rules for starting a league, the following rules apply: Team Rosters must consist of a minimum of 50% employees of the participating company. (An employee is defined as anyone that gets a paycheck from the company as well as retired company employees.) A WTT Corporate match must have a minimum of 2 employees present to play the match. Teams winning their local league will advance directly to the WTT Nationals in November in Las Vegas. The WTT Nationals will offer the following 4 divisions for WTT Corporate teams: 3.5 & below, 4.0 & below, 4.5 & below and the Open Division. The Open Division will consist of both Corporate Teams and Recreational League teams. WORLD TEAMTENNIS RECREATIONAL LEAGUE HANDBOOK 6 WTT.COM

7 SCORING GAME SCORING In WTT the scoring is no-ad. This means a game is won by the first team to win four points (1,2,3, game). When the game score is deuce (3-3) (game point), the receiving team chooses which side is to receive the serve. In the mixed doubles set the serve must be gender to gender at game point. SET SCORING A match consists of five or six no-ad sets and includes one set of men s and women s singles and doubles, and one or two sets of mixed doubles. The five set format has one set of mixed doubles, and the six set format has two (mixed doubles is always played last). The five set format is an option used only on the local level. The six set format is the STANDARD WTT format used at all National Qualifiers and WTT Nationals. ON TWO COURTS, ORDER OF SETS WILL BE ON ONE COURT, ORDER OF SETS WILL BE Women s and men s doubles Doubles* Women s and men s singles Singles One or two sets of mixed doubles Doubles Singles One or two sets of mixed doubles * Home team captain has choice of sequence of sets (men s or women s). Each no-ad set is won by the first team to reach six games. A nine-point tiebreaker will be played at five games all in any set (see Explanation of Tiebreakers, page 8). It is imperative that you adhere to the WTT format. The only deviations possible will be extending the sets to an eight or ten game pro set provided ALL sets are extended and the nine-point tiebreaker, the thirteen-point Supertiebreaker and the Overtime rules are enforced. All local league rules will be superseded by existing WTT rules printed in this handbook at the National Qualifiers and WTT Nationals. MATCH SCORING AND OVERTIME Six Set Format (Two Mixed Doubles Sets) Home team captain must submit starting lineup to opposing team captain before the start of each set. Each team captain has until the end of the three minute break between sets to submit starting lineup for the next set. The winner of the match will be determined by the total number of games won. However, for purposes of determining whether a match will go into overtime, set number six will be the deciding factor. Note: Players cannot play in both mixed doubles sets. After both mixed doubles sets are finished and scores are recorded and totaled, the procedure is as follows: If the leading team won set number six, the match is over. If the trailing team won set number six, the match continues into Overtime until the leading team wins one game or until the score is tied. If a tie occurs, a Supertiebreaker will be played to determine the winner (see Supertiebreaker, page 8). If the overall score ends tied, a Supertiebreaker will be played to determine the winner (page 8). Overtime is a continuation of the sixth set. Team number six should be designated as the strongest mixed doubles team. Once you have come out of the mixed doubles set, you cannot return in Overtime. The first person to serve in Overtime is the person who was next to serve at the end of the sixth set. This OVERTIME rule gives the trailing team a chance to make a comeback. It also emphasizes the importance of the mixed doubles set. Five Set Format (one mixed doubles set) Home team captain must submit starting lineup to opposing team captain before the start of each set. Each team captain has until the end of the three minute break between sets to submit starting lineup for the next set. The winner of the match will be the team that wins the most games. After all games are totaled, if the trailing team won the mixed doubles set, the match is not over. Mixed doubles play continues until the leading team wins another game or the trailing team ties the score. If a tie occurs, a Supertiebreaker will be used to determine the winner of the match (see Supertiebreaker, page 8). SUBSTITUTIONS A team can, upon completion of a point, INCLUDING THE SUPERTIEBREAKER, substitute a player (same gender) into a set for any reason. Once a player is replaced, he/she cannot return in that set and players cannot play in both mixed doubles. If a substitution occurs in doubles, the remaining player cannot change the side on which he/she receives or the service order. Substitutions are allowed in Overtime if a player has not already played in mixed doubles. The Supertiebreaker should be treated as a new set, and all substitutions are allowed. WTT.COM 7 WORLD TEAMTENNIS RECREATIONAL LEAGUE HANDBOOK

8 WARM-UP TIME In WTT you warm up with your teammates. All players are allowed a five minute warm-up. All team members are encouraged to warm-up during this time. Once play has begun, a three minute warm-up is allowed between sets. This must be adhered to so that all sets will be completed in the time allotted. SERVICE ORDER The home team serves first in all doubles sets. (In the six-set format, the away team serves first in the fifth set and the home team serves first in the sixth set.) The away team serves first in the singles sets. Note: Since the serving order is predetermined, the receiving team selects from which end of the court they want to receive. CHANGING ENDS After every four games players change ends. In the nine-point tiebreaker, change ends only after the first four points. In the Supertiebreaker, change ends only after the first six points. SERVICE LETS At the National Qualifiers and WTT Nationals, lets will be played. When a serve hits the net and bounces within the service court, the ball is playable. In doubles, either player on the receiving side may return the ball after it bounces. If any player on the court calls let he/she loses the point. If players on both teams call let then the point will be replayed. COACHING/LINE CALLS Coaching is allowed throughout the match as long as it does not interfere with continuous play. We encourage team members to stand along the court and support their team. Only the two players (singles) or four players (doubles and mixed doubles) can make the line calls. Team members along or near the court cannot make the line calls. Coaching is not allowed while the ball is in play. DEFAULT RULE If the home or away team player does not show up on time for his/her match, there will be a 15 minute default time should a substitute player not be available. If a set is defaulted, the score should be recorded as 6-0 in favor of the players present. The default rule will not apply when the missing player is on court playing a previous match. If the home or away team does not show up on time for the match, there will be a 15 minute default time. If a match is defaulted, the match score should be recorded as 36-0 in favor of the team present. If a player defaults during a set and cannot be substituted, the score will be recorded with the games played standing with the opposing team receiving six games. EXPLANATION OF TIEBREAKERS Nine-Point Tiebreaker A nine-point tiebreaker will be played at five games all in any set. The person who is to serve next begins the tiebreaker. Each player serves two points in succession starting from the deuce court. Players change sides after the first four points. The first team (or person) to score five points wins the tiebreaker. If the tiebreaker reaches 4-4, the person who served the eighth point serves the ninth (final) point. The receiver, however, has the choice of sides (except in mixed doubles, where the service must be gender-to-gender). The winner of the ninth point is the winner of the set. Note: The tiebreaker can be won by one point. The Tiebreaker counts as one game in the overall match scoring. Supertiebreaker If the match enters into a Supertiebreaker, a coin toss will decide which team serves first/receives or chooses side in the Supertiebreaker. The Supertiebreaker should be treated as a new set and substitutions are allowed. Either player on the serving team may serve first. In addition, court positions may be changed (i.e. the person who played forehand position may switch with his/her partner to play the backhand position). Each player serves two points in succession starting from the deuce court. Players change sides after the first six points. The first team to score seven points wins the Supertiebreaker. If the Supertiebreaker reaches 6-6, the person who served the 12th point will serve the 13th (final) point. Since this set is mixed doubles, the final serve will be gender-to-gender. The winner of the 13th point wins the Supertiebreaker and the match. Note: The Supertiebreaker can be won by one point. The Supertiebreaker counts as one game in overall match scoring. Recommendation for Breaking Ties for League Winner 1 st Teams with the best overall won/loss match record will advance, and/or be placed higher in order of finish. 2 nd Head to head record among tied teams only if the tie is between 2 teams. If more than 2 teams are tied, this level is skipped. 3 rd Best overall winning percentage (total games won divided by total games played). 4 th The team with the most total games won overall advances. WORLD TEAMTENNIS RECREATIONAL LEAGUE HANDBOOK 8 WTT.COM

9 5 th The team that lost the least amount of total games overall advances. 6 th Supertiebreaker! (or coin toss if not time for Supertiebreaker.) ADMINISTRATION OF LEAGUES The WTT Recreational League is organized nationally by way of a network of teams designated into leagues by a League Director. Following is a brief description of the responsibilities of a Team Captain and League Director: TEAM CAPTAIN Organize and select a team (two men and two women plus alternates) up to a maximum of ten players. Provide a full team (at least two men and two women) per scheduled match. Choose a team name. Distribute all pertinent league materials to team members. Make sure all players register on prior to first match. At each match, determine the lineup, make substitutions and ensure proper sequence of sets. Report results online or to the League Director. LEAGUE DIRECTOR The League Director is responsible for planning local league play at one or more locations for one or more seasons per year. The local League Director has final discretion for local league rules, including whether or not to require NTRP ratings. WTT official rules apply at all National Qualifiers and WTT Nationals. Responsibilities in Forming a League Notify your WTT Program Coordinator approximately two months prior to your expected starting date. At this time you may request promotional materials, such as: scorecards, posters, CDs, and activation of your website. Register your league and purchase your site license online at WTT.COM. Set a league mixer date and notify your Program Coordinator. The league mixer helps to do the following: Introduce the format Preview the league schedule Collect your league fees Enroll new members Find responsible people to captain each team Inform your players they must register for your league on WTT.COM Make the league schedule, post and distribute. Designate which teams are home and away, or flip for home and away prior to the match. Confirm the dates and schedule of league play with the captain of each team before play begins each season. Contact your local media with news about your league (mixer date, start date, feature story ideas, etc.). See Sample News Release on page 14. Responsibilities Once League is in Progress Make sure all players have registered for your league through WTT.COM. Send local publicity to the National Headquarters (i.e. club newsletter, newspaper clips, etc.) Post and distribute results as they occur. This can be done on WTT.COM. Organize league play-off or awards night. Inform team(s) about upcoming National Qualifiers. Start promoting your next WTT League season. League Directors Receive (in addition to the same benefits as your players - page 10) FREE WTT Membership for you. All your players will be covered under the license. Online league administrative and promotional services. OPTIONAL: For a transaction fee, accept credit cards online for payment of your league fee. WTT.COM 9 WORLD TEAMTENNIS RECREATIONAL LEAGUE HANDBOOK

10 League Director Rewards Program. (FREE GIFTS based on the number of players in your league(s) throughout the year.) Support materials. National and regional advertising. Bälle de Mätch clothing discounts. Toll-free telephone number for local league administrative assistance PLAYWTT. Toll-free telephone number for National Qualifier assistance TEAMTEN. Promotional DVD. LICENSING YOUR LEAGUE OR TOURNAMENT WTT will license your WTT Recreational League or Tournament when you complete the online application process and pay the appropriate site license fee. The site license fee is due in full at the time of the application. The application process and payment will be done through WTT.COM. For a transaction fee, payment can be made using a credit card. Please contact your National Program Coordinator if this is your first league. FEE STRUCTURE FOR A WTT LEAGUE OR TOURNAMENT SITE LICENSE One Event License - $350 This one event site license is designed for the group or individual who is planning on running one WTT league or tournament in This is great for the local Community Tennis Association, Park and Recreation Department, condo association, single season or beginning league. Within your league, you may run more than one division (ability levels i.e. 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, Senior). Winning teams in each division are allowed to attend any National Qualifier within one calendar year from the time your league is completed. What is included in this package: Rights to host one WTT Sanctioned event which can include multiple divisions. The ability to send teams to National Qualifiers. Use of the WTT online registration system. Database Management System. Individual and group capability. notification of new sign-ups. A free WTT web page. Up to 1,000 FREE WTT online memberships for your event. One WTT League Director Handbook. Enrollment in the WTT League Director Rewards program. 10 WTT Wall Posters for advertising. WTT Scorecards. League promotion in WTT newsletters. Ability to upgrade to a two site license within 6 months of purchase. Posting of online scoring, scheduling, results and photo capabilities. Two Event License - $500 This two event site license is designed for the group or individual who is planning on running two WTT leagues or tournaments in This is great for the local Community Tennis Association, Park and Recreation Department, private or public tennis club, multiple season or established league. Within each of your leagues, you may run more than one division (ability levels i.e. 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, Senior). Winning teams in each division are allowed to attend any National Qualifier within one calendar year from the time your leagues are completed. What is included in this package: Rights to host two WTT Sanctioned events which can include multiple divisions. The ability to send teams to National Qualifiers. Use of the WTT online registration system. Database Management System. Individual and group capability. notification of new sign-ups. A free WTT web page for each season or event. Up to 1,000 FREE WTT online memberships for each event. WORLD TEAMTENNIS RECREATIONAL LEAGUE HANDBOOK 10 WTT.COM

11 One WTT League Director Handbook. Enrollment in the WTT League Director Rewards program. 20 WTT Wall Posters for advertising. WTT Scorecards. League promotion in WTT newsletters. Ability to upgrade to an unlimited site license within 6 months of purchase. Posting of online scoring, scheduling, results and photo capabilities. Unlimited Event License - $600 This unlimited event site license is designed for the group or individual who is planning on running three or more WTT leagues or tournaments in This is great for the local Community Tennis Association, Park and Recreation Department, YMCA, private, public tennis club, colleges, multiple season, established league or tournament directors who run multiple tournaments. An additional maintenance fee will be assessed for more than 1000 total participants. Within each of your leagues, you may run more than one division (ability levels i.e. 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, Senior). Winning teams in each division are allowed to attend any National Qualifier within one calendar year from the time your leagues are completed. What is included in this package: Rights to host unlimited WTT Sanctioned events which can include multiple divisions. The ability to send teams to National Qualifiers. Use of the WTT online registration system. Database Management System. Individual and group capability. notification of new sign-ups. A free WTT web page for each season or event Up to 1000 FREE WTT online memberships for each event. One WTT League Director Handbook. Enrollment in the WTT League Director Rewards program. 30 WTT Wall Posters for advertising. WTT Scorecards. League promotion in WTT newsletters. Posting of online scoring, scheduling, results and photo capabilities. HANDLING THE COST OF THE LEAGUE Charges to individuals who play in the league may include court time, awards, tennis balls, registration fee, National Qualifier entry fee and administrative costs (e.g. advertising, printing, mailing, coordinator time and refreshments). WTT offers the League Director the option to collect fees online from participants using credit cards through PayPal. A PayPal transaction fee will be charged to those using this option. TENNIS BALLS Wilson tennis balls are the official ball of WTT. Please use Wilson tennis balls in your leagues. (One can of balls per team - two cans per match.) The can of balls should remain on the court and will be used for all three sets on that court. WTT.COM 11 WORLD TEAMTENNIS RECREATIONAL LEAGUE HANDBOOK

12 PUBLICITY Publicity is an important tool in making your league a success. As a League Director, we encourage you to contact your local media (newspapers, radio, TV) with information on your leagues, start dates, participants and results. WTT provides internet, national and regional advertising and toll free telephone numbers to attract interested players. Please remember that we count on you to keep us informed of special stories that we can place in our newsletter and relay to the national media. So keep us updated with your local clippings and photographs. HOW TO GET PUBLICITY Tips for the Local League Director on how to get publicity: Know Your Media Market Identify all the newspapers, community magazines, radio and television stations and cable systems that reach a community audience. Then, develop and maintain a list of sports editors/writers and sports directors with addresses, telephone and fax numbers, addresses and useful information such as deadlines. Also, be aware of tennis publications in the area, both news and public affairs programs, the wire services, and such routine items as event calendars and community bulletin board listings. Check the local Chamber of Commerce, a local college Sports Information Director, media directories, etc. to get additional lists of media outlets. Most importantly, make sure your list of media contacts are kept up-to-date. Go Beyond The Sports Pages Send out a color photo and a copy of your schedule/event information to the calendar editor of the local newspapers. Don t focus only on the sports pages send the information to the metro/local section as well. Build Relationships With Your Media Next, arrange to meet with the sports editors/writers and sports directors, along with any additional news media that have an interest in the team. Learn how the news media function and what kinds of stories and features will create the most interest. Don t view your position as one to get something from the news media; rather you can actually assist the news media in doing its job more effectively. Call for an appointment and keep the get-acquainted session brief. Don t attempt to push stories during this visit, instead, find out: How does the news media want information provided to them? Do they want phone calls and news releases prior to matches? If so, when? Do they want photographs? Will they send a photographer/cameraperson to matches? Understand How The Media Works Furnish media with information that is really newsworthy. Don t waste time with poorly developed news releases or items that are merely publicity without substance. You will do a better job if you understand how the news media decide on the amount of coverage that is given to an event. Generally, space or airtime will increase in direct proportion to the significance the event has to the audience that the newspaper or broadcasting station serves. A large metropolitan daily newspaper may have limited space for scores or team stories. However, a suburban daily or weekly newspaper may be able to promote and cover the events more extensively. The same idea holds true for radio and television. RESPECTING EDITORS DEADLINES The entire news media industry is structured around deadlines. At certain times news gathering must stop and printing or broadcasting must begin. When sports editors/writers are on deadline they simply cannot stop what they are doing to talk by telephone or in person. Identify deadlines as times not to talk with the news media. Make contacts as far from deadlines as possible unless reporting results from a match. When providing information to the news media, observe the cardinal rules of honesty, accuracy and promptness. Don t exaggerate a story. Check all facts, names, spellings, numbers, etc. Don t deliver a story or results five minutes before a deadline when it could have been done earlier. Return all calls immediately and provide additional information as soon as it is requested. These inquiries indicate media interest -- capitalize on the opportunity. Respond quickly and cooperatively. WORLD TEAMTENNIS RECREATIONAL LEAGUE HANDBOOK 12 WTT.COM

13 Telephone Calls When contacting the news media by telephone, deliver the information or results concisely. Organize and write down pertinent information (who, what, where, when) as if preparing a news release in outline form, checking all names, scores and facts before calling. USING MEDIA KITS Prepare a media kit for the key local media. Local information that each kit might include: Recreational League fact sheet Fact sheet on the event and facility Schedule of activities/matches List of teams hometowns, names Timely feature story ideas Explanation of format Copies of key newspaper articles Player photographs Media instructions (info on credentials, parking, media entrances, interview opportunities, etc.) Addresses and phone numbers of key staff Keep the media kits current and up-to-date. Mail or deliver a copy of the kit to key media prior to the event. Make sure enough kits are available onsite to hand out to each media person present, even though they may have received one previously. WTT.COM 13 WORLD TEAMTENNIS RECREATIONAL LEAGUE HANDBOOK

14 SAMPLE NEWS RELEASE (Replace underlined/bolded info. with your local info.) Contact: John Smith Phone # FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE World TeamTennis Recreational League presented by Advanta starts DATE in CITY CITY (DATE) Area tennis players can experience one of the sportʼs most unique formats by joining a World Team- Tennis Recreational League presented by Advanta at NAME OF LOCATION. Sign up begins DATE and matches will be played on Tuesdays from 6 to 8 p.m. beginning DATE for NUMBER consecutive weeks. WTT Recreational Leagues are played throughout the U.S. in more than 1,000 cities. The WTT format is a fun, fastpaced co-ed team format that encourages equal contributions from both genders. A team has a minimum of four players, two men and two women. The WTT format uses five or six no-ad sets: menʼs and womenʼs doubles, menʼs and womenʼs singles and one or two sets of mixed doubles. The co-ed team format of World TeamTennis is fun, fast-paced, competitive and great exercise, said WTT cofounder Billie Jean King. Tennis is even more exciting as a team sport and the WTT format gives players the opportunity to enjoy the game at a new level. King added that the health benefits of playing tennis on a regular basis are another reason to join a WTT Recreational League. According to Consumer Reports (January 2005), tennis ranks among the top five activities for the most calories burned per workout. Even experts at The Cleveland Clinic, the No. 1 heart care facility in the nation, have called tennis the ideal sport for a healthy heart. The entry fee for the WTT Recreational League will be $XX which covers the cost of court time, tennis balls, awards and refreshments. To join the WTT Recreational League, contact NAME at NUMBER. Deadline for entries is MONTH DATE, YEAR. For more information on WTT Recreational Leagues, visit or call 866-PLAY-WTT. WORLD TEAMTENNIS RECREATIONAL LEAGUE HANDBOOK 14 WTT.COM

15 WTT RECREATIONAL LEAGUE PRESENTED BY ADVANTA STYLE GUIDE - PUBLIC RELATIONS WTT REFERENCES - CAPITALIZATION In order to remain consistent, please refer to the Recreational League as the WTT Recreational League presented by Advanta (upper and lowercase) rather than just the World TeamTennis Recreational League in your day-to-day press releases and media materials. First reference World TeamTennis Recreational League presented by Advanta Also acceptable WTT Recreational League presented by Advanta 2nd references and more WTT Recreational League CORRECT NAMES OF OTHER WTT EVENTS AND WTT-AFFILIATED EVENTS World TeamTennis Junior Nationals hosted by Billie Jean King. This annual junior team event is presented by Advanta, official business credit card of World TeamTennis. First reference: - World TeamTennis Junior Nationals presented by Advanta hosted by Billie Jean King Also acceptable - WTT Junior Nationals hosted by Billie Jean King 2 nd reference and more WTT Junior Nationals USTA CAMPUS CHAMPIONSHIP While this is not a WTT event, the World TeamTennis format is the official format for the tournament. WTT BOILERPLATE Whenever possible, please include a WTT and/or Advanta boilerplate paragraph within your media releases. Here s one approved version: Recreational League Specific: The World TeamTennis Recreational League presented by Advanta features a unique gender-balanced team concept created in the early 70s by Billie Jean King and Larry King. Year-round recreational leagues are played by more than 490,000 tennis players of all levels in more than 1,000 cities. The format used for a WTT Recreational League match features teams comprised of two men and two women. Each match consists of five or six no-ad sets, with one set each of men s and women s singles, men s and women s doubles and one or two sets of mixed doubles. Advanta is the presenting sponsor of the WTT Recreational League and the official business credit card of World TeamTennis. Official WTT Recreational League sponsors also include Bälle de Mätch, Gatorade and Wilson Racquet Sports. For more information on WTT, visit WTT.COM. WTT LOGO Please include the WTT Recreational League presented by Advanta logo on your press releases. OTHER NOTES The addition of presented by Advanta only relates to the name of the WTT Recreational League. When referencing the format, World TeamTennis or WTT are appropriate. WTT.COM 15 WORLD TEAMTENNIS RECREATIONAL LEAGUE HANDBOOK

16 SAMPLE LEAGUE SCHEDULE 2007 WORLD TEAMTENNIS ADULT LEAGUE SCHEDULE OF PLAY 3.5 & UNDER DIVISION Session I TEAMS AMA Racqueteers No Love Lost Thunder TEAMTEN Team Nine Smash Sneakers Bada Bing The Swinging Aces Each team will play eight matches. The League Champion will be determined on play-off night, Wednesday, June 30. Teams will be seeded based on their winning percentage (total games won / games played) in weeks 1-7. Two teams are eligible for any National Qualifier within the next 12 months! Make up matches due to inclement weather will be scheduled for the Thursday of the following week. WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 6-8PM AMA vs. Racqueteers TEAMTEN vs. The Swinging Aces Team Nine vs. Sneakers Thunder vs. Smash Bada Bing vs. No Love Lost WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 6-8PM Racqueteers vs. Team Nine No Love Lost vs. AMA The Swinging Aces vs. Bada Bing TEAMTEN vs. Thunder Smash vs. Sneakers WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 6-8PM No Love Lost vs. Smash AMA vs. Bada Bing TEAMTEN vs. Team Nine Thunder vs. The Swinging Aces Racqueteers vs. Sneakers WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 6-8PM Sneakers vs. Thunder Smash vs. TEAMTEN Bada Bing vs. Racqueteers AMA vs. Team Nine The Swinging Aces vs. No Love Lost WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 6-8PM Racqueteers vs. Smash Bada Bing vs. Sneakers Thunder vs. No Love Lost Team Nine vs. The Swinging Aces TEAMTEN vs. AMA WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 6-8PM Racqueteers vs. Thunder Bada Bing vs. Team Nine Swinging Aces vs. Smash AMA vs. Sneakers No Love Lost vs. TEAMTEN WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2, 6-8PM WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 6-8PM Thunder vs. AMA 1 vs. 2 Racqueteers vs. Swinging Aces 3 vs. 4 Smash vs. Team Nine 5 vs. 6 Bada Bing vs. TEAMTEN 7 vs. 8 Sneakers vs. No Love Lost 9 vs. 10 WORLD TEAMTENNIS RECREATIONAL LEAGUE HANDBOOK 16 WTT.COM

17 HOW TO SET UP A ROUND ROBIN SCHEDULE Ideally you will want to have an even number of teams in your league. The example shows how to set up your match schedule with seven teams. The formula will work for any number of teams. Week 1 Week 2 Week vs 2 1 vs 4 Each week rotate the numbers 3 vs 4 2 vs 6 one position counter-clockwise 5 vs 6 3 vs bye 7 vs bye 5 vs 7 1. Circle the team #1. 2. Fill in the number of teams playing every week. 3. Once you have set up the matches for the first week, you have the framework for setting up the remaining week s matches. 4. Note that Team #1 will always remain in the same spot every week. 5. Rotate each team one position. #2 diagonally down to the #3 position. #3 moves down one position. #5 down one position. #7 moves across one position. Bye moves up one position. #6 moves up one position. #4 moves up to the #2 position. 6. In this example, the league would run for seven weeks. QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT/EVENT FOR NATIONAL QUALIFIER ADVANCEMENT A local one or two day tournament may be used instead of a local league to qualify for a National Qualifier. Tournament may be a city-wide, state or multi-state event. Teams must play a minimum of three matches in this tournament. All events must follow the same rules and guidelines as WTT local league play. Tournament Directors must seek approval from National Program Coordinators prior to the event and officially pay and register for this event on WTT.COM. Participants must also register before the event begins on WTT.COM. WTT.COM 17 WORLD TEAMTENNIS RECREATIONAL LEAGUE HANDBOOK

18 NATIONAL QUALIFIER RULES 1. Each participant must be a current WTT member. For every four teams within an official WTT Recreational League division, one team will qualify to attend a National Qualifier. NTRP rating proof is required prior to the tournament while photo I.D. cards will be checked prior to 1st round matches at the tournament. Photo I.D. cards may also be checked periodically during the tournament. 2. NTRP ratings from the start of the local league are required for every player on the team roster. Here is how you determine their NTRP rating: If at the start of the local league a player has a computer generated rating, that player will be allowed to compete at the National Qualifier with that rating. If at the start of the local league a player does not have a computer generated rating: a. And does not have a rating at the time of the National Qualifier, WTT will accept a self-rating. This self-rating is subject to the approval of the local league director, a completed player profile and the WTT National Office. b. And at the time of the National Qualifier the player is using an accepted self-rating for USTA league play taking place in the same year as the National Qualifier, that player will be allowed to compete at the National Qualifier with that self-rating. c. And has started playing in USTA leagues either before, during or after WTT s local league with an accepted self-rating and has that rating adjusted when the year-end ratings are published, that player will be allowed to compete in the National Qualifier with their initial self-rating. d. If a self-rated player has been disqualified at their current rating, prior to the National Qualifier, that player must compete at the National Qualifier at their adjusted rating. e. If a self-rated player has had their rating adjusted after the National Qualifier and that player is attending the WTT Nationals, the player will be allowed to play the WTT Nationals with the rating that they used for the National Qualifier. Ratings will only be accepted on a.5 basis (i.e. 3.5 not 3.4). The average NTRP rating of the TOP two men and TOP two women on your team will be used to determine your team s level of competition. Example of top 4 players: = divided by 4 players = This team would register for the 3.5 & under division. No team may carry a player more than one NTRP point above the National Qualifier division entered. 3. Teams have 12 months from the time their league ends to play in a National Qualifier. 4. ONLY those players listed on the original local league roster are eligible to play at a National Qualifier. All players from the original roster must have played at least two local WTT matches for their team which qualified for the National Qualifier. All teams must have played at least 3 matches. There is a maximum of 10 rostered players per National Qualifier team. One alternate player will be allowed to be added to a National Qualifier roster as long as he/she played in the local league season from which the team qualified. One alternate player will be allowed to be added to a National Qualifier roster as long as he/she played in at least 2 matches in the local league season from which the team qualified. 5. WTT members in the Senior Division (50 years of age and older) and the Open Division will qualify to attend a National Qualifier by either winning their local league or tournament (if there is one available), or by assembling a team if there is not a local league or tournament available. 6. If an additional team is needed to fill a division, a WILD CARD ENTRY may be accepted. WTT retains the right to make a decision on the WILD CARD ENTRY. 7. Teams are guaranteed a minimum of 2 matches (weather permitting). If weather does not permit ANY play, 75% of the entry fee will be refunded. The 5 set (one court) format may be used in case of rain. 8. The 6 set format will be used (6-game set; 9-point tiebreaker at 5 games all). 9. Awards will be presented to Champion and Finalist team members present at the National Qualifier. 10. No alcohol consumption is allowed on the courts during tournament play. 11. A participant may compete on two teams at a National Qualifier as long as they are in different divisions. 12. All participants must be at least 18 years of age prior to the start of the event. Players competing in the Senior Division must turn 50 during the calendar year. WORLD TEAMTENNIS RECREATIONAL LEAGUE HANDBOOK 18 WTT.COM