TABLE OF CONTENT. 1. Sites and Dates Eligibility 2 Team Eligibility Player Eligibility

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1 USTA LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP HANDBOOK SENIOR MIXED DOUBLES NATIONAL INVITATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS *Tournament Handbook may be amended by Tournament Committee TABLE OF CONTENT 1. Sites and Dates 2 2. Eligibility 2 Team Eligibility Player Eligibility 3. Rules, Regulations, Scoring and Coaching 3-4 Rules and Regulations Scoring Championship Flight Set Up Coaching Balls Umpires Inclement Weather Cancellation 4. Player and Tournament Details 4-5 Captain Team Registration Mandatory Captain s Meeting Player Party Trainers Awards Player Gift Official Merchandise Team Photos Player Gift Exchange Website Additional Information 5. Transportation Details 5 Page 1 Updated 12/18/12

2 SITES AND DATES Senior Mixed Doubles National Invitational Championships March 22-24, 2013 Match play begins Friday, March 22, Entry Fee $400 per Team - Due January 15, 2013 (in hand). LATE ENTRIES MAY NOT BE ACCEPTED. IF APPROVED FOR LATE ENTRY, A $50.00 LATE FEE WILL BE ASSESSED. Registration needs to be mailed to USTA Southern; 5685 Spalding Drive; Norcross, GA Attention Dene Owen. Make check payable to USTA Southern. Tennis Headquarters: Hard Courts - OUTDOORS Champions Club 3520 Lupton Drive Chattanooga, TN Host Hotels: Room Rate: Springhill Suites Rate is $ per night. 495 Riverfront Parkway Beds: 2 Queens. Chattanooga, TN Cut Off Date: February 20, Phone: Marriott Convention Center Rate is $ per Night. 2 Carter Plaza Beds: King or Double Bed. Chattanooga, TN Cut Off Date: February 20, Phone: If calling, please mention USTA when making your reservations for group rate. ELIGIBILITY Team Eligibility A minimum of 6 players (whose combinations of ratings allow for 3 mixed doubles teams) who were on the final local roster must be available to compete at the National Senior Mixed Doubles Invitational. Player Eligibility Players must have played a minimum of two matches with no more than 1 default counting through the Section Championships. Current USTA membership through the completion of the championship. All individual team members must be from the appropriate level of play in accordance with the NTRP system. The NTRP difference between members of an individual doubles pair may not exceed 1.0. Players will use the rating listed on the Senior MXD roster. However, please note the following clarifications and exceptions: Page 2 Updated 12/18/12

3 o o o If a player is bumped up one level at year-end, the player is able to participate at the level listed on their roster. For example, a player was 3.5 on their local senior MXD roster but received a 4.0 rating at 2012 year-end. The player may participate as a 3.5. If a player is DOUBLE-BUMPED in year-end ratings, then the player (or captain of player) will need to contact their Section League Coordinator (SLC). The SLC will then need to contact the Tournament staff at USTA Southern to see what rating the player must participate at during the tournament. If a player is disqualified from the level on their Senior MXD roster (even if it s a disqualification in 2013 league year), the player must adjust to their new level. For example, a player is disqualified from 3.5 and is listed as a 3.5 on the Senior MXD roster. That player must participate at the new level (4.0, etc). RULES, REGULATIONS, SCORING AND COACHING Rules and Regulations USTA Rules of Tennis, the Code and League Regulations will be enforced during the championship event. All match lineups must be submitted to the tournament desk by the team captain at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the match. Penalties will be enforced at the Tournament Director s discretion. Scoring Best of two tiebreak sets with a ten-point Match Tiebreak if necessary. The Coman Tiebreak Procedure will be used for the Set and Match Tiebreak. Coman Tiebreak Procedure is the same as the present procedure, except that ends are changed after the first point, then after every four points until the conclusion of the tiebreak. Two minute rest period between the first and second set and between the second set and third set match tiebreak. Championship Flight Setup Flighted Round Robin. Smaller draws may result in regular round robin format with best record overall being the winner. Teams will participate in a non-elimination round-robin format. The winner of each flight/division will be determined by team matches won. The winner of each flight will then go into a semi-final followed by finals. If time permits and courts are available, a 3 rd /4 th place match may take place. In the event of a tie, the tie will be broken by the first of the following procedures: Winner of the most individual matches Winner of the fewest number of sets lost Winner of the fewest number of games lost Winner of head to head match A method to be determined by the championships committee Coaching No coaching is allowed. No cell phones or electronic devices allowed on court. Page 3 Updated 12/18/12

4 Balls Hard court balls will be provided. Schedules Schedules will be up approximately 10 days prior to the start of the event. Please do not contact the USTA Southern office before that time. Inclement Weather Please note that the tournament format, number of matches and match length may change due to a team not showing up or circumstances beyond our control such as weather. In the event of rain, please remain at the tournament site until the tournament staff informs you of the play schedule. In the event of a rain delay, it will be at the discretion of the Tournament Committee to use an alternative-playing format. *Weather in the South can be unpredictable, so please note that the weather may be colder than normal. Players should plan to dress appropriately if colder weather is present. Cancellation If the championship, or part of the championship, is cancelled due to rain, other inclement weather or unforeseen circumstances, the championship will not be rescheduled. PLAYERS AND TOURNAMENT DETAILS Captain Team Registration Thursday, March 21, 4:00 PM Springhill Suites 495 Riverfront Parkway Chattanooga, TN Mandatory Captain s Meeting (Captains and Co-Captains Only) Thursday, March 21, 5:15 PM Springhill Suites 495 Riverfront Parkway Chattanooga, TN Player Party Friday, March 22, 7:00 PM (ENDING 9:30 PM) Southern Belle Riverboat 201 Riverfront Parkway Pier 2 Chattanooga, TN Boat Cruise, D.J., Dancing, Prizes, Dinner, Cash Bar come join the fun! Ticket required. Limited # of guest tickets available. Additional tickets are available for purchase at $20 each. Page 4 Updated 12/18/12

5 Trainers There will be a trainer on-site at tournament headquarters to assist with athletic injuries. Awards Awards (8) and banners will be presented to the Champions and Finalists. Player Gift All players attending the National Championships will receive a player gift. Official Merchandise Official USTA League National Championship merchandise will be on site available for purchase. Team Photos Team photos will be taken throughout the weekend as well as candid shots. Player Gift Exchange Many teams bring little gifts for other teams. They should be inexpensive small tokens. Often the gifts represent their region or state. Examples are state pins, magnets, key rings, candy, macadamia nuts and leis (Hawaii). These gifts are presented to the opponent before the first match. If you want to participate, contact your local or state tourist/convention bureau. Typically, teams bring approximately 6 gifts for each team they play. Website The USTA League National Championship home page will be updated with stories, photos and scores daily. Be sure your local newspaper sports editor, friends and family have the address so they can check the results. Additional Information Chris Walling/Dene Owen 5685 Spalding Drive Norcross, GA walling@sta.usta.com; owen@sta.usta.com TRANSPORTATION DETAILS Directions from Chattanooga Airport to Springhill Suites Chattanooga (approx. 10 miles) Head towards Brainerd Road Turn right on Brainerd Road Turn left on McBrien Road Turn right onto N. Terrace Road Take Interstate 24W ramp on left and merge onto 24W Page 5 Updated 12/18/12

6 Take slight right onto US-27N Take Exit 1 for Main Street Keep right at fork, follow signs for Finley Stadium and merge onto W. Main Street Turn right onto Riverfront Parkway **Atlanta is approximately a 90 minute drive to Chattanooga. Teams may want to consider flying into the Atlanta airport and driving to Chattanooga. Flights to Atlanta will typically cost less. Page 6 Updated 12/18/12