SATA/USTA Advancing League Rules Effective January 1, 2013 Regulations If a Section, District, or Local League does not have a regulation in place to handle an issue, and there is a National regulation on that issue, the Section, District or Local League must follow the National regulation. Administration The Leagues Committee shall oversee all leagues, both sanctioned and non-sanctioned. This committee will be chaired by an appointed SATA Board member. The membership of this committee shall be a designated, elected or appointed representative for each governing body of a USTA sanctioned adult league in the San Antonio metropolitan area, and the three at-large representatives, two men and one woman. Nominations shall be sought for the atlarge positions; the at-large members will be determined by vote of the Leagues Committee. The Leagues Coordinator(s) shall serve as ex officio member(s) of this committee. All leagues will be governed by USTA and USTA Texas Section rules and regulations and these local rules. Registration All team registration deadlines are HARD deadlines unless the league coordinator needs additional time to establish at least 3 teams for a level. All teams will request a number by submitting the form on the SATA website. Adding Players/Self-Rating Players may be added up to the point when there are 2 matches left in the regular league. No players can be added in the championship level. No players may be added after NTRP year-end ratings are published. Players should do their own self-rating. Captains are strongly encouraged not to self-rate players. Withholding pertinent information is a violation of National Regulation Item 1.12 (Player Agreement) and can lead to serious consequences imposed by Texas Section. Sanctions by the League Committee may include suspension from USTA League Tennis for the captain, player and team. Teams Rosters Teams shall consist of: 5-12 players for 5.0 and 2.5 6-16 for all leagues having a 3 line format 8-20 for all leagues having a 5 line format Combo and Tri Level leagues must follow maximum roster limits as set by Texas Section Minimum team rosters shall be electronically registered by the date set by the coordinator. Any player electronically registered on a team season shall remain on such roster for the balance of the league season unless one of the following occurs: Relocation outside of greater San Antonio area; or Revised: 12.03.2012 1
A player with any debilitating injury or illness, either of which would preclude the individual from playing any match in any league during the balance of that league season. If a player registered on a Combo or Tri Level League team is unable to play, they may be removed prior to the roster close date. Primary Team Declaration Players who play in two different leagues and/or play on different levels within the same league are required to complete the online Primary Team Declaration Form by a date to be determined by the coordinator for each league. If a player plays on multiple teams that reach the San Antonio Area USTA League City playoffs or men s fall/spring playoffs and has not completed the Primary Team Declaration form as specified by the guidelines above, that player will be considered committed to the team for which they played their first match of the league season. League Competition Format Scoring will be best of three sets, regular scoring. A Super Tie Break shall be played in lieu of a full third set (first to 10 points, win by 2 points). The Coman Tie break procedure will be used in all tiebreaks. In the event that a level has 8 or fewer teams, the following format will be used: 2 teams: round robin, up to 5 rounds 3-4 teams: round robin, up to 3 rounds 5-8 teams: round robin, 2 rounds If the number of teams in a level exceeds the number of dates available during the season, that level will divide into flights. Flights shall be drawn publicly with all captains in that level notified of the time, date and place of the meeting at which flights are drawn. Winners of flighted levels will be determined by playoffs, further described in Advancing to Championships. Levels with one flight can decide the winner with a winner-take-all or a single elimination play off of up to four (4) teams. Match Times Monday matches will begin at 9:30 and Saturday matches will begin at 9 am. Subsequent matches will be scheduled in 90 minute intervals. A 15-minute default rule will be enforced beginning at the scheduled time. Matches scheduled after the first match will have a 15- minute default rule beginning when a court is available after the scheduled time of the match. Line-ups The team captains for each team shall exchange their team line-up cards simultaneously prior to the beginning of the team match. For make-up lines not being played at one time, line ups will be exchanged for the lines being played at that time. No substitution may be made in an individual match after the line-up has been presented, except for injury to, illness of, or disqualification of a player prior to the start of such match. If the substitution is made during the warm-up, the substitute player is entitled to a five (5) minute warm-up. Revised: 12.03.2012 2
Lineups must include first and last names of each player and must be exchanged 10 minutes before the scheduled match time and all players will be assigned their court and ready to play. No line shall begin play before the 15-minute default time unless both captains agree. The home captain must write court assignments on the line-up cards before play begins, with the following exception: if a team must play one or more individual matches on any surface other than an outdoor hard court, the visiting captain will select which individual matches will be played on the alternate surface prior to the exchange of the line-up. Defaults Known defaults must be announced prior to exchange of lineups and Captains must declare which line(s) will be defaulted. If a known default is not announced prior to the exchange of line-up, the opposing captain may change the line-up to accommodate the default. Once a team declares a line(s) has been defaulted, that default will stand unless both captains agree to play the line. If a default is declared in a match that becomes postponed due to weather, the captain may play the full lineup when the match is rescheduled provided no play in the match had begun. Defaults must be from the bottom up. Teams or individual players may only move up in a line-up not down. A player may be replaced or switched under the following conditions: a. If an injury occurs during warm-up or a player fails to show, then an eligible replacement may be made within the 15 minute default time. The eligible replacement must replace the injured or no-show player. b. If more than one player from different lines are unavailable for play and there are no replacement players, the available player from the lower line MUST take the place of the unavailable player at the higher line to form a new team at the higher position as defaults must be from the bottom up. Team Defaults For each scheduled match, a team must have a minimum number of eligible players needed in order to win a team match or the entire match must be defaulted. If a team defaults an entire match for any reason during round robin play, then all matches of that team played or to be played during that round, shall be null and void. The local League Committee may impose further sanctions or penalties on said team. Facilities Tennis courts must have drinking water and public restroom facilities within 100 yards to be used for league play. TBD s, Weather and Make-Ups In the event a match is not played or completed on the scheduled date due to a TBD or weather (agreed by both captains), the match must be made up within 21 calendar days or by the end of regular league play, whichever comes first. Both captains are responsible for contacting each other. Make-up matches should be scheduled according to their designated league format, i.e. Monday & Friday morning matches are weekday make-ups, unless both captains agree to change; Saturday and Sunday matches may be made up on weekends or evenings. Captains may re-schedule the whole match or line by line. Once a match is rescheduled and confirmed by both captains, date, time, & site cannot be changed unless it is rained out or weather is too severe (agreed by both captains). If, due to repeated rainouts or other Revised: 12.03.2012 3
extenuating circumstances, the teams are unable to complete their match within the 21 days, the captains must contact the League Coordinator for resolution. Either or both captains must contact the League Coordinator (by e-mail) and provide details of the situation before the 21 day deadline. Failure to do so will result in the entire match being recorded as a double default. In the event that the minimum number of lines required to constitute a legal match have already been played, (three lines for a 5-line format, two lines for a 3-line format), those lines will stand and the remaining lines will be recorded as a double default according to the USTA National Regulation 2.03L, cited If a team defaults an entire team match for any reason during round robin play, then all matches of that team played, or to be played, shall be null and void when determining standings. If all teams in contention for the championship have already played the defaulting team in good faith, the matches stand as played. Match Interrupted by Weather If a match is interrupted by weather, the line-up would stand only for those positions that had already started (first service attempt) their match. All other positions, even those that were in warm-up may be changed. Temperature Guidelines Matches may be postponed for the following weather conditions, unless both captains agree to play: Cold: when the temperature is 40 degrees or colder and/or 32 degrees or colder wind chill factor Heat: when the temperature is 105 degrees or higher. Advancement to Championships All Playoffs will be scheduled by the League Coordinator. The Super Tiebreak (10 point) format will be played in lieu of a full third set, as used at Sectional and National Championships. Draws will be made in accordance with USTA. League Playoffs Any league playoffs from a one flight round robin will consist of top 2 or 4 teams as decided by each league. Flight playoffs for two or more flights will consist of the top 2 teams from each flight, using a single elimination format or round robin. City and Fall Advancing League Playoffs The top team from each Women s Adult league at each level shall advance to a city playoff tournament. The top team at each level of a Men s Adult fall advancing league will playoff against the spring league advancing winners. Match Requirements A player must play 2 matches to advance to any championship round. A default may count as one of these. A player must have played 3 matches, no defaults, to advance to nationals, except super seniors which require 2. For Tri Level and Combo leagues, only one match is required to advance. Revised: 12.03.2012 4
Adult and Mixed teams that qualify to advance to National Championships but do not participate must also follow the Move-up/Split-up Regulations. Grievance Procedure Filing a Grievance All complaints alleging a violation by an individual or team during local league competition shall be filed in writing with the League Coordinator and the Grievance Committee having jurisdiction. The complaint must be filed prior to the commencement of the next team match in that flight involving such individual or team or within twenty-four hours after the end of local league play, whichever occurs first. A grievance must be filed with the League Coordinator by the captain of the team declaring the violation. Grievance procedures will comply with USTA regulations under 2.00. Miscellaneous Cell Phones If a player s cell phone rings, the player loses the point. The second such violation from that player will result in a default of the match. Rescheduling for players in Championships All USTA Sectional and National championships take precedence over local league play. Players participating in advanced championship play may reschedule their lines. Other lines of the match may be played as scheduled. Tennis Attire Most private clubs require male players to wear shirts with sleeves; women must wear shirts over sports bras. Shorts, skirts and t-shirts are acceptable. Reporting Scores Scores should be reported within 24 hours of match completion by either team. Reported scores should be confirmed or disputed within 48 hours. After 48 hours, any corrections must be reported to the League Coordinator. All corrections should be emailed to the League Coordinator and the opposing captain. Balls SATA will not provide balls for regular league matches. The visiting team will provide USTA approved balls for all leagues. SATA will provide balls for all playoff and championship matches. Revised: 12.03.2012 5