I. Requirements of Teams Rules WILMINGTON CUP TENNIS ASSOCIATION Effective February 2019 Changes on RED 1. Each club entering a team in matches must be a member of the Wilmington Cup Tennis Association. 2. Each Cup will have 8 teams. (Exception: see Section X, Addition of New Teams/Cup Levels). Each team will field 4 doubles courts (two women per court per team) for each Cup match. Each team will designate a Captain and a Co- Captain. 3. Matches will be played in the Spring and the Fall. 4. Newly elected teams shall start in the lowest Cup level. 5. Each team should have its own doubles ladder and/or challenge system for organizing their teams. 6. If members of an existing member-club leave that club and wish to become known as a new organization, they will not retain their Cup status. They must comply with the existing Wilmington Cup Tennis Association Bylaws under Requirements for Membership, and current Association Rules under Requirement of Teams, #4. If elected, the new club will be added to the waiting list and will be notified when an opening becomes available. 7. Any Cup team, except those teams in the lowest Cup Division, not able to fulfill its playing responsibility by defaulting three courts in a single season will be automatically put on notice for that season. If the same Cup team defaults three courts in the next season, that the entire Cup team will be moved to the bottom of their Cup Division at the end of that season, becoming the team that will move down to the next division when the season ends. More than one team can be moved to the bottom of its division. Any team in the lowest Cup Division not able to fulfill its playing responsibility by defaulting four or more courts in a single season will be automatically put on notice. If the same Cup team defaults four or more courts in the next season, this Cup team will be dropped from Cup and put at the bottom of the official wait list. Thus, the next Club on the Wait List will be offered that now vacant spot. The Recorder Coordinator will be responsible for notifying any teams that are on notice for defaulting too many times. 1
8. Except under Section VII, Rule 2c where indoor court costs are shared by both teams, all costs associated with a WCTA match will be assumed by the home team. This includes, but is not limited to, court fees and refreshments. II. Requirements of Players 1. Rostered players must be members of the club they represent. It is acceptable that substitutes do not need to be members of the club they represent. 2. They must be 21 years of age by October 1st of the previous year. 3. A player may play for only one club in a season. A player may play for only one team per club, and for only one doubles team in that Cup (exceptions are Substitutes #4 and Team Line-ups #4). III. Responsibility of Team Captains / Club Representatives / Players 1. Captains / Club Representatives are to determine whether or not a player has already agreed to play for another team or another club before listing her as a team member or substitute. 2. Either the Home or Away Captain can enter the scores for the match. Two copies of the score sheet must be signed by both captains. One player from each team on each court must initial the recorded score for their court. If a score is altered on the scoresheet, the corrected score must again be initialed by one player from each team who played on that court. The scores are considered final 48 hours after all scores have been entered, if neither Captain reports a dispute to the Cup Recorder. The score sheets must be signed by both captains (or acting captains) in order to be considered valid. A captain (or acting captain) may only refuse to sign a score sheet if she intends to dispute a score. The Cup Recorder will collect the hard copy score sheets of the weekly match from both Captains only if one of the two Captains disputes a score. 3. Host Captain should refer to the section, Method in Case of Rain, Inclement Weather or Unplayable Courts, when applicable. IV. Substitutes 1. A sub can only be listed for one club and needs to give her permission each season. 2. Subs are listed alphabetically. 3. Each Cup should have its own sub list. 2
4. Players may sub up to any level. 5. Substitutes may sub up from their original rostered position to the next Cup level at their club. (e.g. If a club has a Cup II and Cup IV, the Cup IV subs may sub up to Cup II. If a club has a Cup II, III and IV, the Cup III subs can sub up to Cup II, but the Cup IV subs may not sub on Cup II). 6. Teams at the same level within a club may share their sub lists. Please note you cannot share players. Subs can play on only ONE court per Cup per weekly match. 7. Players and substitutes may sub in an upper Cup TWICE without changing their Cup status. Once a player or sub has played a third time for a higher Cup, she may no longer play or sub for her previous lower Cup nor sub above her new Cup level. If, for instance, a Cup III player or sub plays three Cup II matches, she is then considered a Cup II sub and cannot play in Cup III again, nor can she sub in Cup I. Exception: During last week of season ONLY: A player who has subbed up twice can sub up a third time without losing her current Cup status as long as her Cup season is over and weather does not become a factor requiring rescheduling. (Example: Cup IV player plays her last match on Tuesday. She can sub up to Cup III (Wednesday) or Cup II (Thursday) that same week as long as weather does not affect her last match. 8. After initial submission of rosters, any additional new substitutes must be reported collectively in one communication to the Roster Coordinator seven (7) days prior to the first day of the season. 9. If two courts within a Cup need a sub, and subs are not available, the two line-up players on those courts MAY combine as one team at the higher court position with the vacated court incurring a default. All existing courts/partnerships remain at their normal positions. V. Team Line-ups 1. One official Club roster of the line-up of team members by partnerships and court position (plus a sub list) shall be prepared by each Club Representative. This roster will be submitted to the Roster Coordinator according to Chairwoman s deadlines. Substitutes must be listed alphabetically. The roster may then be entered into the website by the Club Representative or the Team Captains. 2. Club Representatives shall also enter onto the website the names of all Captains/Co-Captains, their telephone numbers and e-mail addresses for each cup at their member-club. 3
3. Each Cup team may only make changes to its original eight roster players in court position and/or partnerships ONE TIME in one email after rosters have been submitted. The change must be reported to the Cup Recorder prior to the scheduled match day that the new roster will be used. This one-time change cannot be done after the third match. Example: Court 2 and 4 switch positions prior to their third match on April 3 rd. It rains on April 3 rd. The captain failed to report the change on April 2 nd so the change cannot be used. 4. Original sub lists cannot be altered except as indicated under Section IV, Substitutes, #7 and #8. Please note if a team player is removed from the line-up in this manner, she may be put on the sub list of that team but may not be a player or a sub at a lower Cup that season. 5. Substitutes must play in the vacated position of the regular player. (i.e., Court 3 regular player is absent from the match. The sub must play Court 3.) Exception: see rule #9 under Substitutes. 6. Each Captain must follow the court line-up she brings to each match. There may be no last-minute changes. 7. It is the responsibility of the home team to make sure the correct courts are playing each other. VI. Method of Play 1. All matches shall be played according to the National USTA Rules (Friend at Court) except as set forth in these Wilmington Cup Tennis Association Rules. Whenever the game score is tied at 6-6, the 12-point tiebreak (1 st to 7, win by 2) shall be used (Coman Format) to determine the winner of that set. A 2- minute rest period shall be permitted between the first and second sets. A 10- minute rest period shall be permitted between the second and third sets. Once match play has begun, there can be no coaching of players on or off the court by other players, spectators or club professionals. This includes, but is not limited to, during rest periods between sets, bathroom breaks, or during any injury time-outs. 2. Any player who sustains an injury during a match and cannot resume play within 15 minutes will be retired with credit given for the score earned thus far. One court point will be awarded to the opponents. 3. All outdoor matches will consist of best of three full sets for each court. The Super Set Tiebreaker cannot be utilized in lieu of a full third set. 4
4. Each team shall play one match with each other team in the association at that specific cup level. The location is to alternate, if possible. All attempts will be made to schedule teams at the same Cup level within a club to play their matches against each other by the 4th week of play. 5. One point shall be awarded for each court. A default shall be counted as one point for the opposing team. (Note item #2) 6. All matches must be played on the day and time assigned or are defaulted. (Exceptions: Item #8 and #9 below and/or Rain/Unplayable Courts) 7. The hosting team will supply the balls and refreshments. 8. Wilmington Cup Tennis Association matches involving teams whose Philadelphia League matches are scheduled to be played on the Tuesday after Memorial Day may be re-scheduled up to and including the second Friday following the original scheduled match. Captains involved in the Philadelphia League must notify opponents with one-week prior notice. All re-scheduled matches should be played at the original location unless both Captains agree to move elsewhere. 9. Wilmington Cup Tennis Association matches scheduled on the Jewish holidays of Yom Kippur and/or Rosh Hashanah can be re-scheduled when one-week prior notice has been given by those celebrating the Jewish holiday. The match must be played prior to the next regularly scheduled match. This reschedule process should follow rule #5 under the Inclement Weather section below. 10. All Fall matches will begin the week of Labor Day. VII. Method of Play in Cases of Rain, Inclement Weather, or Unplayable Courts 1. Day Before Scheduled Match: a. Captains are encouraged to formulate alternate plans prior to the day of the match. b. If it is agreed upon by both Captains, and indoor courts are obtained the day before a scheduled match, the match would be played inside regardless of outside weather conditions on the morning of the scheduled match. Any cost of courts will be shared by both teams. The only exception is clubs with private indoor courts provided for free can require guests to play outdoors if the club s courts are playable and at the same location. c. Players must be available to play a match up to 90 minutes after the scheduled start time of the original match. 5
2. Morning of Scheduled Match: a. If the home team s outdoor courts are unplayable, the Host Captain will contact the opposing team's Captain by phone to postpone the match no later than 90 minutes before scheduled start of match. b. The away team may offer their har-tru outdoor courts if they are available and playable. However, the home team has the option NOT to accept the offer if they wish to use their private indoor courts and they are available no later than one and a half hours after the original scheduled start of the match. c. When inclement weather prevents any play outside, either team can obtain indoor courts (private or public). If these indoor courts are within 21 miles of the home team s outdoor courts and are available no later than one and a half hours after the original scheduled start of the match, it is mandatory they be utilized. NO excuses will be accepted. The team not willing or not available to play on the available indoor courts (private or public) must default. If there are costs involved for utilizing any indoor courts, all costs will be shared by both teams. This ruling also applies to any rescheduled match: for example, a rescheduled rain-date. d. Players must make themselves available via phone the morning of the scheduled match. They should continue doing so until postponement and/or rescheduling has been agreed upon by both Captains. e. Players must be available to play a match up to 90 minutes after the scheduled start time of the original match. 3. If rain interrupts a match, play shall resume from the exact point, game, and set score existing at the time of interruption. The match must then be completed within one week of the originally scheduled match. (Exception: Methods of Play, item #6) 4. If after 30 minutes the weather clears and courts are playable, team Captains shall determine when to resume the match, using the same players, and when possible, the same court. 5. When rescheduling an interrupted match or one not started, each partnership must offer their opponents no fewer than four times (any combination of morning, afternoon and evening) on two or more different days. If within 24 hours each partnership cannot offer four times on two different days, then the court not responding will be defaulted to their opponents. 6. If an individual court cannot complete play within one week of the originally scheduled match, BOTH teams will record the match as Double Default with each team recording sets and games won. NO Court Points will be awarded. 6
7. If a match is moved indoors, a Super Set Tiebreak will be used in lieu of a third set unless all 4 players agree to a third set. The decision can be made after the end of the second set. VIII. Time of Match 1. Warm-up begins at 9:30 AM. Match play begins at 9:40 AM. Thus, if a team arrives at 9:40 AM, they forfeit their warm-up. 2. For Outdoor Matches a A 30-minute default time shall be enforced from the time the court is available for the match. This does include warm-up time. Thus, on a match scheduled for 9:30 AM, a default will be awarded at 10:00 AM. For matches scheduled at 11:00 AM, the default will be awarded 30-minutes after the court is available. This does include the 10-minute warm-up. 3. For Indoor Matches a 15-minute default time shall be enforced from the time the court is available for the match. This does include warm-up time. Thus, on a match scheduled for 9:30 AM, a default will be awarded at 9:45 AM. For matches scheduled at 11:00 AM, the default will be awarded 15-minutes after the court is available. This does include the 10-minute warm-up. IX. Conclusion of the Season 1. After the courts and sets won are counted at the end of the Spring and Fall, the season s winners move up and the losers move down. If there is a tie for first or last place within a Cup, the winners of each Cup will be determined in a stepwise fashion using the following criteria: a. Courts won - if teams are still tied then go to step (b). b. Sets won - If teams still tied go to step (c). c. Least games lost - If teams still tied go to step (d). d. The actual match played that season by the tied teams. 2. Exception: winners of Cup 1 stay in Cup 1 and the loser of the lowest Cup level remains at that level X. Addition of New Teams/Cup Levels 1. When all Cup Levels are full (8 teams per level) a Wait List will be maintained by the Chairwoman. Any member-club wishing to add a team must submit their request in writing to the current Chairwoman and Roster Coordinator via e-mail simultaneously. 2. A new Cup level will be added when there are 3 or more teams on the WaitList. 7
a. When there are less than 5 teams, this level will be considered provisional and the winning team will not be eligible to exchange levels with the next highest level. b. When there are 5 or more teams, this new level will be considered an official level of Wilmington Cup Tennis Association. As such, the Rules governing the Conclusion of the Season will apply. c. There will be no more than 10 Cups in the Wilmington Cup Tennis Association. 3. Whenever a new Cup level is formed, clubs currently on the Wait List, in order of request, will be given the opportunity to field a team. Any club that is not able to field a team will be removed from the Wait List. However, this club will have the option to re-submit a new request on the wait list, as stated in #1 above. 4. If a slot opens at any Cup level when there is an active provisional Cup, the team which won the last season played will be moved up to fill that slot. If more than one slot is available, the next to go up would be the 2nd place team, etc. (Provisional Cup Teams supersede the Wait List.) XI. Grievances 1. All issues should be addressed first with the Captains, then the Club Representatives and, if none of these people can resolve the issue, then the Association Chairperson(s) get involved, who then takes it to the Rules Committee. 2. Both Club Representatives should put each side of the dispute in writing (emailed preferred) to the Association Chairwoman so it can be distributed to the other Rules Committee members for their review. 3. After the Rules Committee receives all the information concerning the dispute, a ruling will be made and e-mailed (and/or phoned if time is of the essence) to the Club Representatives involved, following procedure as set forth in Chairwoman s Cup Book which could possibly result in suspension from a match, dismissal from a team or banning from Wilmington Cup play. 8
By-Laws WILMINGTON CUP TENNIS ASSOCIATION BY- LAWS Updated March 2016 Name The name of this association shall be the Wilmington Cup TennisAssociation (WCTA). Purpose The object of the association shall be to promote interest in tennis and arrange inter-club matches. Requirements for Membership 1. This association shall consist of the clubs now members and such other nearby clubs as may apply and be elected to membership by a majority vote. A "club" (also referred to as "member-club") is defined as a group of at least 8 rostered female tennis players and will include those representing both private and public organizations. Clubs must have at least four (4) outdoor courts at one location available for both Spring and Fall match play. All four courts must be available on designated match days for warm-up starting at 9:30 A.M., with match play to follow until completion of the match, with the exception of pre-determined late starts. 2. Each member-club shall be a member of the United States Tennis Association. Each player will be encouraged to become a member of the United States Tennis Association. 3. Each member-club shall submit rosters, substitute list and the location of the four outdoor courts on the designated deadline dates. 4. All member-clubs renting public or private courts for match play shall send a copy of the contract for use of courts with the roster submissions on the deadline for each season. Officers 1. The Officers shall be a Chairwoman, Chairwoman-elect, Secretary and a Treasurer plus the Rules Committee. The leadership of the association is to be passed annually on a rotating basis in alphabetical order by member- clubs. a. The Chairwoman shall be selected on a rotating basis in alphabetical order from member-clubs. b. The Chairwoman-elect shall serve the year prior to her chairmanship. The Chairwomanelect shall, in the absence of the Chairwoman, take her place. c. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of the meetings, disseminate information to the member clubs, and change Rules and By-Laws as they are affected by approved proposals. d. The Treasurer shall collect and expend monies as directed by the association. 2. The Board shall consist of all of the Officers plus a Scheduling Coordinator, Roster Coordinator, Webmaster, and Cup Coordinator. The Board positions shall be filled by volunteers from the member-clubs. 9
a. The Webmaster shall act as a liaison between the League and the website. b. The Scheduling Coordinator shall schedule all the times, dates and locations for the matches played in the spring and the fall. c. The Roster Coordinator shall gather all of the team rosters and make sure there are no names listed twice (either as subs or rostered players) and they are complete and accurate to the best of her knowledge. d. The Cup Coordinator shall instruct the Cup Recorders on their responsibilities and check weekly records to make sure subs are according to the rules. 3. Rules Committee is to consist of the current year s Chairwoman plus the preceding two Chairwomen. All grievances, protests, etc., to be handled by these three people. The Rules Committee shall meet at least once a year, prior to the Annual Meeting, to review the By- Laws and Rules. In the event any member of the Rules Committee shall resign, the remaining two members shall appoint a replacement, giving preference to resigned member s club, current association officers and past chairs, all from three different clubs. 4. Weekly records shall be kept by Cup Recorders appointed by the Cup Coordinator. There will be one recorder for each CUP level. Annual Meeting The Annual Meeting shall be called by the Chairwoman in January. Dues The annual dues for member-clubs shall be determined at the Annual Meeting. Number of Leagues and Teams This Association shall be limited to 10 Cups. The lowest Cup must have a minimum of five teams to be a competitive Cup with no more than 8 teams in each Cup. Changing the Rules & By-Laws 1. Rules and By-Laws may be amended at the Annual Meeting provided a quorum is present. A quorum is one-half of the membership. 2. Changing By-Laws amendments requires a two-thirds vote of those representatives present. 3. Changing the Rules amendments require a majority vote of those representatives present. 4. At the Annual Meeting when proposed amendments to the Rules & Bylaws are discussed, a proposed amendment may be revised prior to the vote. Proposals for Changing Rules & By-Laws 1. The proposals for a change to the By-Laws and/or the Rules shall originate with the Rules Committee or a member-club. 2. The member-clubs must deliver these proposals in writing to the Rules Committee by November 30th of the year preceding the annual January meeting. 3. The Secretary shall send the proposed Rules and By-Laws changes to Club Representatives no later than 10 days prior to annual meeting. 10