ARKANSAS ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION Regulations Governing Interscholastic Competition 2014 TENNIS This brochure is provided for member schools participating in interscholastic tennis by the Arkansas Activities Association 3920 Richards Road North Little Rock, Arkansas 72117
PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS In any school year that a student engages in interscholastic competition, he/she shall be required to have a physical examination prior to beginning practice. ELIGIBILITY A student must meet all eligibility requirements of the Arkansas Activities Association. Refer to the current AAA Handbook and any other recently adopted proposals. RULES The USTA Rules, including the Point Penalty System and the Code, will be used in the state tournament and recommended for the conferences (enforced by tournament director or his/her designee). COACHES Each team or player must have a coach (full time faculty member) or a member of the registered volunteer program present during play. Exception: An adult, authorized in writing by the school administration, may accompany the team if there are fewer than six players. ENTRIES No player may participate in both singles and doubles. Each school is limited to two singles and two doubles. SUBSTITUES If a player participates in the conference tournament he/she shall not be eligible as a substitute in the state tournament. SCHEDULE The times assigned for matches are approximate. Each entry should be ready to play at any time. If a player or team is called and does not show within 15 minutes, a default shall be declared. Doubles competition shall begin after the first round of singles competition. Each single or doubles team shall check-in with the tournament director 30 minutes prior to a schedule time. ASSISTANCE During a match coaching may take place: 1. After the 1 st set during the 120 second set break 2. Within the ten minutes between the second and third sets of split sets. 3. When play is suspended for weather. The coach must be the high schools designated coach. Coaching must take place outside the confines of the tennis court. USTA POINT PENALTY SYSTEM To promote and enforce good sportsmanship, the member schools of the Arkansas Activities Association support the USTA the point penalty system. The system will be enforced by the tournament director or his/her designee. It is important that any unsporting acts by a student athlete be reported immediately to his/her coach. Conduct covered in the USTA Point Penalty System are: visible or audible profanity/obscenity; abuse of racket, balls, or equipment; verbal or physical abuse of a player or official; retaliatory calls; unsportsmanlike conduct; and failure to follow the instructions of an official. Violations shall be penalized as follows: 1 st offense point, 2 nd offense game, 3 rd offense default.
STATE TOUNAMENT SCHEDULING GUIDELINES FOR MAXIMUM NUMBER OF MATCHES PER DAY (USTA) Best of 3 Tiebreak Sets 2 Singles Matches 3 Doubles Matches STATE TOURNAMENT SCORING Best two out of three sets will determine the winner. No Ad scoring will be used. The twelvepoint tiebreaker will be used if the score should reach six games each. One point is awarded for each match won in singles and doubles through the quarterfinal rounds and one point is awarded for a bye if the first match is won. Two points are awarded for a semifinal win and three points for a championship. CHAMPIONSHIP TIE BREAKING PROCEDURE Teams are declared co-champions DISTRICT/CONFERENCE RESULTS CERTIFICATION Results must be reported by certifying the entries to the state tournament director immediately following the conference tournament. FOOTWEAR It is the responsibility of the school to ensure proper footwear. CONFERENCE AWARDS Awards for conference meets shall be determined and provided by the conference. STATE AWARDS Medals are awarded to the individual winner and runner-up in each classification. Trophies are awarded to the team winner and runner-up in each classification. ALL STATE QUALIFICATION Top four singles Boys and Girls in each class. Top four doubles teams Boys and Girls in each class. Any singles or doubles finalists in overall if they are not already named.
STATE QUALIFYING PROCEDURES Each conference may certify the following number of singles players and doubles teams to the state tournament. 7A and 6A - Six single players and six double teams. 5A - Four singles players and four doubles teams. 4A, 3A, and 2A (Includes 1A) - Two singles and two doubles if there are seven or more conferences. If there are six conferences, two from each conference, singles and doubles, plus four chosen at large by the seeding committee. If there are five conferences, there shall be three qualifiers from each conference (single and doubles). If there are four conferences there would be four qualifiers from each conference. The seeding committee may extend atlarge bids to third place district finishers. The at-large bids shall not cause any event to exceed a 16-team draw. LIMITATIONS A player may not represent the school in both singles and doubles. STATE TOURNAMENT SEEDING Criteria to consider for seeding: *Classification State Tournament Bracket (if applicable) *Conference Champion *Last Year Result *Most Recent Head to Head *USTA Rankings Criteria to consider for placement: *Classification State Tournament Bracket (if applicable) *Seeding is 1 4 and 2 3 unless same school or same conference then it reverts to 2 4 and 3 1 *Winner and runner-up at opposite end of draw *The top four in singles and doubles may be seeded using standings, previous tournament success, etc., and the remaining places on the bracket may then be drawn by lot. Entries from the same school or conference should be placed in opposite sides of the bracket when possible. TENNIS BALLS Each entry shall furnish a new can of balls. The winner of the match should take the unopened can of balls to the next match, etc. The AAA approved balls are any USTA approved balls. If any entry does not furnish the approved new ball within the 15- minute period, a default shall be declared.
Lightning Guidelines The following procedures will be put in place for lightning disturbances or other weather related issues: Lightning Delay Procedures 1) Use the AAA Handbook/NFHS Rulebook as a guide to implement lightning delay procedures. 2) When thunder is heard or a cloud to ground lightning bolt is seen or an approved lightning/storm detector indicates that lightning is within eight (8) miles of the venue, the thunderstorm is close enough to strike your location. Suspend play and take shelter immediately. 3) Adhere to the 30 minute rule before resuming play, regardless of the point of interruption. 4) Communicate with host school administration, visitor administration, and head coaches of both teams as conditions change. 5) Attempt to finish contest, if at all possible, once lightning disturbances subside. 6) It is ultimately the responsibility of the game officials in communication with the host site administration as to whether to suspend the contest or extend the delay additionally.
2014 TOURNAMENT DATES Conference Tournament Deadline October 11, 2014 State Tournament Week 16 October 20-21, 2014 Overall Tournament Week 17 October 29-30, 2014 2014 STATE TOURNAMENT SITES CLASSIFICATION SCHOOL SITE DATE 2A Mulberry HS Fort Smith October 20 & 21 3A Episcopal HS Burns Park October 20 & 21 4A 5A Lakeside HS Lakeside & Hot Springs CC October 20 & 21 6A Jonesboro HS Jonesboro October 20 & 21 7A Overall USTA Arkansas Burns Park October 29 & 30 State Tournament Mechanics A. The best two of three sets shall determine the winners in both singles and doubles. B. No Ad scoring will be used. The twelve-point tiebreaker will be used if the score should reach six games each. One point is awarded for each match won in singles and doubles through the quarterfinal rounds and one point is awarded for a bye if the first match is won. Two points are awarded for a semifinal win and three points for a championship. (Under these scoring mechanics, there shall be a singles, doubles and team champion.) C. The top four may be seeded in both singles and doubles with the rest of the bracket filled by draw. No entries from the same school are placed in the same half of the bracket. D. Each conference shall certify its entries directly to the AAA office at least one week prior to the state tournament.
2014 Tennis Conferences 7A West Bentonville * Fayetteville Fort Smith Northside Fort Smith Southside Har-Ber Heritage Rogers Springdale 7A East Bryant Cabot * Catholic/Mount St Mary Conway Little Rock Central North Little Rock Van Buren West Memphis (NOT DECLARED) 6A Central Alma Greenwood Jonesboro Marion Mountain Home Russellville * Searcy Siloam Springs 6A South Benton El Dorado Lake Hamilton Little Rock Hall (NOT DECLARED) Little Rock Parkview Pine Bluff Sheridan * Texarkana 5A West Clarksville Farmington Greenbrier Harrison * Little Rock Christian Maumelle Morrilton Vilonia 5A East Batesville Blytheville Forrest City Greene County Tech (NOT DECLARED) Nettleton * Paragould Valley View Wynne 5A South Camden Fairview De Queen Hope Hot Springs Lakeside, Hot Springs * Magnolia Watson Chapel (NOT DECLARED) White Hall 5A Central Beebe Jacksonville (NOT DECLARED) Little Rock Fair (NOT DECLARED) Little Rock McClellan Mills University Studies (NOT DECLARED) North Pulaski (NOT DECLARED) Pulaski Academy * Sylvan Hills (NOT DECLARED) * Conference Chair
4A 2 Cave City Clinton Heber Springs Lonoke (NOT DECLARED) Newport Riverview Southside, Batesville * Stuttgart 4A 3 Brookland Harrisburg Highland Pocahontas Trumann Westside, Jonesboro * 4A 4 Dardanelle Mena Pottsville Prairie Grove Shiloh Christian Subiaco (B) * 4A 7 Arkadelphia * Arkansas Baptist Central Arkansas Christian estem (NOT DECLARED) Fountain Lake Malvern Nashville Pulaski Robinson 4A 8 Crossett Dumas * Hamburg Monticello Star City Warren 3A 1 Bergman * Cotter (NOT DECLARED) Haas Hall Mountain View Valley Springs 3A 2 Cedar Ridge Corning Harding Academy Osceola (NOT DECLARED) Piggott * 3A 5 Atkins Booneville Episcopal Collegiate * Harmony Grove, Benton Jessieville Paris 3A 8 Bismarck Drew Central Fordyce Lakeside, Lake Village McGehee Prescott * Smackover * Conference Chair
2A 1 Academics Plus Conway Christian Guy-Perkins (G) LISA Academy Poyen (NOT DECLARED) Shirley Western Grove * West Side, Greers-Ferry 2A 2 Brinkley Cross County Earle East Poinsett County * Hughes Marked Tree 2A 3 Crowley s Ridge Academy Ridgefield Christian * Riverside Walnut Ridge 2A 4 Acorn * Benton County School of Arts (NOT DECLARED) Mulberry Union Christian Western Yell County (NOT DECLARED) 2A 7 Bearden (NOT DECLARED) Emerson Gurdon Hampton Hermitage (NOT DECLARED) Murfreesboro Parkers Chapel * * Conference Chair
2013 STATE CHAMPIONS BOYS Team GIRLS Team Bentonville 7A Rogers Jonesboro 6A Lake Hamilton Lakeside/Hot Springs 5A Lakeside/Hot Springs Arkansas Baptist 4A Valley View Episcopal Collegiate 3A Episcopal Collegiate Riverside 2A Parkers Chapel BOYS Singles GIRLS Singles Dylan Deluca, Bentonville 7A Alye Darter, Heritage Christian Mathis, Mountain Home 6A Kami Ward, Lake Hamilton Jake Jacoby, Pulaski Academy 5A Tatum Rice, Lakeside/Hot Springs Trent Brandon, Arkansas Baptist 4A Emily Metcalf, Valley View Jack Nolan, Episcopal Collegiate 3A Meredith Headlee, Episcopal Collegiate Luke Anderson, Mulberry 2A Emma Warnock, Union Christian BOYS Doubles GIRLS Doubles Kamath Smardo. Fayetteville 7A Tang Tang, Rogers Edwards McKee-Jonesboro 6A Henson Gamberini, Lake Hamilton Kauffman Hill, Lakeside, Hot Springs 5A Allen Howe, Lakeside/Hot Springs Moser Brooks, Subiaco 4A McAlexander McAlexander-Valley View Yoo Nichols, Episcopal Collegiate 3A Lanier Pugh, Episcopal Collegiate Hargrove Jones, West Side/Greers Ferry 2A Brumley Stackhouse, Parkers Chapel OVERALL STATE TOURNAMENT BOYS SINGLES GIRLS Jake Jacoby, Pulaski Academy Emily Metcalf, Valley View BOYS DOUBLES GIRLS Grayson Greer Hunter Harrison, Pulaski Academy Katherine Tang Tiffany Tang, Rogers Arkansas Activities Association Tennis Committee 7A 6A 5A 4A 3A 2A Matt Fulton, Rogers Toney McMurray, Alma Shawny Green, Lakeside/Hot Springs Kristie Jenkins, Southside/Batesville Steve Cox, Bergman Diane Burr, Jessieville