Capital Athletic League Tennis By-Laws Section 1- League Chairperson The duties of the Chairperson include: facilitate discussion if disputes arise regarding the bylaws and/or USTA rules; organize the League Championship Tournament, or delegation of those responsibilities; and maintain league standings and accuracy of submitted team ladders. The chairperson will arrange a preseason coaches meeting for the coaches to meet each other, to review the by-laws and determine the method for choosing the All-League team. Coaches/athletic directors will be notified of the meeting before the start of the fall (girls) and spring (boys) season. Section 2- Match format Each team will have a total of 12 players. This includes six (6) singles players and three (3) doubles teams. No singles players will be allowed to play both singles and doubles in a match. Each match will consist of six (6) singles and three (3) doubles matches. Matches will either be played in ladder order, beginning with No. 1 singles and ending with No. 3 doubles, or in reverse order, beginning with No. 3 doubles and finishing with No. 1 singles. Match order will be determined at the preseason coaches meeting and cannot be changed during the season. (Note: For 2018-19, coaches have agreed to play in reverse order.) All matches will be 2-out-of-3 sets, using no-ad scoring and the official USTA 12-point tiebreaker game at 6-6 in any set. Teams may play a 10-point tiebreaker in lieu of the third set if the match outcome has been decided. The first team to win 5 singles or doubles matches wins the overall match, although all matches should be played out unless darkness or weather does not permit. Section 3- Team Composition and Ladder Ladder Each team must submit a team ladder, listing all players in order of strength to all coaches and the league chairperson, before the first league match. The ladder serves as the team s official roster for the season. Players may move up or down three (3) positions on the second-half ladder. No changes should occur during each half of the season unless those changes are from injury or absence, and must be submitted to the league chairperson for approval. The secondhalf ladder must be submitted to all coaches and the league chairperson before the second half of league play. Failure to turn in a second-half ladder means the first-half ladder remains intact for the second half of league play. New players, such as incoming freshmen or transfer students, as well as athletes coming from other sports, may move more than three positions in the ladder, but the coach must indicate the players meeting that criteria with an asterisk so the rest of the league is aware of the possible extra movement. Players who do not appear on the first-half ladder may be placed on the second-half ladder at the coach s discretion.
Determine lineup Singles play: The No. 1 singles player must be ranked higher on the team individual player strength ladder than the No. 2 singles player. The No. 2 singles player must be ranked higher than the No. 3 singles player. The No. 3 singles player must be ranked higher than the No. 4 singles player. The No. 4 singles player must be ranked higher than the No. 5 singles player. The No. 5 singles player must be ranked higher than the No. 6 singles player. Doubles play: Doubles teams will play according to the two players combined ranking on the player strength ladder (lowest combined sum of a team s ranking is the No. 1 team). If the sum of any of the ladder positions for two or three of the teams is equal, then the highest ranked individual player shall play on the higher ranked doubles team. Lineups may change from one match to the next, but the 12 highest rated players who are available for competition must play. If a player in the lineup is unable to play, a substitution is allowed, provided the ladder rules stated above are met. No player can appear in the lineup unless he/she is listed on the ladder. Moving players with the intent of gaining an advantage is not permitted and shall subject the team to default. Players in ladder positions 1-6 are ineligible to play doubles. Section 4 -Home Team Responsibilities The coach must notify the opposing team/coaches if the team does not play matches at its school site. Match starting times are 3:30 p.m. Teams should attempt to arrive a minimum of 15 minutes before start time. Any player not ready to play 15 minutes after the scheduled match time shall forfeit his/her match. Home coach is responsible for postponements of a match due to bad weather and is responsible for scheduling makeup matches on the first day both teams are available by coaches agreement. Home coach will contact opposing coach or school s AD to confirm cancellation. In the event of inclement weather once the match has begun, refer to Section 6 below. The home team will furnish new championship grade tennis balls for all matches. The home team is responsible for welcoming the opposing team and reminding all players of the key rules of scoring. The winning team will report the team score and the individual scores to the league chairperson. Section 5-Coaching Prior to the first match of the season, each team must submit the name(s) of the coaches representing their team. Each team may have a maximum of three coaches who are allowed to coach during a match.
Play will be continuous and coaching is allowed only on change-overs during matches and during the maximum 10-minute break between the second and third sets. There is no break between the first and second sets. Coaches are discouraged from entering the courts during match play, but depending upon the physical layout of the courts, coaches will agree upon the ability to enter the court in only those circumstances. Section 6-Inclement Weather, Darkness, Rescheduling By mutual consent, coaches may stop play due to inclement weather or darkness. Individual matches stopped during play shall have the following details noted and signed by both coaches: set score, game score, service, and side of net. When play resumes, matches will be continued from that point. It is the responsibility of the home coach to make arrangements with the visiting coach to finish the matches. Section 7 - CAL Tournament For a player to be eligible to play in the Championship bracket, he/she must have played in a minimum of four league matches. At the end of league play, a tournament will be held to determine which players will represent CAL in the CIF Sac Joaquin Section individual tournament. Time, date and location of tournament will be set at the pre-season coaches meeting, in accordance with the league time frame. In years the league receives three entries into the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section individual tournament, coaches will determine how to choose the third individual at the preseason coaches meeting. Singles Championship tournament One bracket 16-line draw tournament. Each school may enter up to 3 players depending on league finish. The first through fourth place teams in league may enter up to 3 players, the fifth and sixth place teams may enter up to 2 players. The finalists from the championship tournament will represent the league at the section singles tournament. Tournament format is 2 out of 3 sets, no-ad scoring, 12-point tiebreaker at 6-6, and 10-point tiebreaker in lieu of the third set. The finals will be a full 2 out of 3 sets. Doubles Championship tournament One bracket 16-line draw tournament. Each school may enter up to 3 teams depending on league finish. The first through fourth place teams in league may enter up to 3 teams, the fifth and sixth place teams may enter up to 2 teams. Doubles teams can be made up of any players that are not representing the CAL in the CIFSJS Championship singles tournament. The finalists from the championship tournament will represent the league at the section doubles tournament. Tournament format is 2 out of 3 sets, no-ad scoring, 12-point tiebreaker, and 10-point tiebreaker in lieu of the third set. The finals will be a full 2 out of 3 sets.
In accordance with USTA regulation II.D table 8 (page 87), four doubles matches can be played in one day. Friendship Tournament An additional draw can be played consisting of all other players not in the championship draw up to 16 lines. One singles draw and one doubles draw. Coaches will seed the top four players in singles and the top four doubles teams in each flight. The remaining players will be randomly selected and placed accordingly on the draw. All efforts should be made to eliminate members of the same team from playing against one another in the opening rounds. In accordance with USTA regulations 11.B.f Each school will furnish one can of balls per entry. In the event that a qualified player cannot attend the section tournament, the next available athlete from that flight will take the open spot. Section 8 - League Champion The league team champion will be determined by the league match results. In the event of a tie for first place, co-champions will be awarded. If teams are tied with the same record, to determine seeding or qualification for the CIF Sac- Joaquin Section team tournament, the following criteria will be used: 1. Head-to-head match results: If one team has beaten the other team with the same record both times during the regular season, the team with more wins advances or receives the higher seed. 2. Match scores: Between the two teams tied, add the total number of individual match wins against each other. The team with the higher number of individual wins advances or receives the higher seed. 3. Season Record: Between the two teams tied, add the total number of individual match wins throughout the league season. The team with the most individual matches won will advance or receive the higher seed. 4. Tiebreaking match: If the first three criteria don t break the tie, the teams will play a match of 6 singles and 3 doubles matches, the team who wins 5 matches will advance or receive the high seed. A coin toss will determine home court. Section 9 All-League Selection There will be 12 All-League patches distributed to the top 12 players in the league. The coaches will determine the All-League selection criteria at the preseason coaches meeting. Section 10 - Rules of Play The USTA rule book will be followed for all matches.
Approved: 8/20/18