EASY REFERENCE
GUIDE 2011
For more information, please visit:
www.ustavermont.com
www.newengland.usta.com
www.national.usta.com (Tennis Link)
www.usta.com
ELIGIBILITY
· Must be a USTA member through the end of the local season.
· Must be registered on the team roster PRIOR to the match (Tennis Link).
· Must have a valid NTRP rating and meet age and in-level requirements for the team.
CAPTAIN MATCH RESPONSIBILITIES
· Both captains should communicate with each other to confirm the match time and location prior to the match date.
· The captain must appoint acting captain if s/he is unable to attend the match.
· Collect fees for the match and pay directly to the club before the start of the match.
· Bring a complete set of VT LOCAL LEAGUE RULES to the match and the Easy Reference Guide at the match on each court.
· Exchange line-ups before the start time so that all players are on the court at the appointed time.
· Should inform visiting captain & players as to how the end of the match is determined (timed or untimed; clock on court etc)
· Both captains are responsible for entering and confirming scores on TennisLink within 48 hrs.
MATCH FORMAT
· Team Format for adult 2.5 & 5.0: 1 Singles & 2 Doubles.
· Team Format adult 3.0-4.5: 2 Singles & 3 Doubles.
· Best of 3 sets with a match tiebreak in lieu of 3rd set.
· Allotted match time is 1 ½ hours or 2 hours.
· 10 min warm up includes serves.
· Use USTA approved yellow tennis balls appropriate to the court surface. Home team provides the balls.
· If a set is tied 6-6, a 7 point set tiebreak will be played, using the Coman Tiebreak (first to 7 by 2 points).
· When all matches can not go on at the same time, the home captain, at the request of the visiting captain, must state the order of the entire position line-up at least 48 hours prior to the match. This can be changed with the agreement of both captains. Positions will be played on a followed by basis.
· Positions must be forfeited from the bottom up. If any individual position has started and a higher position has to default, the order of play as stated on the line-up is played.
· All individual matches should be given equal amount of time. Implement timed match procedure if needed.
· End of match: Players agree on score, captains sign scorecard and report scores on TennisLink.
· At the end of the season the winner of the flight will be determined by most TEAM WINS.
10 POINT MATCH TIEBREAK(in lieu of a 3rd set)
· The team who first wins 10 points by a 2 point margin shall win the match.
· The order of service continues. The match tiebreak is treated as a third set and the individual team can decide which partner will serve first. As in the beginning of each set, the order of serving and receiving within a doubles team may be altered.
· The team whose turn it is to serve begins serving the first point from the deuce (right) side of the court.
· Thereafter, each player shall serve in rotation for 2 points, (serving from the ad (left) side of the court, then the deuce (right) side of the court), until the winner of the set has been decided.
· Teams change ends of the court after the first point and then after every four points.
· The score for the match tiebreak will be entered on TennisLink as 1-0 for the winner of the match and choose 'completed match'.
MATCH ENDING PROCEDURE
No-Ad scoring: at deuce, the receiving team shall choose on which
side will receive. In Mixed, the point is played gender to gender.
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15 MINUTES BEFORE END OF THE ALLOTTED MATCH TIME
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At the beginning of time limit (Team A vs. B). IF:
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RESULT
THEN:
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A wins 1st set, A ahead by 2 games in 2nd set
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Team A wins match
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A wins 1st set; B ahead by 2 games in 2nd set
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Team B wins 2nd set; tied in sets; play a 9 Point Tiebreak
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SET: TIED in games
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Play a 9 Point Tiebreak
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SET: AHEAD by 1 game
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Play one more game using no-ad scoring.
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SETS: tied
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Play a 9 Point Tiebreak
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5-POINT TIEBREAK
(Used during the Match Ending Procedure when allotted match time has expired)
· First team to win 5 points shall win the game &/OR set.
· The player whose turn it is to serve in the set serves the first two points, starting from the right side (deuce) of the court.
· Thereafter, each player serves in rotation for 2 points, (delivered from the right side (deuce) of the court, then left side (ad) of the court).
· The 4th server shall serve 3 points if the set has not already been decided.
· If tied at 4-4, the doubles receiving team can choose which partner will receive. The singles receiver can choose which side to receive from.
· Teams do not change ends of the court during the 9 point tiebreak.
· The team who served first in the tiebreak shall receive service in the first game of the following 9 point tiebreak to determine the winner of the match.
LATE PLAYER
· The point penalty system can be enforced with the late player losing toss plus 1 game for each 5 minutes late.
· Penalties begin at the scheduled time of the match.
· The match is a default at 15:01 minutes late & considered a 6-0, 6-0 win for the player/team present.
· If the player arrives before the defaulted time, he/she is to receive a 5 minute injury prevention warm-up.
· Late penalties will be imposed only when a player’s late arrival is at fault for holding up the start of play. (Exception- if courts are not available at scheduled time of match).
Point Penalty System for Lateness: Match start time is 8:00. 8:01-8:05 = loss of toss, plus 1 game. 8:06–8:10 = loss of toss, plus 2 games. 8:11–8:15 = loss of toss, plus 3 games. 8:15:01 = default.
INJURED PLAYER
· A one time 3 minute medical time-out is allowed for injury, illness and heat related condition. If the match does not resume play after 3 minutes, the player(s) are subject to a Point Penalty Violation/Code Violation.
· A maximum 15 minute medical time out is allowed for bleeding injury. If bleeding continues and match doesn’t resume within 15 minutes, the match is retired.
· If a player is injured as a result of and within the 10 minute warm-up period, a legal substitute can play in his/her place. The substitute is allowed a 5-minute injury prevention warm-up. Order of play continues.
SCHEDULING & CANCELLING MATCHES:
· HOME team must specify surface at time of scheduling. If different surfaces are being used for individual matches; home captain must notify visiting captain at least 10 days before the match. Court surface can only be changed in case of rain or club hindrance.
· All matches played between Oct 1 – April 30th must be played inside (unless otherwise agreed by both captains).
· All positions in a team match must be played on the same date.
Changes in time, date, or location due to an emergency must be communicated within 72 hours.
· Outdoor matches MUST HAVE A RAIN DATE TO INCLUDE BACK-UP INDOOR COURTS to be used in the event of bad weather on the rain date.
· The Home team will keep the visiting team aware of local weather conditions. The home captain makes the final decision whether to play or cancel due to weather. If the match is canceled, the rain date must have inside courts as a back up.
RAIN/CLUB HINDRANCE: MATCH IN PROGRESS
· Both teams record the following info on score sheet:
*Score when play stopped (down to game point score if needed)
*Serving order
*Time match was stopped
· Remaining time for this match can continue when rain stops or at a later rescheduled date. After a 15 minute delay players are entitled to another 10 minute warm up.
EVENT OF DISAGREEMENT
· The players are encouraged to resolve their disagreements on the court.
· Friend at Court describes a 3 step process for score disputes:
1. Count all points and games agreed upon by the players and REPLAY ONLY the disputed points or games.
2. Play from a score mutually agreed upon by all players
3. Spin a racquet or toss a coin.
· Disagreements must be resolved on the court. If a disagreement cannot be resolved within 1-2 minutes between the players involved in the match, continue play & a grievance can be filed.
· Under no circumstances can any other person intervene in a match in progress.
USING COURT TIME EFFECTIVELY
· Arrive on time and be ready to play (tennis attire, water, restroom).
· Be prepared to be on the court and ready to start the match at the scheduled time.
· Line-ups are exchanged before the match so the players are prepared to go to the correct court by the start of the match.
· Adhere to the 10 min warm up which includes serves.
· The purpose of the warm-up is to 'warm-up', not to practice 'winning' shots where the ball cannot be kept in play.
· Catch the opponents serve practice and serve the ball back. Do not practice your return of serve until after you have completed your serve practice and only if there is still time left in the warm-up.
· Play is continuous from the time a match starts until the time the match ends.
· Between points a maximum of 20 seconds is allowed.
· On odd games (changeovers) a maximum of 90 seconds is allowed.
· There is no 90 second break after the 1st game of any set.
· Drinks should be taken on odd games only.
· At the end of each set a maximum of 120 seconds is allowed.
SPORTSMANSHIP
· Points played in good faith stand.
· Give your opponent benefit of the doubt on all calls.
· A ball that is 99% out is 100% in.
· A player shall reverse the player’s “out” call if the player realizes that the player made a mistake or is uncertain of the call. The point goes to the opponent. It is never played over.
· BATHROOM BREAK: should be taken during a Set Break (in an emergency at an odd game changeover). Tell opposing team you are taking a break and leave racquet on the court.
· CELL PHONES/PAGER: must be turned off during match. Any point disturbed by the cell phone/pager is a let.
· Server will call the score after each point so all can hear.
· COURTESY. Tennis is a game that requires cooperation and courtesy from all participants.
· Treat all points the same regardless of their importance.
· Any issue pertaining to a match can only be resolved by the players involved in that match.
· Outside interaction could be considered “interruption of play”.
· Coaching is not allowed; no interactions with any other player or person other than players on own court.
· Accept defeat graciously.
· Shake hands at the end of the match. A hand shake is an agreement that the match was played in good faith and the match is binding.
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VERMONT Coordinators
CO-STATE COORDINATORS: Carol Bouyea (802) 985-3208
Donna Griffin (802) 863-3124
Adult: 2.5, 3.0 &3.5: Laury Shea (802) 899-3743
Adult 4.0 & 4.5 Donna Kaynor (802) 879-2052
Senior & Jill Spiro (802) 365-4255
Mixed & Dawn Dugan (802) 482-5225
Tennis Link Scheduler Donna Griffin (802) 863-3124
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