Team captains and players should be aware of the key dates below for the 2008 Mixed Doubles League. Captains should download the local, state, sectional, and national mixed doubles league rules from the appropriate web sites. Captains must register their teams on TennisLink. Links to all rules and forms will be posted under the League Info—Mixed Doubles tab by April 30, 2008
April 30 - - - Captains Meeting
May 19 - - - Team Registration Starts
June 2 - - - Team Registration Ends
June 5- - - Schedules Posted on TennisLink
June 11 - - - Season Begins (for larger levels)
July 22 - - - Rosters Closed To Add-ons (except with LLC approval)
Aug 16 - - - League Season Complete
Sep 13-15- - - SC State Championships in Charleston, SC
Oct 17 – 19 —Southern Sectional Championships, New Orleans LA
THE USTA, USTA SOUTHERN SECTION, AND USTA SOUTH CAROLINA RULES AND
REGULATIONS TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER LOCAL LEAGUE RULES. IF A CONFLICT OCCURS, THE ABOVE WILL OVERRULE THE LOCAL LEAGUE RULES. LOCAL LEAGUE RULES MAY HAVE TO BE CHANGED ANNUALLY WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF LOCAL MEMBERSHIP IF STATE, SECTIONAL OR NATIONAL USTA REGULATIONS ARE CHANGED.
CAPTAINS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR KNOWING ALL THE USTA, SOUTHERN, SOUTH CAROLINA AND GSTL RULES AND REGULATIONS, AND FOR ENCOURAGING TEAM MEMBERS TO FAMILIARIZE THEMSELVES WITH THE RULES AND REGULATIONS. MAKE SURE THAT EACH TEAM MEMBER HAS ACCESS TO THE RULES AND REGULATIONS.
A. FORMAT
1. Three mixed doubles partnerships. A minimum of six players (3 of each gender).
2. Team that wins at least two of the three individual matches is the winner of the team match.
3. Individual matches = best 2 of 3 sets with a ten-point match tie break in lieu of the third set.
4. ADULT LEAGUE: 5.0, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0, 10.0 and SENIOR LEAGUE: 5.0, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0
5. The combined ratings of a partnership cannot exceed the level of play. Each individual player’s rating in a partnership may be no more than 1.0 apart.
TEAMS ARE RESTRICTED TO 12 PLAYERS. (EXCEPTIONS MAY BE APPROVED BY LOCAL LEAGUE COORDINATOR ONLY if all rostered players are members of the host club/facility and the team was not attempting to pull players from other club/facility teams.
B. ELIGIBILITY
1. All players must have a USTA membership valid through the end of the local league season (September 2008).
2. ADULT- Player must reach at least 19 years of age during 2008.
3. SENIOR – Player must reach at least 50 years of age during 2008.
4. A player may play on multiple Adult teams in SC as long as they are at different NTRP levels. A player may also play on multiple senior teams in SC as long as they are at different NTRP levels. Play on an Adult team and a Senior Team at the same flight level is permissible.
5. If a player plays on two SC Adult teams at the same level or two SC Senior teams at the same level, all matches played will be defaulted and the player will be removed from both rosters.
6. A Player may not play out of his/her Local League area (as defined by the player’s primary residence as listed in USTA records) without approval from the player’s
Local League Coordinator and the approval of the Local League Coordinator in the area the player wishes to play. Each Local League has the authority to accept or deny participation. The Local Leagues also have the option of setting rules to govern their own approval process. A player playing out of his/her Local League Area without obtaining prior approval will be subject to sanctions, including, at a minimum, defaulting of all matches played prior to receiving approval as well as possible disqualification from further play. Sanctions may be applied to the team captain as well. A player who received approval in 2007 or before, to play out of his/her area MUST reapply if he/she desires to play out of his/her area in 2008.
7. A player from another state (as defined by the player’s primary residence as listed in USTA records) may not participate in South Carolina without approval by the Local League Coordinator (LLC) representing the area that is affected and the State Mixed Doubles League Coordinator. A player playing out of his/her home state without obtaining prior approval will be subject to sanctions, including, at a minimum, defaulting of all matches played prior to receiving approval. Sanctions may be applied to the team captain as well. A player from another state who previously received approval to play in South Carolina and who has played in South Carolina in every year since that approval was granted, need not reapply for approval to play in 2008 in the same local league and the same division (adult or senior) and same level as in 2007.
8. GSTL area players are not eligible to play in another SC league without GSTL LLC approval. GSTL area players may play in another state without GSTL LLC approval as pre-approval is granted to any GSTL player wishing to play out of state.
C. COMPUTER RATING
1. A player with a valid computer rating as a result of playing in the Adult, Senior or Mixed USTA League Tennis program must play at that level or higher.
2. Players may appeal their 2007 year-end ratings at any time during the 2008 league
year. USTA will allow one appeal. 2007 National benchmark players cannot
appeal their 2007 year-end ratings except for medical reasons. 2008 Area,
Sectional and National benchmark players cannot appeal their 2008 year end
ratings except for medical reasons. Medical Appeals and appeals to move down
from a self-rating must be submitted in writing, by fax, mail, or email, to Mary
Goins, State League Coordinator. Forms for appeals are available on www.grandstrandtennis.net. Appeals must be done on an individual basis; no
group appeals will be accepted.
D. SELF-RATING
1. Players who do not have a computer rating on file in TennisLink shall self-rate in accordance with the National Tennis Rating Program (NTRP) Guidelines and complete the self-rating process on TennisLink when registering for a team. Failure to do so or omission of information regarding a player’s tennis history will subject the player, the captain and/or others who condoned inaccurate self-rating to sanctions and disqualifications.
2. A player who does not have a computer rating, but does have a self-rating on file in TennisLink, must play at that level and cannot self-rate lower for Mixed Doubles.
3. Players who submit an appeal to their self-rating through the Tennis Link system before their local league deadline for registering players will be permitted to register up to seven days after the notification of final self-rating.
E. ROSTERS and FEES:
1. TennisLink registration begins May 19, 2008.
2. Deadline to register a team for Mixed Doubles is June 2, 2008.
3. Deadline for add ons – July 22, 2008.
4. League Season is June 11 – August 16, 2008.
5. Schedules will be posted on TennisLink no later than June 5, 2008.
6. Fees will be collected when the players are registered on TennisLink.
7. League Fees are $20.00 which includes the TennisLink fee.
8. Once placed on a roster through TennisLink, fees will not be refunded.
F. LOCAL PLAY
1. Each team will play a round robin competition with at least one other team in the same level. Each team in a round robin must play every other team in the round robin at least once and an equal number of times.
2. It may be necessary to divide a level into two or more sub-levels if there are too many teams for a single round robin group. In that case, there will be a local league play-off to determine the GSTL champion and the team(s) to advance to the State Championships.
3. Each team must play at least three matches in local league to qualify for championship play.
4. Winners will be determined based on team matches won or winning percentage of team matches. Procedures for playoffs may vary according to the flight and number of teams. In all cases, ties will be broken in the following order:
a. Winner of most individual matches
b. Loser of fewest sets.
c. Loser of fewest games.
d. Winner of head to head.
e. Toss of coin by the League Coordinator.
5. Home team is responsible for providing courts, paying court fees (if applicable), and providing new balls.
6. Captains may not reschedule any match except in the event of inclement weather
[rain – snow - hurricane]. In EXTREME Circumstances ( Local Tournaments, and State, Sectional and National League Championships both captains may request LLC approval to change a scheduled match or individual positions to an earlier date. Such requests must be submitted via email two weeks in advance. (If you have no email agreement and you do not have LLC approval (by email), then the match will stay on the regularly scheduled date). Not having your strong players available is not a reason to have a match rescheduled. MATCHES RESCHEDULED DUE TO EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCES MUST BE MADE UP PRIOR TO THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED MATCH.
7. Rained out matches are to be made up before the next scheduled match.
CAPTAINS MUST RESCHEDULE AND NOTIFY THE LOCAL LEAGUE COORDINATOR, WITHIN 24 HOURS, OF THE RESCHEDULED TIME. ONCE A RESCHEDULE DATE HAS BEEN SET, NOTHING CAN CHANGE THIS DATE EXCEPT BAD WEATHER. If captains cannot agree on a date, the Coordinator will set a date. Make-up matches may be played individually.
8. Captains should encourage all players to show up at least 30 minutes prior to the scheduled match time. Captains must exchange lineups not later than 15 minutes prior to the scheduled match time. The 15-minute default rule will apply – unless prior arrangements have been made between captains. Direct substitutions may be made for any player injured during warm-up. A direct substitution may also be made for a no-show. However, the no-show substitution must be made prior to expiration of the 15-minute default period. Captains and players are encouraged to begin the 10-minute warm up at least 10 minutes prior to the scheduled match time. If court(s) are not available at the scheduled time, each position will complete the 10-minute warm-up and commence the match as soon as a court(s) become available. Matches/Positions that do not start within 15 minutes of the scheduled start time or within 15 minutes of the time of court availability will be forfeited to the team whose player(s) is at the court ready to begin play. The home team captain and the visiting captain should confer to insure both are in agreement as to the “official” time for beginning the 15-minute default period. Team captains should report any violations of this policy to the Local League Coordinator. Repeat offenders will be reported to the LOCAL LEAGUE COORDINATOR. THE LOCAL LEAGUE COORDINATOR will determine the appropriateness of disciplinary sanctions on the Captain or the team.
9. If a home team has access to more than one court surface, the home captain must call the opposing team to let them know at least 4 days before the scheduled match that they will be using multiple surfaces for their match. Within 2 days of this notice, the visiting team captain must notify the home team of the visitor’s choice of which positions will play on hard surfaces and clay surfaces.
G. SCORECARDS AND LINEUPS:
1. All scores MUST be recorded on TennisLink by the WINNING team captain, within
24 hours after the last position of each match is finished. The LOSING team captain
MUST confirm the match score within 48 Hours after the final position scores are
recorded. If the captain fails to confirm the scores, TennisLink will confirm
them automatically. ONCE TENNISLINK HAS CONFIRMED THE SCORES, CHANGES
MAY NOT BE MADE.
LOSING TEAM CAPTAIN MUST CONFIRM THE MATCH NAMES AND SCORES WITHIN
48 HOURS. INCORRECT NAMES AND SCORES COULD AFFECT PLAYERS’ RATINGS.
2. Line-up/scorecards will be used to exchange line-ups only. Each captain will provide their
own line-up scorecard, or portion thereof. Each Captain should keep a copy of final scores
to assist in posting or confirming scores on TennisLink. (SUGGESTION: HAVE THE OTHER CAPTAIN CHECK THE SCORES ON YOUR SCORECARD AND SIGN IT SHOWING THEIR AGREEMENT. THIS WILL AVOID WRONG SCORES AND NAMES BEING PUT IN TENNISLINK.
3. Captains are to exchange line-ups simultaneously. NO CHANGES may be made after the
line-up has been exchanged, except as allowed in the substitution rule. NOTE that
after scorecards have been exchanged, if a team receives a forfeit, the receiving team
DOES NOT HAVE THE OPTION TO CHANGE THEIR LINE-UP!!
H. FORFEITS:
Forfeits are used for Defaults or for Disqualifications. These two different forms of
forfeit are defined as follows:
1. Forfeit by DEFAULT- when a player fails to appear on time,
2. Forfeit by DISQUALIFICATION- Disqualification occurs when a player is ineligible to
participate for any reason [i.e. under age, not a USTA member, NTRP disqualification, etc.]
3. SCORING OF FORFEITS: Scores for forfeits are not entered in TennisLInk—the word
Default is selected for “status” of match and the team receiving the default shall be
awarded the win for the individual match that was forfeited. In the event of forfeit by
both teams (double default), neither team will receive credit for the win.
4. Team Forfeits/Default from League:
IF A TEAM FORFEITS AN ENTIRE TEAM MATCH (2 POSITIONS) THEN THAT TEAM
WILL BE DEFAULTED FROM THE LEAGUE. ALL REMAINING MATCHES SCHEDULED
FOR THE DEFAULTED TEAM SHALL BE VOIDED AND WILL NOT BE PLAYED
HOWEVER, ALL TEAM POINTS AWARDED TO OPPONENTS FROM PREVIOUS
MATCHES PLAYED WILL REMAIN VALID. IN THIS CASE, THE
TEAM THAT HAS THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF TEAM MATCH VICTORIES WILL
BE DEEMED THE LEAGUE WINNER AT THE END OF THE SEASON.
5. For a forfeit to count as a win, the player[s] receiving the forfeit must be present at
the match site except in specific cases as stated elsewhere. Players receiving the
forfeit must be listed on the line-up and entered in TennisLink. Players giving the forfeit
must not be entered in TennisLink.
6. In case of a forfeit, the # 3 doubles positions must be forfeited first.
Forfeits must always be from the bottom up. Please check your USTA regulations for
further examples of how to forfeit.
7. In the event line-ups have already been exchanged and a player listed fails to show,
that position in which the player was to play, is the position that is forfeited
(defaulted). Once exchanged, line-ups may not be rearranged.
8. Two players will play together in the higher position when both of their partners do
not show in order to avoid two defaults (as long as combined ratings do not
exceed the designated level of play.
DO NOT PUT SOMEONE IN THE NUMBER ONE OR TWO POSITIONS THAT YOU KNOW IS GOING TO BE LATE OR YOU KNOW WILL NOT SHOW. REPEAT OFFENCES WILL BE GROUNDS FOR A GRIEVANCE TO BE FILED AGAINST THE CAPTAIN BY THE LOCAL LEAGUE COORDINATOR.
I. RETIREMENTS:
A retirement occurs when an individual match has started and a player is
unable to continue due to injury, loss of condition, or emergency.
1. SCORING OF RETIREMENTS: In case of retirement after commencement of match, the
non-retiring player[s] shall be credited with such number of additional games as would have
been won if the match was completed and the non- retiring player[s] won every subsequent
game. Note: for NTRP computer data entry, actual scores are required, (i.e. the winner
of the retirement if the match ended at 6-4, 4-3, should be recorded as a retirement at that
score.)
2. Points awarded for forfeits during original line-up exchange will stand. All players involved
in such forfeit CANNOT participate in the rescheduled match.
J. REPORTING SCORES
All scores must be entered into TennisLink within 24 hours of the match. The WINNING team captain is responsible for entering the scores, and the losing team captain must confirm or dispute the scores within 48 hours. After 48 hours, the scores are automatically confirmed by TennisLink and cannot be disputed later. If a captain disputes the scores in TennisLink, the captain must also notify the League Coordinator right away that there is a disputed score.
K. PROGRESSION TO STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
1. When a Local League does not have the required number of teams (two teams)
to constitute a level, the State Mixed Doubles League Coordinator, in
consultation with affected Local League Coordinators, shall either:
A. Assign the singleton team to another Local League, in which case,
(1) the assigned team will register on TennisLink in the Local (host) League to which it is assigned and pay the fees and abide by the rules of the host league AND
(2) the host league will make the rule regarding travel for matches.
Or
B. Group the singleton team with other singleton teams in the state and schedule
a playoff among those teams to determine advancement to the State
Championships. The State Mixed Doubles League Coordinator will decide on
the date(s), playoff structure, and designate the site and Local (host) League.
C. SHARING OF TRAVEL WILL BE LEFT UP TO THE INDIVIDUAL HOST TEAMS.
2. A player must play at least two matches locally for Adult and one match locally for
Senior to qualify for championship play. A default RECEIVED will qualify for advancement to the championships; A default GIVEN will not qualify. A default will count as a qualifying match for Adult and Senior State Championship, Sectional Championships, and National Championships. Forfeits do not count towards computer ratings.
3. If a player plays on more than one team locally and both qualify for the State
Championships, the player may participate in the State Championships on BOTH
TEAMS. However, no scheduling accommodation will be made.
4. If a player plays on an Adult team and a Senior team, and both teams qualify for the
State Championships, the player may play on both teams during the State Championships; but no
scheduling accommodation will be made
5. Teams that withdraw from the USTA SC Championships after the entry fees have been paid by GSTL will be required to reimburse the GSTL if a replacement GSTL team cannot be found. If GSTL has to forfeit entry fees for the withdrawing team, members of the withdrawing team will not be eligible to participate in future league play until the reimbursement to GSTL has been received.
L. COURT PROCEDURES:
1. Players are not allowed a rest period between the first and second game of each set.
They must change sides and continue play. Players do not have the option of taking a
ten minute break between the second set and the 10-point Match Tiebreak used in lieu
of the third set. A two-minute (or 120 second) break may be taken between the second
set and the 10-point match tiebreak, the same as between the first and second sets.
2. Spectators may not aid players in making a line call or in determining the score.
Spectators may not participate in the match in any fashion, and must refrain from doing so
even if asked by the player [s]. Coaching of any player at any time is prohibited.
3. Spectators may quietly watch a match in progress. They should not sit or stand at the end of
the court immediately behind the servers or receivers or at the side fence because it is a
distraction to the players. It is the responsibility of each team to control the noise and
behavior of its spectators, if not, a protest may be filed against the offending team.
4. No line judge or umpire will be provided for matches. Players are urged to call the score after
each point to avoid confusion. Total disagreement concerning the score in the game will
result in a spin of the racquet if players are unable to go back to a score they both agree on.
If a conflict occurs during match play over line calls, the players involved may request that the
captain of each team appoint a lines person for the remainder of match.
5. FOOT FAULTS: Foot faults are illegal. Constant and blatant foot faulting gives the
server a definite advantage, and should be politely brought to the attention of the server
during the match. If it continues, the players involved may request that captains of both
teams appoint a line person for the remainder of that match.
6. DISPUTES ON COURT:
A) In matches where there is no umpire, as in GSTL matches, players themselves act as
umpires and must see that obvious violations of the rules do not occur. It is imperative
that players know the USTA, STA, South Carolina AND GSTL Rules and regulations
which govern play.
B) Coaches or club pros must refrain from intrusion in discussions between players or captains
unless specifically asked by both captains. Even then, it is the responsibility of the two
captains, not the pro, to decide on the resolution of the Incident.
C) Disputes should be settled between players before the match is finished. Remember,
all points played in good faith stand. It is hoped that the players involved can resolve the
dispute by themselves. If that is not possible, the procedure to follow is:
1) A player should inform the opponent of the problem and his/her intent to leave the court
to obtain the assistance of his/her captain. The player should leave their racquet on
the court when going for the captain. The captain should contact the opponent’s captain
and they should try to resolve the dispute. If the captains are involved in playing a
match, the players may have to postpone their play until the captains are available to
assist them.
2) If the captains and players cannot agree on a resolution to the conflict, the offended player[s] may:
a) Notify the opponent that due to his/her opinion that a violation of the rules occurred,
he/she is going to continue to play but that he/she is playing under protest and
intends to file a grievance with GSTL after the match is completed. His /her captain
would then record the protest on the line-up/scorecard.
b) Stop play—telling his/her opponent why, and have her captain indicate on the
scorecard that the match was stopped in protest. The exact place and score of the
match when play stopped must be recorded and signed by both captains.
c) The captain or designated captain at the match has 24 hours in which to register a complaint with the LLC, Susie Honeycutt. This initial report may be done by phone but must be followed up within one week with a written grievance. Failure to comply with the 24-hour rule renders the grievance invalid. If the team captain chooses to file a formal grievance, the captain must submit the grievance to the LLC on the USTA SC grievance form (available on grandstrandtennis.net) and to the captain of the opposing team. The LLC will forward the grievance form to the GSTL Grievance Committee for action.
3) The grievance committee will exercise the following options:
a) Rule in the complaining player’s favor
b) Rule that the match be completed at a later time—starting at the exact point
when protested or when play ended.
c) Rule in favor of the complainant’s opponent.
d) Other actions that may be determined by the Grievance Committee.
The Local League Coordinator has the right to file a grievance against any team or player regarding sense of fair play, sportsmanship, default and forfeits or rules violations!!
M. CHAMPIONSHIPS
• South Carolina State Championships: September 13 – 15, 2008 Charleston Tennis Center
• Southern Sectional Championships: October 17 – 19, 2008 New Orleans, LA
• The 2008 National Eastern Regional Mixed Doubles Championships – Champions from Caribbean, Eastern, Florida, New England, Midatlantic, Middle States, Midwest, New England and Southern Sections – TBA.
N. GRIEVANCES
THE GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE AND THE GRIEVANCE APPEAL COMMITTEE ARE
APPOINTED BY THE LOCAL LEAGUE COORDINATOR. IF A GRIEVANCE IS FILED AND/OR APPEALED AND A COMMITTEE CHAIR OR COMMITTEE MEMBER IS CLOSE IN ANY WAY TO EITHER PARTY OF THE GRIEVANCE, THE LOCAL LEAGUE COORDINATOR WILL REPLACE THE CHAIRMAN AND/OR THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO ENSURE MAXIMUM OBJECTIVITY IN THE GRIEVANCE PROCESS.
GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE GRIEVANCE APPEAL COMMITTEE
DON DOBBINS, CHAIR. JOHN SEMMENS, CHAIR
TONYA BARR DAVE HOBSON
DELORES BLOUNT KRISTY POWELL