Baltimore Tennis Patrons USTA League Tennis

2012 Local League

Rules, Regulations, Guidelines

for BaltimoreCounty

Baltimore Tennis Patrons

The "USTA League Tennis Regulations" Mid-Atlantic Section and Maryland District Rules shall apply in all matches played.

USTA Membership

All individuals who compete in the USTA League Tennis Program must be current USTA members in good standing for the entire Winter Mixed League season through April 2012. Any individual who progresses to championship level in the USTA League Tennis Program must be a current member through each championship progression.

NTRP Rating

All players must posses a valid NTRP rating. Returning players must use their previous year-end computer generated rating. Computer ratings may be verified through TennisLink at by clicking on “Find a rating” Players new to the league must declare a self-rating using approved self-rating methods on TennisLink.

Players without a computer rating are required to declare a self-rating when first entering the Leagues program. In making their self-rating decision, players should consider the NTRP Guidelines posted on the TennisLink website; their on-court performance against established league players; relevant tennis history including frequency of play and instruction; and general fitness. Once made, the self-rating declared by the player shall apply to all Divisions. Players, who have a computer rating from2009must self-rate. The rating of established players should be taken from the relevant year NTRP Ratings available on the Mid-Atlantic Section website. A Computer rating is valid for three yearsfor those individuals 59 and under and two years for those individuals 60 years and over or until another rating is generated.

League Fees

Team fees are reflective of the court costs used for match play. Each player is responsible for payment of BTP team fees to their captain priorto the commencement of play. The league fees must be paid prior to a player participating in a league match.

Captains are responsible for collecting team fees and forwarding them, in full, to the BTP office by the date set by BTP.

In addition, the USTA will collect a total of $43.23 through TennisLink. Included is a $3.48TennisLink convenience fee, $20.00 for the USTA District, and a $4.75 USTA/ Section fee and a $15 local league fee.

It is the responsibility of the home team to issue a new can of USTA Approved Hi-Visibility tennis balls for each individual match. The balls should be appropriate for the scheduled surface. For example, regular duty felt balls for Har-Tru courts, regular duty USTA approved Hi-Vis tennis balls can be used on all surfaces however, Heavy Duty is acceptable on surfaces except for Har-Tru. Home team is to make court assignments for individual matches from among the courts assigned. Indoor sites have been reserved and fees paid by Baltimore Tennis Patrons.

TennisLink Registration

Adult Winter Mixed League teams must be registered in TennisLink and comprised of a minimum of six (6) players who have a current USTA membership. Teams must have six players registered by January 2, 2012. Players must be registered on TennisLink prior to playing a match. (Team captains and coordinators are encouraged to review player rosters, league standings, and other TennisLink administrative reports on a regular basis.)

Team Formation

Pursuant to National USTA League Tennis Regulations Rule 1.04G(2)Cand Mid-Atlantic Section Rule 11b), a player may play on more than one team within the same Division during the same season as follows:

a. Same league, same level: a player/captain may play on only one team at the same level within the same local league;

b.Same league, different levels: a player/captain may play on more than one team in the same local league, so long as each team is at a different NTRP level.

c. Different local leagues: a player/captain may play on more than one team, regardless ofNTRP level, if each team is in a separate local league (e.g. Howard, Montgomery etc.)

d. Player limitation: In local level leagues; Four or more teams, only two players who are registered on the same team may be members together on any other team in the same Division during the same season. This only applies to leagues advancing to Sectional Championships.

Three or less teams, three players may be members together on another team in the same division during the same season. Exception: three players may be members together on another team in the same Division during the same season in the Super Senior, Super Duper, Senior Mixed and Super Senior Mixed Divisions only, regardless of the number of teams in their local league.This only applies to leagues advancing to Sectional Championships.

(A “Division” is any one of the threeNational League programs offered and administered by the USTA League Tennis- Adult, or Senior, etc.)

Where violations of this rule occur, penalties are established as (a) immediate disqualification from the second (or any subsequent) team of all players who are members together on another team, except for the first two such players (or where authorized three) the order of registration as recorded in TennisLink being the determinative factor, unless a player has not played a match for either team, then the player may select which team to be removed from; and (b) forfeiture of all matches played by the disqualified players on behalf of the second (or any subsequent) team. The disqualified players may continue to participate on their other team(s) without penalty, and to register for additional teams consistent with this rule and any District or local registration deadlines.

Pursuant to Maryland District Mixed Doubles rules roster size, etc. is limited to 20players. The combined rating of two players participating as a mixed team in an individual match may not exceed the stated level for that league (either 6.0, 7.0, 8.0), and the difference in rating between the players can be no more than 1.0 point.

League players may be added to a TennisLink Team Roster at any time during the local season up to the start time of a team’s next to last round robin flight match. But remember, no player is eligible to progress to Championship level competition unless he/she has played on that same team in at least two matches during its local league season with no more than one default. A defaulted match shall count as a match played for the player(s) receiving the default, but not for the player(s) who defaulted. A retired match shall count for all player(s) involved. A player is eligible to advance to national championship if that player has played on that same team in at least three matches through sectional championship with no defaults.

Captains may delete players from their team roster by completing a Player Deletion Form and sending it to the League Coordinator. Deletions will be effective when signed by the League Coordinator

A person is allowed to captain/Co-captain only one team in the same division,and at the same level, andin the same local league during the same season.

Match Format

Each team match event will consist of three individual matches, 3 doubles. The team winning a majority of the individual matches wins the team event and is awarded 1 team win.MIXED ONLY

Scoring

All individual matches shall be the best of three sets with third set played as a 10-point match tiebreak.

Tiebreaks

If games are tied in any set at six games all, a set tiebreak shall be played (first to 7 points, with a 2 point margin), if the first two sets are split, a match tiebreaker (first to 10 points with a 2 point margin), provided time remains. If time is called, the rules to determine the winner of the individual match shall follow the “How to Score” rules below.

How to score

If the match is not completed before the two (2) hour time limit runs out, the following scoring rules apply:

In the first set

  • If in the first set, the winner of the most games in that set shall be awarded the set and the match.
  • If in a first set tiebreak, proceed to “in the match tiebreak” below.
  • If not in the tiebreak and the teams have won an equal number of games, then the team that has won the most games in the entire team match shall be designated as the winner.

In the second set

  • If in the second set, and if a team is ahead by 2 or more games in that set, that team shall be awarded the set.
  • If neither team is ahead by 2 or more games, the winner of the first set shall be declared the winner of the match.
In the match tiebreak
  • If in the 10-point match tiebreak (in lieu of a third set) the tiebreak must be completed or it does not count except as specifically described below.
  • If the 10-point tiebreak is not completed but 6 or more total points have been played in the tiebreak and one team is ahead by 2 or more points, then that team shall be awarded the tiebreak.
  • Otherwise, if the 10-point tiebreak is not completed the winner will be the player(s) who have won the most total games in the first 2 sets.
  • If this fails to break the tie, then the team that has won the most games in the entire team match shall be designated as the winner.
  • If still tied, whichever team is ahead in the match tiebreak wins the match.
  • If still tied, the captains flip a coin to determine the winner.

No team match may be recorded as a tie.

Coman Tiebreak Procedure: It is the same as the present tiebreak (set or match), except that ends are changed after the first point, then after every four points (i.e. after the 5th, 9th, 13th, 17th points etc.), and at the conclusion of the tiebreak. The scoring in the Coman Tiebreak Procedure is the same as a traditional set or match tiebreak, and the procedure for playing the Coman Tiebreak is the same as a set or match tiebreak. For example, if the Coman Tiebreak Procedure is used when the set score is 6-6, the player whose turn it is to serve shall serve the first point from the deuce court, after the first point, the players shall change ends and the following two points shall be served by the opponents starting with the ad court; after this, each team shall serve alternately for two consecutive points (starting with the ad court), changing ends after every four points, until the end of the tiebreak game.

Play must be continuous. Sixty (60) seconds are allowed between all breaks with the exception that no break is allowed during the changeover after completion of the first game, and an optional two (2) minute break between the second set and the tie-break in lieu of a third set. No coaching is permitted at any time during the match, including during changeovers and breaks.

Player Conduct

Cell phones: cell phones must be turned off prior to the start of match. Please remember a ringing cell phone disturbs players on other courts.If a player’s phone should ring during a match, either side may call an immediate “let” and the point will be replayed. If the same player’s cell phone rings a second time, the opposing team will then be awarded the point.

Use of Courts:

Use of courts reserved by Baltimore Tennis Patrons for match play is
limited to 3 courts for the 2 hour reserved time slot.

Line-Up Sheets

Lineups are to be exchanged between team captains or designees, five minutes (5) prior to the start of the match. Players’ names recorded on the lineups should be identical to the team roster names listed in TennisLink. No substitution may be made in an individual match after the lineup has been presented, except for injury to, illness of, or disqualification of a player, prior to the start of the match.

If there are any forfeits, the team forfeiting should not list any name(s) in the position being forfeited and the match scored as 6-0, 6-0.

Tardiness/Substitutions

If a player arrives late for a match, local league penalties for lateness apply. The player is still entitled to a 5 minute warm-up

If a player in the exchanged line-up doesn’t show and the time allowed for being late has expired, then that court becomes a default if the other matches have already started. In such cases, no changes will be made to the position of matches.

National Regulation 2.03L does not apply with respect to determining a defaulting team’s eligibility to advance to championship play, but does apply insofar as a team match default affects any other team’s eligibility to advance. It is the Local League Coordinator’s responsibility to check for full team defaults, and to make any necessary adjustments to the standings before certifying the winning team for advancement to the next championship level.

5 minutes or less / loss of toss plus one game
6-10 minutes / loss of toss plus two games
10-15 minutes / loss of toss plus 3 games
More than15 minutes / default

Captains are permitted to make substitutions prior to the formal exchange of line-ups and thereafter only for injury, illness or disqualification of a player prior to a start of a match.

Forfeits and Defaults

A team must have the minimum number of eligible players (4 players) available for play in at least two matches or the entire match must be forfeited. A team may forfeit a maximum of one individual match without forfeiting the entire team match.

If a captain is aware that his/her team will need to forfeit any of its three matches (3) matches prior to the scheduled match start time, it is suggested that he/she notify the opposing captain by telephone, so that the captain can communicate with his/her players.

Prior to the exchange of lineups:

  • If a team is to forfeit one match it must be #3 doubles

If ateam is not ready to play more than fifteen (15) minutes after the scheduled match time, then thatteam forfeits.

Entire Team Forfeits:

A team match may not start unless both teams have a mathematical chance of winning the match point. If the exchanged line-ups do not reflect this possibility, or if one team does not produce sufficient players to have a mathematical chance of winning (even though sufficient names may be listed on the scorecard), that team must forfeit the entire team match. National Regulation 2.03L does not apply with respect to determining a defaulting team’s eligibility to advance to championship play, but does apply insofar as a team match default affects any other team’s eligibility to advance.

Warm-Up

All players are entitled to a warm-up period, not to exceed ten (10) minutes. If a player is late, local league penalties for lateness apply.A player may have any other person provide the warm-up, if the opponent refuses to do so. It will be the team captain's or designee’s responsibility to limit the warm-up period to fiveminutes. If a player becomes ill or injured during warm-up, a substitution is allowed. Once the first serve of the match is delivered, no changes of the line-up may be made for any reason.

Inclement Weather

All matches are to be played as scheduled. Inclement weather is an acceptable reason for postponing a match.

All matches are to be played as scheduled. If the indoor facility remains open the match should be played as scheduled. If the indoor facility closes due to weather it is the responsibility of the home captain/designee to notify the opposing captain/designee that the indoor facility is closed, therefore the match is cancelled. Home captain then must notify league coordinator within 48 hrs. that the match was cancelled due to facility closing. League coordinator will reschedule match according to court availability.

Facility Remains Open:

Captains or designee must mutually agree to postpone match due to weather. The Teams are responsible for arranging for and paying for additional indoor court time on their own. When possible, a decision to postpone a match should be made at least one hour prior to the scheduled start of the match and should be communicated accordingly. The captains should also agree on a procedure for how the individual matches will be rescheduled and how make-up court-time will be obtained, e.g., individual teams may reschedule their own matches at their mutual convenience or the captains can agree to arrange for the matches to be completed as a team. Captains must notify the league coordinator within 48 hours of the original scheduled date for the match as to the date by which the entire team match will be completed. All individual matches comprising the team match must be rescheduled within seven days (7) of the original scheduled date or the deadline for completing local league match play; it is the mutual responsibility of both Captains to ensure that all individual matches are completed within the appropriate time frame.