2015 MID-ATLANTIC USTA LEAGUE TENNIS RULES – For All Divisions

Posted by December 21, 2014 Uncategorized No Comments

Mid-Atlantic Section is comprised of the following Regions: Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D.C. & West Virginia.

  1. The 2015 USTA League Tennis Regulations, together with the Section Rules constitute the rules of USTA League Tennis in the Mid-Atlantic Section.
  2. Each local league must use the Section Rules for Local Leagues (see page 5) provided by the Section League Committee. No changes/additions may be made without the approval of the Director, Adult Programs. Each local league must prepare a Local League Fact Sheet, and also Local League Procedures for their league, i.e. how to score timed matches, rain plans, payment of court fees, play-off information, etc. Neither the Fact Sheet nor the Procedures may include any league rules without first being approved.
  3. Players with a valid computer rating established according to USTA-approved computer methodology must enter a USTA League Tennis division at that rating or 1 level higher. Any individual who circumvents this requirement by acquiring multiple, false or misleading (e.g., variants on the same name) USTA membership numbers shall be disqualified from further participation in any USTA League Tennis program for a period of 12 months from the date of disqualification and all matches played by such persons will be declared forfeit, or any other appropriate penalty determined by the Section League Committee.
  4. When first entering the Leagues program, players without a computer rating are required to answer questions on-line regarding their player history and then declare a self-rating on TennisLink of 2.5 or higher. In making their self-rating decision, players must 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 Once made, the self-rating declared by the player shall apply to all Divisions until superseded by a computer-generated rating established according to USTA-approved computer methodology.
  5. TennisLink is the official and exclusive system for registering teams and players, and reporting match scores and standings for the USTA League Tennis program. No person may participate on a League team, and no local league may commence, without first registering via TennisLink. All local league seasons must start and finish in the same calendar year. No local league winner may advance to championship level competition until all scheduled matches have been recorded in TennisLink.
  6. Match results must be reported on TennisLink within 48 hours of the completion of the team match.  This may be done by either the winning or losing team captain, or their designee. The non-reporting captain, or designee, must log in to TennisLink and confirm or dispute the reported match scores within 48 hours after they have been reported. After that time, TennisLink automatically blocks any attempt to edit or otherwise contest reported results, which are deemed final and complete with no further right of challenge.
  7. A team match should not remain uncompleted for more than seven days after its scheduled date or the deadline for completing local league match play, whichever occurs first. (This does not preclude a local coordinator from formally re-scheduling a match date/time where local circumstances require, so long as established dates for completing local play are not violated.)
  8. Local League Play.

8a. If a player arrives late for a match, local league penalties for lateness apply. However, the player is still entitled to a 5 minute warm-up.

8b. A team cannot advance to championships if they are in a position to do so as a result of being the recipient of a full team default. It is the coordinator’s responsibility to check for full team defaults when determining a team’s eligibility to advance. If a team is advancing because they are the recipient of a full team default then all matches played by the defaulting team must be removed from the standings of the round robin where the default occurred. Matches will remain in Tennislink; the coordinator will manually adjust the standings prior to certifying advancing teams.

8c. The full match schedule for any local league must be published in TennisLink prior to or within seven days following the first match.

8d. For each team match, a majority of the individual matches must actually be played by the 2 teams to constitute a valid team match. In accordance with National Regulation 2.01C(2), if 2 teams arrive to play a match, and they each have 1 or more defaults at different positions which prevents them from playing a valid team match, then they should adjust their line ups, remembering to default from the bottom up. If the teams cannot agree on which courts to play, then the match is scored as a double default.

  1. Player Dynamic NTRP ratings are automatically recalculated in the national database on a daily basis throughout the season unless some unforeseen technical problem prevents it. As a result, inputting match results in proper chronological order (the order in which they are played) is essential. If as a result of system-driven recalculations, a player’s Dynamic NTRP rating reaches disqualification level three times, and if that player has an A, S, M, T or D rating:

9a. During local league: all matches played at that level shall be forfeited. The exception being the Plus (+) leagues e.g., if either a 4.5 or 5.0 self rated player competes at the # 1 position on a 4.5+ or 5.0+ team respectively and subsequently receives 3 strikes and is disqualified, those matches will stand, assuming the team is still in compliance with National Regulation 2.01A(1). Matches played at lower positions will be forfeited. The player may register on a team at the higher level if otherwise eligible to do so. The Sectional office shall issue notice of NTRP disqualification promptly to the player and the Team Captain as designated on the TennisLink team roster, with a copy to the League Manager and Local League Coordinator (Captains and players are encouraged to provide e-mail address information when registering on TennisLink, and to update such information as necessary, to facilitate timely notice in the event of disqualification.)

9b. During Regional or Sectional Championships: computer calculations shall be run and new ratings produced after each team match. Players who accumulate their “third strike” (considering all matches reported in the database to that point) shall be immediately disqualified, and the championship tournament matches played by such players shall be considered 6-0, 6-0 wins for the opposing player or doubles team pursuant to Rule 2.04E(2)a. In the event that the Scorekeeper is unable to connect to TennisLink in “real time” during a championship event, upon notice to that effect the Tournament Committee may make an irrevocable election to suspend Rule 2.04B(2)a and instead follow the procedure outlined in Rule 2.04B(2)b for the event in question. Whenever such an election is made, 2.04E(2)c shall likewise be in effect.

  1. Roster Limits: All Divisions will have a roster limit of no more than 20 players, excluding all levels of Tri-Level which will be limited to 22 players. Local Leagues may limit roster size further if they so choose. Players may be added to the roster at any time up until the second to last regularly scheduled local league match.
  2. USTA League Tennis Regulations: Rule 1.04G authorizes players and captains to participate on more than one team under certain conditions.  Specifically in Mid-Atlantic Section and for any Division, whether or not that Division results in Sectional Championship competition:

11a. Same league, same level: a player/captain may not captain a second team or play on a second team within an age group in the same local league.

11b. Same league, different levels: a player/captain may play on or captain more than one team within an age group in the same local league, so long as each team is at a different NTRP level.

11c. Different local leagues: a player/captain may play on or captain more than one team within an age group, regardless of the NTRP level, if each team is in a separate local league.

11d. Player limitation for leagues which advance to Sectional Championships: only three players may be members together on another team in the same Division, within an age group, during the same season. It is the same season if there is an overlap in the local league scheduled match dates. The infraction occurs at registration.

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 three such players, 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 Rule #11 and any registration deadlines.

  1. Two (2) local league matches, with one default counting, must be played prior to participating in any local league playoff, Regional or Sectional Championship. Three (3) matches, with no default counting, must be played prior to participating at any National Championship and the BNP Paribas Tri-Level Open. The match requirement for the Adult 65&Over Championship will be determined by the Tournament Director for that event.
  2. For Tri-Level Leagues, a minimum of three players per level must be on the team roster, the exception being in Mixed Tri-Level Leagues there must be 2 players at each level for each gender. Match play must be in order of strength – no player may play above a player with a higher rating. Defaults do not have to be from the bottom up if players are not available for a particular level.
  3. For Combo and Combo Mixed leagues, a 1.5 rating differential is allowed. For example: In the 8.5 level, partners can be a 4.5 and a 4.0 or a 5.0 and a 3.5. In any case, the partners’ combined ratings shall not exceed the level entered.
  4. 15. The Mid-Atlantic Section will use the scoring format described in Rule 2.01C(3) match tiebreak in lieu of a third set at all League Championships, including the Coman tiebreak procedure. In addition, the League Championships shall be organized using the combined ratings for the Divisions and age groups listed in the below chart.
Mixed 18&Over 2.5 (not combined) 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0 & 10.0
Mixed 40&Over 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, & 9.0
Mixed 55&Over 6.0, 7.0, 8.0 & 9.0
Adult 55&Over 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, & 9.0
Adult 65&Over 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, & 9.0
Combo 5.5, 6.5, 7.5, 8.5, 9.5
  1. For Sectional Championships: The team(s) certified by each League Manager as its Regional Championship winner or, where the Director, Adult Programs has determined that it is appropriate, the 2nd place team at each NTRP level is entitled to advance to the Sectional Championship. The areas must certify their winning teams to the Director, Adult Programs in accordance with the 2015 Championship Dates and Deadlines document. Further, the League Managers must certify that their teams will attend Sectionals with a full contingent of players, and that their teams have abided by all National & Sectional Rules and Regulations.

The Mid-Atlantic Adult 18&Over Section Championships will have 6 teams at each gender and level, where appropriate. Of the 6 teams eligible to participate, if the Director, Adult Programs has determined that it is appropriate, then 2 shall come from Virginia, 2 from Maryland, 1 from DC and 1 from West Virginia.

No area may receive the benefit of more than one “wildcard entry” per level, except where the Tournament Director has determined that it is appropriate. In that case, a wildcard entry may be extended to an area based on a random draw being made proportionately to the number of teams at that level in each area, until the draw is filled. To be eligible to advance to Sectional championship competition, a team must have registered the minimum number of players required by Rule 1.04D(4), and played the minimum number of matches required by Rule 2.01C(1) in accordance with the 2015 Championship Dates and Deadlines document.

  1. For Regional Championships: All local league winners, except for the Singles Division, will advance directly to Regional Championships. No playoff with other local league winners will be required. Only one team per level, per gender, per area will advance to the Singles Regional Championships.

Representation at the Regional Championships will be determined by the number of teams in the league. An additional slot will be extended after every ten (10) teams, ex: 1-10 – 1 team, 11-20 – 2 teams, 21-30 – 3 teams, and so on. The only exception will be Virginia’s Adult 18&Over Regional Championships. For that event, an additional slot will be extended after every twelve (12) teams due to court constraints, ex: 1-12 – 1 team; 13-25 – 2 teams; 26-38 – 3 teams, and so on. If wildcards need to be offered to fill the draw it will be extended based on the procedures noted in rule 16 where it pertains to wildcard entries.

The Local Leagues must certify their teams to the League Manager in accordance with the Championship Dates and Deadlines document. The LLC must certify that their team(s) will attend the event with a full contingent of players and that they have abided by all National & Sectional Rules and Regulations.

  1. Winning teams not able to participate in the corresponding League Championship tournament must notify the Director, Adult Programs and League Manager of their intention not to participate at least ten (10) days prior to the start of the Tournament. Teams who violate this rule shall be reported to the Chairman of the appropriate League Grievance Committee for investigation and appropriate disciplinary action. Penalties will be severe, up to and including being banned from league play for the following league year. Upon notification that a winning team is unable to advance, the second place team may advance if it has been determined that it is appropriate. If the second place team is unable to participate, it shall be determined whether that Region or area shall retain its right to place an entry in that specific level or flight.
  2. 19. In the event that a person is a captain of or player on more than one team at the same level in the same Division and age group advancing to the same Championship event, that captain or player shall transmit written notice in advance to the Region or Section office (as appropriate) declaring which ONE team (s)he will represent at that event. Such declarations are binding only for the duration of the event where the conflict arises, and must be received at the appropriate Region or Section office at least 3 days before the start of the tournament.  All Declarations received will be considered confidential to other teams.  In the event no Declaration is received and a person captains 2 teams, or a player competes for 2 teams at the same level, in the same Division and same age group, then all matches played/or captained for the 2nd team will be disqualified.
  3. 20. Players/teams leaving a Championship tournament before completing their entire schedule of assigned matches, and without the Tournament Director’s approval shall be reported to the Chairman of the appropriate League Grievance Committee for investigation and appropriate disciplinary action. Penalties will be severe, up to and including suspension or other sanctions for the following league year.
  4. 21. At all League Championships, match line-ups are due to the Tournament Desk 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start of each team match. Failure to turn in line-ups on time shall result in an automatic $50.00 cash fine for each such occurrence. Any such fine must be paid before the offending team will be allowed to play its scheduled match. Match times are tentative and play will be on a “followed by” basis. The Tournament Desk has the right to call a match to begin play up to 30 minutes before the scheduled start time, assuming courts are available to do so. Once a match has been called, the USTA’s Point Penalty System applies and will be strictly enforced.
  5. 22. In the event that a player is not notified of his/her disqualification before the deadline for submitting the team’s next line-up, and the Team Captain has scheduled the disqualified player to participate in that next match, the Team Captain may substitute an eligible player into the position vacated by the disqualified player. No other line-up adjustment (reorganizing doubles teams or repositioning players, etc.) is permitted.