2007 Vermont USA League Tennis Rules
(See Also: 2007 Sectional Regs)
VERMONT LOCAL RULES FOR TEAM COMPETITION ALL LOCAL LEAGUES
TEAM CAPTAIN
Before the local league season there shall be a meeting of the
captains from each team. If the captain cannot attend, another member
of the team must be a representative.
If the captain cannot be present for a match, he/she must appoint a
representative to fulfill all team captain responsibilities.
The captain shall collect the fee for court time ($8.00) from EACH
player and submit to the club before the match.
ROSTERS
Team members will register electronically on TennisLink at
www.usta.com.
. Fees totaling $16.00 ($8.00 USA Tennis New England, $2.00 USTA, and
$6.00 Vermont) will be charged to a credit card.
(Plus: $1.00 for web service!)
. For Multiple Team Play: A Player/Team must complete the Player
Intent Form prior to registering for the second team and mail the
form to the respective team captains and Local League Coordinators.
In the event that a player is on the roster of more than one team
that qualified for the next level of competition and the Player
Intent Form has not been submitted according to guidelines, the
player will only be eligible to play on the team for which he/she
registered first.
MATCH PLAY
. Captains must print scorecard from TennisLink and take to match.
Both captains must sign scorecard at end of match.
. Prior to the beginning of the match captains shall exchange their
team lineups simultaneously and fill out the official score sheet.
No substitutions may be made after lineups have been exchanged
except for injury to, or illness of, a player prior to the start of
a match. (The match begins with the first point.)
. Warm-up cannot begin until
(a) there is a copy of "Vermont Local Rules" on the court
(presumed to mean the present document), and
(b) all players participating in the match agree upon the timepiece
(e.g. clock on the wall, an individual's watch, etc.) to be
used for the timing of the match.
. After the first game, players change ends but play is continuous
--- no 90 second break until after the third game.
There is a two minute break between sets. That also applies
between 2nd set and Match Tiebreak.
. No coaching is allowed at any point throughout the entire match.
. Matches are best of two sets, with regular scoring and a Set
Tiebreak (first to 7 by 2) at 6-all in each set.
In the event of split sets, a Match Tiebreak (first to 10 by a
margin of two) will be played in lieu of a third set with only a
two minute break. (The tiebreak shall be scored as 1-0 completed.)
NOTE: As of 1/1/2007 the Coman Tiebreak Procedure will be used for all
Set and Match Tiebreaks. This procedure is the same as the present
Tiebreak except that ends are changed after the first point, then
after every four points and at the conclusion of the Tiebreak. The
scoring is the same as a traditional set or match Tiebreak.
TIMED MATCH
. In the event that a match is only in the second set at 15 minutes
before the allotted time will expire, finish that game - no ad.
(In a no ad game, the receivers choose court to receive, except in
mixed doubles when it is gender to gender.) Then:
1) if the winner of the first set is ahead by 2 or more games
--- that team wins the match.
2) If the loser of the first set is ahead by 2 or more games
--- that team wins the second set.
3) If in the second set either team is ahead by 1 game
--- play 1 more game - no ad. Then if the leading
team wins that game, that team wins the second set. If after the
extra game the second set is tied --- play a 9
point Tiebreak (first to 5 by 1) to decide the second set.
4) If the match is tied at 1 set each --- play a 9
point Tiebreak (first to 5 by 1) to decide the match.
*** [9 point Tiebreak: Starting the Tiebreak, everyone remains in
serving order. Each server serves two points beginning on deuce
side. If tied at 4-4, that server serves a 3rd time. Receiving
team/individual chooses person/side to receive at 4-4. There is
no change of sides during this tie-break.]
SCHEDULING
. Matches MUST be played on scheduled date unless BOTH teams agree on
the change. Captains are encouraged to cooperate in making
necessary schedule changes. Any changes in times/dates made within
72 hours of the scheduled match must be verbally confirmed by the
two captains. All changes must be reported by the home captain to
both the Vermont coordinator and level coordinator. All matches
within a match must be played on the same date.
. The HOME COURT MUST specify the surface to be played on at the time
of scheduling. A captain has the right to refuse to play on change
of surface except in case of rain. In cases where more than one
surface will be used, the home captain must inform the visiting
captain (within 10 days of the match) of the type of surface upon
which the individual matches will be played. If the surface is
changed without notice, the match will be rescheduled at the
visiting team's venue.
. Rain dates must be scheduled for outdoor matches. If it rains on
the first rain date a second must be scheduled but the home team
must also book indoor courts as backup. Or if the home team can
not book indoor courts they can agree to play at the visiting
team's club.
ORDER OF LINE UP
. 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
line up at least 48 hours prior to the match.
REPORTING SCORES
. Each player shall report his/her score. Both captains are
responsible for verifying the scores and signing the hard copy
score sheet.
. Captains shall enter/confirm match scores on TennisLink within 48
hours. Either captain may enter, the other captain confirms. If
match scores are not confirmed within that time, the scores will
stand as entered.
FORFEITS & RETIREMENTS - Special Scoring for Forfeits and Retirements
(as applicable to these local rules):
. Forfeits shall be determined by the team captain of the forfeiting
team in accordance with the following:
Singles - the #2 singles must be forfeited before the #1 singles
may be forfeited.
Doubles - the #3 doubles must be forfeited before the #2 doubles
may be forfeited.
If a team forfeits an entire team match for any reason, all
matches played or to be played that season shall be null and
void. All members of the forfeiting team will be ineligible to
play in that league the following year unless extenuating
circumstances occurred (as judged by the Grievance Committee).
DETERMINATION OF LEAGUE WINNER
. The season ends with the last match played in a flight.
. In the event of a tie in total team points at the end of a league
competition, the winner will be determined by the first of the
following procedures that breaks the tie: Individual Matches -
Winner of the most individual matches; Sets - Loser of the fewest
number of sets; Games - Loser of the fewest number of games; Sets -
Winner of the most sets; Games - Winner of the most games.
SPECIFIC REGULATIONS:
TEAM PLAYING UP --- A team that has been #1 in its flight and gone to
the District Tournament (or equivalent) to play at its rated level
will be allowed to play at its rated level and also one level up, with
the submission of an Intent Form and the understanding that if they
qualify they will play at the District Tournament at the original
level.
ADULT 3.0 --- 4.5 LEAGUES
. The Vermont Adult League local season shall run from
April 1-July 17, 2007.
. A team match will consist of two singles and three doubles
matches. (A minimum of 4 players is necessary for a team match.)
The team winning the majority of those five individual matches
shall be awarded one team point.
. There must be a minimum of six (6) players in level on 3.0, 3.5 and
4.0 teams. A team that is unable to meet this requirement due to
extenuating circumstances may appeal to the Vermont League
Committee for a waiver.
ADULT 2.5 and 5.0 LEAGUES
. The Vermont Adult League local season shall run from
April 1-July 17, 2007.
. Each team match shall consist of one singles and two doubles
matches. (A minimum of 3 players is necessary for a team match.)
The team winning the majority of those three individual matches
shall be awarded one team point.
SENIOR LEAGUES (50+ years)
. The Vermont Senior League local season shall run from
April 15-August 1, 2007.
. Each team match shall consist of three doubles matches. (A minimum
of 4 players is necessary for a team match.) The team winning the
majority of those three individual matches shall be awarded one
team point.
SUPER-SENIOR LEAGUES (60+ YEARS)
. The Vermont Super-Senior League local season shall run from
April 15-July 26, 2007.
. The combined NTRP ratings of a doubles team may total less, but not
higher than the NTRP rating of the league, i.e. 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0.
No more than 1.0 may separate the rating of the partners in each
individual doubles team.
. Each team match shall consist of three doubles matches. (A minimum
of 4 players is necessary for a team match.) The team winning the
majority of those three individual matches shall be awarded one
team point.
MIXED DOUBLES LEAGUES
. The Vermont Mixed Doubles League local season shall run from
September 20-December 31, 2006.
. A mixed doubles team shall consist of a minimum of six players
(three men, three women). The combined NTRP ratings of the man and
woman playing together may total less, but not higher than the NTRP
rating of the league, i.e. 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0, 10.0. No more than
1.0 may separate the rating of the partners in each individual
doubles team. Combined ratings of all individual teams must be
within 1.0 of their playing level, i.e. a team playing at an 8.0
level must have a combined rating of at least 7.0.
. Each team match shall consist of three doubles matches. (A minimum
of 4 players is necessary for a team match.) The team winning the
majority of those three individual matches shall be awarded one
team point.
SENIOR MIXED DOUBLES LEAGUES
. The Vermont Senior Mixed Doubles League local season shall run from
February 1-April 15, 2007.
. The above Mixed Doubles directives apply.
Changes to these local rules other than those made in accordance with
USTA New England Sectional Rules and Regulations shall be approved by
the Vermont League Committee.
See Also
2007 NEW ENGLAND SECTION REGULATIONS
Dated 9.22.06
File: