USTA League Tennis / Easy Reference Rule Guide
Dated 2010, except 2011 variants as noted.
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.
. Should have a complete set of VT LOCAL LEAGUE RULES at the match
and the Easy Reverence Guide at the match on each court.
. Should 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.
. Alloted match time is 1 1/2 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.
. If one individual match is timed, all matches should be timed. (2010 version)
All individual matches should be given equal amount of time. (2011 version)
Implement timed match procedure if needed. (2011 version)
Comment:
The thought is that if they all aren't timed it could happen
that the first match goes let's say 2 1/2+ hours then
remaining matches may have less than 2 hours. In fact this
did happen in a local club....2 matches had 45 min to play
their matches because the first matches played as if they did
not have an allocated amount of time. Some clubs only have 2
hours per match - or even 1.5 hours! Rules are set up to try
and do what is best in most cases for every position.
--- Donna and Carol
. 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 team wins.
. Determine whether court curtains are opened or closed depending on club policy
or if 1 person requests the curtain to be closed, they will remain closed.
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 TIME EXPIRATION: 15 MINUTES BEFORE END OF MATCH
At the Beginning of Time Limit in Match Team A vs Team B
+--------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+
| | |
| IF | RESULT |
| | |
+================================+=========================================+
| | |
| A wins 1st set, | Team A wins match |
| A ahead by 2 games in 2nd set | |
| | |
| A wins 1st set, | Team B wins 2nd set; |
| B ahead by 2 games in 2nd set | tied in sets; |
| | play 9-point Timed Match Tiebreak |
| | |
| Set: tied in games | Play 9-point Timed Match Tiebreak |
| | |
| Set: one team ahead by 1 game | Play 1 more game using no-ad scoring. |
| | |
| Sets: tied | Play 9-point Timed Match Tiebreak |
| | |
+--------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+
No-Ad scoring:
at deuce, the receiving team shall choose on which side they receive.
In Mixed, the point is played gender to gender.
9-POINT TIMED MATCH TIEBREAK (Refer to Timed Match Procedure)
. The team first to win 5 points shall win the game and/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 TIMED MATCH TIEBREAK.
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 point penalty system (see above).
. A maximum 15 minute medical time out is allowed for bleeding injury.
If match doesn't resume within 15 minutes, the match is retired.
. If a player is injured 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 within 10 days of 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:
a. Count all points and games agreed upon by the players and
REPLAY ONLY the disputed points or games.
b. Play from a score mutually agreed upon by all players
c. Spin a racquet or toss a coin.
. If a disagreement cannot be resolved within 2-3 minutes between players involved
in the match, continue play and state you are playing under protest.
The score card should be signed and include "match played under protest."
. 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.
. When a player genuinely doubts an opponent's call,
the player may ask to have the call confirmed.
If the call is reaffirmed, the call shall be accepted.
. 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: recommended turned off during match.
In an emergency, tell your opponents of your need.
In this case, 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.