2010 USTA League Tennis Rules and Regulations
National Rules
2009 League Regulations
USTA Missouri Valley
2010 USTA League Tennis Rules and Regulations
Print Version
2010 Adult and Senior League
The Missouri Valley Section League Tennis Rules and Regulations, which are supplemental and subordinate to the USTA National League Tennis Program Rules and Regulations, shall apply to USA League Tennis in the USTA Missouri Valley Section. District and Local Rules and Regulations may be developed to supplement the USTA National and Sectional Rules and Regulations. However, the District and Local Rules and Regulations must not contradict the National or Sectional established rules and regulations. The Sectional Office must approve any District or Local Rules and Regulations. If you would like a copy of the 2010 USTA League Tennis Rules and Regulations, contact your District League Coordinator, or the USTA Missouri Valley Section Office. (Red Bolded sentences are phrases mark changes for 2010).
1. Local league season, and District playoff dates shall be determined by the District League Coordinator, but must be in congruence with the dates set by the USTA Missouri Valley Section Office. In the 2010 league season, District Championships and/or local league playoffs and/or local league matches must be completed by Friday July 23, 2010. In addition, all District information (rosters from local league winning teams and team fee) regarding the Sectional Championships is to be submitted no later than 10 days prior to the start of Sectional Championship competition. If any team enters the Sectional Championship, but withdraws within ten (l0) days prior to the Start of the Championship competition, the entry fee shall be forfeited and each rostered player eligible for play at sectionals may not be able to participate in local league play for that division (Adult, Senior, or Mixed) during the following year.
2. Captains will be responsible for reviewing all league regulations, (national, section and district) and communicating those to their players. Districts will hold captains meetings and any captain unable to attend will be solely responsible for obtaining the information obtained at the meeting
3.01D2-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 declare their self-rating on TennisLink when registering for a team. Any submission of false information regarding a player’s tennis history will subject the player, the captain and/or others who condone inaccurate self-rating to sanctions and disqualification. Any Self-Rating Player Appeals will be processed by the Section NTRP Appeals Committee.
3. In accordance with the USTA League Rules and Regulations, all local league matches shall consist of a format that has been determined by the District Association. The use of alternative scoring is acceptable both in local play and District Championships and will be determined by the District Association. The District League Coordinator for reasons unique to play in a given district may alter this format. All team matches in a local league should consist of two singles and three doubles matches (Adult League); 2.5 and 5.0 levels shall consist of one singles match and two doubles. Senior League shall consist of three doubles matches.
4. In 2010 all local league teams may have no more than two players who reside in another district or section. Advancing teams must limit out-of-district players who meet qualifying match requirements to no more than 2 players. All teams in 2010 Adult, Senior & Mixed Doubles leagues will be subject to this rule.
5. All USTA Adult League participants must be at least 18 years of age, or turn 18, in the calendar year in which they will play. All USTA Senior League participants must be at least 50 years of age, or turn 50, in the calendar year in which they play.
6. In a local league season, teams are not required to field players in order of strength at any level of league competition within the USTA Missouri Valley Section. Team Captains for each team shall exchange their team match cards simultaneously prior to the scheduled starting time of the team match. No substitutions may be made in an individual match after the lineup has been presented except for injury to, illness of, or a disqualification of a player, prior to the start of such match. If the substitution is made during the warm-up, the option to recommence the warm-up rests with the substituted player. The first serve is considered the start of the match.
7. Timed matches: A Timed Match begins at the scheduled time of the match. Matches are designated Timed Matches prior to play. Any local league match that must be completed in a limited period of time (two hours) must use the Timed Match Procedure. Procedure states: At 15 minutes before the end of play, no new game will begin. All games " in play" are completed. If a player/team is ahead by two games, they have won the set. If no player/team is ahead by two games, they shall play a set tiebreak. If the sets are then split, a set tiebreak shall be played, in lieu of a third set. A game is " in play" once the server has struck the first ball.
8. 2.02E 1 NTRP Grievance Complaint. Any captain, coordinator or committee member may file a Grievance against any player, and/or captain, they feel has entered, or condoned entering below their actual skill level. The player they are filing a grievance against must be a Self-Rated player, a Tournament Exclusive Player or a Mixed Doubles Exclusive player. The Section League Grievance Committee having jurisdiction, augmented as necessary by experts in NTRP ratings, will ask the alleged violator if they have completed the USTA Player Electronic Self Rate questionnaire and submitted it to the committee for review. If NTRP Grievances are filed during a Sectional Championship, they will be held and forwarded to the Section League Grievance Committee within 48 hours of the conclusion of the championship. After review, and in consultation with the NTRP experts who have augmented the committee, they will take action as they deem appropriate including but not limited to, disqualification, suspension from league play or other league sanction.
9. 2.02B 1 All complaints alleging a violation by an individual or team during local league competition shall be filed in writing with the Local or District League Coordinator or designee having jurisdiction. The complaint must be filed prior to the commencement of the next team match in that flight involving such individual or team, or within twenty-four hours after the end of local league play, whichever occurs first.
10. All medical appeals will now be reviewed by a National Committee only. Any player wishing to submit a medical appeal must fit all criteria for a medical appeal. They must submit documentation to the District League Coordinator who will review the information to see if it meets the criteria. If, and only if it meets the criteria will it be forwarded to the SLC. If it does not, the District League Coordinator will mail it back to the player.
11. Scores must be entered within 48 hours of completing the match. Teams have 48 hours after the score is reported to Confirm or Dispute. TennisLink will automatically confirm scores 48 hours after being reported. Failure to report scores 96 hours after completing the match shall result in a Double Default on all courts.
12. During local league competition computer ratings will be calculated for all players to determine if any players have reached the disqualification criteria using the USTA NTRP Computer Methodology Procedures. Players will be NTRP disqualified if they reach the disqualification level three times based on all matches reported in the national database for Adults and Senior Divisions. If the player is a self-rated player, the individual matches that produced the three strikes and any subsequent matches shall be considered losses. If a player is a Computer Rated Player and or a Benchmark player, they will not be subject to NTRP Disqualification. If the player is competing in two NTRP levels, results from the higher level matches are considered in Dynamic Ratings and may cause strikes disqualifying a player at the lower NTRP level, (with the exception of Computer rated players and Benchmark players). Players who are subject to NTRP Disqualification are: A (appealed players), T (tournament exclusive players), M (Mixed exclusive players), D (Early Start Rating players who moved down) and S (self rated players).
13. Players who are NTRP Disqualified may not play at the disqualified NTRP level of play (and any lower level) in either singles or doubles for the remainder of the championship league year and for the succeeding league year. A disqualified player becomes a benchmark. Players who are NTRP disqualified may be allowed to move up and participate on another team at a higher NTRP level during the same league season.
14. 3.01H (5) d Players who qualify to advance to championships on more than one team may be required by their section to choose which team they will represent. Missouri Valley Regulation: Players advancing to Adult Section Championships on more than one team in different NTRP levels MAY compete on both teams. No special considerations will be made in scheduling. Teams must advance to championship with enough players to compete with full format of five courts or the second place team may be invited to attend championships. Teams may be subject to sanctions if courts are defaulted in result of double-rostered players.
15. 3.04A(2)b After ANY District or Section Championship, Dynamic Ratings are run, following the conclusion of the event, those players who receive their third strike will be Disqualified and notified by the Section League Coordinator, and if their team is advancing to sectionals or nationals, disqualified players will not be able to compete with their team. Following an NTRP Disqualification, the player may not play at the disqualified level of play in either singles or doubles for the remainder of the championship year and for the succeeding league year.
16. Local league winners at each level within the Adult and Senior Leagues shall progress to a District Championship (if necessary). Players are eligible to advance to district championships, if they have two qualifying matches, with only one default counting as a match played.
17. The District League Coordinator in accordance with the USA League Championship Regulations shall coordinate the District Championship using the TennisLink Championship Module.
18. 3.03A 3 In Order to advance to Adult or Senior National Championships an individual player must have participated in 3 matches during all competition on that specific team with NO DEFAULTS COUNTING.
19. One team from each District Level will be eligible to compete at the USTA Missouri Valley Sectional Championships. Winners from the Sectional Championships will advance to the USTA National League Championships. In the event a Local, District, or Sectional first place team, in any division, was not able to compete at the next level Championships, then the second place team in that level, Area, District, or Section would then qualify to take the place of the first place team. In the event the second place team was unable to attend, then the third place team would have the opportunity to attend the next level Championship. This process would then be continued for all other teams in the division until a representative was established. Wildcards will not be used for Sectional Championships unless all 7 districts send a representing team in each division or if there are fewer than three teams advancing in any one division. Wildcards shall not be accepted if the next team in line is not able to advance to section championships with a full roster (enough players to fill all courts for all matches played). The district shall invite the next team in line. If they can not find a FULL rostered team, then they shall pass the wildcard to the next district in line ASAP.
20. Wildcard positions will be rotated as District teams are selected to fill positions. The selected District team will then rotate to the bottom of the rotation for the next year.
21. 3.03A (6) Any team competing at the National Championships must play the following season at the next higher NTRP level or divide with no more than three rostered players on any team, from any local team roster that advanced to national championships. No more than two rostered players from any 2.5 or 5.0 team can play on the same team the year after the National Championships. Any winning Sectional Championship team that declines to participate in the National Championship will be required to move up or split up as if it participated in the National Championship. Any player, who did not participate in a match on the national championship team, including defaults received, is excluded from this regulation.
22. 3.05A Year End Computer Ratings. These ratings are effective 12/31 of the year they are published.
Adult and Senior NTRP Year End Ratings will be valid for 3 years or until the player participates in another sanctioned league or tournament season, which ever occurs first
Super Senior NTRP Ratings, players 60 years or older) will be valid for 2 years or until the player participates in another sanctioned league or tournament season, which ever occurs first.
23. 3.05 B Appeals- If a player contacts any coordinator to report a captain or player has used the Auto Appeal Function, to appeal the players rating without their permission, a grievance will be immediately filed, by the coordinator, with a recommendation of suspension of 11 months and 30 days for the person using the appeal function.
24. 2.02 Grievance Complaints: See National League Regulations Booklet
25. District League Coordinators are appointed, or hired, by their District Association. The District League Coordinators and District Association appoint Local League Coordinators. District Championship Committees shall be appointed and approved by the District League Coordinator and approved by the USTA Missouri Valley Section’s Adult Activities Coordinator. The Sectional League Championship Committees shall be appointed by the USTA Missouri Valley Section’s Adult Competition Program Manager.
26. The USTA Missouri Valley Section League Championships will operate on a combination of select levels from the Adult League to compete along with select levels of the Senior League. In 2010, there will be two Sectional Championships of Adult/Senior League Combination. Adult and Senior teams will compete in the same championship, but not against each other. In one Championship, Adult League levels 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0 will be held with the Senior League levels 3.5 and 4.5. In the other Championship, Adult League levels 2.5, 3.5, 4.5 and 5.5 will be held with the Senior League levels 3.0 and 4.0.
27. Each Championship will operate on a basis of eight (8) total teams in each level (2.5 – 5.0, for Adults, and 3.0 – 4.5, for seniors). Representation in the round-robin format would include one team from each District. If there are not seven districts sending a representing team for each division, the championship format will be Round Robin with the champion determined by match results only. If there is one team, from all seven districts, in any division, a wildcard team will be invited to make the total of 8 teams. There will be two pools of four teams. Wildcards will be used, also, for any division that has fewer than three teams attending. Then we will wildcard to four.
28. Each level, with its eight (8) teams would then be divided into two pools of four (4) teams each. Competition would consist of round robin play within each pool. The use of pools requires a playoff structure to establish a champion. Therefore, the top 2 teams from each pool will advance to a semi-final playoff. The semi-final matches would be determined by the first place team of each flight competing against the second place team in the opposite pool. Semi-final winners would then advance to the finals.
29. Team and Wild Card placement will be via draw. Two teams from the same District are not to be drawn into the opposing pools. All Championship individual match scoring will consist of the best of two sets, with a set (formerly 12 point) tiebreak at 6-all in each set. In the event of split sets, a match tie-break (first to ten points by two) shall be played in lieu of a third set with the two minute set break with no coaching allowed. Any Tiebreak, be it a set or a match, occurring at Section Championships will be with the Coman Tiebreak Procedure.
30. All players will be asked to show picture identification, upon being assigned to a court, for their first match of the championship. Any player unable to show picture identification by the time they are assigned to a court for their 2nd match, they will be immediately disqualified and their first match, if a win, will be awarded a win for the opponent.
31. All players will be asked, or signs will be posted, to turn off cell phones BEFORE going to the court. Any cells phones ringing on the court will cause players to be penalized as per Friend at Court.
32. During the USTA Missouri Valley Sectional and District Championships, no substitutions may be made in an individual match after the line-up has been presented, except for injury to, illness of, or disqualification of a player, prior to the start of such match, and under such future circumstances as the Championships Committee may authorize. If the substitution is made during the warm-up, the option to recommence the warm-up rests with the substituted player. If any player is replaced under the substitution rule, then that player’s status becomes ineligible. Therefore, the player will not be permitted to compete in any future matches in that Championship.
33. Teams advancing to Sectional Championships are required to complete the sectional tournament under the reasonable timeframe established. Should a team withdraw without section approval and completing all matches, each player attending will not be allowed to participate in local league play for that division (Adult, Senior, Mixed, Super Senior, Super 70’s or Senior Mixed) during the following league year.
34. A player shall only play under his or her own name and under the USTA number used to generate his or her NTRP rating if one exists. If a USTA membership lapses and is subsequently renewed, the prior USTA membership number should be used. A player shall accurately report match scores. Any player who violates the above, the team captain, and any team member who plays in a match with knowledge of impersonation or improper recording of scores, may be suspended from all USTA League Tennis.
2010 Mixed Doubles League
1. 5.01 Local League Local league season, and District playoff dates shall be determined by the District League Coordinator, but must be in congruence with the dates set by the USTA Missouri Valley Section Office. In the 2010 league season, District Championships and/or local league playoffs and/or local league matches must be completed by Friday August 27, 2010. In addition, all District information (rosters from local league winning teams and team fee) regarding the Sectional Championships is to be submitted no later than ten days prior to the start of Sectional Championship competition. If any team enters the Sectional Championship, but withdraws within ten (l0) days prior to the Start of the Championship competition, the entry fee shall be forfeited and each rostered player eligible for play at sectionals may not be able to participate in local league play for that division (Adult, Senior, or Mixed) during the following year.
2. 5.01 E Levels of Play Mixed Doubles League Play will be available at combined NTRP Levels of 5.0 (must be straight 2.5 levels) 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0, 10.0, and Open.
3. 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 declare their self-rating on TennisLink when registering for a team.
4. Each team must compete at the level of the highest combined rated doubles team on the roster. It is the responsibility of the team Captain to ensure that all doubles partners are within the combined level of play during each match. Failure to comply will result in match disqualification. There may be no more than a two-level (or one (1) point) difference between partners on the court. (i.e. 5.0 and 4.0 are okay but 5.0 and 3.0 are not)
5. In 2010 all local league teams may have no more than two players who reside in another district or section. Advancing teams must limit out-of-district players who meet qualifying match requirements to no more than 2 players. All teams in 2010 Adult, Senior & Mixed Doubles leagues will be subject to this rule.
6. All USTA Mixed League participants must be at least 18 years of age, or turn 18, in the calendar year in which they will play
7. 2.02E 1 NTRP Grievance Complaint. Any captain, coordinator or committee member may file a Grievance against any player, and/or captain, they feel has entered, or condoned entering below their actual skill level. The player they are filing a grievance against must be a Self-Rated player, a Tournament Exclusive Player or a Mixed Doubles Exclusive player. The Section League Grievance Committee having jurisdiction, augmented as necessary by experts in NTRP ratings, will ask the alleged violator if they have completed the USTA Player Electronic Self Rate questionnaire and submitted it to the committee for review. If NTRP Grievances are filed during a Sectional Championship, they will be held and forwarded to the Section League Grievance Committee within 48 hours of the conclusion of the championship. After review, and in consultation with the NTRP experts who have augmented the committee, they will take action as they deem appropriate including but not limited to, disqualification, suspension from league play or other league sanction.
8. 5.01D(3) Any player NTRP disqualified from the USTA League Tennis- Adult or Senior division may not play at the disqualified level of play for USTA Mixed Doubles or any event sanctioned by USTA for the remainder of the championship league year or up to three years unless a new NTRP rating is generated.
9. 5.01 H Format See National League Regulations Booklet
10. Timed matches: Any local league match that must be completed in a limited period of time (two hours) must use the Timed Match Procedure. Procedure states: At 15 minutes before the end of play, no new game will begin. All games " in play"* are completed. If a player/team is ahead by two games, they have won the set. If no player/team is ahead by two games, they shall play a set tiebreak. If the sets are then split, a set tiebreak shall be played, in lieu of a third set. (* A game is " in play" once the server has struck the first ball).
11. 5.03A(4) A player is eligible to progress to a District Championship if that player has played on that same team in at least two matches during its LOCAL LEAGUE Season. The maximum of ONE defaulted match shall count as a match played for the players receiving the default, but not for the players who defaulted. A retired match shall count for all players involved.
12. 5.03A 5 A player is eligible to advance to National competition if that player has competed in at least THREE matches through Section Championships. NO defaults will be counted as eligible matches played.
13. Players competing on more than one Mixed Doubles team, in a local league season, may compete on no more than one Mixed Doubles team during any Section Championship weekend.
14. One team from each District Level will be eligible to compete at the USTA Missouri Valley Sectional Championships. Winners from the Sectional Championships will advance to the USTA National League Championships. In the event a Local, District, or Sectional first place team, in any division, was not able to compete at the next level Championships, then the second place team in that level, Area, District, or Section would then qualify to take the place of the first place team. In the event the second place team was unable to attend, then the third place team would have the opportunity to attend the next level Championship. This process would then be continued for all other teams in the division until a representative was established.
15. Any team competing at the Mixed Doubles National Championships must play the following season at the next higher combined level or divide with no more than three (3) rostered players, from any local team advancing to national championships, on the same team. Any player, who did not participate in any matches, be it local, district, section or national, is excluded from this regulation.
16. 2.02 Grievance Complaints
17. 2.02C (1) All complaints alleging a violation by an individual or team during the local league shall be filed in writing with the Local or District League Coordinator or designee having jurisdiction. The complaint must be filed prior to the commencement of the next team match in that flight involving such individual or team or within twenty-four hours after the end of the local league play, whichever occurs first.
18. District League Coordinators are appointed, or hired, by their District Association. The District League Coordinators and District Association appoint local League Coordinators. District Championship Committees shall be appointed and approved by the District League Coordinator and approved by the USTA Missouri Valley Section’s Director of Adult Activities. The Sectional League Championship Committees shall be appointed by the USTA Missouri Valley Section’s Adult Competition Program Manager.
19. Each Championship will operate on a basis of eight (8) total teams in each level (6.0 - Open). Representation in the round-robin format would include one team from each District. If there are not seven districts sending a representing team for each division, the championship format will be Round Robin with the champion determined by match results only. If there is one team, from all seven districts, in any division, a wildcard team will be invited to make the total of 8 teams. There will be two pools of four teams. Wildcards will be used, also, for any division that has fewer than three teams attending. Then we will wildcard to four. If all 7 districts do not send a team in each division, no wildcard teams will be invited and a Round Robin format will be used, with the best record overall in the round robin will be the championship team. Wildcards will not be used for Sectional Championships unless all 7 districts send a representing team in each division or if there are fewer than three teams advancing in any one division. Wildcards shall not be accepted if the next team in line is not able to advance to section championships with a full roster (enough players to fill all courts for all matches played). The district shall invite the next team in line. If they can not find a FULL rostered team, then they shall pass the wildcard to the next district in line ASAP.
20. Each level, with its eight (8) teams would then be divided into two pools of four (4) teams each. Competition would consist of round robin play within each pool. The use of pools requires a playoff structure to establish a champion. Therefore, the top 2 teams from each pool shall advance to a semi-final playoff. The semi-final matches would be determined by the first place team of each flight competing against the second place team in the opposite pool. Semi-final winners would then advance to the finals.
21. All Championship individual match scoring will consist of the best of two sets, with a set (formerly 12 point) tiebreak at 6-all in each set. In the event of split sets, a match tie-break (first to ten points by two) shall be played in lieu of a third set with the two minute set break with no coaching allowed. Any tiebreak, be it a set or a match, occurring at Section Championships will be with the Coman Tiebreak Procedure.
22. All players will be asked to show picture identification, upon being assigned to a court, for their first match of the championship. Any player unable to show picture identification by the time they are assigned to a court for their 2nd match, will be immediately disqualified and their first match, if a win, will be awarded a win for the opponent.
23. All players will be asked, or signs will be posted, to turn off cell phones before going to the court. Any cell phones ringing on the court will cause player penalties as per Friend at Court.
24. During the USTA Missouri Valley Section Mixed Doubles League and District Mixed Doubles League Championships, no substitutions may be made in an individual match after the line-up has been presented, except for injury to, illness of, or disqualification of a player, prior to the start of such match, and under such future circumstances as the Championships Committee may authorize. If the substitution is made during the warm-up, the option to recommence the warm-up rests with the substituted player. If any player is replaced under the substitution rule, then that player’s status becomes ineligible. Therefore, the player will not be permitted to compete in any future matches in that Championship.
25. Teams advancing to Sectional Championships are required to complete the sectional tournament under the reasonable timeframe established. Should a team withdraw without section approval and completing all matches, each player attending will not be allowed to participate in local league play for that division (Adult, Senior, Mixed, Super Senior, Super 70’s and Senior Mixed) during the following league year.
26. A player shall only play under his or her own name and under the USTA number used to generate his or her NTRP rating if one exists. If a USTA membership lapses and is subsequently renewed, the prior USTA membership number should be used. A player shall accurately report match scores. Any player who violates the above, the team captain, and any team member who plays in a match with knowledge of impersonation or improper recording of scores, may be suspended from all USTA League Tennis.
2010 Super Senior League
1. 6.01 Local League A-D Local league season, and District playoff dates shall be determined by the District League Coordinator, but must be in congruence with the dates set by the USTA Missouri Valley Section Office. In the 2010 league season, District Championships and/or local league playoffs and/or local league matches must be completed by Friday August 27, 2010. In addition, all District information (rosters from local league winning teams and team fee) regarding the Sectional Championships is to be submitted no later than 10 days prior to the start of Sectional Championship competition. If any team enters the Sectional Championship, but withdraws within ten (l0) days prior to the Start of the Championship competition, the entry fee shall be forfeited and each rostered player eligible for play at sectionals may not be able to participate in local league play for that division (Super Senior) during the following year.
2. 6.01D (4) A player can not be dynamically disqualified based on match results form the Super Senior division. However a player who is designated with an A, M, D, T or S is subject to an NTRP Grievance.
3. 6.01 D (5) Super Senior match results will be a part of generating a player's year-end rating.
4. 6.01 E Levels of Play The Missouri Valley Section will conduct combined NTRP levels (6.0, 7.0, 8.0, and 9.0) for their local seasons. The championship will be combined NTRP levels of 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, and 9.0. The NTRP difference between members of an individual doubles pair may not exceed 1.0. Each Championship will operate on a basis of eight (8) total teams in each level (6.0 - Open). Representation in the round-robin format would include one team from each District. If there are not seven districts sending a representing team for each division, the championship format will be Round Robin with the champion determined by match results only. If there is one team, from all seven districts, in any division, a wildcard team will be invited to make the total of 8 teams. There will be two pools of four teams. Wildcards will be used, also, for any division that has fewer than three teams attending. Then we will wildcard to four.
5. All USTA Super Senior League participants must be at least 60 years of age, or turn 60, in the calendar year in which they will play
6. 6.02B Area Championships. Each section association shall determine and announce a method of progression suitable for its geographic boundaries for advancement of its local league teams to section league championships. Such progression may include one or more championships below the section level. Regulations state that a player is eligible to advance to a championship competition if that player has played on that same team in at least two matches at the local league. A maximum of one default shall count for advancing. A retired match shall count for all players involved.
7. All Championship individual match scoring will consist of the best of two sets, with a set (formerly 12 point) tiebreak at 6-all in each set. In the event of split sets, a match tie-break ( first to ten points by two) shall be played in lieu of a third set with a two minute set break with no coaching allowed. Any tiebreak , be it a set or a match, occurring at Section Championships will use the Coman Tiebreak Procedure.
8. 6.03A(4) At all championships a minimum of six (6) team members must be available and eligible to combine and compete.
9. All players will be asked to show picture identification, upon being assigned to a court, for their first match of the championship. Any player unable to show picture identification by the time they are assigned to a court for their 2nd match, will be immediately disqualified and their first match, if a win, will be awarded a win for the opponent.
10. All players will be asked, or signs will be posted, to turn off cell phones before going to the court. Any cell phones ringing on the court will cause player penalties as per Friend at Court.
11. Players attending Section Championship or Invitational Championship may only play on ONE team during any individual Championship weekend. A player playing in multiple senior leagues (Super Senior, Senior Mixed, Super 70’s) must declare which team he or she will play on at Championship prior to attending the event when more than one Senior League Championship is being played on the same weekend.
12. Teams advancing to Sectional Championships are required to complete the sectional tournament under the reasonable timeframe established. Should a team withdraw without section approval and completing all matches, each player attending will not be allowed to participate in local league play for that division (Adult, Senior, Mixed, Super Senior, Super 70’s and Senior Mixed) during the following league year.
13. A player shall only play under his or her own name and under the USTA number used to generate his or her NTRP rating if one exists. If a USTA membership lapses and is subsequently renewed, the prior USTA membership number should be used. A player shall accurately report match scores. Any player who violates the above, the team captain, and any team member who plays in a match with knowledge of impersonation or improper recording of scores, may be suspended from all USTA League Tennis.
14. 6.03A (6) Any team competing at the Super Senior National Championships DOES NOT have to Move up or Split up!!!
2010 Super 70’s Leagues
1. Local League Local league season, and District playoff dates shall be determined by the District League Coordinator, but must be in congruence with the dates set by the USTA Missouri Valley Section Office. All local league matches must be completed by Friday, August 27, 2010. In addition, all District information (rosters from local league winning teams and team fee) regarding the Sectional Invitational, is to be submitted no later than one month prior to the start of Section Invitational. All teams AND players must be registered in TennisLink by this deadline. If any team enters the Section Invitational, but withdraws within ten (l0) days prior to the Start of the Championship competition, the entry fee shall be forfeited.
2. Super 70’s Local Leagues are required if three teams are registered in any one local area, in any one division. Divisions shall be Combination-rated, gender to gender competition in 6.0, 7.0 and 8.0 doubles, three court format. All players must be at least 70 years of age in the calendar year of competition. Players can not be rated more than one full point away from their partners.
3. Teams competing in the Section Invitational are required to complete the sectional tournament under the reasonable timeframe established. Should a team withdraw without sectional approval and completing all matches, each player attending will not be allowed to participate in local league play for that division (Adult, Senior, Mixed, Super Senior, Super 70’s and Senior Mixed) during the following league year.
4. In 2009 there are no events for teams to advance to after the Section Championship.
2010 Senior Mixed Leagues
1. Local League Local league season, and District playoff dates shall be determined by the District League Coordinator, but must be in congruence with the dates set by the USTA Missouri Valley Section Office. In the 2010 league season, District Championships and/or local league playoffs and/or local league matches must be completed by Friday, August 27, 2010. In addition, all District information (rosters from local league winning teams and / or all players participating in the Section Invitational) is to be submitted no later than ten days prior to the start of Sectional Championship competition. If any team enters the Section Championship, but withdraws within ten (l0) days prior to the Start of the Championship competition, the entry fee shall be forfeited and each rostered player eligible for play at sectionals may not be able to participate in local league play for that division (Adult, Senior, or Mixed, Super Senior, Senior Mixed and Super 70’s) during the following year.
2. Senior Mixed Local Leagues are required if three teams are registered in any one local area in any one division. Divisions shall be Combination -rated, Mixed-gender competition in 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0 levels. Players can not be rated more than one full point away from their partners. All players must be at least 50 years of age in the calendar year of competition.
3. Senior Mixed Section Championship will be an INVITATIONAL, with the section league coordinator “inviting” teams to attend. All teams must be registered in TennisLink by the deadline above. At least two teams will be invited from each district in each division, until 8 teams are attending.
4. Players attending Section Championship or Invitational Championship may only play on ONE team during any individual Championship weekend. Players playing in multiple senior leagues (Super Senior, Senior Mixed, Super 70’s) must declare which team they will play on at Championship prior to attending the event when more than one Senior League Championship is being played on the same weekend.
5. Teams advancing to Sectional Championships are required to complete the sectional tournament under the reasonable timeframe established. Should a team withdraw without sectional approval and completing all matches, each player attending will not be allowed to participate in local league play for that division (Adult, Senior, and Mixed) during the following league year.
6. Winning Teams competing in the 2010 Missouri Valley Senior Mixed Invitational will advance to the National Senior Mixed Invitational in Spring of 2011.
2010 Tri- Level Leagues
1. 7.00 TRI-LEVEL LEAGUE REGULATIONS
All USTA League Tennis Regulations in 1.00 GENERAL and the following regulations shall apply to the USTA League Tennis – Tri-Level Division.
2. 7.01 LOCAL LEAGUE
7.01A Team. A “team” shall consist of doubles teams for at least three NTRP levels. Team matches shall consist of a minimum of three NTRP levels (a “Tri-Level Format”). For example, a team may have doubles teams at the 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, and 4.0 levels, but only three of those levels will be playing during a specific team match.
7.01B Number of Teams. A local league is a team competition in a specified geographic area that applies specific local league regulations and consists of Tri-Level formats with a minimum of two or more teams per format.
7.01C Age. Each player shall be a USTA member who has reached the age of eighteen prior to or during the calendar year in which such player plays in his/her first local league match.
7.01D Entry. A player without a computer rating must self-rate on TennisLink to enter the program. A player with a current NTRP computer rating must use that rating to enter the program. (See Valid Computer Rating Chart – inside back cover.) Sections may require a self-rated player to play up to a higher level if demonstrated play suggests the player’s self-rating is too low.
7.01E Levels of Play. For league play, doubles teams will use straight NTRP levels (2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5 and 5.0). Local leagues may authorize a player to play one level higher than the player’s rating.
7.01F Tri-Level Format. The local league shall determine which approved levels will be available for Tri-Level teams in local league competition.
7.01G Scoring. Any USTA-approved scoring method that is compatible with the USTA NTRP Computer Rating System may be used (see Scoring Formats in the Glossary).
7.01H Competition Format.
7.01H(1) Round Robin. Each Tri-Level format within a local league shall play at least one round robin competition wherein every team plays every other team. Any Tri-Level format with only two or three teams is required to play a minimum of three matches.
7.01H(2) Team Match and Scoring. Each team match in a local league shall consist of such number of individual matches of Tri-Level as determined by the local league. The method of awarding points in order to determine the winning team of a local league team match and the winner of the local league competition is any method compatible with TennisLink and the USTA NTRP Computer Rating System selected by the local league. The scoring in the event of a default or disqualification shall be 6-0, 6-0.
7.01H(3) Individual Match. An individual match is any Tri-Level match played as part of a team match.
7.01H(4) Player Participation. An individual may only play in one match within each team match.
7.01H(5) Coaching. Coaching will be permitted only during authorized rest periods (e.g., if there is a 10-minute rest period between 2nd and 3rd sets) or suspension of play (e.g., for a rain delay).