USTA Local Regulations
2020 USTA Championship Year
Mobile Area League Tennis
Local League Rules
New Local 2020
Regulations in Red
Adult 18 & Over, 40
& Over, 55 & Over, and 65 & Over
Mixed Doubles, Tri-Level
and Southern Combo Doubles
Jeannie
Harrell
Local League Coordinator
maltjh@outlook.com
251-510-4776(C) 251-661-2099(H)
Ruth Anne Bendall
USTA Alabama State League Coordinator
Application:
USTA League National, Southern and Alabama Regulations have full force and applicability
at all levels of play in USTA League
Tennis in the USTA Southern Section and there is no authorization to modify,
amplify or change them by local or State League Coordinators, or Grievance or
Grievance Appeal Committees. USTA League
Regulations (National, Southern and Alabama) are available on the USTA Alabama
website: www.alabamata.com.
(Note: The Southern
Regulations are incorporated in green into the corresponding Paragraphs of the
2020 USTA League Regulations and should be applied in conjunction with those
paragraphs)
(Note: USTA Alabama regulations
are incorporated in purple into the corresponding paragraphs of the 2020 USTA
League regulations and should be applied in conjunction with those paragraphs)
All players participating in the USTA League Program, as a condition of their participation, agree to abide and be bound by the USTA Constitution, By-Laws and Standings Orders; the
National, Sectional, District and Local USTA League Regulations and the standards of good conduct, fair play and good sportsmanship.
To see 2020 Major Regulation Changes for USTA
& Southern (Click Here)
TennisLink is the official system for registering teams, reporting
scores and providing standings.
Match play format may be changed by the local league coordinator in order to complete a specific round.
The Local League Coordinator
implements and administers all USTA League Programs and interprets all local
league regulations.
Section I. Eligibility
Players
Players must be 18 years of age prior
to participating in the USTA League program. Each player over the age of 18
shall have reached the required minimum age for the league in which they wish
to play prior to or during the calendar year in which such player participates in
their first local match. Players must be current (paid) members of the USTA
through the respective season of play including playoffs and must register for
a team via Tennis Link. When registering,
each player must pay the present local league fee plus an internet Tennis Link
fee per league season. Refunds may be given if a level doesn’t consist of
two (2) teams. The local league
coordinator can transfer registrations within the same championship year if the
player has not played a match or received a default. Refunds are not given for any other reasons. Players must use their current NTRP rating when
registering. If they do not have one,
they must "self-rate" when registering for a league using the NTRP
Guidelines. Failure to provide accurate
information will subject the player and/or the captain to sanctions and
disqualifications.
Teams
Teams shall appoint a
team captain and he/she may only captain one team per level per league. Teams
playing the 18 & Over leagues must have registered on TennisLink a minimum
of 5 players for levels 2.5 and 5.0+, 8 players for levels 3.0 through 4.5 and
6 players for all levels that play a three line format. Teams playing the 40 &
Over leagues will need a minimum of 7 players to field
all courts in a scheduled match (levels 3.0 through 4.5+) with a 4-line format
of 1 individual singles and 3 individual doubles. If a 40 & Over team
(levels 3.0 – 4.5+) elect to play a 5-line format of 1 individual singles and 4
individual doubles will need a minimum of 9 players to field all courts in a
scheduled match.
Each team is required to have a facility to play their home matches and at their option
could have an alternate site for playing during inclement weather. All teams’ host facility selection
must be approved by the local league coordinator. All host facilities used in prior years are
considered approved; any new facility for home matches will have to be approved
by the LLC prior to registration on TennisLink,
If any Adult Division
Age Group consists of only two teams in a level of play, each team must
maintain its roster with at least 40 percent of its players at the designated
NTRP level of play. The exception is the
Adult 55 & Over 9.0 level of play that uses combined NTRP
levels and will not be required to comply with this Regulation.
Section II. Team Captains’ Duties
The captains should read
and be familiar with the rules and regulations of the USTA, STA, ATA, and Local
League found on each organization's website. They should ask each team
member to thoroughly read and understand the Local USTA League Regulations
prior to the start of league competition. Captains
must have a current email address in order to receive league information
throughout the season and is responsible for updating changes in email with the
Local League Coordinator and with the USTA. Email is the primary means of
communication used by the coordinator. It is the captain's
responsibility to create his/her team via TennisLink each season and notify the
players of the team number so they can register for the team. Any
non-playing captain can ask the Local League Coordinator (LLC) to create their
TennisLink team number. The
Registration Deadline Dates are published on the local MALT (Mobile Area League
Tennis) website (www.maltennis.com) under Leagues. The LLC may
amend the dates as needed. The Adult 18 & Over teams should have their
initial roster of 8 players registered by the published registration deadline. The 40 & Over teams should have their initial roster of 7
or 9 players
(depending on the format they elect to play) registered
by the published registration deadline.
The Adult 55 & Over,
65 & Over, Mixed Doubles, Tri-Level and Southern Combo Doubles teams should
have their initial roster of 6 players registered by the registration deadline.
Player Participation
Local leagues will limit the number of players that appear on a team roster to
no more than 16 for Adult 18 & Over and Adult 40 & Over, all other
leagues will be limited to 14 players on a roster. The only exception to
this regulation would be when a player needs to be placed on a higher level
team after being disqualified from his/her present team before the end of the
season's local round robin competition.
Adult Division, 18
& Over 5.0+ team rosters may include up to two (2) 5.5 players. Adult Division, 40 & Over 4.5+ team rosters
may include (3) 5.0 players. 2.01A:
Below level players are not allowed to play #1 positions when
participating in plus (+) level matches:
In Plus (+) NTRP levels
utilizing four or less individual
matches constituting a team match:
2.01A(1)a In Plus (+) NTRP
levels utilizing four or less individual matches within a team match, no more
than one Plus (+) level player shall be allowed to play in a team match and
shall be required to play in a #1 position, either singles or doubles.
2.01A(1)b In the 5.0+ level a player who is rated 4.5 is not eligible to play
in the #1 singles position. 2.01A(1)c In the 4.5+ level a player who is rated
4.0 is not eligible to play in the #1 singles position.
In Plus (+) NTRP levels
utilizing five individual matches
constituting a team match:
2.01A(1)d Two (2) Plus (+)
level players may play in a team match and shall be required to play in either
(i) both in the #1 doubles position or (ii) one player in the #1 singles
position and one player in the #1 doubles position. 2.01A(1)e In the 5.0+ level
a player who is rated 4.5 is not eligible to play in either #1 position.
2.01A(1)f In the 4.5+ level a player who is rated 4.0 is not eligible to play
in either #1 position.
Note: If the NTRP ratings
of the players available and on-site for a team match would result in an
individual match default at the #1 position(s), a lower level player may play at the #1 position(s), provided no
available at level player is playing
below the #1 position(s). In such
case(s) 2.01A(1)b, 2.01A(1)c, 2.01A(1)c,
or 2.01A(1)f shall be waived,
Players may play on only
one team in an NTRP level within an age group in the same local league during
the same season. In local leagues where NTRP levels are divided into
flights, a player may not play in more than one flight 1.04G (2). A player may
play up to one NTRP level above the player's current NTRP level. (For example:
a 3.0 can play up to a 3.5). See above 2.01A above regarding below level players for + levels. Players may be added to a roster prior to
the last two regularly scheduled TennisLink matches for the Adult 18 &
Over, 40 & Over and 55 & Over Age Groups, as well as the Mixed
Division. Additions can be made prior to the last scheduled match
for Southern Combo Doubles and Tri Level. If any of these leagues are played as
a weekend tournament, the LLC will establish the deadline date for adding a
player. The State League Coordinators (SLC) will establish a roster addition
deadline for all leagues that play their local league at the state
championships. Roster additions cannot be made for play-off purposes only.
The 18 & Over 5.0+
men and women will play local at state, teams may request local play if only
league in the state. See USTA-Alabama 1.04G
To generate a computer
rating, a player must have played three (3) times during that year’s rating
period for an Adult league. Defaults do not count towards computer
ratings.
Section III. Match
Requirements
Each home team shall
identify and reserve its home courts. If your facility does not have water on
the courts, the opposing team captains should be advised. The home team
provides new balls which must be a standard Type 2 USTA approved ball and any
USTA "transition" ball is prohibited. The home team will be
responsible for court fees for the visiting team, if applicable. If a match is
scheduled and the home team’s courts are not playable one and one half
hours prior to match time and the home team does not have an alternate
location, then the captain should consider playing at the opposing team’s
courts if those courts are playable and available. Any team having to split
their times of scheduled matches due to court availability should notify their
opposing captain at least three (3) days prior to the match, not
including match day or the day of notification.
Players feeding in should be present
one half hour before the designated start time agreed upon by the two captains
All women teams playing a scheduled
USTA Winter Night League match should have all 5 courts (3 courts if 2.5)
available at match time for Adult League and 3 courts if Combo League.
This is to avoid players having to be out any later than necessary.
Matches can be played earlier than the scheduled match time if courts are
available and both captains agree.
A player may not use
electronic devices such as cell phones or any device capable of receiving
communication.
Format of Play
All matches will be the
best of two sets, with a set tie break at 6-all. In the event of split sets, a
match tie break (first to 10 by 2) shall be played in lieu of a third set with
the two minute set break and no coaching allowed. The tie break shall be scored
as 1 set & 1 game for tie break procedures. All tie breaks should be the Coman
tie break format in which ends are changed after the first point and then every
four points(Click for Details).
Team format for the
Adult 18 & Over shall be two individual singles and three individual
doubles matches for 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, and 4.5 levels. For 2.5 and 5.0+ levels the
format shall be one individual singles and two individual doubles. The Adult 40 & Over can have either a 4-line
format of 1 individual singles and three individual doubles or a 5-line format
of 1 individual singles and 4 individual doubles for 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 and 4.5+
levels depending on the majority vote of the team captains for each level. If the
vote results in a tie the LLC will vote to break the tie. The format for all other leagues (Mixed
Doubles, Combo Doubles, and Tri-Level) is three individual doubles. A
team will be awarded a point for each individual match won.
Team Line-Up
Captains should exchange
line-ups simultaneously prior to the beginning of the team match. Match numbers
are located on the schedule. A 15-minute default rule is in effect, starting at
the exact time the match is scheduled to begin and subjects players to being
defaulted. In the event of illness, injury, disqualification, or no-show
of a player prior to the start of an individual match (once the lineup has been
exchanged), a team may substitute a player in the affected position within the
15-minute default time using a player not already listed on the lineup. If no
such substitution can be made, the affected position will be forfeited.
If a team does not have enough players to field a full lineup, the team not
having enough players will forfeit from the bottom spot of either singles or
doubles and move other players up (exception is Tri Level where defaults are by
the NTRP level). If a team shows up without the minimum number of required
players for the team match based upon the number of players present, or to be
present, it will be a full team default in favor of the opponents.
If a team defaults an entire team match during
local or local at state competition the Alabama State Regulation 2.01C (5) #E
will be adopted as determined by the State League Coordinator.
At the conclusion of each match one of the captains, no matter which,
should enter scores on TennisLink by match number. Confirmation must be done
within 48 hours of posted scores by the team captain that did not enter the
scores. Both captains are responsible for ensuring the scores are
entered. Deliberately entering or
confirming incorrect scores destroys the integrity of the ratings system and
any captains found doing so may be suspended from USTA league play. Score confirmation or score disputes must be
made within 48 hours of score entry.
Captains should keep a hard copy of each of their scorecards.
Rescheduling Matches
The following weather
conditions - rain, lightning, or severe temperature (below 32 degrees F,
wind chill is below 32 degrees, or temperature is in excess of 100 degrees)
existing one and one half hours prior to match time shall authorize the
cancellation and re-scheduling of a scheduled match. Either captain may
elect to reschedule. In the event that rain or inclement weather forces
the cancellation and re-scheduling of a team match, unrestricted substitutions
from the team roster may be made in any individual matches that have not begun.
This includes moving a player from one position to another. Completed matches
will stand as played and incomplete matches must be resumed by the same players
at the exact point, game, and set that existed when play was halted.
Rescheduled matches should be completed within 14 days of the scheduled match. Notify the coordinator within
24 hours of the originally scheduled match, giving the coordinator the
rescheduled dates and times. Rainouts of the last match of the season must be
rescheduled within 7 days of the original
match date or before the published end date of the league whichever comes
first. The only exception would be a league played as a weekend
tournament. In this case, the LLC will reschedule the matches.
If a match is not played
due to inclement weather, the following procedures should be followed::
The home team captain should contact the opposing team captain in two days and
offer three (3) possible days and times for rescheduling. These offered
dates should be within the 14-day
rescheduling timeframe. The opposing team captain should try to field a team on
one of those three offered days of play. Notification should be made to the
home team within two days of the offering. If a rescheduled date is agreed
upon, the only reason for not playing on that agreed upon date would be
inclement weather. Once a date has been agreed upon, the local league
coordinator should be notified. It is the home captain's responsibility to make
court arrangements for rescheduled matches.
Once a captain advises an opposing captain in
writing via email that a line(s) will be defaulted in their match, that
statement stands even if the team finds players prior to the start of the
match, The only exception to this rule is when the match is called due to inclement weather, In this case, any defaults awarded in advance
may now be played.
Captains may request the
rescheduling of a match due to a conflict with 3 or more player(s) involved in
USTA National, USTA Southern, USTA Alabama or a local flight playoff
league championship. No more positions may be rescheduled than the
number of players registered or participating in said championship.
Eligible players for rescheduled positions are defined as players listed on the
championship roster submitted. These rescheduled matches must be played either
prior to the originally scheduled match or within 14 days of the completion of the
championship event. If earlier arrangements have not been made, captains
needing to reschedule should exercise courtesy and good sportsmanship and
notify the opposing captain at least 10 days prior to the scheduled match date
about his conflict. Consideration will be given to
teams/players that do not become aware that they are advancing to a league
program event before the 10 day period due to last minute wild card invitation
or schedule/reschedule delays,
The local league coordinator may administratively reschedule a match.
Tournaments are not a legitimate reason for
rescheduling a match.
Section IV: Progression to Playoffs & State
Championships
Local season champion shall be the
team with the greatest number of team matches won (including any playoff) and
shall represent the local league at the State Championships. In the event that
there is more than one flight in a level the winning flight team will advance
to a local flight playoff. A flight
winner shall be the team having won the most team matches in its flight
competition. Only the winning flight team will advance o the playoffs.
Comment:
If a team wins more than one flight at
the same level of play, that team may elect to represent only one team in the
flight playoffs. The second place team from the vacated flight does not advance
to the local flight playoff.
In the event of a tie,
whether in round robin or single elimination local competition or in a local
flight playoff, the tie shall be broken by the first of the following
procedures that does so:
Individual matches: Winner of the most
individual matches
Head-to-Head: Winner of the head-to-head match
Sets: Loser of the fewest number
of sets
Games: Loser of the fewest number of games
Game winning
percentage, excluding defaults
A Coin Toss
2.03D(1): USTA Southern permits each local league to
continue using the same local league team format through local league playoffs.
Said team format for local league playoff structure shall be listed in each
applicable local league regulations. All other requirements for “championship”
play must be followed for local league playoffs
Example: If
any level in the Adult 40 & Over league votes to play the 1 individual
singles and 4 individual doubles format for their local league, the format for
the flight playoffs of that level will be the same. .
.
In the Adult and Mixed
Division, a player is eligible to progress to championship level below National
Championships if that player has played on the same team in at least two (2)
matches at the same NTRP level in the same Age Group during its local league
season. A maximum of one default received by a player during local league
competition shall count for advancing. Retired matches shall count toward
advancing for all players involved in both USTA League Divisions
2.03A(3). In order to advance out of local leagues to Combo Doubles and
Tri Level Championships a player must have participated in one (1)
match with one default counting.
Players who qualify for
an Adult 18 & Over, Adult 40 & Over, Adult 55 & Over and/or Adult
65 & over team(s) may advance on more than one team within an age group
only if they are different NTRP levels.
Players who qualify for a Mixed Doubles 18 & Over and/or Mixed Doubles
40 & Over team(s) may advance on more than one team within an age group
only if they are different NTRP levels.
No accommodations for scheduling will be made at any championship for
teams with players that may be competing on two or more teams during a
championship.
The following leagues may have
invitational championships with no local league play required: Adult 18 &
Over 5.0+, Adult 40 & Over 2.5, Adult 55 & Over Level 9.0, Adult 65
& Over, Mixed Doubles 55 & Over, Mixed Doubles 18 & Over Level
10.0, Combo Doubles 18 & Over Level 9.5, Combo Doubles 65 & Over and
Tri-Level 55 & Over.
2.03A(3)b Sections shall
have the option to require, for eligibility to progress to championship level
competition below National Championships, Self-Rated and Valid Computer Rated
Appealed players to play up to four matches, on the same team at the same NTRP
level in the same Age Group during its local league season and is otherwise
eligible. Sections shall also have the option to declare if one default
received by the player during local league competition shall or shall not count
for advancing.
2.03A(4) All Self-Rated
and Valid Computer Rated Appealed players are eligible to progress to National
Championship competition if that player has played on the same team in at least
four matches at the same NTRP level in the same Age Group during its local
league season and is otherwise eligible. No defaults received by the player
during local league or championship competition shall count for advancing
Section V: Grievance Procedures
All complaints alleging a violation of USTA League Regulations or
standards of good conduct, fair play and good sportsmanship shall be filed in
writing by email to maltjh@outlook.com. Grievances must
be filed by a team captain prior to the commencement of whichever occurs first:
(a) the involved team's next match in that flight, whether or not the involved
player participates or (b) within 24 hours after the end of the local league
season. The Local League Coordinator will send a copy of the complaint to each
party against whom the complaint has been made. Upon receipt
of the grievance and responses, the Local League Coordinator shall
immediately send a copy to the Chair of the appropriate League Grievance
Committee. The Local League Grievance and Grievance Appeals Committee may
consist of the following women: Kati Arata, Brenda Barter, Kim
Barton, Megan Cooper, Sue Eways, Lisa Hansen, Bebe Lindsey, Becky Lund, Kelly
McGinley, and Sheri Fisher; plus the following men: Jason
Antoine, Louie Brackett, Bryan Cooper, Will Fusaiotti, James Giddens, Michael
Jackson, Barry Lund, Mark Pawlowski, Kenneth Sands, and Todd Shirk.
The above list of the grievance
and grievance appeal committee members may be amended by the local league
coordinator in the event a conflict exist.
For full Grievances
Procedures refer to Section 2.0 of the USTA League Regulations.
The following procedures apply for NTRP Grievances:
A complaint may be filed by a
captain or a Local League Coordinator against a player and/or captain who
commits or condones entering at one level when their actual skill level is at
the top of the next NTRP level or higher.
The party that files the NTRP
grievance must provide documentation to support their complaint at the time of
their filing.
The USTA Southern Section NTRP
Grievance Committee will have jurisdiction, augmented as necessary by experts
in NTRP ratings, and may ask the alleged violator to complete a USTA Player
Background History sheet and submit it to the committee for
review. After review, and in consultation with the NTRP experts who
have augmented the committee, they will take action, as they deem appropriate.
This action may include
disqualification, suspension from league play or other league sanctions.
Send NTRP Grievances to rbendall7@gmail.com for forwarding to
USTA Southern Section Grievance Committee. The Local League
Coordinator serves only as a pass through entity to the Southern Section.
An NTRP Grievance may be filed at
any time.
The Local League Coordinator may amend and/or
interpret the 2020 USTA Local Regulations, Mobile Area, at any time if
warranted.