GOVERNING RULES:

         The ladies' USTA League Tennis for the Adult Spring, Adult Fall, Senior, Senior Mixed, Super Senior & the Lone Star will be governed by the USTA League Tennis Regulations, at Tennis Link, http://national.usta.com, the USTA Texas Section rules at www.texas.usta.com, and the Ft Worth Local League Rules at www.fwleaguetennis.net.  All players participating in these leagues shall abide the standards of good conduct, fair play, good sportsmanship and are responsible for knowing the USTA League Tennis Regulations and the local rules.

OFFERING:     (back)

FORMAT : (outdoor league)  (back)

Any additional changes will be stated on the printed schedules for each league.
Round Robin;  Regular scoring in the first two sets; third set, played as a "super/match tiebreak" in lieu of the third set (1st to 10 winning by 2); Coman tiebreak will be used; 1-point for a team win;  set tiebreak at 6-all (first to 7 by 2); ten minute warm-up including serves; Playoff when applicable.

 FORMAT (playoffs):  (back)

Round Robin (Adult Spring League) with the possibility of single elimination for other USTA Leagues (weather/ shortage of indoor courts/time are determining factors). Qualifying teams can only play players that have played at least 2 matches during the local league, with only 1 default excepted as one of the 2 matches. Regular scoring for the first two sets;   3rd set will be played as a Super/Match tiebreak (first to 10 by 2); Coman tiebreak procedure is used during all tiebreaks; 1-point for a team win;  5-minute warm-up including serves;  Courts & balls are provided.  No red flags will be generated during playoffs.  However, when the scores are run the following week, any player advancing to Sectionals that receives 3 red flags, will not be allowed to further participate with the team. The team will still be able to advance.  (Go to: Multiple Levels & Leagues for addition playoff rules.)

GEOGRAPHICAL AREA:   (back)

            All matches to be played within the boundaries formed by Pecan Plantation, Ft Worth, North Richland Hills, Keller, Robson Ranch, Trophy Club, Southlake, Grapevine, Grand Prairie, Mansfield, and Arlington.

PLAYER REQUIREMENTS:   (back)

• Must have a USTA membership current through the league.  Renewals and new memberships should be obtained through Tennis Link @ http://national.usta.com or by calling the USTA membership number: 1-800-990-8782.  DO NOT MAIL.  Please make sure your current address, phone number & last name are correct with USTA membership.
• Must be registered on Tennis Link before the first match.  If a non-registered person plays, the coordinator needs to be notified.  The coordinator will contact the captain and/or player involved with a 24 hour period to register. If the player is not registered within 24 hours, the match will become a forfeit and the player will not be allowed to play on that team for the remainder of the season. The player can not be added to another roster after being disqualified.  However, if already registered on another team, the player will be allowed to remain on that roster.  Exception:  If TennisLink has not been updated so the player can register.  Before the match, please notify the coordinator & opposing captain if this situation happens.

START WINDOW:   (back)

HOME TEAM:   (back)

           Home team supplies new USTA approved yellow balls (standard size), outdoor courts for the entire length of match.   Each player is responsible for their own water.  Some facilities will not have water on the courts.  If both captains agree to use indoor courts, each player splits the court fee.

HOST CAPTAIN:   (back)

Even though the schedule is on Tennis Link, the host captain needs to:

1. Notify the visiting captain by Sunday before the scheduled day of play to verify the start time.
2. Give or get the name and phone number when an acting captain is being used for the upcoming match.
3. Give any corrections on phone numbers that are vital for contacting purposes on day of play.
4. Inform of any highway construction that is close to your site, that might cause delays.
5. If court times are split, the 2 captains need to decide which court (s) will play at the later time.
6. Try to notify two days before the match, of any known forfeits/defaults. (Applies to visiting captain, also.)
7. Notify home facility of any court cancellations, at least 24 hours before scheduled match.
8. Etc.

ADDING PLAYERS:   (back)

• Players may be added to the roster until around  the 3rd scheduled match of the league. Exact dates are listed at www.fwleaguetennis.net under calendar & on the printed schedules.
• Also, a player can be added (as long as 2 or more matches remain for that team, excluding playoffs), to replace an injured player that is unable to play for the rest of the season or due to an extenuating circumstance.  An added player must have the same NTRP level or lower than the player being replaced.  Self-rated players can not be used to replace a player.

Exception:  A player that is disqualified by the DNTRP, during the season, can be added to a higher level team, without having to replace a player.  However, the team must have 2 or more remaining matches in the season, excluding playoffs.  A computer generated player that is disqualified due to 3 red flags will lose only the last match played.   A self-rated player that is disqualified will lose all matches played during that league.

• Added players must meet the league requirements and be approved by the coordinator before they can be registered on Tennis Link.

NTRP:   (back)

              Starting in 2007, a player less than 60 years old can self-rate if their last NTRP rating is older than 3 years & 2 years for players 60 years or older.  For each league season, a player will enter at the level of their most recent computer rating or higher.   If a player's NTRP rating has expired, they will be asked to self-rate & answer a few questions about their tennis history when registering on Tennis Link.   If you are unsure of your level, click on "About NTRP Ratings" or "NTRP Rating Help" @  http://national.usta.com.  Players who are good athletes or intend to spend a great deal of time taking lessons, should be aware that their improvement may be significant enough to surpass their original self-rating by the time they reach the end of the local league season.  To avoid NTRP disqualification, these players should enter at a higher level of play at the beginning of the local league season.

Captains should not take the responsibility of answering the player's tennis history on line.

FILING A FAIR PLAY GRIEVANCE AGAINST SELF-RATED PLAYERS:

• A grievance may be filed by a captain, coordinator or member of a championship committee against a self-rated player when that player is seen at the TOP OF THE NEXT LEVEL or higher.  Email your local coordinator, your complaint, and it will be sent to the Texas Section Grievance Committee.
• The Texas Section Grievance Committee, after review, and in consultation with the NTRP experts who have augmented the committee, will take action as they deem appropriate.
• Such action may include disqualification, suspension from league play or other league sanctions.  When disqualified, all matches played, for that league,  will be taken away.
• The Texas Section Grievance Committee decision may be appealed in accordance with Regulation 2.03 of USTA League Tennis Regulations.
• The disqualified self-rated player can be added to a team at their new level, without replacing a player, as long as there are 2 or more matches left in the season.

 MULTIPLE LEVELS & LEAGUES:   (back)    

Captains need to know the status (primary/secondary) of all their players before the league starts.  Ft Worth teams will have limitations on the number of primary/secondary players when they are playing on more than one Ft Worth team in the same level.  Players playing on 2 different leveled-teams will not be included with the limitations unless stated.

Players can play in the Ft Worth Friday/Saturday, Dallas, & other area leagues at the same time, provided they meet the requirements of the local rules.  Each area rules are adjusted to their leagues.

A Ft Worth league player, playing in the same level, can only play on one Friday & one Saturday team (if not combined).

If a player's team has qualified, (Ex: Adult Spring League) to Sectionals in another area in U.S., before the Ft Worth league has started, regardless if primary or secondary, she will be ineligible to play in the Ft Worth league, when the division is the same (EX: Adult Spring League).

If a player's team has placed 2nd in another area, before the Ft Worth league has started, she can play in the Ft Worth league, if the captain is willing to release her (in writing) as a Ft Worth primary player.

Dallas leagues will not allow players that are on a Ft Worth team advancing to Sectionals, play in the Dallas City Championships, if they participated in the Ft Worth Playoff Championships, when the divisions are the same (EX: Adult Spring League).

A league with only 2 teams will not be allowed to have secondary players on either team (EX: 4.5 seniors).  An exception will be given when only 1-team forms (all primary) and a special situation is granted to qualify the team for Sectionals.  Captains are required before the league starts to notify coordinator of players that are on several teams & their status.

There is a limit of 2 players on each Ft Worth Senior team (regardless of level) that are also playing in the concurrent Dallas Senior League.  If a Ft Worth senior team has 3 or more players participating on Dallas Senior teams, the additional players will lose all their Ft Worth matches played.  Tennis Link will determine the ineligible players by order of registration (date & time).

When a league has no playoffs (Ex: Super Senior) and the first place team loses 2 (Senior Leagues)/ 3(Adult Leagues) or more secondary players to other teams that are also advancing to Sectionals, a one match playoff between the first & second place team's primary players will be held, provided the secondary players received credit for at least one match. When no playoff is needed with the 1st place team, the second place team that loses 2 or more secondary players to another team advancing to Sectionals will play a 1 match playoff with the 3rd place team. Captains are required before the league starts to notify coordinator of their players' status.

Each team is limited to 1-non resident player that lives outside the 50 mile radius of the Ft Worth & Dallas league boundaries (Ex: Houston).

When there is no playoff, the qualified Ft Worth primary players (credit for 1 or more matches) that are on a team advancing to a Sectional Championship (Ex: Super Senior), can not switch their primary position if registered on another area winning team in the same division (Ex: Super Senior).

When the Ft Worth Spring & Fall Adult Leagues have a Friday & Saturday team (of same level), with 5 or more duplicate players on the same 2 teams and the players involved have received credit for at least one match, these 2 teams will forfeit their right to a Playoff Championship position, even if only one team qualifies.  The Senior teams will be disqualified with 3 or more duplicate players on the same 2 teams.

CAPTAINS' GUIDELINES:

1.    Highly recommend that each team has a minimum of 8 players (Adult Spring), 7 players (Fall), & 6 players (Senior) that are playing only on one (1) team during the league.

2.    Before the league starts, know which players on your roster are on multiple teams and their status (primary/secondary).  View "Playoff Teams" to determine the status limitations for your players (same level).

3.    League strongly recommends that no more than 4 players (Adult Spring &Fall) & 2 players (Senior) from a Friday team (same level) register together on the same Saturday team (same level) & visa versa.

4.    League recommends that all teams in all levels have a limit of 2 secondary players.

5.    Advisable to notify the coordinator by e-mail, with names of your primary/secondary players before the league starts.

PLAYOFF TEAMS (same level)

1.    Adult/Fall leagues duplicate players' status when both Ft Worth teams (same level) have qualified for Playoffs.      

2.    Senior league duplicate players' status when both Ft Worth teams (same level) have qualified for Playoffs.

PLAYOFF PROCEDURES:       

1.    Captains are required to email the coordinator a list of their primary/secondary players when they are on more than 1 playoff team.

2.    Players can only play on 1 team at the Ft Worth Playoff Championships & at Sectionals.  They can't play on a Ft Worth playoff team if they participated in any other area matches that helped to advance that team to Playoffs or Sectionals in the same division. (Ex: Adult Spring League).

3.    If a player is on 2 qualifying teams and there is a problem as to which team is primary, the order of registration (date & time) on Tennis Link will determine the player's primary team.

4.    Teams need to be able to play all lines (exceptions - last minute illness, injury, or emergency situations).  Notify coordinator before playoffs.

5.    If discovered during the Playoff time period, a player that mistakenly plays on 2 teams at the local playoffs,  will lose all scores on her secondary team.  If undeclared in writing before the playoffs, the order of registration on Tennis Link will determine the primary team (date/time).

6.    When a player's Ft Worth primary team does not qualify for Playoffs, she can play with her Ft Worth qualified secondary team.  This automatically places her as a primary player for that team.

7.    Players that are on other area teams that are still playing & are secondary to their Ft Worth team, can not play in the Ft Worth Playoff championship, unless they are clearly out of a Playoff or Sectional advancement & their captain is willing to release them.

8.    Players that played in the Ft Worth Playoff Championships & are advancing to Sectionals are primary for that team and can not switch primary positions if registered on another area winning team in the same division. (Ex: Adult Spring League)

 LINEUPS:    (back)

            Teams are not required to field players in order of strength.       

SCORECARDS:   (back)

            Blank scorecards are available on Tennis Link, with your eligible players printed at the bottom.  Lineup needs to be written on the scorecard before reaching the playing site.  Do not mail to the coordinator.  Scores should be posted, confirmed, or disputed, by BOTH captains, on Tennis Link, the same day that the match is completed.  All courts need to be finished before the scores can be entered.  Either captain may do the initial entry.  Immediately, notify the coordinator of any dispute, with the correction.

WARM-UP:   (back)

            A 10-minute warm-up, including serves.  Late players (still in the15-minute forfeit time frame) will be allowed to have a 5-minute warm-up, including serves.

SUBSTITUTIONS:   (back)

            No substitutions may be made after the lineups have been exchanged, except if an injury or illness occurs during the warm-up or someone fails to appear on time.  If an extra team player is available, she can ONLY play the position open and no one from the lineup can change positions.  However, if a player's partner does not show, then this player may be treated as a substitute.  If no substitute is available, that particular court shall be forfeited.  In this situation (injury or illness during warm-up), a team does not forfeit from the bottom up.  No shows (not filled by a substitute before the 15-minute forfeit time) are discussed under forfeits.

FORFEITS:   (back)

•  Cell phones are the official time device for any time issues concerning late arrivals.  If a player is 15-minutes late from the start time and courts are available, the match is a forfeit.  If the missing player was scheduled to play doubles, some of the doubles teams will not start until the 15-minute forfeit is called.  However, the singles can start their play on time and the same holds true for the doubles when a singles player is not on time.  Late players must be on the court ready to play before the 15-minute default.

                    (a)  If 3rd doubles late, the 1st & 2nd doubles starts on time.

                    (b)  If 2nd doubles late, the 1st doubles starts on time.

                    (c)  If 1st doubles late, all doubles will wait until a forfeit is declared.

If a player fails to appear and no substitute is available, the forfeit will start from the bottom up, for singles and/or doubles.  Example: Number 1 doubles missing a player, the 2nd doubles will move to 1st doubles and the 3rd doubles will move to 2nd doubles and the 3rd doubles will forfeit.   Team receiving the forfeit can not move players.

            Exception for forfeiting from the bottom:

                    (a)  When a player is injured or becomes ill during warm-up.

                    (b)  When courts are played at different times or on different days.

                    (c)  When an ineligible player causes a forfeit after the match has been played.

If a late player calls the site and states that she is almost there, but can not make it before the forfeit time and the waiting player wants to play the match, the late player, will be down 3 games with loss of toss.  She will be allowed a 5-minute warm-up, including serves.

• When a match is not completed by the time another team is scheduled to play and other courts are not available, the unfinished match must stop play for the incoming players.  The home team, with the unfinished match, must provide a court within 30 minutes or report the match as retired with the win going to the visiting court.  However, if a team is starting or playing the 3rd set super/match tiebreak, the incoming team will wait until play is finished.
• Captains should call the opposing captain, at least, 2 days before the scheduled match time, when they need to declare a forfeit. Exceptions to this rule involves sudden emergencies & illness. Please be considerate of a player's time by notifying as soon as a forfeit is known. Forfeits start from the bottom up (2nd singles &/or 3rd doubles.)  If a captain forfeits a court early in the week and later has an available player, the opposing captain will not be required to play the court involved.

Will not be eligible for an award or a playoff position for that league. This rule includes extra matches.  All other matches played & to be played by the forfeiting team shall be null and void for the round involved.  If the team default occurs in the latter stages of the last round of the league and all teams in contention for the playoffs or for 1st and 2nd place from the league play (with no playoff), have already played the forfeiting team in Good Faith, then the match points stand as played.  When a team's forfeit occurs with 3 or less matches remaining, the coordinator has the authority to overrule the forfeit and require the 2 teams involved to play at least the minimum number of courts required.

• When a team is scheduled during the Spring/Fall Break, Religious Holidays, Sectionals, or Nationals, and is unable to fill all courts, the team needs to reschedule the courts involved and play, if possible before the original scheduled date.  The players that are available will play on the original scheduled date.  No automatic defaults for these special occasions.  The rescheduling rules for a rainout will be applied.
• Excluding the above situation, when both captains agree to play a court outside the scheduled date, the match must be played before or within 5 days after the original scheduled date.  If not possible, the team that is short a player will forfeit the match.

TIE-BREAK:   (back)

            If team points are tied at the end of the league, the USTA League Tennis Regulation tiebreak procedure will be used starting with the most individual matches won. If still tied, the following will be used until the tie is broken: fewest number of sets lost, fewest number of games lost, head to head, toss of coin.

PHONES:   (back)

            Cell phones must be turned off before the match starts.  Players should try to remind each other to do so.  First time a phone rings, during a point, if a let is called on time, the point is replayed..  Thereafter, if any phone rings again on the same court & disrupts play, that player will lose the game.

STAGGERED COURTS:   (back)

            Some facilities may have to stagger times due to a shortage of courts.  The home captain, the Sunday before the scheduled match, needs to contact the visiting captain so they can decide which courts will play at the later time slot.

REST PERIOD:   (back)

            Any player on the court may request a 2-minute rest period between the 1st and 2nd set.  A 10-minute rest period may be taken between the 2nd and 3rd set.  When a super/match tiebreak is being used in lieu of the 3rd set, only a 2 minute break may be taken.  No rest period after the 1st game of any set.

COACHING:   (back)

            Coaching is permitted, ONLY, between the 2nd and 3rd sets.  No coaching is allowed when a match/super tiebreak is being used in lieu of the 3rd set.

REVISED FEB 22, 2010:

            Both captains are responsible for getting in touch with each other. They must set-up the rescheduled match within 72 hours (3 days)  and e-mail the coordinator the date, time & site.  Teams have 10 calendar days to complete this match with an additional 3 days if the rescheduled match is on day 8, 9, or 10 and becomes weather delayed (inform coordinator of extension).  If the match is unsuccessfully completed in the 10 days allowed (13 maximum when needed as stated ), then the matches played and un-played will be sent to the Grievance Committee for a decision.

Rescheduled matches can be played in the morning, afternoon, night & the weekend.  They can be played as a whole or by individual courts on different days. If individual players are contacting the opposing players, by court assignments, these players are not locked in, unless they started play before the rainout.

Once a match is rescheduled and confirmed by both captains, the date, time, & site can not be changed unless it is rained out or weather is too severe (agreed by both captains).

RAINOUTS:   (back)

Both captains must agree, if they are going to cancel the match before the scheduled time.  Otherwise, both teams must arrive at the site and then determine how they plan to handle the situation.

            Original lineups can be changed, if zero matches were started before rain.  If one court started play, before the rain, the lineup is  locked for all courts that were scheduled to play at this time, including any forfeits.  Write down scores, sets, games, server, side, etc.

            Rain during the Match:  Captains need to decide if they want to wait or reschedule new dates.

            When there is no rain, but courts are wet at scheduled time and if not usable within 30-minutes,  the match will be treated as a rainout.

            Some facilities have both indoor and outdoor courts.  If rain occurs just before play starts or during play and captains agree to move indoors, these matches will be treated as a rain make-up.

• If zero matches were started before rain, rosters can be changed and any forfeits scheduled at this time do not stand.  All courts are not required to play indoors at this time.
• If 1 or more matches started before rain, the roster is locked for all courts that were scheduled to play at this time, including forfeits.  All courts are not required to play indoors.

INDOOR COURTS:   (back)

            When both captains agree to play indoors, each player will split the court fee cost.  The captains or the individual courts, need to decide before the match, what they will do if time expires before the match is finished.  In order to save time, players may decide to switch ends only at the end of each set, play no-add,  reschedule the rest of the unfinished match, etc.