|
1. TEAMS AND PLAYERS
A.
All team members must pay published
PATA/USTA league fees prior to playing a match. All team members must
have a current USTA membership. A USTA membership is $15.00 per year.
If a membership expires before the season ends, the player must renew
the membership to remain eligible for the entire season. Any points won
by a player whose Membership has expired will be taken away from his/her
team.
B.
AGE ELIGIBILITY: Minimum age for Junior
eligibility: A player must attain his/her 8th birthday during the
calendar year in which he/she wishes to play.
18 & Under Age Group: Player
is eligible to play through the end of the month preceding his 19th
birthday.
14 & Under Age Group: Player
is eligible to play through the end of the month preceding his 15th
birthday.
12 & Under Age Group: Player
is eligible to play through the end of the month preceding his 13th
birthday.
10 & Under Age Group: Player
is eligible to play through the end of the month preceding his 11th
birthday.
*Players may always play in a higher age
group if desired.
C.
The USA Team Tennis Junior Program uses
the JNTRP system for rating players. Players must be rated according to
the JNTRP Guidelines. Parents or coaches may rate players. Be sure that
ranked players are rated properly. See
www.patatennis.com for JNTRP Guidelines. A player may not be rated
more than one full level higher than the level of the team he/she plays
on (i.e. a player rated 3.0 may play no lower than 2.0)
Divisions of Play
10 & Under Beginner/Intermediate Skill level 3.0 &
below
10 & Under Advanced Skill level 3.5
& above
12 & Under Beginner/Intermediate Skill level 3.0 &
below
12 & Under Advanced Skill level 3.5
& above
14 & Under Beginner/Intermediate Skill level 3.0 &
below
14 & Under Advanced Skill level 3.5
& above
18 & Under Beginner/Intermediate Skill level 3.0 &
below
18 & Under Advanced Skill level 3.5
& above
RULES REGARDING RANKED PLAYERS:
Players with a National, year-end
Sectional or year-end State Championship ranking in the top 20 must be
rated 5.0 and may play no lower than 4.0. Players with a year-end
State championship ranking of 21-79 must be rated at least 4.0 and may
play no lower than 3.5. Players with a year-end State Championship
ranking of 80-200 must be rated at least 3.5 and may play no lower than
3.0. The most current ranking information will be used to determine
placement. Players not holding a current ranking but who have been
previously ranked at any time must be rated in accordance with the rules
for ranked players. If ranked players are not identified as such, the
team may lose points. Current "Standings" may also be considered. If
there is any question as to whether or not a player is ranked, please
call the GTA Office at 404-256-9543.
D.
All teams who play in this league are
eligible to play in the USTA GA Junior State Championships.
E.
Players must play in two matches during
the season to be eligible for the State Championships. A win by default
or forfeit counts as a time played.
F.
Rosters must be submitted via TennisLink
according to the instructions, dates and times. Each roster must be
submitted with a designated team manager and minimum of 6 players (3
boys and 3 girls) (8 players are recommended). Teams are limited to 10
players per team.
G.
A maximum of 4 players may be
added after the initial roster has been submitted until day before the
scheduled date of the second to last meet. All fees must be paid in full
before the player plays.
H.
Any person not listed on a roster in
accordance with these General Rules shall be an ineligible player. Any
changes made to a team roster will be made at the discretion of the
League Coordinator.
I.
A player may play on more than one team
and in multiple Jr leagues per season. Further, a player can participate
in more than one match/position per meet.
J.
Each team must guarantee use of at least
2 courts at the same address or 2 courts, not at the same address,
within 700 feet of each other (with the approval of the Junior
Coordinator) as home courts in the five county PATA area (Rockdale,
Newton, Walton, Jasper, Morgan) Scheduling cannot accommodate any more
than 2 teams per multiple of 2 courts. Example: 2 courts available, 1 or
2 teams permitted; 4 courts available, 3 or 4 teams permitted; 6 courts,
5 or 6 teams permitted etc.
K.
Any required court fee and/or guest fee
must be paid by the home team.
2. TEAM MANAGERS
A.
After the captains’ meeting, Team Managers shall contact their players
via email (or by phone) and advise them of their division schedules,
locations of courts, roster and contact information for their teammates
(and Team Manager), plans for team lessons, and to determine general
player availability. Most families know their schedules and can let
Team Managers know about their availability for season matches well in
advance.
B.
Before each scheduled match, Team Managers should get in touch with
each other at least four days in advance to discuss the order of play,
courts issues (such as lack of lights or restrooms), and confirm start
times. Team managers should notify each other if there will be an acting team
manager.
C.
Team managers can mutually agree on a
different order of play for the meet. The default order of play will
be:
5:00
p.m. Girls’ and boys’ doubles
5:30
p.m. Girl’s and boy’s singles (or as soon as courts are available)
6:00
p.m. Mixed doubles (or as soon as courts are available)
D.
Team Managers should email their teams with the line-ups at least
three days in advance so that players and their parents can plan their
Friday evening schedules accordingly.
E.
Each team must have a team manager or
acting team manager present at the beginning of every meet. Team
managers or acting team managers must exchange line-ups for all
positions simultaneously before the start of the meet. Failure to do so
will result in forfeiture of points. Scores must also be reported by the
winning team manager on TennisLink the night of the matches.
F.
Each team manager must provide one
unopened can of USTA approved yellow balls. One can of balls will be
opened for each court. These two cans will be opened and used for all
the matches. Each player should leave the balls on the court after their
match. Each team will retain its can(s) of balls at the completion of
the meet.
G.
It is the Team Managers responsibility to have each Parent and Team
member thoroughly read and understand current National, Sectional, State
and Local USTA League Regulations prior to the start of league
competition and to supply them with the schedule and team rosters.
3. Player
and Parent Responsibilities
A.
All PATA Team Managers and League Coordinators are volunteers, and these
volunteers have jobs, families, and other responsibilities. Players and
parents should be aware of the commitment made by Team Managers and
other League Volunteers, and make sure they do everything possible to
minimize the level of effort required in managing their team and the
league.
B.
Players shall reply to the Team Managers promptly regarding all team
coordination issues. The Team Managers will let players know the best
ways they can be reached (home phone, work phone, cell phone, email,
etc.) This may require checking email daily during the season. The
League Coordinator may also send via email updates and other important
league information.
C.
Players shall arrive to match locations no later than five minutes
before the scheduled start times to allow for trips to the restroom,
etc. It is imperative that matches begin at 5 pm. Warm is limited to 10
minutes and should be monitored by the team managers.
D.
Drinks and snacks are not provided;
players must bring their own as needed.
E.
Upon completion of each match, if players are unable to stay to watch
their teammates, they should take a minute to look around to see if
there is anything they can do to help clean up before they leave. It
is everyone’s responsibility to ensure that all courts and facilities
are cleaned up and locked up before leaving; this responsibility should
not be left to the Team Managers or the Home Team.
4. MEETS
A.
All meets will be played on Fridays
starting at 5:00 p.m. Teams may Not agree to schedule matches at a date
later than the scheduled match date unless due to inclement weather.
Teams may agree to schedule one or more matches earlier than the
scheduled match date (both time and/or day. Ex start play on Friday at
4:00pm or Agree to play a position on Tuesday earlier in the week). Once
an earlier time is agreed upon, normal forfeiture rules apply.
B.
If no prior agreement is made, the
default order of play will be: one girls’ doubles and one boys’ doubles
beginning at the scheduled start time (5:00 p.m.), the girl’s singles
and the boy’s singles should be present 30 minutes later (5:30 p.m.).
The coed (mixed) pair should be present one hour after the scheduled
start time of the meet (or at 6:00 p.m.)
C.
The 15-minute default rule, as defined
in the General Terms under “Default”, is in effect for all scheduled
matches. A defaulted match is scored as 8 points for the opposing team.
D.
Team managers should time the warm-up.
Warm-up is limited to 10 minutes including practice serves. This is
particularly important in late fall and winter season or when playing on
courts that do not have lights.
E.
An eligible player who is not listed on the original scorecard may
participate in a match that has not begun. Players listed on a scorecard
may be moved upward to fill a vacancy created by players absent or
injured during warm-up. Once a player’s name is removed from the
scorecard, that player shall not be allowed to play in that meet.
F.
If, for any unforeseen circumstance, the
home team is unable to provide its home courts for any scheduled meet
the visiting team has the first option of providing its home courts. The
host team is considered the home team. If the visiting team does not
elect to provide its home courts, the responsibility reverts to the home
team which must provide courts.
5.
SCORING
A.
All matches will be 8-game no-ad pro
sets (first player(s) to 8 games winning by a 2 game margin). A match
is won when one team wins eight games by a margin of at least two games.
If the score reaches 7-all, two games are played. If a team wins both
of these games, the win is scored 9-7. If the score reaches 8-all, a
tie-break is played and the win is scored 9-8.
NO-AD SCORING
The first team or player to win 4 points
wins the game. If the score reaches 3 POINTS-ALL, the 7th (or next)
point becomes the GAME POINT. In singles, the receiver may choose
to receive either in the ad or the deuce court. In doubles, the
receiving team may choose to receive in either the ad or deuce court.
In mixed doubles, the boy must receive serve from the boy and the
girl must receive serve from the girls.* In calling the score of a no-ad
game, players may either use 1,2,3, and game; or 15,30,40, and game.
They may call the score of 3-all deuce.
TIE-BREAK
If a set reaches 8-all, players must
play a tie-break. The order of serving is the same as that of the start
of the match.
In doubles,
the first server shall serve one point from the right side. The second
server shall serve two points, starting from the left side and ending on
the right side. The third server shall serve two points, starting on the
left and ending on the right side. The fourth server shall serve one
point from the left side and then players change ends of the courts. The
fourth server shall then serve one point from the right side. Play
continues in such a manner until one team wins at least seven points
with a two-point margin. Teams change ends of the court every six (6)
points.
In singles,
the first server shall serve one point from the right side. The second
server shall serve two points, starting on the left side and ending on
the right side. The players continue to alternate serving two points
each until one wins a minimum of seven points with a two point margin.
Players change ends of the court every six (6) points.
B.
The total number of games won will be
counted to determine the points awarded to each team during a meet.
SCORING SAMPLE
TEAM X
TEAM Y
9 7
8 6
0
(Default) 8
8 4
9 (Tie-break
7-3) 8
= 34 TOTAL
SCORE =33 TOTAL SCORE
C.
A total of all points won at the end of
the season will determine the final standings of each division.
D.
In cases within a flight where divisions
have an unequal number of teams, each team’s final standing will be
determined by the percentage of matches won to total matches scheduled
to be played.
6. COACHING / SPECTATOR
CHEERING
A.
USTA rules govern play. Also, “The Code”
as a handbook of ethics and fair play should be understood and followed
by every player. The Code can be read at
www.patatennis.com (click on “Rules”).
B.
Spectator cheering is NOT allowed, by
parents or by children. It is the responsibility of both Team Managers
to work together as a team to control the spectators' conduct during
match play.
C.
Team managers, Teammates, spectators or
coaches may NOT volunteer advice on line calls, scoring or on the
conduct of a match. The only exceptions to this are (1) to help with the
12- point tie-break (both team managers may explain the tie-break
procedure once, and then leave the court) or (2) during the legal
monitoring of a match in the 10 & Under Group. Parents may not be on the
same court as their child.
D.
Coaching is illegal.
E.
PATA will not provide linesmen or
umpires for meets or matches.
7. PENALTIES AND
FORFEITURES
A.
Upon agreement by the team managers
present at the meet, a player may be removed from the meet and defaulted
for unsportsmanlike conduct on the court. Removal from the meet will
occur after one warning has been issued. Any incidents of
unsportsmanlike behavior must be reported in writing to the appropriate
coordinator and may lead to suspension.
B.
In all meets in which an ineligible
player participates, the guilty team will be penalized by forfeiting the
points earned by the ineligible player. No other points at other
positions that the ineligible player did not play will be forfeited.
C.
In those situations where no penalty is
provided in the Junior League Rules, the League Coordinator shall have
authority to impose penalties.
D.
A team having excessive defaults shall
have all its matches to date nullified and shall be treated as a bye for
the remainder of the season. Excessive defaults shall be defined as
defaulting all points of any given meet or averaging more than one
default per meet.
E.
If a team has excessive defaults, the
team and/or its members may be suspended for the next season. This
penalty also applies to any team withdrawing after roster deadline.
F.
If there are any conflicts that cannot
be resolved by the team managers within the rules, the coordinator
should be contacted. All official protests must be submitted to the
League Coordinator in writing via email within 5 days of the scheduled
match being protested.
G.
Any person playing under an assumed name
or any person having knowledge of such act, and failing to report said
act to PATA in a timely manner, will be suspended for up to one year.
8. INCLEMENT WEATHER
A.
In the event of rain, completed
individual matches will stand as played. Incomplete matches already
started must be resumed by the same players at the exact game and point
as they stood when halted. Line-ups for matches not yet started may be
changed. There are no provisions for extreme wind.
B.
If teams have assembled to play and the
match is delayed or interrupted by rain or wet courts, teams should be
prepared to wait one half-hour to determine if the courts are playable.
If courts are still not playable after one half-hour has elapsed, teams
are free to leave and reschedule unless both teams agree to wait longer.
C.
In the event of a rain-out, matches
should be re-scheduled as soon as possible. All positions can be
scheduled to play together or matches can be scheduled individually to
accommodate active junior schedules. f a rained-out match is not
scheduled within 10 consecutive days, it will be officially scheduled on
the 11th day with the same start time as the regularly scheduled match.
D.
Rain-outs occurring on the last week of
the season must be made up within three days with the default day being
the 4th day with the same start time as the regularly scheduled match.
E.
If the home team is unable to provide
its home courts for a rain make-up, the visiting team has the option of
providing its home courts. The host team is considered the home team.
Teams may agree to play at other courts for their make up matches. If
the home courts are agreed upon for the makeup, it is the responsibility
of the home team to reserve the courts through Pine Log or other
appropriate authority.
F.
If actual temperature is above 95
degrees or below 32 degrees (Fahrenheit) before the individual match is
started, and both managers agree, the match may be played. All players
scheduled to play an individual match must be present to postpone the
match because of temperature. If an individual match is postponed
because of temperature, the above rainout rules apply to rescheduling.
General Definitions
APPROVED ANNEXED
FACILITY -
Two or more lighted tennis courts located inside the five county area
which have been accepted for USTA/PATA play.
CURRENT LEAGUE YEAR –
Begins
immediately AFTER the summer Ga. State Championships and continues until
beginning of the next years championships.
DEFAULT -
The loss of a match or
matches by failing to be present for play within 15 minutes (default
time) after the scheduled starting time. When the previous match extends
beyond the default time, play must begin immediately when the court
becomes available. The non-defaulting team manager may waive a default
as long as the non-defaulting team remains at courtside.
FACILITY -
Two or more courts at
the same address.
FORFEITURE -
The automatic loss
of a match and the points attendant thereto where expressly provided
herein for violation of these Rules or as otherwise imposed as a penalty
INELIGIBLE PLAYER -
Any play who
is ineligible to play for points under any one or more of the Junior
League USTA Team Tennis Rules.
JNTRP Guidelines -
Guidelines established to determine a players skill level and team level
of play. (see
www.patatennis.com and go to Juniors or Rating Information).
MEET -
A series of matches consisting of one girls singles, one boy’s singles,
one girl’s doubles, one boy’s doubles, and coed (mixed) pair scheduled
by PATA. as deemed appropriate by the respective League Coordinator.
PATA Website -
www.patatennis.com
PENALTY -
The loss of point(s) or
other action expressly imposed by these rules or by the League for a
violation of these rules.
PLAYER -
Any singles player,
doubles player, regular player, additional player or substitute player
who has fully paid league dues. No distinction shall be made among
regular, additional or substitute players.
RETIREMENT -
Any player who is
unable to continue a match in progress because of loss of natural
condition, an accidental injury or a personal emergency.
SCHEDULED MATCH -
Date
published on the PATA Website. In the event of inclement weather or
scheduling matches early, the agreed upon time and date of the new match
becomes the scheduled match.
TEAM MANAGER -
Must be a person 19
years or older, and is responsible for the team.
THE CODE -
The current printing of
“The Code”, N.E. Powell (see
www.patatennis.com and go to Rules).
THE USTA RULES -
The current
printing of the Rules of Tennis and Cases and Decisions; all other
current USTA Rules.
THE LEAGUE COORDINATOR
SHALL HAVE THE AUTHORITY AND DISCRETION TO IMPOSE APPROPRIATE PENALTIES.
|
