Rules
Annual General Meeting
Rule 1 Date
An Annual General Meeting shall be held in March each year
Rule 2 Powers
The AGM shall:
a) Elect a Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer
b) Determine League fees for the coming Winter League and the following Summer League
c) Decide on the structure of the forthcoming Summer League
d) Decide on arrangements for the Tournament(s)
e) Conduct any other business relevant to the league
Rule 3 Amendments to the Constitution
Any team wishing to introduce a proposal requiring a change of rules shall notify the Secretary by the 31st December preceding the AGM.
Rule 4 VotingLeague Season
Those entitled to vote are the Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer and one representative from each team.
League Season
(this and the following sections apply to the summer league, for the winter league see Appendix A)Rule 5 Season
A League season shall commence on 1st April and close on 30th September
Rule 6 Fees
League fees must be submitted with each application form.
Rule 7 Playing nights
There shall be a common night for the playing of fixtures
Division 1 Monday
Division 2 Tuesday
Division 3 Wednesday
Division 4 Wednesday
Rule 8 Alternative playing nights
A team may play on alternative night with the agreement of the opposition team. If an opposition team cannot play on an alternative night they must inform the team captain not less than 3 weeks prior to the fixture. If they do not, the fixture shall be played on the alternative night.
Rule 9 Venues
A league timetable shall be home and away matches to be played between all teams comprising a division.
Rule 10 Grass courts
Grass courts may be offered as an alternative to hard courts as long as hard courts are available in the case of bad weather, and both teams agree.
Rule 11 Promotion and relegation
Two teams shall be relegated from Divisions 1,2 and 3 and the top 2 teams shall be promoted from Divisions 2,3 and 4 each season. Decisions an the composition of the divisions will be made at the AGM.
Rule 12 Equal points
In the event of clubs having equal points at the end of the season, the team with the best difference between rubbers won and lost will be placed above the other. Should these be equal then a play-off match should be arranged.
Rule 13 Unplayed matches
Where a match remains unplayed by 1st October, the team that has not complied with rules 24 and 25 shall forfeit the match.
Rule 14 Ineligible players
In the event of a team playing an ineligible player, all games and rubbers affected will be awarded to the opposing team.
Players` Eligibility
Rule 15 Playing for one club
Players may only play for one club within any League season.
Rule 16 Playing one match per week
Each player may play no more than one match per week. In an emergency the opposing captain may be contacted if a team is unable to field a complete team and discretion used.
Rule 17 Teams in the same division
If a club has 2 or more teams in the same division, then they must select their players from entirely different squads. Once a player has appeared for one team he or she is no longer eligible to play for the other(s).
Rule 18 Playing in a lower division
No League team may play more than 2 players in a league match who regularly play for a higher division team without the opposing captain`s permission. For this purpose, any player who plays 5 League games in a season in a particular division will be deemed to play at that level. Such a player may not play more than one division below his level.
Rules of Play
Rule 19 Start time and penalties for lateness
All matches should start at 6.15pm. All rubbers that are able to commence play should do so. No penalty will be imposed on players arriving late and starting play by 6.30pm. After 6.30pm a latecomer will forfeit the highest number of games played by pairs who started on time. If a team is unable to field any pair by 6.30pm, the first three rubbers shall be awarded to the opposition and if by 7pm a team is unable to field any pair the opposition shall be awarded the whole match.
Rule 20 Rubbers played
A team shall be 3 pairs. They shall play each opposing pair one rubber of 13 games. Ends shall be changed after all odd games. Captains may at their discretion play shortened rubbers when prevalent conditions warrant but the aim should be to play 13 games whenever possible. If a rubber is tied with one game to play, then a tiebreak will be played to decide the rubber, otherwise the normal rotation of service will continue for the final game.
Tiebreak rule:
a) The pair who first win 7 points will win the game and the rubber, provided that they lead by a margin of 2 points. If the score reaches 6-6 the game is continued until a 2-point margin is achieved.
b) The person whose turn it is to serve shall be the server for the first point, then each player serves 2 points in the same order as previously in that rubber until the winners of that game and the rubber have been decided.
c) From the first point each service shall be delivered alternately from the right and left courts, starting from the right court.
d) Players shall change ends after every 6 points.
Awarding Points
Rule 21 Basic system
Twelve points shall be awarded for each match:
1 Point for each rubber won (total 9)
2 Extra points to the team winning the most rubbers
1 Extra point to the team winning the most games
Rule 22 Curtailed matches
If 6 rubbers have been completed but a change in the weather means that the match has to be abandoned at that point, the result shall stand and the points awarded as follows: Score after 6 sets Points to be awarded
6-0 12-0
5-1 9-2, plus 1 point to team leading on games
4-2 8-3, plus 1 point to team leading on games
3-3 7-5 in favour of team leading on games or
6-6 if games are equal
Cancellations, Postponements and Abandonments
Rule 23 Cancellations
Cancellation or abandonment of matches shall only be acceptable in the case of inclement weather or unfit condition of courts through no fault of the players. Inability to field a team is not a valid reason for cancellation. In such cases the match becomes forfeit to the opposition.
Rule 24 Postponements
If, in exceptional circumstances, a team requests a postponement, and the opposing captain agrees, then this will be allowed as long as the revised date for the fixture is agreed and notified to the secretary within 2 weeks of the original scheduled date. This will then have the status of the original scheduled fixture. If no notification is received within this period, then the team requesting the postponement will forfeit the match. It is emphasised that this procedure can only be used by the consent of both teams in exceptional circumstances. The team which is willing to play on the due date will normally claim the match if their opponents cannot field a team.
Rule 25 Rearrangements
Where a match has been abandoned or postponed due to weather conditions, the home team shall, within 72 hours offer 3 dates for a rearrangement, covering a period of at least 15 days, to the away team. Once the team captains have agreed a date it shall be treated as having the same status as a scheduled fixture.
Rule 26 Notification
When a match is postponed or abandoned the home team shall notify the secretary within 4 days otherwise 4 league points will be deducted.
Playing Rules
Rule 27 Tennis Balls
The home team shall supply 12 LTA authorised tennis balls per match, which shall be inspected by the teams prior to the start of the match. If the balls are used ones they should be acceptable to both captains, if not, substitute balls should be presented by either team captain but preferably the home team captain. Alternatively the home team may wish to provide 9 new balls per match on the understanding that they will only be used once.
Rule 28 Scorecard
Scorecards will be supplied with the fixtures at the start of each season. The home team must complete a scorecard at the end of each match and both captains must check it and sign it. The score appearing on the card will be taken as the match result.
Rule 29 Posting the scorecard
The home team must post the scorecard to the secretary within 4 days of the match otherwise they will have 4 points deducted.
APPENDIX A Winter League Rules
The rules for the winter league shall be as for the summer league except as noted below:
Rule 1 Matches will be played on Sunday mornings. Start time is 10am, but discretion will be given until 10.15am. Rule 2
Each team will consist of 2 pairs. Each pair will play 2 sets against each opposing pair. The team winning the most sets wins the match. Two points will be awarded for a win and one point to each team for a draw. The games score will not be considered (except in any cup matches which may be organised).
Rule 3
The home team must send in a scorecard within 4 days, penalty one point.
Rule 4
The home team must provide 8 tennis balls, which may be used for 2 matches maximum. Alternatively 6 balls may be provided, used once only.
Rule 5
Two teams shall be promoted from Division 2 and from any lower divisions, and two relegated from Division 1 and other divisions above the lowest division. The secretary shall have the final decision as to the composition of the league.
