Macon Tennis Association

USTA League Tennis
The Macon Tennis Association
Adult/Senior/Mixed

The purpose of the USTA League Tennis is to promote team tennis at the local level. The established National Tennis Rating Program attempts to ensure that players of comparable ability will have fair and recreational play.

I. REGULATIONS

A. The Local League shall observe the USTA, Southern Tennis Association and Georgia Tennis Association League Regulations as published. Any modifications of these rules pertaining specifically to the Macon League will be published herein. National, Section and State rules and regulations may be found at the respective web sites, www.usta.com, www.southern.com and www.gatennis.com.

B. All local regulations will be established by a Rules Committee which consists of the Local League Coordinator and all other coordinators representing various levels.

II. MEMBERSHIP

A. All players must be members of the USTA. USTA memberships must be current through the league season. USTA memberships expiring during the season must be renewed at the beginning of the league season.

B. A team must have the minimum number of players needed to field a team in order to be placed in the schedule. Exception: the Local League Coordinator may extend the roster deadline for the betterment of the league.

C. Players may be added to teams throughout the season at any time prior to their first match played.

III. CAPTAINS

A. The team captain must create a team on Tennis link and give team members the team number.

B. Team captains and players should read and be familiar with the rules of the USTA, STA, GTA and Local League.

C. Team captains should exchange completed line-ups FIVE MINUTES before the scheduled match time.

D. Scores need to be entered on Tennis Link as soon as possible and confirmed by the other team. Any team member can do this, but to prevent confusion you may want to enter this yourself. Matches not confirmed within 48 hours of the first scores entered, will be confirmed as correct by the computer. If there is a dispute, hit the dispute button and notify the MTA to get this resolved. This is done through Score Entry and the match number may be found in the Match Summary in Stats and Standings.

E. The Home team must provide courts. If a fee is required the Home team is responsible for all fees. The captains are responsible for obtaining courts whenever matches are scheduled.

IV. FORMAT OF PLAY

A. The home team furnishes the new balls.

B. In adult and senior leagues, two out of three sets will be played. In mixed doubles and super seniors, a 10-point tie-break will be played in lieu of a third set.

C. A point will be awarded to the team winning the team match.

D. The 15-minute default rule is in effect.

E. Team matches or individual matches may be rescheduled if both captains agree. The rescheduled matches should be played prior to the original scheduled date.

F. No more than 50% of players on a team can be out of level. If the number is odd, the higher number in the division must be in level.

V. INCLEMENT WEATHER

1. The only weather conditions that authorize the cancellation of a match scheduled is rain, snow or severe temperature ( 35 degrees or lower ).

2. In the event that inclement weather does occur after play has begun, completed matches will stand as played and incomplete matches must be resumed by the same players at the exact set, game, and point that existed when play was halted.

3. If teams have assembled to play, and the match is delayed or interrupted by rain, snow, or wet courts, teams should be prepared to wait ONE HOUR to determine if the courts are playable. After one hour has elapsed, teams are free to leave and reschedule unless both teams agree to wait longer.

4. Rescheduled matches due to weather must be completed within FOURTEEN DAYS of the scheduled match. The Coordinator must be notified of rescheduled match dates and times within FORTY-EIGHT HOURS of the original scheduled match time.

5. If teams cannot agree on a rescheduled date, the League Coordinator will reschedule the match. A match rescheduled by the Coordinator is not affected by the fourteen-day rule.

6. Rain-outs occurring on the last match of the season will be rescheduled by the League Coordinator.

DEFAULTS AND DISQUALIFICATIONS

1. If a team does not field a team sufficient to win the match, the match will not be played. (Examples: A 2.5, mixed, or senior team must have a sufficient number of players for two levels of play. An adult league team must have sufficient players for three levels of play.) If a team fails to field sufficient teams for two matches, points won or loss by this team will not count in the final standings of the season.

VI. CHAMPIONSHIP PROGRESSION

Two teams from each level, winners from fall and spring seasons, will advance to the District League Championships, (unless there are only two teams playing at the level). If the same team wins both seasons, a playoff may be necessary to determine the second team.

Exception: For the women, where there are day and business leagues, one team will represent each league, with a play-off possibly necessary between fall and spring winners in order to determine which team will advance.

A player is eligible to advance to state and sectional championships if he/she has played in 2 league matches, with no more than 1 being a default. Should a player’s team advance to national championships, he/she must have played in 3 matches with no more than 1 being a default.

Our Adult and Senior Leagues are underway. Also, new this year is the Flex League, which is also playing with about 60 participants. It's a good way for doubles partnerships to get match play and for singles players to get more matches. If you missed out this season, watch for the announcement of the next season.

The JDS Memorial tournament and awards banquet will be happening next month. The tournament will be November 9-15, with the banquet at Healy Point Country Club on the 15th.

Our Annual Toy Tournament, round robin, will be December 8th with two sessions- 10a.m. and 6:30p.m. Bring a $10 minimum unwrapped toy for good fun, chili and door prizes.

Jr. Team Tennis will be starting soon. Click on "About Junior Team Tennis" for details.

Year-end rating should be posted by December 1st and we will have the local list on website as soon as possible after the ratings are available.