1.
The Maryland District will enforce all National and Sectional USTA League
rules/regulations. The principal responsibility for enforcement of the rules
lies with area league coordinators (ALC).
2.
Any rules proposed
by local leagues (whether to reinforce an existing rule, or establish a new
one) must be in written form and submitted annually for approval to the
Maryland District Leagues Administrator (DLA). The deadline for filing such
rules is 3 weeks before local league
play begins.
3.
ALC’s must
transmit to the DLA area league’s written rules or written certification that
no separate rules will be issued and a USTA League Registration form at least 3 weeks prior to the commencement of
area league play. ALC’s must coordinate with
the DLA area player registration dates and commencement of area league
play. Without this information, team codes and match numbers cannot be
assigned. One cannot begin player registration via TennisLink without this
information.
4.
Captains
will be responsible for reviewing all league regulations, (national, section,
district and local) and communicating those to their players. Local leagues
will hold captain meetings and any captain unable to attend will be solely
responsible for obtaining the information obtained at the meeting.
5.
Each player
shall have reached eighteen (18) years of age prior to, or during, the calendar
year in which such player plays his/her first local league match.
6.
League fees
include:
a.
$20 Maryland
District tennis fee to be collected when a player registers on-line using
TennisLink (Adult, Senior, Super Senior, Adult Mixed Doubles)
b.
$12 Maryland
District tennis fee to be collected when a player registers on-line using
TennisLink (Super Duper)
c.
$9 Maryland
District tennis fee to be collected when a player registers on-line using
TennisLink (for all leagues that do not advance).
d.
$16 Maryland
District tennis fee to be collected when a player registers on-line using
TennisLink (Winter and Summer Combo)
e.
$7
Maryland District tennis fee to be collected when a player registers on-line
using TennisLink (First year Tri-level; subsequent years $9).
f.
$3.75 Mid-Atlantic fee to be collected when a player
registers on-line using TennisLink.
g.
TennisLink fee
(Active.com) set by National
h.
Additional league
fees to be determined by each local league
7. The
final deadline for all teams to be entered into TennisLink is:
Adult Mixed – March
15, 2010
Adult
– May 17, 2010
Senior–
July 21, 2010
Super
Senior, Super Duper, Senior Mixed – August
2, 2010
Combo/Combo
Mixed – September 16, 2010
8.
The
Maryland District and TennisLink will be using:
a.
Adult Mixed/Senior
Mixed combination ratings of 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0 and 10.0. Each individual mixed
doubles team’s combined current NTRP rating may
not exceed the level entered. For example, local leagues may consist of a 3.5
and a 4.5 or two 4.0 partners in the 8.0 levels. Partners cannot have a rating
differential of more than 1 point.
b.
Combo/Combo Mixed
combination ratings of 5.5, 6.5, 7.5, 8.5, 9.5 and 10.5. Each individual combo
doubles team’s combined current NTRP rating may
not exceed the level entered. For example, local leagues may consist of a 3.5
and a 5.0 or a 4.0 and a 4.5 in the 8.5 levels. Partners cannot have a rating
differential of more than 1.5 points.
9.
The Mixed Doubles
Districts will be June 11, 12, 13, Adult District July 17,
18, 19, Senior District August 20, 21, 22
and Combo District October 8, 9, 10. At the
Mixed Doubles, Senior and Combo districts, a minimum of six (6) team members
who were on the final roster of their area league team at the conclusion of
local league play must be available and eligible to compete. At the Adult districts, a minimum of eight
(8) team members who were on the final roster of their area league team at the
conclusion of local league play must be available and eligible to compete. All local leagues of three or more teams, including those
with 13 or more teams per level and who received a second team entry by virtue
of the “Rule of 10,” are eligible to receive a wild card entry via weighted
random draw. No local league may receive the benefit of more than one “wildcard
entry” per level.
10.
Representation at
2010 District League Championships will be as follows:
|
Qualifying Teams |
Wild Cards |
Total Teams |
Description |
|
2 |
0 |
2 |
Finals Only |
|
3 |
1 |
4 |
2 flights of 2, winners meet in final |
|
4 |
0 |
4 |
2 flights of 2, winners meet in final |
|
5 |
1 |
6 |
2 flights of 3, winners meet in final |
|
6 |
0 |
6 |
2 flights of 3, winners meet in final |
|
7 |
1 |
8 |
2 flights of 4, winners meet in final |
|
8 |
0 |
8 |
2 flights of 4, winners meet in final |
|
9 |
3 |
12 |
4 flights of 3, winners meet in Semis Semi winners
meet in Finals |
|
10 |
2 |
12 |
4 flights of 3, winners meet in Semis Semi winners
meet in Finals |
|
11 |
1 |
12 |
4 flights of 3, winners meet in Semis Semi winners
meet in Finals |
|
12 |
0 |
12 |
4 flights of 3, winners meet in Semis Semi winners
meet in Finals |
|
13 |
3 |
16 |
4 flights of 4, winners meet in Semi Semi winners meet in Finals |
|
14 |
2 |
16 |
4 flights of 4, winners meet in Semi Semi winners meet in Finals |
|
15 |
1 |
16 |
4 flights of 4, winners meet in Semi Semi winners meet in Finals |
|
16 |
0 |
16 |
4 flights of 4, winners meet in Semi Semi winners meet in Finals |
The Tournament
Committee reserves the right per USTA Tournament Regulations to draw additional
wild
cards to fulfill the
draw.
11.
In all
counties where there are recognized and approved Local Leagues, the local
league winners shall advance to a Maryland District League Championship
Tournament. Counties in which there is more than one league at the same
division and level must have a local league playoff. The District Championship
winners will earn the right to compete at the corresponding Mid-Atlantic
Section League Championship Tournament. Combo local league winners shall
advance to a Maryland District League Championship Tournament only
12.
Winning teams not
able to participate must notify the DLA of their intention not to participate
at least ten (10) days prior to the start of the Tournament. Teams that violate
this rule shall be reported to the District Grievance Committee for
investigation and appropriate disciplinary action. Penalties will be severe, up
to and including being banned from league play for the following league year.
Upon notification that a winning team is unable to advance, the second place
team may advance in its place. If the second place team is unable to
participate, the DLA shall determine whether that area league shall retain its
right to place an entry in that specific level or flight.
13.
At all District
Championship tournaments, match line-ups are due to the Tournament Desk 30
minutes prior to the scheduled start of each team match. Failure to turn in
line-ups on time shall result in an automatic $50 cash fine for each such
occurrence. Any such fine must be paid before the offending team will be allowed
to play its scheduled match. Match times are tentative and play will be on a
“followed by” basis. The Tournament Desk has the right to call a match to begin
play up to 30 minutes before the scheduled start time, assuming courts are
available to do so. Once a match has been called, the USTA’s Point Penalty
System applies and will be strictly enforced.
14.
Players/teams
leaving a District Championship tournament before completing their entire
schedule of assigned matches and without the Tournament Director’s approval
shall be reported to the Chairman of the Tournament Grievance Committee for
investigation and appropriate disciplinary action. Penalties will be severe, up
to and including suspension or other sanctions for the following league year.
15.
To be eligible to
advance to Sectional Championship competition, a team must have registered the
minimum number of players required by Rule 3.01B and played the number of
matches required by Rule 3.01H(1) and Mid-Atlantic Rule 13 by:
June
7th for Mixed Doubles championship competition;
July
5th for Adult league championship competition;
August
16th for all Senior league championship competition;
August
30th for Super Senior league championship
competition
Local leagues are determined to be concluded when the
final match (each individual match included) of each local league playoff
match, (if applicable) is completed. In any case, the local league is defined
as “concluded” by the date specified as end of season in TennisLink.
16. Players
without a computer rating are required to declare a self-rating when first
entering the Leagues program. In making
their self-rating decision, players should consider the NTRP Guidelines posted
on the TennisLink website; their on-court performance against established league
players; relevant tennis history including frequency of play and instruction;
and general fitness. Penalties may be
imposed for incorrect or incomplete information, or failure to complete the
form. Once made, the self-rating declared by the player shall apply to all
Divisions until superseded by a computer-generated rating established according
to USTA-approved computer methodology. A NTRP published rating is valid for two (2) years for individuals 60 years of age
and older prior to, or during, the championship year and for three (3) years
for all others, or until another NTRP published rating
is generated.
17.
Team captains and coordinators are required to
review player rosters, league standings, and other TennisLink administrative
reports on a regular basis. Coordinators
are required to secure and retain Player Deletion forms sufficient to
demonstrate compliance with the Maryland District’s Rule, which limits roster
size to no more than 20 players for Mixed, Adult, Senior, and Combo leagues
(12-player maximum on any 5.0 and 2.5 level team).
18.
A person is
allowed to captain and/or co-captain only ONE team in the same division, in the
same level and in the same local league.
19.
League players may
be added to a TennisLink team roster at any time throughout the local league
season subject to any local league rule
otherwise limiting roster additions. No player is eligible to progress to
Championship level competition unless he/she has played on that same team in at
least two matches during its local league season with no more than ONE default.
A defaulted match shall count as a match played for the player(s) receiving the
default, but not for the player(s) who defaulted. A retired match shall count
for all player(s) involved. DEFAULTS cannot count towards the 3-match minimum
needed to establish eligibility to participate at National Championships.
20.
Match results must
be reported on TennisLink within 72 hours of the completion of the team match.
This may be done by either the winning or losing team captain or their designee.
Failure to do so shall cause the ALC to instruct that the match be scored as a
Double Default. The non-reporting captain or designee must log into TennisLink
and confirm or dispute the reported scores within 48 hours after they have been
reported. After that time, TennisLink automatically blocks any attempt to edit
or otherwise contest reported results, which are deemed final and complete with
no further right of challenge.
21.
As governed by
Mid-Atlantic Rule #7, a team match should not remain uncompleted for more than
seven days after its scheduled date or the deadline for completing local league
match play, whichever occurs first. (This does not preclude an ALC from
formally rescheduling a match date/time where local circumstances require, so
long as established dates for completing local play are not violated.)
22.
Per USTA League Tennis Regulations, all
complaints alleging a violation during local league competition shall be filed in
writing with the Local or District League Coordinator or designee having
jurisdiction. The complaint must be filed prior to the commencement of the next
team match in that flight involving such player or team, or within twenty-four
hours after the end of local league play whichever occurs first. At the time a
complaint is filed, a copy of such complaint shall be sent to the party (ies)
against whom the complaint has been made. A copy of its decision shall be
promptly sent to the DLA.
23.
Each local league
shall appoint a Local League Grievance Appeal Committee consisting of no less
than three (3) persons,
including a chairman, responsible for
adjudicating any Grievances properly within local jurisdiction. All members of
the
Grievance Committee must first be
approved by the Mid-Atlantic Section League Coordinator. The names of persons
approved to serve on
the Local League Grievance Appeal Committee must be readily available to team
captains, either by
publication in local
league rules or comparable notice, such as posting to the local league’s
website.
24.
No member of a
Grievance Appeal Committee may be a member of a Grievance Committee. The
Grievance Appeal
committee shall have the power to
affirm, modify or reject the decision of the Grievance Committee. Per USTA League
Tennis Regulations, the Grievance
Appeal Committee’s decisions are final and binding. A copy of this decision
shall be
promptly sent to all interested
parties and to the DLA.
25.
A member
of a Local or District Grievance or Grievance Appeal Committee shall be recused
from participating in any hearing or decision emanating from a local league in
which they play or serve in any administrative capacity whatsoever.
If a grievance is filed
against the administration of a local league, that grievance is to be heard by
the Grievance Committee
at the District level.
26.
Complaints
alleging NTRP violations must be filed with the Mid-Atlantic Section League
Coordinator. Original complaints are limited to a request for “Player Review”
to confirm whether a player has met the requirements for disqualification under
the Dynamic NTRP methodology. Appeals of any player disqualifications are
governed by USTA League Tennis Regulations, Rule 3.04.
Grievance Committee: Grievance Appeal Committee:
Jim Lawson, Chair
Linda Iberra
Carrie
Anderson
Venita Cooper Liz Baker
James Dorf MaryGray Sachtjen
Lynne Hauff
2010MarylandDistrictRule.htm