USTA Northern Section League Tennis Regulations Adult, Senior, Mixed Doubles, and Super Senior 2011 (Approved by the Section Leagues Committee 10.11.2010)

These USTA Northern League Tennis Regulations are intended to supplement and be subordinate to the National USTA League Tennis Regulations, and shall apply to all USTA League Tennis programs in USTA Northern. Area/Local Rules and Regulations may be developed to supplement the National and Section Regulations. Area/Local Rules and Regulations may not contradict National or Section Regulations and are subject to approval by the Section. The National USTA League Tennis Regulations and Area/Local Regulations are available online at www.northern.usta.com. Recommendations for changes to National or Section Regulations should be submitted to the USTA Northern Section League Coordinator.

1.00 GENERAL All USTA League Tennis Regulations in 1.00 GENERAL shall apply to all USTA League Tennis Divisions.

1.04B ADMINISTRATION

1.04B(4) SECTION LEAGUE COORDINATOR The Section League Coordinator for USTA Northern is Nancy Lundberg.

1.04B(4)a/b AREA LEAGUE COORDINATORS/Local League Coordinators

The Northern Section consists of the following Areas: 1. North Dakota & Northwestern MN (ND) - includes, Fargo/Moorhead, Grand Forks, Bismarck/Mandan, Minot, Dickinson, etc. a. Contact Person(s): i. Hayley Horning Shibley, Area League Coordinator ii. Oliver Summers, Fargo Local League Coordinator iii. Shannon Larson, Bismarck/Mandan Local League Coordinator b. Local League Coordinators: c. Committee: NDTA 2. South Dakota & Southwestern MN (SD) - includes Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Pierre, Aberdeen, Brookings, Yankton, Watertown, etc.

1 a. Contact Person(s): i. Chris Dummermuth, Area League Coordinator ii. Mary Helen Flanery & Lori Edwards, Rapid City Local League Coordinators b. Committee: SDTA 3. Northern MN & WI (NMW) - includes Duluth, Hibbing, Virginia, Brainerd, St. Cloud, Grand Marais, Washburn, Eau Claire, etc. a. Contact Person(s): i. Joe Mihalek, Duluth Local League Coordinator ii. Lee Bergstrom, North Shore Local League Coordinator iii. Julia Brown, Eau Claire Local League Coordinator b. Committee: TBD 4. Southern MN (SM) - includes Rochester, Owatonna, Winona, Mankato, etc. a. Contact Person(s): i. Sheryl Warfield, Area League Coordinator b. Committee: Southeastern MN Tennis Association 5. Twin Cities (TC) - includes Ramsey, Dakota, Washington, Hennepin, Scott, Carver & Anoka counties a. Contact Person(s): Kelley Okerman, Area League Coordinator b. Committee: Twin Cities Leagues Committee

1.04C(1) OFFICIAL LEAGUE REGISTRATION Team captains will obtain a team number from either their Area/Local League Coordinator or directly from the TennisLink system. The Area/Local League Coordinator will set up one of the two methods for their Area. The deadline for registering a team will be as established by the Area/Local League Coordinator.

1.04C(2) OFFICIAL SCORE REPORTING AND STANDINGS SYSTEM Scores must be reported on the TennisLink system within forty-eight (48) hours of playing the match. If scores in a certain flight are all not recorded and all scores are entered on one day, the team scores are considered not valid and the team may not advance to Section Championships. This does not apply to accommodation leagues where play is scheduled for two consecutive days.

1.04D(4)LOCAL LEAGUE SEASON Local League play dates will be announced by local league coordinators. For Championship Year 2011, local league play shall be held within the following dates:

Adult League: October 1, 2010 – August 12, 2011 Senior League: October 1, 2010 – August 12, 2011 Mixed Doubles League: October 1, 2010 – September 9, 2011 Super Senior League: October 1, 2010 – December 31, 2011 NTRP Doubles October 1, 2010 – December 31, 2011

1.04D(6) USTA Northern limits the maximum number of players that appear on an Adult league team roster to twenty (20) players for Adult league divisions 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 and 4.5, and fifteen (15) players for Adult league divisions 2.5 and 5.0 The USTA Northern Section limits the maximum number of players that appear on a Senior, Super Senior, and Mixed Doubles League team roster to eighteen (18) players. Areas may specify the number of players at a given NTRP level on a team roster for Adult, Senior, Super Senior and Mixed Doubles.

1.04G Player Participation

2 1.04G(2)C Players may participate in more than one NTRP level within a division in the same local league during the same season.

1.04G(2)e Players who qualify to advance to championships within a division on teams at two (2) different NTRP levels may represent both teams, however such players will not be given any scheduling accommodations in championship play. Players who qualify to advance to championships within a division on more than one (1) team at the same NTRP level must choose which team they will represent at championships, and players shall remain with their chosen team for all championship play at that NTRP level up to and including National Championships or its equivalent.

2.00 ADULT LEAGUE REGULATIONS All USTA League Tennis Regulations in 1.00 GENERAL and 3.00 GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES, and the following procedures shall apply to USTA League – Adult, Senior, Mixed Doubles and Super Senior Divisions.

2.01A Levels of Play Super Senior levels of play for USTA Northern Championships are the combined NTRP levels 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0. Mixed doubles levels of play for the USTA Northern Championships are the combined NTRP levels of 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0 and 10.0.

2.01C Competition Format 2.01C(3) Match Scoring USTA Northern requires all league matches to use the best of two tiebreak sets with a match tiebreak in lieu of a third set. However, other formats may be used with the approval of the Section Leagues Coordinator. There will be no coaching during the 2 minute set breaks.

2.01C(5) Team Lineups After lineups have been presented, team captains are allowed to make changes and substitutions in individual matches for the following reasons only: injury to, illness of, disqualification or no-show of a player prior to the start of such match. Unless mutually agreed, players listed on the original lineup may not substitute into a different position, and area/local rules and regulations on lateness penalties and warm-up times will apply. The default principles in 2.03K-Team Defaults shall be applicable with no modifications. If two teams need to reschedule an entire team match, where one team had already acknowledged a default to the other team, both teams have the right to reschedule all positions, including the defaulted position.

2.01C(6) Team Defaults Any team that defaults an entire team match without just cause during local league play may be subject to an administrative grievance, and be sanctioned or penalized up to and including that all matches of that team played, or to be played, may be declared null and void, and captains and players may be suspended from league play. If a team match default occurs during local league round robin play, the Area League Coordinator may require that the defaulted match be rescheduled.

2.02 PROGRESSION 2.02A(1) Local League Competition Each team that wins a specific level of local league competition shall be entitled to advance to the next level of competition. If there is only one local league in the entire Northern Section for a given level, then the winner of that local league may advance directly to National Championships or its equivalent.

2.02A(2) Local League Champions Local league competition must be concluded, and results reported on TennisLink, by the dates specified in Section Regulation 1.04D(4).

3 2.02B Area Championships The Northern Section consists of the following Areas: 1. North Dakota & Northwestern MN (ND 2. South Dakota & Southwestern MN (SD 3. Northern MN & WI (North) 4. Southern MN (South) 5. Twin Cities (TC) When multiple local leagues (flights) exist within an Area, the Area Leagues Committee must select a mechanism for determining its top team(s) for advancement purposes. A team may advance, if otherwise qualified, directly from local play to the Section Championships when one of the following criteria is met: A) There are no other local leagues (flights) in the Area B) Advancing teams are determined through local play. For example, when there are 5 local league (flight) winners and 5 teams advance per the section advancement formula.

2.02C Section Championships The Section Championship is an invitational event. Each Area is given one (1) team entry into the event for every six (6) teams that participate in local play per Division. For example, if an Area has sixteen (16) teams playing in the 3.5 Womens’ Division, three (3) 3.5 Womens’ teams would advance from that Area. 1 – 6 teams = 1 entry 25 – 30 teams = 5 entries 49 – 54 teams = 9 entries 7 – 12 teams = 2 entries 31 – 36 teams = 6 entries 55 – 60 teams = 10 entries 13 – 18 teams = 3 entries 37 – 42 teams = 7 entries 61 – 66 teams = 11 entries 19 – 24 teams = 4 entries 43 – 48 teams = 8 entries 67 – 72 teams = 12 entries There is no cap to the number of entries an Area can receive. Wildcard opportunities for advancement will be available at the discretion of the Section Championship Committee.

All teams must be registered in TennisLink and meet minimum roster requirements by July 1st, 2011. If a team is not registered by this time, it will not be factored into the section advancement formula. The number of invitations that each Area will receive, along with any Wildcards, will be announced by July 8th, 2011.

Wildcard Procedures: Any Area League Coordinator can petition the Section Leagues Committee for an additional team entry (wildcard) to Section Championships. The request must be received in writing by July 1, 2011. When wildcards are awarded for the sole purpose of filling out a draw, the opportunity will be rotated among Areas. If an Area is offered a wildcard and declines the opportunity, it will go to the second to last spot in the rotation the following year, if an Area accepts the wildcard, it will go to the last spot in the rotation the following year. In 2011, the following rotation applies: Adult Divisions Women Order Men Order 2.5 North, SD, ND, South, TC 2.5 North, SD, ND, South, TC 3.0 North, ND, SD, TC, South 3.0 North, SD, ND, South, TC 3.5 North, ND, SD, South, TC 3.5 North, SD, ND, South, TC 4.0 North, SD, ND, South, TC 4.0 North, SD, ND, South, TC 4.5 North, SD, ND, South, TC 4.5 North, SD, ND, South, TC 5.0 North, SD, ND, South, TC 5.0 North, SD, ND, South, TC Senior Divisions Women Order Men Order 3.0 North, SD, ND, South, TC 3.0 North, SD, ND, South, TC

4 3.5 North, SD, ND, TC, South 3.5 North, SD, ND, South, TC 4.0 North, SD, ND, South, TC 4.0 North, SD, ND, South, TC 4.5 North, SD, ND, South, TC 4.5 North, SD, ND, South, TC Mixed Doubles Divisions 6.0 North, SD, ND, South, TC 7.0 North, SD, ND, TC, South 8.0 North, SD, ND, South, TC 9.0 North, SD, ND, South, TC 10.0 North, SD, ND, South, TC Super Senior Divisions Women Order Men Order 6.0 North, SD, ND, South, TC 6.0 North, SD, ND, South, TC 7.0 North, SD, ND, South, TC 7.0 North, SD, ND, South, TC 8.0 North, SD, ND, South, TC 8.0 North, SD, ND, South, TC 9.0 North, SD, ND, South, TC 9.0 North, SD, ND, South, TC

Section Championship Dates: Adult Women & Senior Men August 19 – 21 Adult Men & Senior Women August 26 - 28 Mixed Doubles September 16 - 18 NTRP Doubles (formerly Tri Level) October 7 - 9

2.03 AREA, SECTION AND NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS

2.03B Official League Championships Entry An official copy of the final USTA TEAM ROSTER FOR LEAGUES and tournament fees shall be submitted by the team captain or coordinator to the Championships Committee not less than five (5) days prior to that specific championship.

2.03C Scoring and Rest The scoring used in championships competition within the USTA Northern Section shall be the best of two tie-break sets, regular scoring, with a set tie-break at 6-all. In the event of split sets, a match tie-break shall be played in lieu of a third set with the two minute set break with no coaching allowed. After the first game of each set and during a tie-break game, play shall be continuous and the players shall change ends without a rest. The minimum rest period between individual matches shall be thirty (30) minutes.

2.03H Procedures in the Event of a Tie USTA Northern will follow all procedures in order as described in the national regulations with the following method added as the last tie- break.

2.03H(5) A method to be determined by the championships committee. Winner of one individual doubles match tie-break, set-up immediately, prior to the conclusion of the Area or Section Championships. Players must be eligible as determined by NTRP level and by playing in at least two matches during local league season.

2.04 LEAGUE NTRP DISQUALIFICATION AND REVIEW PROCEDURES

2.04E Scoring Procedures 2.04E(1)Local If a player is disqualified from a particular level of play during a local league season, all three (3) matches that produced strikes shall be considered losses for the player and considered 6-0, 6-0 wins for the opposing players or doubles teams.

2.04E(2) Championship.

5 2.04E(2)a NTRP Disqualification throughout championship competition in a round robin format or segment: USTA Northern will run dynamic ratings and disqualify at the end of each day throughout the championship. All matches played by players shall be considered losses and those matches shall be considered 6-0, 6-0 wins for the opposing player or doubles team.

2.04E(2)b NTRP Disqualification throughout championship competition in single elimination or segment: USTA Northern will run dynamic ratings and disqualify at the end of each day throughout the championship. The last individual match played by players shall be considered a loss and that individual match shall be considered a win for the opposing player or doubles team.

2.5 YEAR-END NTRP COMPUTER RATINGS AND APPEAL PROCEDURES

2.05C(1) Appeal of Year-end Ratings through Section Championships. Year-end ratings are appealed through TennisLink. If a player contacts any coordinator to report a captain or player has used the Auto Appeal Function, to appeal the players rating without their permission, a grievance will be filed with an automatic consequence for suspension of 11 months and 30 days for the person using the appeal function.

2.05E Players in “Early Start” Leagues Players participating in “early start” leagues, where play begins prior to January 1 of the year in which they would progress to National Championships, who are found to have valid year-end computer ratings that place them above the level at which they are competing may continue their participation at the prior level with their early start team UNLESS their year-end rating reaches the “clearly above level mark.”

If it does, they too must adjust to that new level. If a player’s rating does not reach the “clearly above level mark”, the player may continue to participate at the prior level with their early start team including the remainder of the early start local league season and related championships competition. However, such players will be subject to immediate promotion at all levels through Section Championships, and such players shall register at their year-end rating level for league play beginning after January 1 of the year in which they would progress to National Championships.

“Clearly above level” means the rating reaches the disqualification level. Disqualification thresholds vary based on NTRP level. Dynamic ratings are calculated to the hundredth of a point and when a player generates a dynamic result at least .2 (For 4.0 - 5.5 players) or .3 (for 3.0 & 3.5 players) above level, a strike is given. Three strikes trigger a disqualification.

2.05F Appeal Of Year-End Ratings Through Section Championships Mixed Doubles and Super Senior Both “Year-end” NTRP computer ratings and “Early Start” NTRP computer ratings (for local league play prior to January 1 of the league championship year) may be appealed any time after publication of the rating. However, if a player is appealing to play at a lower NTRP level, a favorable appeal decision must be issued, i.e., the player’s NTRP rating must be lowered in accordance with USTA NTRP Computer Rating System Procedures, prior to the addition of the player to a team roster at the lower NTRP level. The rating you registered with as appears on the roster, is the rating you use through out the season, regardless of changes, unless you reach the clearly above level mark.

2.06A Move-up/Split-up Super Senior Section Champion teams from Areas with more than three (3) teams at that level must either move up one level as a team or disperse to

6 form new teams at the same level for the next league year. The new team(s) may have no more than three (3) players who were on the final roster at the conclusion of local league play of any team or combination of teams that won the Section Championship at that level. Any player who did not participate in a match during the championship year, including defaults received, is excluded from this regulation.

3.0 Grievance Procedures National USTA League Tennis Regulation 3.00 shall apply to all USTA League Tennis Divisions.

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