SDTA JUNIOR COMPETITION MATCH RULES (last amended 17 th June 2015)

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1 SDTA JUNIOR COMPETITION MATCH RULES (last amended 17 th June 2015) All SDTA Junior Matches are to be played in accordance with the following Match Rules and in conjunction with the Tennis Australia Code of Conduct which provides a framework to preserve the image and integrity of tennis and promotes sportsmanlike conduct. The Tennis Australia Code of Conduct and the Tennis Australia Rules for Matches Played Without a Chair Umpire can be found on the SDTA website at MATCH RULES 1) Junior Matches will be conducted in accordance with the Match Rules for the Southern Districts Senior Competition except as otherwise stated herein. SPORTSMANSHIP, GOOD MANNERS AND COURT ETIQUETTE MUST BE PARAMOUNT AT ALL TIMES 2) The age limit for Junior s is 17 and under on the 31 st March of the current tennis season. Players 14 years and over on the 31 st March of the current tennis season are not eligible to play in the bottom 2 grades of the competition unless permission is given by the Permit Committee due to extraordinary circumstances. 3) a) Pennant players, if still eligible by age to play Junior s, are permitted to play provided they play in order of merit. b) Any player who played in the previous Tennis SA Winter Pennant Premier or Division 1 competitions, or is playing in an equivalent competition (as deemed by the Junior Permit Committee) in the current summer season, shall not be eligible to play Division 2 or lower. COMPETITION 4) There will be a separate competition for boys and girls which consist of divisions containing six (6) or more teams in each division. 5) Teams may use 4 or 5 players per match. 6) Teams playing in the green ball or orange ball competitions and the lowest graded boys and girls yellow ball divisions may contain up to two players of the opposite gender unless that team is playing in a division designated as a mixed division whereby no restriction shall be in place regarding the gender composition of that team. 7) Each team must have a Match Supervisor responsible for ensuring that matches are played in accordance with the Match Rules. In addition, clubs may also appoint a Venue Coordinator for overall conduct of all matches at home court venue(s). 8) Each Club shall place at the disposal of the Association whatever courts are required for the playing of major round matches and Association Tournament Matches and shall ensure that its courts are available to the association on Saturdays and Sundays following the scheduled Finals dates. BALLS 9) Divisions 1 Premier to Division 4 the home team is to supply 4 new Tennis Australia approved balls for matches. In all other divisions, the home team is to supply 4 good quality Tennis Australia approved balls. THE WILSON AUSTRALIAN OPEN TENNIS BALL IS THE OFFICIAL TENNIS BALL FOR ALL SDTA COMPETITION MATCHES AND TOURNAMENTS IN ) Refer to rule 43 for Finals. MATCH PLAY 11) Each Supervisor shall, PRIOR to the commencement of the match, furnish the team Supervisor of the opposing team, on the prescribed form (own team on left) a list of players numbered consecutively in order of merit, showing both singles and doubles, and shall play his/her team in that order. 12) Players will toss to determine service before the start of each set. Matches consist of 2 sets of doubles and 4 sets of singles as follows: Friday Night Competition Saturday Boys Divisions 8.30am Saturday Girls Divisions 8.30am All Other Divisions tie -break sets (with tie-break at 6 games all) tie-break sets (with tie-break at 6 games all) tie-break sets (with tie-break at 6 games all) 6 game set (first to win 6 games, no tie-break).

2 13) Where possible, matches shall start with doubles followed by singles. 14) Division 1 Premier and Division 1 along with players in the first time slot, to umpire their own matches, but may request an umpire. Where possible, players in the second time slot are encouraged to umpire their own matches. If an umpire is required, then that person shall be appointed by the home court supervisor. Umpires shall not be immediate family members. Unless an umpire s chair is provided, the umpire must be standing. An umpire is required to call on all line calls. The umpire is to call their decision and game score at completion of each point and the set score at completion of each game, loudly enough for all participating players to hear. No coaching during match play is permitted from parents/supervisors during the Friday night or Saturday 8:30am time slot. However for the lowest three programmed divisions in the 10:45am time slot the Umpire, if required, can provide fair guidance (not tactics) to both teams at the change of ends. 15) Hit-up time shall be at the discretion of the Home Court Supervisor but shall not exceed 2 minutes. STARTING TIMES & FORFEITS 16) There will be two grades playing Friday night with a maximum of eight teams per grade for both boys and girls. a) The grades playing Friday night are Division 1 Premier and Division 1. The winning team of the Division 1 Premier Grand Final will represent the Association in the Champ of Champs. b) There is only one team per club allowed in the Division 1 Premier on Friday night unless by the recommendation of the Permit Committee and approval of the Junior Activities Committee. c) Any Club granted Division 1 Premier status will be excluded from the following seasons Premier grade should they have any player originally nominated who fails to play at least 5 matches for that players team over the season. This rule may be waived in the event of the grading committee accepting extenuating circumstances. d) Division 1 Premier and Division 1: Friday evenings commencing at 6.30pm. These matches are to be played at venues where lighting is available and used as required e) Matches on Saturday morning shall be played in two sessions commencing at 8.30am and 10.45am respectively. The Grading Committee shall determine which grades are played in which session taking into account variations in teams nominated. * Matches-in-progress at the scheduled finish time are to be completed if courts are available to complete the match. If courts are not available to complete matches, any unfinished game within the set(s) being played, including the tie-break game, are to be completed and recorded on the score sheet. 17) If a player is not in attendance within 5 minutes of starting time then that player shall forfeit their doubles and if not in attendance within 30 minutes of starting time that player shall forfeit their singles. Players who have not commenced their singles should move up the order of merit where a higher ranked played in their team is forfeited (i.e. forfeits should be from the lowest team position). 18) Any forfeit claimed by a Team Supervisor is to be notified to the opposing Team Supervisor at the time the breach occurs. Retrospective forfeit claims or forfeit claims not notified to the opposing Team Supervisor are not permitted. 19) A forfeit shall rank as a win provided that the team receiving the forfeit, sends a correctly filled out score sheet to the designated Recording Officer by the prescribed time. 20) If any team finds it necessary to forfeit any set on any day (except for illness or injury of a player in attendance) those sets shall be forfeited commencing at the lowest unplayed singles and the lowest unplayed doubles in that team. 21) Clubs should notify opposing teams of pending forfeits. PREMIERSHIP POINTS 22) The winning team in any minor round match shall receive three points for a win plus one point for each set won. 23) The losing team shall receive 1 bonus point for each set won. 24) In the event of a draw (i.e. sets and games equal) each team shall receive one point plus bonus points. 25) In the event of an unfinished minor round match when matches have not been cancelled, the match will not be completed and teams will be awarded their bonus points and the three points for a win will be awarded to the leading team if it is in an unassailable position. In the event that a team does not hold an unassailable position, one point will be awarded to each team, 26) If teams have an equal number of points, minor round places shall be decided by sets won and games won. If after points, sets won and games won are equal on the premiership table, then games won as a % of total games played to be used as the way to separate the teams on the premiership table. 2

3 REGISTRATION OF PLAYERS 27) A list of players, both boys and girls, in alphabetical order, listing full name, address, telephone number and birth date to be submitted to the Permit Committee by each Club not later than the Tuesday after the first match. Clubs will be fined $20 for not complying with this rule. 28) a) Clearances are required for players changing Clubs within the Association. Refer also to the Senior Competition Match Rules regarding players playing for more than one club in the association. b) No player shall be permitted to play in this Association who is playing in any other junior competition without written application to and the consent of the Permit Committee. All applications must be in writing, accompanied by a written clearance from the applicant s club. c) No player nominated by a club may change clubs after grading of teams is approved without the permission of the nominating club. Should the permission be sought by the player and denied by the club, the matter may be appealed to the Permit Committee. 29) All Clubs or other bodies (Schools, Colleges etc) that are accepted into the Association and fielding teams in the Junior Competition must always abide by Association Rules and Policies regarding player transfers and clearances. This includes the right to freedom of association and the free and automatic transfer of players between Clubs, Schools or Colleges as long as normal clearance procedures occur. Clubs or other bodies (Schools, colleges etc) that fail to support the individual s right to freedom of association may have their affiliation with the association reviewed. ELIGIBILITY FOR TOURNAMENTS AND MATCHES 30) Players must have played at least 2 matches to be eligible for entry into the SDTA Junior Activities Tournament. In special cases, entry may be granted at the discretion of the Tournament Committee. PLAYER MOVEMENT & FINALS ELIGIBILITY 31) a) The order of merit for the first three matches of the season (not including matches cancelled by the Permit Committee) shall be as decided by each club subject to the application of Rule 31 (b). For the fourth and subsequent rounds of matches, players in a club must not move more than one position in the club s order of merit from the previous round of matches except in the absence of players. Any such moves shall be in accordance with Rule 31 (d). Any exception to this Match Rule must be submitted to the Permit Committee for approval. In the finals series there shall be no change to a club s Order of Merit. b) Players from a lower grade who are called upon to participate in Division 1 Premier or Division 1 matches programmed for a different match day than their regular grade, may revert to their regular position in the club order of merit in the round immediately following their participation in the Division 1 Premier or Division 1 match. No player may participate in more than one match in each round of matches. c) No losing player can move over a winning player. d) Order of merit to be determined by match results over a period of two or more successive matches and where the lower player s results are considered by the Permit Committee significantly better than the player immediately above, the two players shall interchange positions. 32) No player may participate in the final series for any division unless they have played a combined total of 5 or more matches. 33) No player who has played more than two thirds of his/her minor round matches in one division may participate in any final series match in any lower division. 34) No player who plays in any final series match in any division may subsequently play in a final series match in a lower division unless required to because of unavailability of players or players returning from unavailability. 35) Clubs must submit for approval a list of qualified and registered players in order of merit to the Recorder by 7.00 p.m. on the Sunday preceding semi-finals. List must include the division. 36) To be eligible to play in finals, a player must be a current registered member with Tennis SA. MAJOR ROUND 37) The top 4 teams in each Division will participate in the major round. 38) The major round will be played as follows: Semi Finals (2) 1 st Team vs 2 nd Team and 3 rd Team vs 4 th Team Preliminary Final (1) Loser of (1 st vs 2 nd ) vs Winner of (3 rd vs 4 th ) Grand Final (1) Winner of (1 st vs 2 nd ) vs Winner of Preliminary Final 39) The higher ranked team will have home court advantage for the Final rounds. If there are insufficient courts, the venue will be determined by the Permit Committee. 3

4 40) During the major round, singles players order of merit must not be altered without permission of the Permit Committee. Penalty: Forfeiture of the effected set(s). 41) In major rounds, matches not completed on Friday night or Saturday must be completed Sunday commencing at 9:00 am and concluding by 12:45pm. If play cannot be completed on Sunday due to bad weather, the highest ranked team at the end of the minor round will be declared the winner. * Teams with players representing the Association in a tournament, may apply to the permit committee to have that time varied. 42) If a match ends in a draw in finals, then both doubles shall play a standard tie-break. If the match is still a draw, then the tie-breaker points are to be added together and the team with the higher number of points will be the winner. If a match is still a draw, then the number one doubles tie-break score will determine the result. The two tie-breaks to determine a match result shall commence no later than five minutes after the completion of the last singles set of the match. Should any player not be in attendance to commence their tiebreak then an automatic forfeit of the tie-break shall occur. 43) Home teams shall provide balls for finals matches as per the requirements of Rule 9. 44) Each team competing in a major round must have a Supervisor present throughout the entire match. Each club conducting major round matches must have a Court Supervisor present throughout the entire match who acts as a referee for those matches. In the case of Division 1 Premier and Division 1 a neutral Court Supervisor will be appointed by the Permit Committee to act as Referee. A fine of $20.00 will be imposed for clubs failing to provide a supervisor. 45) Clubs having team or teams competing in the major round of matches shall furnish to their designated Recording Officer not later than 7 p.m. on the Sunday immediately preceding the day set down for the playing of each major round match, a list in duplicate of players in singles and emergencies, in order of merit. The list of players shall be on team sheets in duplicate. The original (amended if necessary) shall be initialled by the Permit Committee and returned to the club no later than the Thursday following. Such original will be the team sheet for the match and forwarded to their designated Recording Officer by 7 p.m. on the Sunday following the match. Should it be necessary to bring in an emergency, such emergency must play in the position relevant to the order of merit as submitted by their club. 46) In major rounds, result sheets are to reach the designated Recording Officer by 7.00 p.m. on the Sunday following the match. 47) Both sets of doubles shall be played first followed by the singles matches. SCORE SHEETS and RECORDING OF RESULTS 48) a) The score sheets for both teams in a match must be signed by the respective home court supervisors. Each club must list its own team correctly on the left hand side of the sheet and the opposing team on the right hand side. Each team must forward its own score sheet to the designated Recording Officer to be received no later than the following Tuesday. Failure to do so will result in the Club concerned being fined $5 for that day. b) In accordance with Match Rule 1 Clubs are required to adhere to Senior Match Rule 38 which states: Clubs will be fined $10.00 per team for home match results not entered into the Association s match results recording system by 7.00pm on the Monday following the match. c) The Permit Committee shall annually advise the requirements for finals series including penalties for noncompliance. WEATHER 49) Wet Weather: a. If wet weather prevents play at any stage, the match may be cancelled or abandoned at the venue with the mutual consent of Team Supervisors. b. Where any doubt exists as to the suitability of the court surface for match play, the Court Supervisor or Club Representative must make a determination having regard primarily for the safety of players. c. Correctly completed and signed Result Sheets are to be lodged if a match is cancelled or abandoned in accordance with Rules 49a or 49b. d. Cancellation of all matches will be at the discretion of the Permit Committee. This decision will be made for the 8.30am time slot by 7.00am on the morning and for the 10.45am time slot by 9.45am. e. Court sweepers in good condition must be available at all court locations. f. In the event of no play or an unfinished match due to weather, score sheets of selected players of that match must be filled in by both team supervisors and forwarded to the designated Recording 4

5 Officer. Points for completed sets or match points will only be awarded if greater than or equal to 60% of the matches in the division achieve a result. g. For Friday night matches, in the event no play is possible one hour after the scheduled start time, the match is abandoned. 50) Hot Weather: a. If the temperature as measured at Kent Town Bureau of Meteorology on a Friday afternoon at 4.30pm is 37 degrees or above the Friday evening programmed matches will be automatically cancelled. b. Matches will be automatically cancelled in the two Saturday morning sessions when the Saturday forecast maximum temperature for the city of Adelaide (as shown on the Bureau of Meteorology website as at 7.00am) is 37 degrees or higher. c. The Permit Committee shall have the power to cancel any interclub matches set down in the Association Programme, if it deems that the weather or any other conditions warrant same and taking into account Guidelines/Recommendations for cancelling or modifying sporting events during hot weather as issued by Sports Medicine Australia. d. Hot weather cancellations shall be advised to clubs via phone and published on the Association s website. 51) In the minor round, in the event of an unfinished match, points for completed sets will be awarded - 3 points for a win will be awarded to the leading team if in an unassailable position. In the event of an unfinished minor round match when matches have not been cancelled refer to Rule 25. PERMIT COMMITTEE 52) A Permit Committee consisting of 5 people will be elected at the Junior Activities Committee Annual Meeting each year and this committee will ensure that all Junior matches are played in accordance with these Match Rules. This committee has the right to impose any suitable penalty for non-compliance with the Match Rules. The Committee shall elect a Chairperson annually, discuss and determine any business before the Committee as required and the Committee Chairperson shall provide a report to each monthly Junior Activities Committee meeting. The Permit Committee has discretionary power over these Match Rules which will ensure that the best interests of the players are met. 53) Any submissions to the Permit Committee must be in writing and addressed to the Permit Committee Chairperson. The Permit Committee Chairperson will convey the Permit Committee s determination in writing to the relative club s delegate within seven (7) days of receiving the submission. CLUBS WITH MORE THAN ONE TEAM 54) a) If a club has more than one team in any division the teams should be selected as near equal strength as practicable. b) If a club nominates two teams in a Division and is approved, those teams must be selected and play as near as practicable to how they were nominated. c) If the Association should request a Club to have more than one team in a Division, then the club shall have the right not to select those teams as near equal strength. 55) Where a Club has more than one team competing in the same division, players may not change teams within that Division after the third programmed match. Any exception to this rule must be submitted to the Permit Committee for approval. AFFILIATION FEES 56) Affiliation fees cannot be refunded after the season s program has been completed. TENNIS ATTIRE 57) All players shall dress in customarily acceptable tennis attire. ORANGE BALL COMPETITION 58) The Junior Activities Committee shall publish annually in September the modified rules applicable to the Orange Ball Competition. GRADING 59) Clubs shall be required to submit team nominations in a format approved by the Junior Activities Committee and on a date to be determined annually. Grading shall be conducted by the Permit Committee and approved by the Junior Activities Committee. 5

6 EXPERIMENTAL RULES 60) The Junior Activities Committee shall have the power to suspend any of the foregoing rules of an administrative nature (but not match play rules); for no longer than one season if approved by 75% of eligible voters at a Junior Activities Committee meeting. 6