ELIGIBILITY
All juniors within or below the qualifying age are eligible to play provided they have been registered prior to playing or within 48 hours after playing. All registrations must include full name, date of birth and BTM number. All players must be British Tennis members either before they play or within 48 hours after playing.
No player may play in a team’s last two matches of the season if he/she has already played three or more matches for the club’s higher team(s) unless he/ she has already played at least two matches for the team in question or lower team(s)
Age groups:
18&U - Players who are 18 or under as at 31 Dec 2023
16&U - Players who are 16 or under as at 31 Dec 2023
14&U - Players who are 16 or under as at 31 Dec 2023
12&U - Players who are 12 or under as at 31 Dec 2023
DATES OF MATCHES
Matches to be played on the scheduled date. Start time is 10:00 a.m. although by mutual agreement matches may play at a different time of the day. If player(s) are not ready 15 minutes after the agreed start time then the opposition is entitled to claim the first rubber(s).
CANCELLATION/RE-ARRANGEMENT
Inclement weather is the only reason for postponing a match and the home team should contact the opposition and the two come to a mutual agreement as to whether it is fit to play. In this case the organisers should within 7 days agree an alternative date and the home team should submit this within 10 days of the original date. Once a date has been agreed and notified there shall be no further re-arrangement of the date except for inclement weather. There are sufficient vacant weeks to enable all matches to be completed.
ABANDONED MATCHES
If a match has to be abandoned and one team has scored sufficient rubbers to win the match, that score shall be the final match score.
If at the time of abandonment neither team has scored sufficient rubbers to win, the match shall be replayed in its entirety and the same provisions apply as if the match had been postponed before its commencement.
DEFAULTING
If a team shall in any match scratch to the opposing team, the latter shall be awarded the match, i.e. all rubbers, sets and games and the defaulting team shall lose one point.
OFFICIALS
A responsible adult from each club should be in attendance court-side throughout..
If difficulties arise adhering to this then your opponents must be informed and asked if they will take responsibility. No matches shall be played if a senior non-playing person is not in attendance.
Parents and/or spectators must NOT get involved in matches i.e. line calls, scoring, disputes, coaching etc. Any such matters to be relayed to the nominated adults in charge on that particular day and who will help/take action as necessary.
REFRESHMENTS
These to be provided by the home club and put on display so that the visitors are aware that they are available.
MATCHES
Teams to consist of 4 players of either gender.
Matches consist of 6 rubbers - 4 singles and 2 doubles.
In doubles 1 & 2 and 3 & 4 to partner each other.
Players to be listed in order of ability i.e. strongest player as No. 1 etc. except any Green Level Player in the 12&U should play lower in the playing order than any full ball player and an orange player lower than a green.
If a team has only 3 players, they MUST play as no.1 no.2 & no.3 singles and 1&2 MUST play the doubles.
Teams should be selected on merit and in the true spirit of "Fair play". If the opposition feels the level of ability was not followed then an appeal can be submitted to the Junior Committee.
When an A & B team in the same age group play on the same day, THE 'A' TEAM MUST FIELD MORE PLAYERS THAN THE 'B' TEAM.
If a club fails to field a team in a higher division whilst fielding a team, or teams, in a lower division(s) all rubbers, sets and games won by the lower team(s) will be forfeited.
A rubber is two tie-break sets WITH A MATCH TIE-BREAK PLAYED (to 10 points with two clear) IF THE SCORE REACHES ONE SET ALL.
TIE-BREAK SCORE TO BE SHOWN AS 1-0 OR 0-1 IN THE TB COLUMN (This tie-break will now be calculated automatically as a SET and a GAME by the online process.
18&U, 16U and 14&U will play normal sets to 6 (tie-break if score is 6-6). 12&U will play short sets (i.e. first to 4 with at least two clear games e.g. 4-0, 4-1, 4-2, 5-3. If the score reaches 4-4 then a tie-break is played to determine the winner of the set.
ORDER OF PLAY
Using 4 Courts
4 Singles and 2 Doubles
Using 3 Courts
2 singles and 1 doubles, 2 singles and 1 doubles
Using 2 courts
2 singles, 2 doubles and 2 singles
This order may be amended by mutual agreement.
When a team plays on two courts there is the option of playing short sets in the 18&U, 16&U and 14&U leagues. This decision will lie solely with the away team.
Teams are advised to enquire before they travel as to how many courts are to be used.
RESULTS
If a match finishes 3 rubbers each it shall be declared a draw.
SUBMISSION OF RESULTS
Home teams to provide the score card as supplied. Both teams to have paper copies which should be retained by both clubs.
BALLS
A minimum of TWO new balls per court to be provided by the home team.
LEAGUE PLACINGS
2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss and -1 point for conceding a match. The number of points secured will decide the order of the teams with the highest being first. In the event of teams finishing on the same number of points, the position of teams in the division shall be decided by the percentage of rubbers, then sets, then games.
A COPY OF THESE RULES SHOULD BE DISPLAYED IN THE CLUBHOUSE.