PLAYER INFORMATION

Starting times are the responsibility of the player. This applies in all cases. 
If you can’t check the posted draw or telephone for your time, you are still 
responsible.

There is no substitute for the player checking the posted draw sheet when available.

To assure a correct starting time and date, send a self-addressed stamped postcard (SSTP) with your entry.

Tournament Directors may begin play on Friday evening due to the size of the draw. Check with the director when you enter so that if you are unable to play on Friday evening you will not be entered in the draw.

No-Ad scoring may be used by the tournament director due to the size of the draw, providing consolations are held. No-Ad scoring may not be used in the finals or semi-finals. Players are not allowed to change the method of scoring posted at the tournament desk. It is the players responsibility to ask what method of scoring is used before play begins in every match.

Once a player reaches his/her second match or round whether it be by a win, bye, or default, he/she may be entered into the consolations, if scheduling permits .

RULE GUIDE

This is a condensed version the District Rules for easy reference. If you have questions that are not addressed here, please refer to Friend at Court, the official USTA Rule Book.

I. General District Rules for Members:

A. District Tournament Rules and Regulations will apply to all sanctioned tournaments. In the absence of a District rule, USTA rules will apply.

B. CCTA membership is mandatory.

1. No other membership in any other club or organization is required.

2. Membership is on an annual basis

3. Players must be listed on the current CCTA membership list before they will be allowed to play.

C. Starting times are the responsibility of the player.

D. Players must check in with the tournament desk before and after each match.

E. Participants may not compete below the class assigned by the CCTA Player Classification Committee. (See section defining classification rules).

F. Any player in violation of Rule E. during a tournament will be excluded from that competition and forfeit all entry fees.

G. Player Disqualification

1. Non-member:

1. Any player who participates in a tournament knowingly without CCTA membership will be banned from tournament play for the balance of the year; he must pay the dues for the year of the infraction before reinstatement can be considered.

2. Member disqualification – a player may have his membership cancelled by the Rules Committee for the balance of a year or more for the following infractions:

a. Persistent behavior problems including court obscenity, ball and racquet abuse, intimidation of or physical force against another tournament player.

b. Knowingly entering and participating in an inappropriate class.

c. Persistent and blatant miscalling of lines or other flagrant disregard of rules.

d. Repeated defaulting of matches without notifying the Tournament Director.

e. Entering of two tournaments during the same or overlapping periods resulting in defaulting of one.

3. Member suspension:

a. A player who fails to pay entry fees (including fees for bounced checks) will be suspended from all play until restitution is made. Players Note: a telephone entry, “in-person” entry, or mailed in “pay at the desk” entry, is binding and must be paid once the player is placed in the draw whether the player competes or not, unless the Tournament Director rules otherwise. (TD’s are encouraged not to accept the above types of entries.)

II. Event Disqualification:

1. The appearance of an ineligible player in a draw may result in the invalidation of that event for Me-N-Ed’s/CCTA Championships.
2. If a draw is invalidated, the valid players in the draw are entitled to request a refund for that event from the Tournament Director.
3. If an ineligible player is discovered during his/her first round, a default shall be declared and his first round opponent shall advance. An event shall not be disqualified in this instance.
4. If an ineligible player is detected after winning a match or event, it is left to the Tournament Director as to whether results shall stand for his tournament. However, the event may be declared disqualified for Me-N-Ed’s/CCTA championships and for Grand Prix or Ranking Points.
5. Final determinations of eligibility of all players and validity of tournament results for Grand Prix and rankings rest with District Rules Committee.

H. If an unclassified player enters a District sanctioned tournament, the player will be placed in the Open class UNLESS the player can present evidence of a lower classification that is appropriate. Evidence means tournament or match results, club professional confirmation and other information.

I. Players may not change the type of scoring that is specified by the tournament directors. If No-Ad scoring is required, then the players must use it. If the players change the scoring, the TD must give a warning if made aware of the change. If the scoring change continues, then the match is defaulted. TD’s should put up a sign at the desk to make sure the players are aware of the type of scoring required.

III. Specific Rules for Directors and/or Sponsors of All Tournament

A. The tournament must not be sanctioned by any other organization. An optional all inclusive fee may be charged for a social event during or after the tournament.

1. No other membership in any club/organization is required.

B. Directors are responsible to see that all participants compete in the class assigned by the District Player Classification Committee. If there are any questions regarding a player, contact the District office prior to the tournament draw.

C. All events must have a minimum of two (2) contestants or two (2) teams in order to qualify for the GPPS. If an event is scheduled in the Tournament Schedule and at least two (2) entries are received, then the event must be held and it may not be cancelled at the TD’s discretion. A director may limit the size of the draw based upon court limitations.

D. Complete tournament results must be received within one week following the final day of competition.

E. A copy of general tournament rules and regulations, memberships, and Grand Prix Points must be available at the tournament desk.

F. It is the responsibility of the TD to provide complete and specific information for each sanctioned tournament to be published in the annual Tournament Schedule.

G.

H. Failure to follow all of the established rules and regulations can result in the organization being placed on probation for a year and/or forfeiture of the tournament’s CCTA sanction.

I. Any combing of ratings into one draw, such as 5.0-4.5, is precluded under Rule B above.

J. All matches that are cancelled due to weather conditions are to be rescheduled by the TD within seven (7) days of the original schedule time.

K. CCTA sanctioned tournaments are required to use tennis balls which are specified for hard courts. Heavy duty balls meet this rule. Clay or grass court type balls are unacceptable.

L. A tournament is to be scheduled such that a player will not be required to play a singles match after the player has played a doubles match. An exception to this rule is made for consolation events.

M. A sanctioned event can’t be limited to adults only. All CCTA members are eligible to play. Juniors may play at a rating commensurate with playing ability.

N. The tournament official assigned to a tournament site shall not leave the site without good reason until the last match is completed so that disputes can be addressed, scores recorded and schedule matters resolved.

O. If a match is to be rescheduled due to other than weather or schedule conflict, the official must obtain approval of all players involved. It is not permissible to change a posted time due to a player or team request without the other players consent. Changing posted match times is strongly discouraged as it is unfair to others in the draw.

P. A current CCTA membership is required of each and every official of a CCTA sanctioned tournament.

Q. A referee must be named and visible at each tournament site.

R. There must be a minimum of two (2) officials at each tournament site at a sanctioned tournament.

Rule 28: Guidelines Governing Round Robin Play

A player or team may not drop out without permission and just cause. All matches will be 2 out of 3 sets. All entrants will play each other. A player who receives a default or retirement is credited with a win. For purposes of the tie-breaking procedures, the actual score at the time of default, or retirement shall be used in determining the number of sets and games lost. The winner is determined according to record. The player (or team) who wins the most matches is the winner. If two players (or teams) are tied, then the winner of the head-to-head match, is the winner. If three or more players (or teams) are tied, then the winner is determined by using the first of the following methods that will break the tie:

*the player who lost the fewest sets; * the player who lost the fewest games; * a random drawing. If the matches in a RR are the best of three sets and the third set is a tie-break, then the third set counts as one set for purposes of calculating sets lost and as one game for the purposes of calculating games lost.

Rule 29: The point Penalty System (PPS)

The purpose for adapting this system for CCTA sanctioned tournaments is to 1) deter unsportsmanlike conduct on the court, 2) ensure compliance with the continuous-play rule, and 3) ensure on-time appearance for matches. The imposition of penalties will primarily be the function of the TD or person(s) designated by them.

General Information:

Play shall be continuous from the first service till the match is concluded.

A maximum of 25 seconds shall elapse from the moment the ball goes out of play at the end of one point to the time the ball is struck for the next point, except that when changing ends a maximum of one minute thirty seconds shall elapse from the moment the ball goes out of play at the end of the game to the time the ball is struck for the first point of the next game.

Play shall never be suspended, delayed or interfered with for the purpose of enabling a player to recover his strength of his breath.

The tournament official shall have three minutes to determine the extent of an injury. The official must then decide whether the player should have additional time for treatment taking into account the need to be fair to the non-injured player. In no case should the injured player be allowed to leave the court area without permission of the official nor should more than 15 minutes elapse between the occurrence of the injury and before play is resumed or a default is declared. The point penalty system shall be applied after 15 minutes.

If in the opinion of the tournament official, there is a genuine toilet emergency, a player may make a toilet visit provided he or she goes directly to and from the restroom without any delay.

Players in the San Joaquin Valley are entitled to a rest after the second set, which shall not exceed 10 minutes. There is no warm-up following the rest. If neither player wishes to rest, play shall be continuous. If players (teams) are involved in a long match which ends after said player’s next starting time, the director shall be obliged to give a minimum thirty minutes before the next match. He shall not be required to give any more. A lateness penalty begins to accrue according to the posted starting time.

The direction to play at expiration of Warm-up Period has the effect of a warning: there after any delays during the match of more than 25 seconds shall call for the penalties shown under time violations.

If both players (teams) are equally responsible for delay, any penalties will be imposed upon the Server. Lateness in being ready to resume match after an intermission: one game; after five minutes: default.

All penalties under PPS are treated as though the points or games actually have been played so far as serving order, court occupancy and ball changes are concerned. Exception: A player penalized for Lateness also loses his option with respect to service or end of the first game played. The first ball change shall be reckoned from the first game played.

A point penalty is scored as though the player had played and lost what would have the next point.

A game penalty imposed during a game means loss of the game in progress, regardless of the point score at the time. The new game begins at love. A penalty imposed between games or prior to the start of a match will apply to the next point or game to be played.

A player who is the beneficiary of a penalty imposed on his opponent may not decline to accept it any more than he could decline to accept a point for a double fault by his opponent. A player who disobeys the instructions of an official, is liable to be defaulted.

Substitutions in the Draw: When the number of entrants exceeds the number to which the draw is limited, the Tournament Committee will prepare a list of alternatives in priority for use by the Referee in replacing players who become unavailable for competition. Priority is determined by lot. Once play has started there may be no changes made in a draw because of a default other than the substitution of a player on an official waiting list.

This is a partial list of CCTA Rules and Regulations for tournament play. If you have questions that are not addressed here, always refer to A Friend at Court, the official USTA rulebook. Remember, the USTA rules always apply in the absence of a CCTA rule.