The following includes information and responsibilities for each team captain.

Please review this information carefully and relay all information to your team members.

 

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USTA Southern 55 & 65 and Over Mixed Sectional Invitational

 

The following includes information and responsibilities for each team captain.

Please review this information carefully and relay all information to your team members.

 

Player Eligibility Requirements

• Team members are eligible to advance to championship level competition if that player has played on the same team in at least one match at the same NTRP level in the same League Type during its local league season and is otherwise eligible.  A maximum of one default received by the player during local league competition shall count for advancing.

• If there is just one team in the state, that team may advance directly to the Invitational without any match requirements.

• Additional teams and players may be granted a waiver by the Tournament Committee to be eligible to advance to the Championship. 

• All players must possess current USTA membership through the conclusion of the USTA Southern Sectional Invitational Championship.

 

Tournament Headquarters

 

Burns Park Tennis Center    

4000 Joe Poch Drive

North Little Rock, AR

 

 

Scheduled Matches

• Scorecards are available at the site desk.

• The captain is responsible for checking his/her team in at the site of the match.  When all players are present and ready to play, the captain will turn in their lineup at the site desk .

•  It is asked that captains turn in scorecards 30 minutes prior to the start of their scheduled match.

• If a team has a known default, the opposing team will have the opportunity to revise their scorecard once both scorecards are turned in and the default has been announced by the site director.

• In the event of illness or injury prior to the start of an individual match (once the line-up has been exchanged), a team may substitute a player in the affected position within the 15-minute default time, using a player not already listed on the line-up. If no such substitution can be made, the affected position only will be defaulted.

• If a captain duplicates a name in error on a scorecard, a team may be allowed to substitute a player for the duplicate name in the lower position (at the discretion of the Tournament Committee), using a player not already listed on the line-up. A substitution may only be made in the lower position if the error is discovered before the match begins. If no such substitution can be made, the affected position only will be defaulted.

• The Point Penalty System, which includes the 15-minute default time rule, will be strictly enforced.   Court monitors may be used to time warm-ups and changeovers.

• Winners of individual matches will take the balls and report the score immediately to the site desk.

• Captains are expected to sign each scorecard after each scheduled match is completed before leaving the tennis facility. Failure to sign the scorecard may result in scores posted online only confirmed by opposing captain.

• If a team match is postponed following the exchange of line-ups, the original line-up will stand for the make-up match UNLESS teams are released from the tournament by the Tournament Director and/or Referee. If teams are released, the line-up would stand only for those positions that have already started (first service attempt) and all other positions (even those that were in warm-up) may be changed including defaulted courts.

• Tournament Referees will not be used to make line calls or call foot faults.

• In the event of significant weather challenges, the Tournament Committee may use an alternate scoring match format, in order to complete the tournament.  See Alternate Scoring in captain’s packet.

 

 

The USTA Southern Sectional Invitational Mixed 55/65 and Over Championship format shall be unflighted matches or round robins in all levels of competition unless the Championship Committee authorizes a format change in order to complete scheduled matches. There may be playoffs in some divisions.

The procedure outlined in the National regulations (2.03H-1) will be followed in the event of a tie:  

2.03H(1) Individual Matches. Winner of the most individual matches in the entire competition. 

2.03H(2) Head-to-Head. Winner of head-to-head match. 

2.03H(3) Sets. Loser of the fewest number of sets. 

2.03H(4) Games. Loser of the fewest number of games. 

 

Match Warm-Up

 At the Southern Sectional Invitational Mixed 55/65  and Over Championship a ten (10) minute warm-up will be observed with a fifteen (15) minute default.  If matches are moved indoors a five (5) minute warm-up will be observed with a fifteen (15) minute default.

 

Scoring & Rest

All matches will be the best of two tie-break sets with a match tiebreak in lieu of a third set. There will be a two minute set break at the end of each set with no coaching.  The Championship Committee may authorize alternate scoring at any time during the championship to complete team matches.

 

Cellular Phones

The tournament referee has banned the use of cell phones during tournament matches.  Players must turn off their cell phones prior to the start of their match. Cell phone rings during a match will result in a point penalty for the first offense, a game penalty for the second offense and a default for the third offense.

 

Team Defaults

Each team must have the minimum number of eligible players available for play in each team match.  The Championship Committee, by majority vote, can reduce that number to not less than four (4).

A team may default a maximum of one (1) position in a three (3) position match without defaulting the entire match. Defaults shall be determined by the team captain and defaulted position(s) shall be the lower doubles courts.

If a team defaults an entire team match for any reason during play, then all matches of that team played or to be played shall be null and void when determining standings.  If all teams in contention for the championships have already played the defaulting team in good faith, those matches stand as played.  The Championship Committee may impose additional penalties on the defaulting team.

 

Tournament Rain Delay Policy

In the event of rain, the Site Director on-site will stop play and players will report their score in progress to the site desk. Players will not be allowed to leave the site until released by the Site Director on site. If needed, play will continue with alternate scoring and under lights if necessary, to keep on schedule

 

Medical Conditions

Medical conditions include but are not limited to an injury, illness, and heat-related condition or cramping.

Medical Time-Out: A medical time-out consists of evaluation time as determined by the referee plus a maximum of three minutes treatment time.

 

• Request for a medical time-out. A request for a medical time-out may be made by a player to the tournament desk. During the match or warm-up, if a player suffers from a medical condition or believes that medical diagnosis or treatment is required, the player may request a one-time medical time-out for that medical condition. Subsequently, he may request another medical time-out for a different medical condition. Only one medical time-out shall be permitted for heat-related conditions and cramping in any match, even if the heat-related condition or cramping occurs to different parts of the body.

 

• Toilet visit. A player may request one or more suspensions of play for a toilet visit. Toilet breaks should be taken at set breaks, unless it is an emergency, in which case the break preferably is taken during an odd game changeover, but it may be taken immediately. No coaching shall be permitted during the suspension of play for either a medical time-out or a toilet visit.

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NTRP Disqualifications

USTA Southern Sectional Invitational Mixed 55/65 and Over Sectional Invitational Championship is a non-rating generating league.

 

Self-Rate NTRP Grievance

Any NTRP Grievances against any player’s and/or captains participating in the USTA Southern Sectional Invitational Mixed 55/65 and Over Championship will be administered after the championship.

 

Coman Tiebreak Procedure

The Coman Tiebreak procedure will be used at these Championships.

 

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Administration

• Rain Hotline Number: 877-460-7272

• Tournament Committee will use proper and fair judgment with regard to all sectional tournament-related issues

• Tournament Committee: To be appointed by Arkansas Adult League Committee Chair with Arkansas Tennis Association Executive Director serving as Chairman

• Championship Grievance Committee: To be appointed by Arkansas State League Coordinator

• Championship Procedures may be amended at the Tournament Committee’s discretion

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