The word "team" is used throughout this document and has two meanings. To distinguish between them, we will denote each individual team (small t) and each group of four teams as a Team (capital T).
- Matches are to be completed by the Saturday date shown on the schedule. Matches will start between 8:30 am and noon on Saturday unless both captains agree to an earlier alternate time. It is permissible to play individual matches in advance of the scheduled date, if agreeable to both teams. If such agreement is not made, the team that is not ready to play on the scheduled Saturday will be defaulted. Team matches are played top to bottom, so that if a single team defaults, it will be in the fourth spot, then the third, etc. Matches should be played in all weather conditions unless the Teams consider court conditions to be hazardous for effective play. If the courts are deemed unplayable prior to a visiting Team’s arrival, it is the responsibility of the home team to call the visiting Team prior to them traveling. If that is the case, makeup matches due to weather conditions must be post played within 10 days from original scheduled date.
- Each Club's Teams field four teams per match, with one point for each winning team. The Home Team will contact the Visiting Team to set the time of the match and the Home Team Captain will promptly (by Wednesday following the date of the scheduled match) report the scores and lineups to the League. The League will collate the scores and report standings to all Team Captains on a weekly basis. If scores are not reported by the Wednesday following the date on which the match was scheduled to have been played, each team will receive ZERO POINTS for that week. Or, if scores are not reported after 10 days of original match date due to weather conditions causing a post play, the matches will be deemed unplayed and each team will receive ZERO POINTS. As such, although the home Team is responsible for entering scores in an accurate and timely manner, both Captains should take appropriate steps to see that the scores are posted correctly on time.
- Final standings at the end of the regular season determine upward and downward movement for the next year. There are no playoffs. In the event two Teams tie in a Division (same number of wins), the winner will be the Team which won the most sets between the tied teams. If the sets won ended as a tie, then the winner will be the Team whose #1 team won its match. If 3 or more Teams are tied, the win goes to the Team with the most sets won among those affected, or the loss goes to the Team with the fewest sets won. This procedure continues until a full order of finish is achieved or 2 are left with a tie, in which case the above 2 Team tie-breaker is used. If this procedure does not resolve the tie between 3 or more Teams, substitute the records of the #1 teams to achieve the result. If still unresolved, then use #2 teams, etc. through #4 teams, if necessary. If still not resolved, a coin toss procedure supervised by the League Officers will be used.
Note: It is important to report accurate set scores due to the tie-breaker system.
- Clubs are honor bound not to shuffle players and to play all teams on the basis of "best available to play" on that date, in order of skill. This principal permits legitimate moves up or down within teams and between Teams. PLAYERS MAY PLAY UP TO FILL A VACANCY, BUT MAY NOT PLAY DOWN FROM THEIR POSITION. Suspected infractions should be referred to the League President immediately for a ruling. Players belonging to more than one league member club must opt and play for one club only during the season. Violation of this Rule will result in forfeiture of any match played for a club other than the club for which the player first opted.
- DEFAULT RULE: If any Team defaults more than four individual matches, its captain, upon request, shall submit to the League President its explanation for its failure to play. The President, after consultation with the other League Officers, will inform the defaulting Team whether its conduct is excused under League Rules, and if it is not, in the sole discretion of the League Officers, the penalty shall be either demotion to the Division below that which its record would otherwise warrant, or suspension from League play for one year.
- APTA Rules of play prevail. 12 point tiebreakers to be played in all sets.
Revised 9/8/03
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