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| Toronto Ladies Tennis League - Playing
Rules |
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| For the purpose of interpreting these rules,
the League shall be known as the Toronto Ladies Tennis League. The
League has two (2) Divisions, namely the Evening and Day. Except where
noted, these rules apply to both Divisions. This is an outdoor league.
Ignorance of these rules will not be accepted as an excuse for any
violation. |
| 1 |
Only clubs located within the geographic boundaries of the City
of Toronto as of March 6, 2006 may enter the League. Those clubs outside
the City of Toronto that are present members of the League are grandfathered
in. |
| 2 |
2 All new clubs applying to join the League must have four (4) evening
courts with playing lights, or three (3) day courts, available in
one location at match time. (Two long-time member clubs which do not
comply with this Rule, Rosedale and York Racquets, were grandfathered
in by the League at March 1, 1976.) |
| 3 |
Evening Division matches are to consist of four (4) ladies’
doubles matches.
Day Division matches are to consist of three (3) ladies’ doubles
matches. |
| 4 |
No player shall take part in more than one event in each match.
Each player must be a member in good standing of the club she represents.
Each composite player must be a member of good standing of a tennis
club located within the boundaries of Metropolitan Toronto. |
| 5 |
No player shall represent more than one club in an Evening Division
match during one season. No player shall represent more than one club
in a Day Division match during one season. |
| 6 |
Teams: |
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- may use only two (2) juniors in any match (A junior is defined
by the ITF Rules of Tennis: any person under 18 as of December 31
of the preceding year) |
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- may not use any player under suspension by the Ontario Tennis
Association |
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| 7 |
All new teams shall apply for entry into the League in the lowest
section of the Evening or Day Divisions, however, the Executive may
place the team elsewhere provided no team is demoted against their
wishes. |
| 8 |
The home team will provide three (3) new balls per team pair (USTA
approved) |
| 9 |
All players participating in League matches must wear regulation
tennis attire. Clubs observing "white attire only" rules
must notify visiting captains in good time. |
| 10 |
All matches shall be played by Rules of the Court 2004
published by Tennis Canada. |
| 11 |
A match shall consist of the best of three (3) sets. At six (6)
games all in a set, a twelve (12) point tiebreaker will be played.
Each match won counts one (1) point. |
| 12(a) |
Evening Division |
| |
All matches are to start at 7 p.m. with a 7.15 p.m. default time.
Captains of teams with approved earlier/later starting times must
notify visiting team captains at least eight (8) days prior to the
match. |
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Captains must ensure that their teams are arranged so that their
strongest pair of players is playing in the first position, second
strongest in second position, third strongest in third position, and
fourth strongest in fourth position. Any default must be made at the
fourth position. |
| 12(b) |
Day Division |
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All matches are to start at 10 a.m. with a 10.15 a.m. default time.
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Captains must ensure that their teams are arranged so that their
strongest pair of players is playing in first position, second strongest
in second position and third strongest in third position. Any default
must be made at the third position. |
| 13 |
The match starting default time may be modified with the mutual
agreement of the two team captains. |
| 14 |
For each team pair that defaults or withdraws, one point shall
be forfeited to their opponents. |
| 15 |
The captains shall submit their team lineups simultaneously in
writing to the opposing captain before each match. |
| 16 |
Where the home team has access to indoor courts for play, these
may be used only during inclement weather and with
the consent of the visiting team captain. |
| 17 |
A suspended match is a match in progress
where play has to cease. The warm-up period is not part of the match.
A match begins when the first server has released the ball and hit
the ball with a racquet before the ball hits the ground. In the
event of a suspended match due to weather conditions
or poor light so that play has to be called before the end of the
game:
- the points scored will stand
- a record must be kept of the score when play ceased
- the same four players will resume the match from that score
- a record must be kept of the players positions when play ceased, the server, and the rotation of the serve
- the same set of balls will be used
- the match should be completed within one week |
| 18 |
A postponed match is a match which did not begin
on its scheduled date. The warm-up period is not part of the match.
A match begins when the first server has released the ball and hit
the ball with a racquet before the ball hits the ground
A postponed match must be played within one week of its originally
scheduled date. Every effort should be made to play: |
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- on the days suggested by the home team captain |
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- with substitute players |
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- pairs playing on different days |
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- playing the matches on the "away" courts or at pay-as-you-play
courts |
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- on indoor courts if none of the above four options is appropriate
(Indoor
costs to be shared equally only if playing indoors is mutually
agreeable to both team captains) |
| 19 |
Member clubs having teams in more than one section may have a player
substitute once only in a higher section without forfeiting her right
to return to play for her regular team.
Member clubs having teams in more than one section may not use
as a substitute on the second/lower team any player that has already
played twice for the senior/first team. Member clubs having two
teams in the same section shall, for the purposes of player eligibility,
be considered as two separate entities, with no interchange of players
permitted during that season. |
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| 20(a) |
Evening and Day Division Play-Offs: In the event of a tie at the
top or bottom of any section of either Division, the winner shall
be determined by the number of sets won during the season. If the
number of sets is tied, a play-off match will be arranged.
Play-off matches between teams tied at the top of any section
at the completion of the schedule will take place on the appointed
play-off date. In the event of rain, the match will be played indoors.
Only the costs of the indoor court time will be paid by the League.
The day before the match the two captains will submit their line-ups
to their Division secretary. To be eligible for a play-off match,
each player must have played at least two League matches during
the current season for the team she is representing. The winner
of the toss will host the match and provide the refreshments, the
loser will supply the balls. A member of the executive, or their
appointee, will be present at the play-off to act as an observer.
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When three (3) teams are tied at the top or bottom of a section,
the first round ?bye? for the play-off will be determined by a toss. |
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Note: The Executive of the League has the option of: |
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- relegating all tied bottom teams to the lower section |
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- subject to space availability, elevating two (2) tied top teams
to the higher section |
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- elevating a proven very high calibre team to a higher section |
| 20(b) |
Evening Division Play-Offs: In the case of a 2-2
tie, the winner will be determined by the number of sets won. If the
sets are tied, then pairs 1, 2 and 3 will each play a 12 point tiebreaker
to determine the winner. |
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Play-offs will be arranged for teams tied at the bottom of any section
with six (6) or more points. |
| 20(c) |
Day Division Play-Offs: Play-offs will be arranged
for teams tied at the bottom of any section with five (5) or more
points. |
| 21 |
The team at the bottom of each section will automatically drop to
the next section down for the following year’s play. The team
at the top of each section will automatically go up to the next highest
section for the following year’s play. The previous year’s
standings shall be used as a basis for any League restructure of sections
required by expansion or deduction of the Divisions. |
| 22 |
The home team captain shall report results of each match played
at her club to the League, in writing, on the form
provided. This information is to be faxed or mailed not later than
24 hours after completion of the match. If the match is postponed
for any reason, the home captain is to advise her Division secretary
by telephone within 24 hours of the match postponement. Failure to
submit the weekly match score to the Division secretary within a reasonable
time limit may result in the League assessing penalty points against
the team responsible. |
| 23 |
All clubs with winter bubbles must guarantee that their courts will
be in a safe playable condition for the first home game of their schedule.
If this is not possible, then the club shall be restricted to having
one team only in the Evening Division and one team only in the Day
Division. If the club wishes to retain two teams in either Division
and cannot make such a guarantee, the club must provide alternative
courts at a convenient site. |
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| Amended March 6,
2006 |
