• By the designated “Deadline for Initial Team Rosters”: a team must have the minimum number of players required to play a team match registered to their online TennisLink roster. Failure to meet this requirement will result in the team not being included in the scheduling process for that season.
• Before any player can play a match he must:
• Be on the internet roster. Anyone playing a team match that is not on the TennisLink roster will forfeit the line they played.
• Have a current NTRP computer rating (good for 3 years; 2 years for 60+) or self rate during registration based on the NTRP guidelines.
• Self-rating players will be required to fill out an online questionnaire during the registration process as a part of the self-rating process.

Match Times

• Home teams are responsible for match times at their facilities.
• Match times are now typically being provided on the schedules as assigned by the facilities.
• Matches will be played on Saturday’s with start times between 9:00am and 3:00pm. Where the league overlaps with the women’s league, the women will receive the earlier match times.
• Home team captain should contact the Visiting team captain with the match time by the Sunday prior to the match.
• When both captains agree, teams may:
• split match times if it does not interfere with other team play and court availability,
• start match time outside of the recommended start window,
• play on a different day,
• play indoors,
• Exception: some sites may have to split court times due to shortage of courts or scheduling problem. It is advisable that both captains inform the league coordinator of schedule changes.

Format

• Spring Format: 2 singles and 3 doubles matches per team match in a round robin (3.0 – 4.5; 2.5 and 5.0 plays 1 singles and 2 doubles).
• Fall Format: 1 singles and 3 doubles matches per team match in a round robin (2.5 plays 1 singles and 2 doubles).
• Matches will be 2 out of 3 sets, regular scoring - the third set will be a match/championship tie-break (first to 10 points, win by 2).
• If a third set is played out in full rather than by tie-break, the set will still be recorded as 1-0 in TennisLink.
• Regular sets will play a 12 point tie-break at 6-6.
• Coman tie-break rotation should be used for all tie-breaks to be consistent with format played at Sectionals and Nationals.
• 10 minute warm-up including serve. Choice of serve/sides should be made before warm-up.
• “Continuous play” format is being employed. The first three (3) games of each set are played without a break and a break (2 minutes) is taken between sets one and two. A 10 minute break between sets two and three is allowed unless a match tie-break is being played in lieu of a third set, then only a two minute break is allowed.

Scoring

• A scoring system consistent with that being used by the TennisLink system.
• A tie in a team match, down to the fewest games lost, will be broken by the TennisLink system. The computer will decide the winner and historically gives the win to the visiting team.

Playoffs

• Playoffs are held for the Spring Leagues during June (look to schedules for specific dates and locations). Typically the top 40% of the teams per flight are typically invited to participate in the playoffs. The playoff will be a round robin format. Levels at playoffs may be broken into flights depending on the number of participating teams. In such a case, the flight winners will meet in a final to determine which team advances. Teams participating in the playoffs are required to compete in every match assigned.
• Players must appear on at least two scorecards to participate in championship play (local playoffs or Sectionals). Of these two matches, only one can be obtained through default - the other must have been played (new rule from Nationals in 2007).

Scorecards

• Blank “old style” scorecards can be downloaded or printed from the home page of this website or,
• Blank scorecards can be printed through TennisLink. If you print a blank scorecard for a specific match, that scorecard will list the rosters of both teams assigned to the match number. This can alleviate problems with players being on the scorecard but not on the roster. Note: there is no “signature” line on these scorecards but signatures can be and should be obtained anyway.
• Captains, or designates, should sign the scorecards only after the scores are recorded and verified.
• Enter/confirm scores in TennisLink system within one day of match. Action is required from both teams. Promptness in scoring is a necessity in the DNTRP system. The TennisLink system will automatically confirm matches not confirmed within 48 hours of the result entry.
• Call/email the league coordinator with any problems.
• Keep the signed scorecards as protection for disputed scorecards on the TennisLink system.

Playing in Multiple Leagues

• It has been approved that players in the Texas Section may play in two leagues at the same time. There is a risk associated with playing two levels at the same time. All scores will be used to calculate the DNTRP rating and players may find themselves bumped to the higher level. The rules regarding Multiple League Play are:
• In leagues not beginning at the same time, the player is committed to the first team he signs with for championship play (Sectionals or USPTA tournament). Once the primary team is eliminated, his commitment ends and he may continue with the second team. (i.e. FW and Dallas league play)
• If the leagues begin at the same time, the decision regarding primary commitment must be made prior to the start of the league. (i.e. FW only leagues)
• It is the player’s responsibility to inform both captains that he is playing on another team and to declare primary commitment.
• Players participating in two levels take the risk of having their NTRP rating increase because of the participation at the higher level.
• This approval includes the ability for players to play in more than one league at the same level (i.e. Fort Worth and Waco or Dallas, etc.). Declaration of participation is required in both leagues. League participation in this arrangement has been left to the discretion of each local league.

Rescheduling

• Teams should reschedule when the weather is too severe or when the home site is inundated with rain at match time.
• Teams should not rely on the rain date provided at the end of the season to serve as an automatically available date for their make-up. Dates listed on the schedule as rain dates need to be reserved for "crisis management" to get outstanding matches played for playoff standings determination. Make-up matches should be played on Sundays, during the week, via a double header on Saturdays or scheduled line-by-line to ensure the match gets made up in a timely fashion.
• Both captains will take responsibility for contacting the other. Both captains should offer two dates/times for the make-up as a whole team or two dates/times for each individual court. If individual players are contacting the opposing players, by court assignment, these players are not locked in, unless they had started play before the rainout.
• Reschedule weather related postponements within one week 72 hours and play the match within 10 days of the originally scheduled date or by the cutoff for the end of the league, which ever comes first.
• Matches not rescheduled by 12:00 noon on the following Saturday will be scheduled for play, sometime during the following week (Tuesday through Tuesday) by the Local Grievance Committee.
• Both captains should e-mail the league coordinator with new times, dates, and site for all lines needing to be played. This protects teams against any confusion that may occur.
• There is no start time window for rescheduling rainouts. The matches can be played mornings, afternoons, nights or on weekends.
• Once a match is rescheduled and confirmed by both captains, the date, time and site cannot be changed unless it is rained out again or the weather is too severe.
• Once the rescheduling deadline has past and the coordinator has not received a team’s reschedule information, the Local Grievance Committee dates will override any times received from teams past the deadline.

Rained Out Matches

• Original lineup can be changed if zero matches have been started before the rain.
• If one court starts playing, the roster is locked for all courts scheduled to play at that time, including any forfeits.
• Write down the scores, sets, games, who was serving, which side, etc. when a match’s progress is delayed due to rain.
• If there is no rain but courts were wet at scheduled time of play, allow 30 minutes for courts to dry. If still not playable, then treat the match as a rain out.
• If indoor courts are available to continue rained out play, the matches will be considered as a rain makeup. Not all courts are required to play makeup indoors at that time.

Indoor Courts

• Indoor courts are recommended only if the forecast indicates a high probability of wet weather.
• Both captains must agree to use indoor courts.
• All players will share indoor court fees.
• If match time is limited (i.e. indoor courts are used) then the captains should agree on the format before the match is played. Options include starting sets at 2-2 and no-ad scoring.

Defaults/Forfeits

• Captains forfeiting a court before play should start with court 3 doubles or court 2 singles (court 1 if in the Fall or 2.5/5.0). Please notify the opposing captain of a forfeit at least two hours before scheduled play (not required but good sportsmanship).
• If a captain declares a forfeit a few days before the match and later has an available player, the opposing captain will not be required to play the court involved. If this occurs and the match is rained out, the original line-up can be changed and defaults removed as outlined above in "Rained Out Matches".
• AT MATCH TIME, Captains need to make sure their watches have the same time. If a player is 15-minutes late from the start time and courts are available, the match is a forfeit. If the missing player was scheduled to play doubles, some of the doubles teams will not start until the 15-minute forfeit is called. However, the singles can start their play on time and the same holds true for the doubles when a singles player is not on time.
• If 3rd doubles late, the 1st and 2nd doubles can start on time.
• If 2nd doubles late, the 1st doubles can start on time.
• If 1st doubles late, all doubles will have to wait until a forfeit is declared.
• If a player fails to appear and no substitute is available, the forfeit will start from the bottom up for singles and/or doubles. Example: #1 doubles missing a player, the 2nd doubles will move to 1st doubles and the 3rd doubles will move to 2nd doubles and the 3rd doubles will forfeit.
• Late players, still in the time frame, will be allowed a 5-minute warm-up, including serves.

EXCEPTION FOR FORFEITING FROM BOTTOM

• When a player is injured or becomes ill during warm-up and there are not subs.
• When courts are played at different times.
• When an ineligible player causes a forfeit.
• If a late player calls the site and states that he is almost there, but cannot make it before the forfeit time and the waiting player wants to still play the match, the late player will be down 3 games with loss of toss. Player will be allowed a 5-minute warm-up, including serves.
• When a match is not completed by the time another team is scheduled to play and other courts are not available, the unfinished match must stop for the incoming players. The home team, with the unfinished match, must provide a court within 30 minutes or lose the match. However, it is good sportsmanship for the incoming players to wait if the foregoing match is about finished.
• A team forfeiting greater than 50% of the scheduled lines of play at one time will not be eligible for an award or a playoff position for that league. The team will be removed from the standings unless the teams in contention have already played the defaulting team. If three or less matches remain to be played for the league, the forfeiting team may be asked to play the minimum number of courts required in order to qualify players on the opposing team(s). REFER to NATIONAL REGULATION 2.03L (Scoring of Team Defaults; 2011).

• Any team defaulting an entire match will have all players on the roster suspended from all USTA League Tennis in the Fort Worth area for a period of 11 months from the start date of the league the infraction occurred. If a player registers for a team while on suspension, that player will be moved to a holding team in the TennisLink system and the player will forfeit the associated registration fee. In the case of an extenuating circumstance, the suspension may be appealed to the League Committee (ftwusta@gmail.com).

• When a team is scheduled during the Spring/Fall break, religious holidays, Sectionals or Nationals and is unable to fill all courts, the team needs to reschedule the courts involved and play, if possible, before the original scheduled date. The players that are available will play on the original scheduled date. No automatic defaults for these special occasions. The rescheduling rules for a rain out will be applied.
• Try to arrive at the site 30 minutes prior to match time. Accidental circumstances for no shows will be taken into concideratation.

• one point per team win,
• most individual matches won,
• fewest number of sets lost,
• fewest number of games lost,
• head to head,
• a method to be determined by the league coordinator.

Adding/Deleting Players

• Players can be added from roster deadline through 2nd week.
• Afterwards, players can only be added when a player is injured for the rest of the season, or due to extenuating circumstance.
• No additions can be made for last match or playoffs.
• Added player must be same level or lower than one being replaced. Self-rated players cannot be used to replace a player.
• Added players must pay league fee, meet all requirements and be entered through the league coordinator on the internet roster before they can play.
• Inform the league coordinator if you need to delete a player.

Host Team Requirements

• Notify Visiting captain by Sunday before match of the start time.
• Provide new USTA approved yellow standard sized balls. Oversized balls may be used only if agreed on by all players on the court.
• Pay guest fees (except splitting indoor court fees).
• Provide water on the court or notify opposing team that water is not available on site so they may bring their own.
• Responsible for drying courts.
• Provide soft drinks after the match.
• Advise visiting captains if rest room facilities are not available.
• Advise visiting captain of any known construction that might cause a delay in travel time.
• After receiving schedule, verify with your club the dates/times your team will be using home courts.

Respect Facility Rules
Facilities have their own specific rules relating to appropriate tennis attire including shirts (some facilities do not allow the new men’s sleeveless tennis shirts), shorts and shoes (typically non-marking tennis shoes are fine). Facilities also have rules regarding what types of beverages can be brought into the facility and consumed on the premises. Please be aware of the facility rules and respect these rules to ensure that the leagues will be allowed to continue using these facilities in the future.

Geographical Area
With the inclusion of Midlothian, the following are the geographical boundaries for the league. DFW Hilton, Southlake and Trophy Club across the north. Midlothian to Pecan Plantation across the south. Hilton to Midlothian across the east. Pecan Plantation northward on the west.

Cell Phones
All players need to turn off and not use their cell phones while they are on the court.

Other Rules

USTA Rules, Code of Conduct, Friend at Court, Regulations (located on the Texas Section web site) and Local rules will all be used.

Awards

Awards for levels with greater than four teams will be given to the 1st and 2nd place teams, otherwise to the 1st place team.

League Coordinator contact information:

Email: leagues@fortworthmenstennis.com

Phone: (817) 821-5640