SSTA RULES
FOR 15-WEEK MIXED COMPETITION
(As at 7 October 2019)
Note: Changes
from the previous version of the Rules appear in RED.
1. No Late Nomination fees are payable this
season
2. No permission is required from SSTA
Executive to play an unregistered player.
Executive
members are available for consultation if required. Team Captains are required
to rank the player/s accordingly on the front of the score sheet and enter the
player details on the back. Late nominations will be reviewed the following
Delegate’s meeting and submitted scores may be adjusted.
1.
Courts/Fixtures
Each court must be first approved by the Executive
before it is available for a match.
Each club must nominate a playing surface (Grass, Hard
or Synthetic) on the team nomination form and have a minimum of 2 courts
available for play.
In the event
that courts are not available for any reason, it is the Home Team’s
responsibility to arrange change of venue and to notify the opposing team.
Each court must have a correctly adjusted center
strap.
Each club must make a thermometer available and
affixed in a suitable position.
2. Playing days
Matches will be played on Saturdays. A player may not
take part in more than one match of any particular Pennant
scheduled for any one day. (NOTE: This covers matches played on dates other
than those originally fixed.)
Players must be financial members of a South Suburban
Tennis Association affiliated Club.
Each team shall consist of 2
men and 2 ladies. All players (including
reserves) must be included on the team nomination form. All players (including
reserves) must be ranked in order of playing strength.
5. Nominations
Club Ranking List
Each Club entering two or more pennant teams MUST
submit a full Club list (of SSTA nominated players only) in ranked order
in addition to their team lists at each seasons October meeting of
delegates.
Pennant Team List
All team nominations to be made on a prescribed
nomination form provided by the Association and such nomination form to
be lodged with the Association for consideration at each seasons October
meeting of delegates. Such prescribed nomination form shall contain:
a) The full name of each player.
b) Previous playing grade - if a new player to the
Association, special details
of prior tennis experience and level of ability to be
fully advised.
c) Clubs must nominate a minimum of 2 men and 2 ladies to
comprise a team.
Reserves for each
time are to be nominated as such.
d) Each player,
including reserves, must be ranked in order of playing strength
within the team.
Refer to Rule 9 covering playing order.
LATE NOMINATIONS
– adopted 2018/2019 season – no late nomination fees.
Late nominations
will be considered on a month by month basis under the following guidelines:
Delegates
meetings:
October
- Nominations close
October – November – Adopted 2018/2019 season -
All registrations(no permission required from SSTA Executive to play an
unregistered player) will be accepted on the understanding that they will be
reviewed at the next Delegates Meeting, where the decision may be reversed and
points affected. The intention is to allow all players to play but in
correctly seeded order. Executive members are available for consultation
if required.
Details of
player/s nominated must be included on the score sheet on their first playing
day. Player may continue to play on weeks following without further
nomination requests being made or completion of details on score sheet.
The Club must
submit details of this nominated player on the prescribed Late Nomination form
at the November Delegates meeting where the player/s will be officially
approved and registered by the Recorder.
Late nominations
will be accepted up to and including the November Delegates Meeting.
December –
finals
Will not normally be accepted but may be approved by the Executive in the case
of injury or other exceptional circumstances.
Players nominated and approved during this time are only approved on a playing
day to playing day proposition.
Each time the player is required, the Club concerned must seek approval from a
member of the SSTA Executive Committee and if approved, that players details
must be included on the score sheet on each day of such approval.
The Club must
submit details of this nominated player on the prescribed Late Nomination form
at the February Delegates meeting.
Players
nominated during this time will not automatically be considered for permanent
registration. An official request must be made by the Club concerned and
will only be considered under exceptional circumstances and in the best
interests of SSTA pennant tennis.
Decisions
regarding this will be made at the Delegates meetings.
·
Late
nominations will not be accepted if he/she is deemed to strengthen the team
unless special circumstances prevail a decision will be made by the EXECUTIVE.
6. Match Playing
Times
Play is to start at 1.30pm unless re-scheduled to another time. In the event of
a player being a late arrival, the opposing Captain may claim a
forfeit on any set not commenced within 10 minutes of start time if there is a
court available for the set to be played. Play to cease at sunset unless
both Captains agree to continue play. Check BOM website for time of
sunset.
7. Player absent
Late Arrival
a) Should a team arrive with any of its players
missing, ie a late arrival, then that team should
forfeit all sets affected by the late arrival that the missing players or
players are required to play. If such a forfeit is enforced by the
opposing Captain, it shall only be enforced at the start of each set
that the player is required to play. It shall not be enforced at the
start of the match for the whole match.
Unavailable
b) If a
team is aware they cannot field a full team of 2 Men
and 2 Ladies
they are
to contact the opposing team Captain at the earliest opportunity and advise
him/her of such.
If a compromise can be reached between the Captains to
accommodate later play or a different playing day, it can
be done and the Recorder is to be notified forthwith.
However either Captain has the right to refuse a different start
time and enforce the forfeit as outlined above.
c) Player Pool – Teams needing to borrow a
player must approach another Club through their Delegate. Players can
only be drawn from the same division or lower and must be of the same or lower
ranking of player they are replacing. Matches and games played by the
player pool reserve will count on the scorecard. Matches played for
another Club cannot be counted as a qualifying match for Finals. All
options to draw players from within your own Club should be exhausted prior to
requesting a player from another Club. Confirmation of change must be
endorsed by a member of the Executive, prior to play. Clubs to mark with
an asterisk on their Team Nomination Forms, those players willing to be a part
of the Player Pool.
8. Format of play (all grades)
A match shall consist of 8
sets being:
· 4 Mixed Doubles
· 2 Men’s Doubles
· 2 Ladies’ Doubles
All sets are to be played first to 8 games.
A normal first to 7 points tie-break is to be
played at 7 all for all sets.
9. Order of play
a) The order of play, regardless of number
of available courts, is as per score card
b) Players must
play in ranked order on the day according to the Club and team rankings
submitted by the Club and held by the Recorder.
c)
Interchange Players
i)
Teams
may nominate interchange players for a match. Interchange players must be
registered players of the team or a lower graded SSTA team within the Club.
ii)
No
more than one male and one female may be used for any one match. The
team, including interchange players, must be recorded on the score sheet prior
to the commencement of play.
iii)
All
team players, including the interchange players, must be recorded on the score
sheet in ranked order.
iv)
The interchange player must play at least one set during the day to be
classed as having played a match for finals qualifying purposes. Listed
interchange players who do not play a set will not be considered as having
played a match on that day.
v)
A
player interchange for each gender, may occur more than once throughout the
days play.
vi)
If
a player interchange has occurred and an injury occurs to another member of the
team, the previously interchanged player, if available, may be brought back
into the team for the remaining sets but cannot be used to complete the set in
which the injury occurred (see rule vii of this section). An “injury”
does not include heat related stress, fatigue or illness.
vii)
An
interchange player may not be used to complete an unfinished set of an injured player, but may play that players remaining sets for the
day.
viii)
An
injured player cannot be replaced by another player who was not originally
recorded on the score sheet as an interchange player.
ix)
It is
not necessary for any interchange player to be present at the start of the days
play providing the interchange player is recorded on the score sheet prior to
the commencement of play.
x)
The
interchange player must be ready for play when the set he/she is required to
play, is ready to commence. Should the interchange player not be present
and ready for play, only the sets affected by the absence are forfeited and the
score will be recorded as 6 – 0 to the opponents. (see also Rule 7 Player
absent – Late Arrival).
xi)
An
interchange player may be listed on the score sheet of more than one club team
(playing at the same venue) at the commencement of the days play but is not permitted
to play in more than one team on a playing day, ie.
Once the interchange player plays in either team, he/she may not be used in any
other team on that day.
xii)
A
team Captain is to advise the opposing Captain at the time an interchange of
player/s is about to occur.
xiii)
Should
a match be cancelled due to the heat rule (Rule 11(i) ) the Captains complete a
score card for recording purposes, an interchange player can be included
on the score sheet.
xiv)
If
a match has already commenced when the heat rule or rain causes play to be
abandoned, any nominated interchange player will be recorded as having played
that match.
xv)
As
SSTA pennants involve eight (8) ‘rubbers’ of
tennis, each ‘rubber’ consisting of one (1) set, an interchange may only occur prior to
the beginning of a ‘rubber’, not during a rubber.
xvi)
Teams
are not obliged to have an interchange player or players.
10. Tossing for
service
The first service for each set shall be tossed for.
11. Inclement
weather
i) Rain
Where rain or inclement weather, including heat,
interrupts play or prevents play in excess of one hour between 1.30pm and 5.00pm (see sub section ii of this section)
on any match date, the following procedure is adopted:
a) All completed sets, as recorded on the score-sheet, are counted.
b) The remaining uncompleted sets are shared.
c) If the sets played provide a winning result, 8 win points are awarded to
the winning team.
d) If the sets played do not provide a winning result,
the win points are shared.
After any attempt to play after a delay caused by
rain, at any stage during the match with the agreement of both Captains, play
may be abandoned.
The Captain of the Home Team shall decide whether the
courts are safe and suitable for play. If in the opinion of the Home Captain
play is unable to proceed due to the state of weather, i.e. rain or the effects
of rain on the courts, posing a safety hazard, the match will be cancelled. A score-sheet must be submitted - even if the match is washed
out. It is the Home Team’s responsibility to submit the score-sheet
and it must be signed by both Team Captains.
Heat
If at 10.00 am on the day of play, the Bureau of
Meteorology (BOM) site for Perth indicates the forecast for the day to be 40 degrees
or higher, play is abandoned, and points shared. If, during play, the
temperature rises to 37 degrees, play shall cease. If the temperature
falls below 37 degrees within one hour, play shall resume. If not, play
shall be abandoned. The procedure to be followed is in accordance with items
(a), (b), (c) and (d) of sub section (i) of this section. In the case of
Finals, matches will be re-scheduled. Refer rule 13. Each Team Captain must
submit a signed score-sheet listing their team for the
day. The home Team Captain determines when it is 37
degrees.
ii) In the case where a game
is lawfully re-scheduled and commences at a time different to the normal start
time of 1:30pm, the interruption period will be three and one half hours from start time.
It is the Winning
Team’s responsibility to submit the score-sheet and it
must be signed by both Team Captains.
12. Scoring
Match winners
shall be decided by sets won. One and Half point
is awarded for each
set won. An additional 8 points are awarded to
the winning team.
Rankings on the
ladder are determined by the number of points won (the total of win points and
set points). In the event of two teams having the same number of points, but
having different numbers of wins, the team with the higher number of wins shall
be deemed to be the higher ranked. In the event of two teams having equal
points and equal wins, the team with the higher percentage of games won against
games lost shall be deemed to be the higher ranked.
13. Finals
SEMI-FINALS: The teams finishing first and fourth play each other,
the teams finishing second and third play each other. In each semi-final, the
teams finishing first and second following the qualifying rounds will host the
semi-final – refer Rule 20. The Captains of the winning teams are to telephone
the results of their semi-final matches to the RECORDING OFFICER on the
evening of the match.
FINALS: The winners of the Semi-Finals will play in
the Final. The team that finished highest on the ladder following the
qualifying rounds will host the Final – refer Rule 20.
A referee will be present at all Finals matches -
refer Rule 21.
If a Final is cancelled due to inclement weather, it
is to be continued at 9am the following day or, failing that, at the direction
of the EXECUTIVE.
14. Final
qualifications
No player shall take part in any semi final or final
unless he/she has played the minimum number of qualifying matches as approved.
Qualification
will be one third of the total matches available for a Division and does not
include Byes.
Example:
8 team Division
= 14 home & away matches = (4.66) or 5 matches to qualify (rounded up)
8 team Division
(7 teams + bye) = 12 home & away matches = 4 matches to qualify
6 team Division = 15 home & away
matches = 5 matches to qualify
This
qualification period may be reviewed by meeting of delegates following a
motion to alter.
Qualification can be achieved by playing the required
number of games in any Division of the Competition.
No player shall take part in any finals match unless
he/she has been officially registered by the Recording Officer.
Team Captains
are to ensure their players are qualified for finals and shall have no right of
appeal to the Executive should permission to play any unqualified players not
be granted by the Executive.
The Executive
Committee, upon receipt of a written application, may consider approving an
unqualified player or players, if it can be satisfied that the decision is in
the best interest of the competition and the spirit of tennis.
Refer also to
Rule 16
15. Two or more teams in one grade
Where a Club has two or more teams in any one Grade,
players are NOT interchangeable between such teams. (Except as per Rule 16)
16.
Incapacitation of players
Upon written or verbal application from a Team Captain
or Club Representative, the Executive shall have special power to vary
Pennant Rules 14 and 15 to the extent required to accommodate emergency
situations which may arise within a Club due to the "incapacitation"
of a player.
Should
an unregistered or unqualified player be approved to play in any home/away
round or finals match, it is the responsibility of the Team Captain to notify
the opposing Team Captain of this approval prior to the commencement of play
and ensure that the players’ details are recorded on the reverse side of the match
score sheet.
17. Grading of
players
Should a player play in one-third of the matches in a Division
above his or her original Division, he or she will be automatically excluded
from further matches of the lower Division during the season.
DOWNGRADING OF PLAYER Applications to have players
downgraded shall be sent to the Recording Officer in writing. Such applications
shall be considered at the next Executive meeting, following receipt of such a
letter. Applications shall only be agreed to after due consideration has been
given to:
a) results of the individual in question; and
b) the position of the team which would be affected by
such re-grading.
NO application will be considered after the completion
of 50% of the Home and Away matches have been played. Should the number
of qualifying matches be an odd number then it will be rounded–up
to the next whole number.
18. Transfers
A player may transfer from one Club to another after
commencement of Pennants only if his/her written application, accompanied by a
clearance from his/her former Club, is approved by the Executive.
NO transfers shall be allowed after 50% of the
qualifying matches have been played. Should the number of qualifying matches be
an odd number then it will be rounded–up to the next
whole number.
19. Results of
matches
A score-sheet, signed by both
Captains, must be Emailed or SMSd
to the Recording Officer; by 10am on Tuesday. The Captain of the WINNING
TEAM to be responsible for lodging the score-sheet
(except in the case of a cancelled match – Refer rule 11). Clubs in breach of
this rule may be liable to a fine of $10 (see Rule 18 of the Constitution).
20. Tennis balls
Four (4) new balls of a make
approved by the Association shall be provided by the HOME
TEAM. This applies to ALL court
surfaces. Unbranded balls are not to be used.
FINALS: For Semi-Finals and Finals, the HOME team
shall supply the balls and charge their opponents $2 per player.
21. Referees
A Club that is hosting any final matches is to appoint
a Referee to adjudicate such matches.
22. Naming of
players
Opposing Team Captains to exchange team lists, written
on paper in order of play, prior to commencement of play, those teams to be
entered on score-sheet unaltered.
23. Forfeits
When a Team receives a forfeit, it will be awarded the
full 20 points.
If the forfeit has any effect on the positions of the
final four, then the Executive shall investigate further and take whatever
action is necessary.
A fine of $30.00 will be imposed on a club for any
pennant team who forfeits a scheduled pennant match. Any team fined under this
rule may lodge a written application to the SSTA Secretary for the waiving of
the penalty. The decision will rest with the Executive Committee and will be
final.
Failure to pay such fine may cause loss of match
points and/or ineligibility for future pennant play.
If the match was scheduled to be played on hired
courts, then the team giving the forfeit will be responsible for payment of
such fees.
24. Tennis
attire
The rules currently in use by Tennis West are to be
used as guidelines regarding tennis attire. It is the Club's responsibility to
bring these rules to the attention of its members. The Captain of the HOME team
may prohibit any player wearing improper shoes from taking part in a match. The
score-sheet should be used to record any incident of
improper tennis attire.
25. Complaints
The comments section of the score-sheet should be used to record any incident of
improper conduct, unsatisfactory playing conditions or any other incident that
needs to be brought to the attention of the Executive. In the case of a serious
complaint, a written report must be made to the Executive as soon as
practicable after the match. Such report must be first endorsed by the
Club Committee and forwarded under the Secretary’s signature or in his or her
absence the Club President’s.
A demerit point system for complaints of
unsportsmanlike behavior of any type that have been brought to the attention of
the Executive Committee will be used with a minimum of 1 point up to a maximum
of 6 points being recorded against a player if the above behavior is proved.
The number of penalty demerit points will be determined by the Executive and
will depend on the severity of the incident.
When a player reaches 6 demerit points, he/she will be
suspended from play in SSTA pennants or any other SSTA sanctioned event for a
period not exceeding 3 weeks from the date of the ruling.
A further offence will cause the player to be
suspended from play in SSTA pennants or any other SSTA sanctioned event for a
period not exceeding 12 months.
A further offence may involve life suspension from the
SSTA at the discretion of the Executive Committee.Demerit points recorded
against a player will be rescinded after two (2) years from the date of
enforcement.
THE END