League Rules

CTC League Rules #

These apply to all CTC leagues. Adopted 2020 and still in effect.

Membership

League players must be members in good standing of the Clovis Tennis Club (CTC) in order to sign up for leagues. Join or renew in the members area.

If a league participant's membership expires during a league, they have 2 weeks from the expiration date to renew. If they have not renewed within 2 weeks of the expiration, they may be dropped from the league. Any matches played after the 2 weeks would be forfeited.

A player does not need to be a CTC member in order to be a sub.

All players and subs follow the CTC Code of Conduct.

Assigning groups and match ups

In assigning the competitive groups or match ups, the goal is to keep the level of competition as close as possible as often as possible. Groups and level of play are determined by the league coordinator based on:

1. An individual's or team's record in previous CTC leagues.
2. The coordinator's best assessment of what will create the best match ups for the groups as a whole.

Players and teams may be reassigned to different groups at any time during a league. The player's or team's record at the time of the move stays with them for the rest of the league.

League spots are first come, first served. If an odd number of players or teams sign up, the date and time of sign up determines who is assigned to play.

Singles players must play their own matches. Doubles teams may only sign up as 2 designated players. If a player or team is unable to complete a league due to injury or other extended circumstances, a replacement player is permitted. The replacement inherits the record of the player they replace. Replacements are allowed only once per player or team per league.

Scheduling and subs

League play starts at 7:00 PM. Players and teams should be at the courts by 7:00. Warm ups should be finished and match play started by 7:15.

Players or teams that arrive after 7:00 PM more than 3 times in a league may be dropped from the league.

If a player or team cannot make a scheduled match, they may either get a sub or contact the opponent to see if they are willing to reschedule. Opponents are under no obligation to reschedule. If they choose not to, the player or team asking to reschedule must find appropriate subs for the match.

A player or team with a sub automatically loses that match, but is awarded 6 points for making the effort to get a sub. Some leagues score subs differently; see that league's section.

Voicemails and emails do not count as making contact unless a response is received before 12:00 PM on the day of the match. It is the player's responsibility, not the coordinator's, to make contact with their scheduled opponent.

A player or team that does not reach an opponent or the coordinator by 12:00 PM on match day and then does not show up is a No Call, No Show for that match. Players or teams with 2 No Call, No Shows in a league may be dropped from the league.

Line calls and match scoring

Line calls are the sole responsibility of the player on the side where the ball landed. Beyond asking "Are you sure?", the player on the other side of the net has no say in a call.

The server keeps the game score and confirms the set score. If disputed, the server's call is final.

Scoring is conventional 6 game sets. At 6 games all, a 7 point tiebreak is played: first to 7 points with a 2 point margin wins the set, scored 7 to 6. If the sets are split after 2 sets, a 10 point match tiebreak decides the match.

Odd numbers of players

When a division has an odd number of players, nobody sits out. Each week one player plays an open seat, and the coordinator lines up a sub to fill it. Subs don't score league points.

Reporting scores

Report your score after you play, using the link in your weekly match email. List your games first, then your opponent's, for each set. If you played a match tiebreak, add it last with your points first. A win looks like 6-3 4-6 10-7. A loss looks like 3-6 6-4 7-10.

Points and rankings

According to each league coordinator. See the league sections below.

Original CTC League Rules 2020 (PDF)

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Women's Doubles #

Tuesdays at 7:00 PM at Buchanan High School.

Women's Doubles is played as fixed teams of two and follows the CTC League Rules, including two sets with a 10 point match tiebreak if the sets are split. Doubles teams sign up as 2 designated players; if a player can't finish the league, one replacement is allowed and inherits the team's record.

Need a partner? Choose "Single player, find me a partner" when you sign up, and the coordinator will help match you.

Points

Women's Doubles is scored like Mixed Doubles:

Each team may use a substitute in 2 matches a season without penalty. Those matches are played out and scored like any other match. Starting with the third match with a substitute, the team gets 7 points and the opponent gets 15.

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Men's Revolving Match ups Doubles #

No partner needed. Partners and opponents change every week.

Format

Each week, players play one complete match with regular scoring and a match tiebreak to 10 in place of a third set.

Match up ladder

In the first week, players are placed on the ladder semi randomly, with higher rated players placed higher. Each court takes four ladder positions in order. On every court, positions 1 and 4 play positions 2 and 3. When the players don't fill the last court, its open seats go to subs the coordinator lines up, so nobody sits out.

After each week, players move up the ladder for a win and down for a loss, by the number of places below. The top court can't move up and the bottom court can't move down. Every court between them uses the middle row.

A player who sends a sub keeps their position. A player who doesn't show or concedes goes to the bottom of the ladder. If a match is rained out partway through, the coordinator decides the points and the four players keep their positions.

Match time

Matches start at 7:00 PM at Clovis High School. Be there and ready to start on time. Players who don't arrive by 7:15 can be declared a no show, lose points, and earn the appropriate irritation of the players on their court. Don't do this.

Rescheduling

Matches are not rescheduled. All matches are played on league night. If you can't attend, you are expected to find a sub to take your place.

Points

When a player concedes or doesn't show, the match isn't played, and the other three players get 16 (or 5 for anyone who sent a sub). In a set that was lost, a match tiebreak counts as a set but adds no games.

Repeated scores of 0 or minus 5 are cause for removal or not being invited back.

Reporting scores

Any of the four players can report the score from the link in the weekly email. List your pair's games first, then your opponents', for each set. If you played a match tiebreak, add it last with your pair's points first. A win looks like 6-3 4-6 10-7. A loss looks like 3-6 6-4 7-10.

Winners

League winners are determined by points only. Your position on the ladder only determines partners and opponents.

Subs

There's a great sub list, and short of something coming up the afternoon of the match, there's no good reason not to have a sub when needed. Subs don't have to come from the list; any appropriate level player can sub, ideally close to your own level. Subs don't need to be Clovis Tennis Club members. Don't contact the coordinator to say you need or can't find a sub; that isn't his responsibility.

Tiebreaks

All tiebreaks, whether for a set or the match, are won by the first team to 7 or 10 points with a margin of 2. Change sides every 6 points.

Original Revolving Match ups rules (image)

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Mixed Doubles scoring #

Mixed Doubles follows the CTC League Rules, including two sets with a 10 point match tiebreak if the sets are split. Weekly points:

A match tiebreak decides the match but does not count toward games won. For example, a team that loses 3 to 6, 6 to 4, 7 to 10 earns 9 points.

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Singles leagues #

Women's Singles and Men's Singles follow the CTC League Rules. Singles players must play their own matches. Points and rankings are set by each league's coordinator.

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Women's Progressive Doubles (past format) #

This rotating partner format was used for one season. Women's Doubles now plays as fixed teams; see Women's Doubles. Kept here for reference.

Membership

League players must be members in good standing of CTC. If a membership expires during the league, the player has 2 weeks from the expiration date to renew. Players who have not renewed within 2 weeks may be dropped from the league, and any matches played after the 2 weeks are forfeited.

Format

Players sign up and score points as individuals. Each match is 3 no ad sets of doubles, 1 set with each of the other 3 players assigned to that court. Each player's score for the night is the total games they won across the 3 sets.

At the start of the league, players are assigned to a group based on their rating. The player with the highest score (most games won) after the 3 sets moves up one court the following week. The player with the lowest score moves down, and the other two stay on the same court. League winners are the players with the highest individual season point totals.

Start time

Play starts at 7:00 PM. Players should be at the courts by 7:00, with warm ups finished and play started by 7:15. Players who arrive after 7:10 PM more than 3 times may be dropped from the league.

Withdrawing from the league

A player who needs to withdraw must find a replacement at the same level. The new player inherits the record of the person they replace, including court position and points.

Subs

A player who can't make a scheduled match must get a sub close to their own level. Subs do not need to be CTC members but must be at least 18. A sub list is provided as a resource, but your sub doesn't have to be on it. If the coordinator decides a sub is significantly stronger than the regular player, an additional 6 points are deducted. Contact the coordinator before the match with any questions about a sub's level.

Each player may use a sub for two "grace" matches without penalty; the player gets 1 point for each game the sub wins. A sub can never move a player up a court. The player with the sub either stays or moves down:

• If the sub has the lowest total that week, the player moves down.
• If the sub has the highest total, the regular player with the second highest score moves up.
• A player who uses a sub more than twice has 6 points deducted from their season total that week.

Match scoring

At the start of each set, teams spin a racquet to choose serve and side.

1. First team to 6 games wins the set. At 5 games all, the next game decides the set, so the final score is 6 to 5. No tiebreaks.
2. No ad scoring: at deuce, the next point decides the game. The receiving team chooses which player receives that point.

When a team wins 6 games, the set is over. Players switch partners and start a new set until all 3 sets have been played with a different partner.

Points and rankings

Each player's score for the night is the total games they won across the 3 sets. A player's season total is the sum of their weekly scores, adjusted for any penalties. The most a player can earn in one night is 18 points.

Ties: if players tie for the highest or lowest score, they spin a racquet to decide who moves and who stays.

No Call, No Show

The player gets 0 points and automatically moves down one court. If a player or their sub doesn't show, the other 3 players spin to see who moves up, and they each get the average of their own weekly points so far. The 3 players who were there may choose to reschedule with a sub and record the scores from the make up match; the absent player still gets 0. A rescheduled match must be played and reported to the coordinator by 8:00 PM the following Monday.

Rescheduling

Rescheduling is discouraged and a last resort. A player who can't find a sub must contact the other players in their group before the match. All players must agree, and the rescheduled match must be played and reported to the coordinator by 8:00 PM the following Monday.

Score reporting

Each court gets a scoresheet. Record the set scores and individual totals before leaving the court, and have all players check it. One player returns the clipboard and scoresheet to the coordinator. If the coordinator has left, text or email a photo of the scoresheet to the coordinator and return the clipboard the following week.

Awards

The player with the highest point total at each USTA level (for example 4.0, 3.5, 3.0) with at least four players receives a CTC league registration credit for any future CTC league.

Courts

CTC has courts 5 to 12 for league matches. Courts 1 to 4 are reserved for Buchanan coaches and players. The coordinator plays on court 7, near the lights. The first player in each group to arrive picks up the clipboard, scoresheet and balls and chooses one of the remaining league courts.

Rain, heat and air quality

The coordinator emails everyone by 5:00 PM if play is cancelled for rain, excessive heat, or air quality rated "unhealthy for all" on EPA AirNow. If you don't have email access, text the coordinator after 5:00 PM.

Scoring examples

Players A, B, C and D. Set 1: A and B beat C and D, 6 to 4. Set 2: A and C lose to B and D, 3 to 6. Set 3: A and D beat C and B, 6 to 5.

Player A earns 15 points, B earns 17, and so on toward their season totals.

Sub example 1: player B uses a sub for the first time. B's sub finishes first, but B stays next week and D, in second place, moves up. B gets the full 17 points.

Sub example 2: player C uses a sub for the second time. C's sub finishes last, so C moves down. C gets 6 points (12 minus 6).

In either example, if the sub is judged significantly stronger than the regular player, that player could have another 6 points deducted.

Original Women's Progressive Doubles rules (PDF)

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