IT Sports York & District Mixed Tennis League Rules

(as amended March 2009)

1. This combination of Clubs shall be called the “York and District Mixed Tennis League” prefixed by a sponsor, where appropriate.

2. Membership of the League is normally limited to Clubs whose courts are within a 12-mile radius of York Minster.

3. The Annual General Meeting shall be held in March of each year, when a report of the previous season’s work will be made, a financial statement presented, the League subscription for the coming season shall be determined and the following officers shall be elected: President, Chairman, General Secretary/Treasurer, Match Secretary. Officers shall retire at the Annual General Meeting but shall be eligible for re-election. Member Clubs will be circulated by 1st February with written notice of the date of the next AGM.

4. The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, Chairman, General Secretary/Treasurer, Match Secretary.

5. Each Club belonging to the League shall be entitled to send two representatives to a General Meeting. Voting shall be on the basis of one vote per Club. Officers of the league shall not be entitled to vote, with the exception of the Chairman, who, in the event of an equality of votes, shall be entitled to a casting vote.

6. At a General Meeting ten members shall form a quorum.

7. Rules shall only be amended or changed at the Annual General Meeting. Any proposed addition or alteration shall be given to the General Secretary/Treasurer in writing not later than 1st January for inclusion at that year’s Annual General Meeting.

8. The Executive Committee shall meet at such time as there is business to transact. These meetings shall be held in the York area.

9. At least fourteen days’ notice in writing shall be given to all members concerned regarding any meeting, except in the case of urgency.

10. Applications/Resignations from Clubs for admittance/resignation to the League shall be given in writing to the General Secretary/Treasurer not later than the 1st February for inclusion in the following season. Any Club resigning after 1st February must pay the subscription for the coming season.

11. Subscriptions will be paid to the General Secretary/Treasurer at the Annual General Meeting for the current season.

12. An Extraordinary General Meeting will be called by the General Secretary/Treasurer, Chairman or Executive Committee on receipt of a written request from a minimum of 3 clubs. Not more than 30 days shall elapse from receipt of this request to the arranged date of the meeting.

13. An Honorary Auditor shall be elected to audit the accounts of the League each year.

14. No player may play for more than one Club in any one season unless a transfer is approved by the Match Secretary in consultation with the General Secretary/Treasurer. The Match Secretary shall require in writing notice of a player’s intention to transfer to another Club. The period of transfer will be 28 days from the date last played for the Club they wish to transfer from.

15. The Executive Committee shall have full power over any matters arising concerning the league not provided for in these Rules and to impose upon any Club or player breaking the Rules any penalty they deem necessary.

16. Each Club shall be allowed to enter more than one team in the League.

17. The formation of the League shall be decided at the Annual General meeting.

18. All matches shall be played as the printed fixture list, except in the case of bad weather or unless they have been rearranged, and the new date notified in writing by both clubs to the Match Secretary within one calendar month of the AGM.

19. Each couple in a team shall play all three opposing couples and the results shall be decided over 12 games in each rubber. In the case of three-court Clubs, the order of play shall be as printed on the scorecard. In the case of two-court Clubs, the order shall be as on the list provided by the League Officers. Before the match begins, or after an interruption for rain or before the 2nd or 3rd rounds, both captains may agree that in future games when the score reaches deuce the next point wins. On this last point the man must serve to the man and the woman must serve to the woman. The server changes sides, not the receiver.

20. If the nominated contact for a club is unavailable on the night of a match then they must leave an alternative contact telephone number with their opposition.

21. Players shall arrive in time so matches shall commence at 6.30pm. If any couple is not available to play at the commencement of a particular rubber, that rubber may be claimed by their opponents captain. If a claim is made, the following points should be noted:
(a) the claim shall be made as soon as it is clear that a couple is unavailable to play and before any second round rubbers are played;
(b) both captains shall be informed immediately that a claim has been made;
(c) the order of play of any remaining rubbers shall be as printed on the score-card or list (see Rule 19).

22. In the event of an injury, the injured player should be allowed a maximum of 5 minutes in which to recover. If at the end of that time the player is unable to resume play, the games not played in that rubber will be forfeited. The player may resume play in subsequent rubbers if fit to play at the commencement of the next rubber, in accordance with the order of play on the scorecard. If not fit those games also will be forfeited. (The opposing captains must agree on the score before commencing the next rubber after an injury). Once the match has commenced no substitution of team members is permitted.

23. Match results will be decided on games won. At the end of the match, the home team shall complete an official score card and both team captains shall sign it to confirm that the result has been correctly recorded on the card. At the end of every rubber players must agree the score.

24. It is the home Club’s responsibility to inform the Match Secretary of the names of the players and of the result of the match within 72 hours of it being played. Failure to notify the Match Secretary within the prescribed time limit will result in a fine of £2.00 for the home Club. A fine of £5.00 will be imposed for inadequate postage on result cards.

25. If a team fails to fulfil a fixture, the result shall be determined by the Match Secretary in accordance with the following formula
(i) 55 games or,
(ii) the average number of games it has won over the whole season or,
(iii) the games won in the equivalent fixture, if played that season.
Note: The most favourable of the above shall apply
The conceding team shall have a point deducted from its total.

26. A team shall consist of three mixed couples. All six players must be fully paid-up members of the Club they represent.

27. If, after a match has commenced, play has to be abandoned because of bad weather, so long as there is a winning advantage the match shall not be replayed, and the existing score shall stand. Where one team has gained 54 games, that team shall have the choice of claiming a draw, or replaying the whole match. If there is a disagreement between the two match captains as to whether the game shall continue, the decision as to whether play shall continue is to be made by the away captain. If a match is cancelled due to bad weather the home team is responsible for rescheduling the match, offering 3 nights to their opposition, none of which should be nights when their opposing team have a match, and both teams should advise the League Match Secretary of the new date, or failure to agree a new date, within 7 days of the scheduled date.

28. The home team is responsible for providing a minimum of 4 balls (LTA standard) per court. Once a match has commenced the matter of the standard of the balls shall not arise.

29. Clubs are required to nominate four players (two male two female) for each team bar the lowest. Players are allowed to play up for not more than two matches, otherwise they become ineligible to play in lower teams. Nominated players are not allowed to play down. Nominations must be submitted to the Match Secretary in writing at least seven days before the first scheduled League fixture. Where teams fail to submit a nomination list, nominations will be taken as the first two couples on the result card for the first match played in the season.

30. Tennis courts shall conform to the requirements of I.T.F. Rules, which include the provision of a central net band. A measuring device to check net heights (not two tennis rackets) shall be made available by the home club for all matches.

31. In the case of a disputed match the General Secretary/Treasurer shall, on receipt of notification in writing of such a dispute, call together a Sub-Committee comprising the Chairman, the General Secretary/Treasurer and one member each from three different Clubs not involved in the dispute and Match Secretary who will have no vote in the decision but provide any information as required by the Sub Committee. The two Clubs involved in the dispute will be asked to send up to two representatives to the meeting to put forward their case. The Clubs should state in their original notification to the General Secretary/Treasurer the nature of the dispute.

32. At the end of the season, promotion and relegation shall normally be determined by total points scored, two points for a win, one for a draw. In the event of a tie on points, placing shall be determined as follows;
- on the difference between games won and games lost. If these are equal,
- on the games difference from the fixtures between the equally placed teams. If these are also equal,
- on the total of rubbers won from the fixtures between the equally placed teams.

33. All matches must be finished by the 31st August each year.

34. All players will wear recognised tennis clothing.

35. The home team must ensure that a copy of these Rules is either displayed in the clubhouse or is available for consultation before and/or during any match.