TENNIS RULES (CO-ED)

I.  Practice, first scrimmage and games start as per Sac Joaquin Section Rules.

II.  Team Format:  A team will consist of the following classifications: #1 boys singles,  #2 boys singles, #1 girls singles, #2 girls singles, #1 boys doubles, #2 boys doubles, #1 girls doubles, #2 girls doubles  and one mixed doubles.  Fourteen players per team, seven boys and seven girls.  A match will consist of nine contests involving the above classifications.  No athlete may compete in more than one classification during a league match.

III.  Starting Time:  The starting time for league matches will be 3:30 p.m.

IV.  Scheduled Games:  Games canceled because of events beyond the control of the responsible administrative authority, will be rescheduled at the earliest possible date.  Games interrupted because of events beyond the control of the responsible administrative authority will be continued from the point of interruption unless the teams agree otherwise, or unless there are conference, league or state association rules that apply.

V.  USTA rules will apply in all league matches.

VI.  Ball used in play will be Championship Penn, Wilson or Dunlop.

VII.  Singles matches are to be best 2 of 3 sets.  In case either of the first two sets reaches six-all, a twelve point tie breaker will be played.  If a third set is necessary, it will be decided by an eighteen point super-tie breaker.  All doubles matches are to be one 10 game pro-set.  In case a pro-set reaches nine-all, an eighteen (18) point super-tie breaker will be played to determine the winner of the match.

VIII.  Time Limits:  CIF Section Playoff Rules

IX.  Coaching:  CIF Section Playoff Rules

X.  Scoring:  CIF Section Playoff Rules

XI.  Player Movement:  The four (4) best players on each team (4 boys and 4 girls) are to be locked in for each half of the league season and may only play as #1 singles, #2 singles, #1 doubles or mixed doubles.  They may be moved among these four positions from match to match.  These locked players must fill all the singles positions.  Two must play at #1 singles and #2 singles, the other two may play #1 doubles or one at #1 doubles and one at mixed doubles.
Each coach must send by email to all other coaches in the league, the names of the 4 players to be locked in for the first half of the season, 5 days before the first league match.  For the second half of the league season, each coach is to send to each other, their designees as top four players, five days before the first match of the second round of league play.
If one of these four players is unable to play because of injury, illness, ineligibility, left school, quit, was removed from the team or similar reason, two of the remaining three must fill the singles positions.  Another player on the team may fill in the 4th spot at #1doubles or mixed doubles and may be switched between the two from match to match.  If two designated players cannot play for the above mentioned reasons, the remaining two players must fill the singles spot spots. In this case anyone else from the rest of the team may fill any of the doubles or mixed doubles spots.

XII.  Conduct:  Each coach is responsible for his/her team’s court conduct and discipline during all matches.  During a match, if foul language or unsportsmanlike conduct occurs the player’s coach will first issue a warning.  A second occurrence during the match will result in a default.  It is also the responsibility of each coach to teach his or her players the rules of the game, proper court etiquette, and care for the facilities of the other schools.

XIII.  Line Judges:  A player may request the opposing coach to serve as a lines judge.   It is the duty of the line judge to make a ruling only on those calls that are questioned by a player or doubles team.

XIV.  League Tournament:  Upon conclusion of league play, a final league tournament will be held.  A meeting is to be called by the Tennis Rep to determine All League selections and seed the Tournament.   Each team will be permitted to enter two players in each singles event and two teams in each doubles event.  The events will include, boys Singles, Girls Singles, Boys Doubles, Girls Doubles and Mixed Doubles.
A. Qualification:  Any player who has participated on a school team during the regular season is permitted to play in the tournament.  Players may be moved out of an event that they have played during the regular season and into another event at the discretion of the coach and the player.  Coaches should note that the changing of events may affect a player’s or team’s seeding in their particular event.  Singles players that do not qualify for the finals are eligible to play again in the doubles competition.  If a player makes it to the finals in singles, then he/she is NOT eligible to play in the doubles competition.
B. Seeding:  The coaches will determine at least the top four seeds in each event.  The remainder of the draw will be filled out by random draw.  Two players or two doubles teams from the same school may not be bracketed together, but must be put in opposite ends of the bracket.

XV.  Qualifying for Section Play:  The first and second place player/team in each event of the league tournament will advance to section play.  The winner of the final match in the league tournament will be the TVL number one seed.  In the event of an injury or other problems that may prohibit a qualified player from attending the section tournament, the league coaches will resolve the problem.  The first and second place teams, decided by match play will advance to the section team tournament.  In the case of a tie, the team with the advantage in head to head LEAGUE match-ups will decide who advances.  If the head-to-head matches are split, a play-off match, at the earliest possible date will decide who advances.

XVI.  Newspaper Coverage:  It is the responsibility of the home coach to contact the Modesto Bee and give them the scores.  The number is 578-2300 after 4:00 p.m.

XVII.  All League Selections:  Players are to earn points in league play as per the following:
A. A win in #1 boys and girls singles receives 3 points. A loss receives 1 point.
B.  A win in #2 boys and girls singles, #1 boys and girls doubles and mixed doubles receives 2 points.  A loss receives no points.
C.  A win in #2 boys and girls doubles receives 1 point.  A loss receives no points.Tennis may award All League honors to the top 32 point earners as per the league formula: 14 starters x 2=28 x 7/6=32.  There may be special awards within the 32, such as Most Valuable Player-Girls, Most Valuable Player-Boys, Most Outstanding Player-Girls, Most Outstanding Player-Boys.  The coaches may vote to decide which special awards to give each year.  These special awards recipients may be nominated by their coach from among the top 3 point earners and voted on by the coaches via secret ballot.  (Note: The players’ point totals are to be emailed to the Tennis Rep prior to the all league meeting so that he can have a compiled list for everyone.  This will facilitate seeding and all league selections)
Honorable Mentions may be awarded, but recipients must have played in at least 6 of the 12 league matches and have at least 6 wins during the league season.

XVIII  Awards:  Refer to TVL Constitution—Financial Section-III Awards.

XIX. Season of Sport
League teams shall participate as per Sac Joaquin Section Bylaws:
Article 5 General Rules 511 Season of Sport
The following exception are in effect for the Trans Valley League: 
There shall be no “Limited Period” as stated in Section Bylaw Article 5 General  
 rules 511.7 Limited Periods a, b, c, d, and e.
*Note: 511.7 Limited Periods f. Out of Season and g. Summer Rules, are in effect.


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