FNQ regional assembly - Junior Development Series

Rules and Regulations

 

1.      Overview

 The Junior Development Series (JDS) events focus on participation, giving players the opportunity to not only develop their games but also for these players to develop a healthy attitude towards fitness and competition. JDS events are held for 9/u, 11/u, 13/u 15/u and 17/u age groups and are the first tournaments a player will compete in before playing in Australian Ranking (AR) tournaments.

There is also a focus on giving clubs, centres and associations the opportunity to learn how to use the Tournament Planner and Stripe software in preparation for further tournament hosting opportunities in the future.

2.      Regulation compliance

 2.1.    By the event

This document sets out the requirements for clubs/centres/associations to host a JDS event.

The following operation procedures for JDS tournaments are designed to raise the quality of the tournament conduct throughout Australia. They provide parameters to ensure all events sanctioned by Tennis Qld are managed professionally and with uniformity across the country and in so doing provide the most optimally positive playing experience for all Athletes.

All JDS events must be conducted in accordance with, in their most current form the following procedures and regulations:

  • the Uniform Tennis Anti-Corruption Program
  • the Tennis Australia Member Protection Policy
  • the Tennis Australia Code of Behaviour
  • and any other policy, rule, procedure or regulation of which Tennis Qld may notify the relevant club/centre/association from time to time

In the event that these regulations do not cover a rule/procedure related item at an JDS event, Tournament Directors should refer to:

2.2.    By the Player/Parent

By submitting an online tournament entry form (or similar document) all tournament entrants and parents or guardians will be deemed to have read and accepted such policies, rules, procedures and regulations.

3.      Tournament Software

 3.1.    Tournament Planner

The Tennis Australia approved software is Tournament Planner (TP). As part of its investment in tournaments, licenses are provided free of charge by Tennis Australia to the host clubs of the Junior Development Series. Accordingly, this software must be used when conducting your tournament. This includes displaying the following information on the relevant tournament home page on  http://tournaments.tennis.com.au.

  1. enabling online registrations with Stripe
  2. displaying the draws and individual match times and schedule on the draws for each round within a reasonable time during the tournament after each day’s play
  3. entering all Athlete data listed in 4 for all Athletes entered into the tournament
  4. regularly publishing results and key messages from the tournament on the website throughout the tournament period
  5. refrain from criticising Tennis Australia/Members Associations/Athletes/officials or staff
  6. refrain from promoting software programs and websites that are in direct competition to the TP program or promote that event draws and schedules are available on another software website in direct competition to http://tournaments.tennis.com.au

NOTE:

  • Completed TP files must be published onto the http://tournaments.tennis.com.au website within 12 hours of the tournament’s completion
  • Completed TP files must also be sent to Tennis SA via email ([email protected]) before 5:00 pm two (2) days after the tournament’s completion

4.      Financial

 4.1.    Entry fees

JDS tournaments can charge an entry fee of a maximum of $35.00 for a singles event and a maximum of $(TBA) for a doubles event (per Athlete).

These maximum fees are inclusive of any online processing fee.

4.2.    Entry fee refunds

Any withdrawals before the release of the draw will be issued a full refund of their entry fee, less an administration fee of $5.00.

Any withdrawals after the release of the draw may be issued a full or partial refund of their entry fee (less an administration fee of $5.00) at the discretion of the Tournament Director and Circuit Administrator.

5.      Tournament Staff

 5.1.    Tournament and Competitions Sub- Committee (TCS)

The TCS will be responsible for the organisation and administration of the Junior Development Series tournament. In particular, the TCS will:

  1. Submit an expression of interest to TCS each year by the date specified
  2. The TCS will support the Circuit Administrator and team in the proper execution of his/her duties
  3. Ensure that suitable facilities are available at the tournament site and/or at additional locations for the completion of the scheduled events, assuming reasonable weather conditions
  4. Ensure that suitable ancillary facilities such as toilets are available at the tournament site and any additional locations
  5. Be responsible for health and safety and child welfare/protection at the tournament and for the keeping of good order on the tournament site
  6. Ensure that all tournament venues are affiliated with the relevant Member Association
  7. Be bound by these Rules and Regulations and the Tennis Australia Code of Behaviour

5.2.    Tournament Director

The club/association or tournament committee shall designate a Tournament Director to administer the tournament. He/she must be fully aware of the responsibilities of his/her position. The Tournament Director must agree to:

  1. Be on-site throughout the whole tournament, or appoint a capable deputy if circumstances arise when the tournament director must be away from the venue
  2. Be responsible for the delivery of the tournament (in conjunction with the CA and referee)
  3. Maintain the TP file during play ensuring all results are input accurately throughout the day
  4. Ensure that the TP file is republished during play to reflect changes in match times as a result of new ‘Not Before’ times or where there have been significant delays due to weather interruptions
  5. Be responsible for the administration of the tournament office
  6. Be responsible for the tournament’s compliance with all rules and regulations and minimum standards as directed by Tennis Qld
  7. Be involved in making, approving and where necessary altering the draws subsequent to withdrawals or administrative errors
  8. Be responsible for positing and updating draws and Orders of Play on a public noticeboard on site
  9. Be responsible for keeping Athletes informed of delayed match times due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances as well as revised ‘Not Before’ times
  10. Be ready to solve any issues related to the organisation of the tournament, Athletes, officials, media and spectators
  11. Allocate matches to courts
  12. Ensure the TP file is complete including all scores
  13. Ensure all necessary entry fee refunds are appropriately processed

5.3.    Officiating

It is recommended that a referee is located at the main venue and is available during the tournament to:

  1. Supervise matches
  2. Resolve any disputes between players in matches played without a chair umpire
  3. Ensure that the Rules of Tennis and these rules and regulations (including the TA Code of Behaviour) are observed

6.      Facilities and On-site Conditions

 6.1.    Venue appearance and amenities

Present a venue that is safe, neat and tidy. This includes the following areas:

  • Entrance
  • Gardens and grounds
  • Courts and surrounds
  • Clubhouse and equipment
  • Change rooms, showers and toilets
  • Noticeboards
  • Tournament Office (which is to be staffed at all times during the day’s play)
  • Venues must provide an appropriately stocked first aid kit at each venue

6.2.    Sponsorship/Advertising/Branding

JDS tournaments shall identify themselves clearly to the public as being part of the JDS and shall cooperate fully with Tennis Australia and its Member Associations in furthering public awareness of the JDS.

Tennis Australia has the right to brand nets, courts and venue surrounds if it so chooses.

6.3.    Canteen

It is strongly recommended that a canteen at the main tournament venue be open throughout the day where players can buy various types of food and drink at a reasonable cost. The canteen service should adhere to the following criteria:

  • Healthy and nutritious options, and
  • Professional level hygiene and food handling processes

6.4.    Signage

Banners behind the court must not be white or yellow (off-white and grey banners are permitted).

6.5.    Change rooms

Suitable change rooms must be available at the main tournament venue. Facilities must include toilets and showers (cleaned regularly throughout the day) and an adequate supply of toilet paper and soap.

6.6.    Balls

Tournaments are encouraged to use the Tennis Australia officially sponsored ball type (currently Wilson), unless in a formal contractual arrangement with another ball supplier. For details of Tennis Australia approved balls and ball requirements visit http://www.tennis.com.au/clubs/courts-surrounds/resources- 2/approved-balls.

 Number of tennis balls per match

Singles

  • Yellow ball events : Two (2) new balls are to be provided for each match
  • Green ball : Two (2) 75% compression green balls are to be provided for each match

Doubles

  • All doubles matches should be played with two good used balls with the exception of semi-finals and finals which must be played with two (2) new balls
  • Green ball: Two (2) 75% compression green balls are to be provided for each match

7.      Tournament Planning

7.1.    Pre-Tournament Commencement Timetable

 

Action Timeline
Tournament entries open online 6 weeks prior to scheduled tournament start
Closing date for entries 5 days prior to scheduled tournament start
Withdrawal deadline 5 days prior to scheduled tournament start
Draw released 3 days prior to scheduled tournament start

8. The Competition

8.1   Eligibility

JDS events are open to all athletes that are 9, 11, 13, 15 17 and under as at the time of the tournament. For the purposes of this rule, the Athlete’s age as of the last day of the December of that year shall be used.

8.2.   My Tennis Membership

All players entering a JDS tournament agree, as a condition of their entry, to register for an annual My Tennis Membership Number, to accept the related terms and conditions and pay the appropriate fee and hence become a member of an affiliated tennis club or member association. Failure by a player to register for a My Tennis Membership Number and to accept the related terms and conditions may result in the rejection of that Athlete’s entry.

NOTE: A player can sign up for a My Tennis Membership number by calling 1800 PLAY TENNIS.

8.3.    Online entry requirement

It is a mandatory requirement for all JDS tournaments to offer the option of online entry via the official tournament entry system available for each tournament at http://tournaments.tennis.com.au.

8.4.    Entry information

To enter a JDS, a player must submit either a manual or electronically validated entry form containing the following information, along with the appropriate entry fee, by the specified closing deadline:

  1. His/her My Tennis Membership number
  2. An undertaking confirming that the player has read and agrees to be bound by and to comply with, the conditions of entry
  3. A valid residential mailing address, including state of residency and postcode
  4. A valid email address
  5. A contact phone number that weill be operational prior to and during the tournament
  6. His/her date of birth and gender

8.5.    Entry Deadline/Withdrawal Procedures

  1. Entry Deadline: Seven (7) days prior to the start of the tournament (11:59 pm local time)
  2. An event may apply through their Member Association for an extension of the entry deadline in extenuating circumstances (eg. faliure of the online entry system) or when in consultation with Tennis Qld it is decided that an extension of the entry deadline is prudent for the purpose of ensuring the viablility of the
  3. Withdrawal Deadline: Seven (7) days prior to the start of the tournament (11:59 pm local time)
  4. Entries must have been open for a minimum of six weeks prior to the entry closing All tournaments must be published on the internet at least eight weeks prior to commencement.
  5. In line with Australian Ranking Tournament Rules and Regulations, late entries should not be accepted

8.6.    Entering more than one event

Players must enter one singles event event only.

8.7.    Scoring formats

The following scoring formats have been selected in line with other Tennis Australia programs and are preferred. Pre-event requests to alter the match format must be approved by Tennis Qld.

  • Yellow Ball events: Each match shall consist of the best of two tie-break sets with a Match Tie-break decider.
  • Green Ball event : Each match shall consist of one (1) tie-break set

FAST 4 Tennis rules are available via: http://www.tennis.com.au/learn/ways-to-play/fast4

8.8.    Dress and Equipment

All players competing in an Australian Ranking tournament agree to comply with the Tennis Australia Dress and Equipment Regulations.

9.      Draws

9.1.    Draw formats

The format of JDS events will be developed and implemented by the individual tournament. However, the principle of any JDS format must be to provide multiple competitive opportunities through the use of round robins.

9.2.    Round-Robin Draw Structure

Guiding principles relating to round-robin pool sizes and number of pools:

  • There should be no pools with less than three (3) players, and no more than six (6) players
  • Only winner of pool groups should move to any knockout rounds
  • For six (6) or less players, a one (1) pool format should be used. If one pool is used, there should be no additional knockout draw. i.e. the winner of the pool is to be declared the winner of the event, without a final being played.

Example pools may include but are not limited to the following table:

Number of Players

 Number of Pools Players per pool
7 2 3 & 4
8 2 4 & 4
9 2 4 & 5*
10 2 5 & 5*
11 2 6 & 5*
12 4 3, 3, 3 & 3
13 4 4, 3, 3 & 3
14 4 4, 4, 3 & 3
15 4 4, 4, 4 & 3
16 4 4, 4, 4 & 4

* Where there are more than five (5) athletes in a pool, the tournament reserves the right to reduce the match scoring format.

10.      Scheduling

 10.1.    All events

Tournaments must make every effort to be time efficient with regards to scheduling, thereby limiting the amount of waiting time that Athletes/families incur at each event. This includes:

  • Accurate scheduling
  • Appropriate match formats for the number of entries received
  • Communication of scheduling and of any scheduling changes
  • Sensible and timely announcements in the event of rain or heat delays
  • Updating of match schedules and draws as frequently as possible and if applicable a text messaging service
  • Timely advice to Athletes with regard to withdrawals, no-shows

10.2.Warm-ups

Immediately prior to a match, the players are entitled to a warm-up period not exceeding five (5) minutes.

11.      Member Association contact details

 

Nicky Mayer Phone: 0407460487
Leon Awee