Riverland Junior Tennis Association

Manual/Rules

RIVERLAND JUNIOR TENNIS ASSOCIATION
OPERATING PROCEDURES: 2014-15

The following are the basic guidelines for operating the various aspects of Riverland Junior Tennis.
They are designed for

• the Association Junior Committee
• Club Junior committees and

• Junior Team Managers.

INDEX (click on title to jump)

1. RULES RELATING TO MATCH DAYS
2. AMENDMENT / CANCELLATION OF MATCHES
3. DIVISIONS • NUMBER OF GAMES AND SETS TO BE PLAYED
   • WHICH COLOUR BALLS TO BE USED
4. HOW TO PLAY A TIE BREAKER
5. SCORE SHEETS
6. THE DARNLEY TAYLOR JUNIOR SPORTSPERSON AWARD
7. PROBLEMS RELATING TO POOR SPORTSMANSHIP / BEHAVIOUR OR ANY OTHER MATTERS
8. RULES FOR JUNIOR TENNIS
9. FINALS
10. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. RULES RELATING TO MATCH DAYS

1. Teams are expected to arrive in sufficient time to be able to commence at 9.00am.
2. Score sheets to be filled out prior to the commencement of the match.
3. Hit ups to be limited to 5 minutes.
4. Players are required to dress in acceptable tennis clothing.
5. No tank tops or singlets
6. No track suit pants when playing
7. Shoes to be worn at ALL times on the court
8. Players are NOT permitted to remain on the court area OR between courts when
other matches are in progress.
9. Supervisors are permitted on court to assist players in keeping score / change of
ends etc in division 4 & 5 ONLY. Only one adult is permitted per court.
Should there be a requirement in higher divisions (this would be rare) then the
above will apply.
10. Every encouragement should be made to have the players score and umpire their
own games.
11. Server to call out the score after EACH point and players to confirm game scores
after every game and at each change of ends.
12. If players are not certain that the ball is out then the ball should be considered in!!

13. Supervisors should encourage players to wear hats and take plenty of fluids onto
the court AND drink some at each change of ends.
14. Should players disagree on the score they should replay those points / games they
cannot remember and then recommence the match from where they stopped with
the new points / games added.
15. If a player, or players, are unhappy with the opponent’s calls they should request
assistance from the venue manager or supervisor.

2. CANCELLATION / AMENDMENT TO MATCHES

The following will apply to ALL junior matches:
HEAT:
1. All temperatures will be taken from BOM (Bureau Of Meteorology) at 6pm on the Friday evening prior to the Saturday match. Should there be any doubts team managers should contact their junior coordinators who may then confirm with the Association Junior President or deputy. 2. Should the estimated temperature be 40 degrees or above on that day then ALL matches for that morning are CANCELLED. NB: The result of cancelled matches will be a draw to all teams that were due to play that round. No score will be allocated to a team that had a bye for that round.
Rationale: This maintains the equality of all teams “playing” the same number of matches.
RAIN: In the event of rain the 2 supervisors should decide • if by delaying the start / or interrupting play, this will allow for a decision to be reached • if it appears that the rain is of a general nature then play should be abandoned if it is deemed that o the match could not be completed or o the courts are too slippery for safe play • Should more than 50% of matches in that grade be completed then those completed matches shall count. All other matches shall receive a “draw” and be awarded equal points / sets and games.

3.DIVISIONS – NUMBER OF GAMES / SETS TO BE PLAYED

Pennant: (Mixed boys and Girls – 2 players only per team) • Doubles = 1 x 9 game set – tie breaker at 8 games all. • Singles = 1 x 9 game set – tie breaker at 8 games all. • Players use: Standard “yellow” balls
Division 1. (Separate boys and Girls)
• Doubles = 1 x 9 game set – tie breaker at 8 games all. • Singles = 1 x 6 game set – tie breaker at 6 games all. • Players use: Standard “yellow” balls
Division 2. (Separate boys and Girls)
• Doubles = 1 x 9 game set – tie breaker at 8 games all • Singles = 1 x 6 game set – tie breaker at 6 games all. • Players use: GREEN BALLS (All green or Yellow with a green dot)
Division 3. (Mixed gender division)
• Doubles = 1 x 6 game set – tie breaker at 6 games all. • Singles = 1 x 6 game set – tie breaker at 6 games all. • Players use: GREEN BALLS (All green or Yellow with a green dot) • Doubles will be played on the normal singles court. Serving: o Players must serve from the baseline but may serve underarm if necessary.

Division 4. (Mixed gender division)
• Doubles = 1 x 6 game set – tie breaker at 6 games all. • Singles = 1 x 6 game set – tie breaker at 6 games all. • Players use: Orange balls o Players are encouraged to serve from the baseline but may proceed halfway between the baseline and service line if unable to serve successfully from the baseline. o If still unsuccessful, the player may proceed to the service line. o If, in the opinion of the team managers, the server is deemed to be gaining an unfair advantage from either of these closer positions, then the server will be asked to move back. o Players may use an underarm serve for their second serve in the interests of getting the ball in play and allowing a rally to develop. o Court size: 18m x 6.5m.
CURRENTLY SUSPENDED
Division 5. (Mixed gender division).
• This division plays mini tennis on a ½ court (service line to service line) • Scoring will be the same as for normal tennis. • Doubles = 8 games ONLY (Scores are any combination of 8) • Singles = 6 game ONLY (Scores are any combination of 6) • Players use the LARGE RED BALLS • Serving can be underarm however OVER ARM attempts should be encouraged.

4.Playing the “TIE BREAK”

§ The tie break is played at the completion of a designated numbers of games (6all, 8all etc). § The play will commence (as listed below) until 1 player has reached 7 points with a lead of at least 2 points § For information – (A super tie break is conducted as above except a player must reach 10 points with a lead of at least 2 points). NB: Not currently used.
Singles:
1. Player (A) who received in the game before the tie break shall commence serving from the forehand (right) court and shall serve 1 point. 2. Player (B) at the other end will then serve 2 points beginning on the backhand (left) court. 3. Player (A) will then serve 2 points beginning on the backhand (left) court. 4. Player (B) will then serve 1 point from the backhand (left) side of the court 5. The TOTAL points will now be 6 6. Players will then change ends. 7. Player (B) will then serve 1 more point (from the forehand court) and then 8. Players will continue serving 2 points each (always starting from the backhand court) until 12 points in total has been reached when they will again change ends. 9. This format continues until one player has reached 7 points (and has at least a 2 point advantage). 10. That set is now completed 11. Players MUST then change ends and 12. The player who STARTED serving in the tie break will now RECEIVE in the first game of the new set.
IF YOU FORGET TO CHANGE ENDS OR SERVE FROM THE WRONG SIDE Then the following will apply
1. All played points MUST count 2. You then work out where you SHOULD be and continue from that point onwards.
Doubles: The same applies as above (numbers 1 – 12) except that players still maintain their normal rotation of server.

5. SCORE SHEETS

Score sheets are to be filled out by each team for every match.
• Score sheets to be filled out prior to the commencement of the match.
• The “home” team will always be on the left hand side of the sheet
• Please use Christian and Surnames – this helps with recording as multiple
initials with surnames are common (ie J. SMITH)
• Please PRINT all names
• Sportsmanship Voting: This is a vote for the player that your team
considers displayed the best levels of sportsmanship from the opposition
team during the match. There is a space provided to insert that players
name.
• Supervisors managers are requested to check result sheets at the
completion of the match
• Please supply a phone number on the form – this makes it easier to check
errors and confirm scores

• Every score sheet is to be returned to the Recording Officer NO LATER
than 6pm on the Sunday evening following the match. (This is necessary
to allow time for premiership tables to be collated and results forwarded to
the local media). Pennant match results no later than the Wednesday
night following the match.
• PENALTY FOR NO SCORE SHEET BY 6pm – LOSS OF ALL POINTS / SETS AND GAMES by that team for that match. NOTE: The recording Officers phone / fax and email details are located
on the front cover of all score pads.

6. DARNLEY TAYLOR JUNIOR SPORTSPERSON AWARD

This trophy is awarded annually and is selected by the Riverland Junior Tennis Committee.
History:
This award was initiated to recognize the involvement and support given to Junior Tennis by Darnley Taylor of Renmark. Darnley was a great supporter of young people in many sports but was particularly keen on tennis. A long time member of the Renmark Tintra Club Darnley was best known for his love of the game and the manner in which it was played.
When Darnley passed away suddenly in 2000 it was decided to establish an award to recognize those attributes that Darnley believed were important to the player and the game. Those who have received this award are:
00-01 Yalonda Flack 07-08 Kierren King 01-02 Olivia Disisto 08-09 David Strongman 02-03 Stuart Thomson 09-10 Rhiannon Grosse 03-04 Luke Saville 10-11 Marnie Stewart 04-05 Brooke Rischbieth 11-12 Brodie Kollmann 05-06 Kate Wegner 12-13 William Koskinas 06-07Zac Hefford 13-14 Sarah-Jane Albrecht
CRITERIA FOR THE DARNLEY TAYLOR SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
1. Achievements 2. Sportsmanship on and off the court 3. Local club support in coaching or assisting at club activities 4. Participation in squads or interchange matches with other associations 5. Participation in tournaments

7.GENERAL SPORTSMANSHIP

Matters relating to: • sportsmanship • match results • arrival times of teams for play • attire • general conduct
Must be forwarded to the Recording Officer in writing by 6pm on the Sunday immediately following the match.
The Recording Officer will then advise the Association Junior Committee who will make decisions or recommendations and forward these to the clubs concerned.

8. RULES FOR JUNIOR TENNIS

1. Order of merit: No player shall move more than one (1) position per week. Exception – a. When other players are unavailable or b. A player is returning to the team. NB: Teams are allowed the first 4 matches to “settle” their order of merit. This will allow an obvious mistake in the placement of a player to be corrected immediately by permitting players to move more than the one position per week.
Penalty: (a & b).Loss of those sets played by the offending player. NOTE: Some flexibility is permitted in the 3rd and 4th divisions. However this should still be “in the spirit of the game” – by trying to keep players as close to order of merit as possible. 2. Doubles play: The first player MUST play in the first double. Penalty: Loss of both doubles sets.
3. Forfeits: When a team has to forfeit the players in the team immediately below must move up and compete in the higher grade. Exception – Where a club does NOT have a team in the next grade it will be permissible to forfeit the higher grade. Penalty: Loss of match played by the next lower team(s). 4. Movement of players. Clubs with multiple teams in grades: Once a player has played 4 matches for a team in a season they are tied to that team for the remainder of that season.

9. FINALS

• A player must play in at least 3 minor round junior matches to be eligible to play junior finals. • Players may only play in the grade they have played the majority of matches (or a higher grade) – should this be equal they may play in either grade • Clubs must nominate their teams in order of merit on the Monday night preceding the first finals. The Recording Officer shall check that order and advise the club if changes are required. • Should a team play OUT OF ORDER (from the one agreed upon by the club and Recording Officer) the match shall be lost – maximum sets / games to nil. • Should a finals match be a draw the team finishing the higher during the minor round shall be declared the winner.

10. GENERAL

NB: Any of the above rules may be varied at the discretion of the Riverland Junior Tennis Committee.
This can be obtained by clubs writing to the committee who will discuss the issue and decide what actions are appropriate.