League matches shall consist of 9 events, each event consisting of two short sets. Should a set reach 5-5 the LTA tie breaker shall be used.
The order of play should be:
Round 1: 1v1, 2v2, 3v3 for 2 sets
Round 2: 2v1, 3v2, 1v3 for 2 sets
Round 3: 3v1, 1v2, 2v3 for 2 sets; the away pairs staying put and the home pairs moving from court to court.
However, if both captains agree before the start of a match, it can be played over 12 sets rather than 18.
In this case the order of play shall be:
1st Round for one set only 2v1, 3v2, 1v3 (like round two of an 18 set match)
2nd Round for one set only 3v1, 1v2, 2v3 (like round three of an 18 set match)
3rd round for two sets 1v1 2v2 3v3 (like round one in an 18 set match)
Also, when both captains agree before the start of the match, sets 10, 11 and 12 can be played as a championship tie breaker (first to 10 points). This should be recorded as 6-5 on the (electronic) scorecard.
Please note that RULE 10 prohibits clubs from arranging to play a fixture after the date in the fixture list, unless a change is made because the fixture is on a Public or National Holiday Weekend, which includes matches on the Friday to Monday (or if the league schedules two matches in the same week and within 48 hours). The date may be changed at the request of either team with at least two weeks notice given to the opposition. Inability to turn out a team on the official date means that the match must be conceded, and a two point deduction will also be made. However, the match may be played PRIOR to the planned date, if the opponents agree to an earlier date. Matches commence at 6.30 p.m. except for early season fixtures which commence at 6.15 p.m. (See Fixture Chart for precise dates). Sunday matches commence at 10.00 a.m. unless otherwise stated in the handbook. It is emphasised that these times are “on court available to play” times.
The finishing times of play are designated week-by-week on the fixture charts. It is appreciated however that where there are floodlights, or where play is on a Sunday morning, teams may wish to play on. The designated times, therefore, may ( if agreed by BOTH CAPTAINS ) be altered PRIOR TO THE START OF THE MATCH to take account of floodlights or court and light availability on early Sunday afternoons.
Play will be completed at the appropriate published finishing time as set for each week in the League Handbook. Only the game in progress should be completed. The match will be deemed complete provided 12 sets have been played, conceded sets counting as played sets. The winner of the majority of sets shall be the match winner, irrespective of the fact that a reverse result could have been obtained by further sets being played.
All nets must have a centre tape.
Because results are now sent in electronically they must be submitted within 96 hours.
For cup matches, all participants have been given a blank Word scorecard (which is also on the Facebook page) to fill in and return by email to summertennis@derrington.eu. They may print it out and fill it in by hand but the version returned to the match secretary must be typewritten on a computer (not photographed or scanned in) and emailed as an attachment to the match secretary at summertennis@derrington.eu.
For league matches results will be completed on an Excel spreadsheet (Open Office saves in Excel format and there is an app for Android tablets which reads and writes Excel files) supplied by the match secretary and returned to him by email. The results will then be online at www.southwestmanchestertennis.net. In either case a paper pro forma for completing on court will be sent out and is already on the Facebook page and help will be provided for completing results. There is a “How to” video as well as detailed written instructions on this website. If you need further help, get in touch with the league match secretary, whose phone number is in the handbook.
Cup matches consist of 5 events: Men’s Doubles, Ladies’ Doubles, Mixed Doubles, Men’s Singles and Ladies Singles. Unless captains agree prior to the start of the match that is the order of play. Each event consists of a best of three set match, a tie-break at 6-6 operating in each of the first two sets. The third set should be a long set but, if light is failing, captains may agree on a tie-break set or even a champion’s tie break.