South West Essex Tennis League Rules

 

Important Note:  The SWE Tennis League rules are currently being updated to bring fully current and will be uploaded shortly.   In the meantime, the 2022 Rules are outlined below. 

Thank you - Dave Taylor, Nov 2023

 

 

 

South West Essex Tennis League

Rules for 2022 Season

 

1. The competition shall be called the South West Essex Tennis League.

2. All clubs residing in Walthamstow and surrounding districts shall be eligible to enter one or more teams. Entrance fee is £3 per Team payable to the Treasurer .

3. The Committee shall consist of three members; Hon Chairman, Hon Secretary, Hon Treasurer, .

4. Clubs shall be divided into divisions according to the number participating.

5. Each team shall play each other in its division both at home and away.

6. Teams shall consist of three pairs. Each pair shall play two of the other pairs in the opposing team; e.g.; Pair A plays Pair A & B, Pair B plays A & C and Pair C plays B & C. Two sets shall be played for each event with a maximum of twelve games per set.

7. If two pairs arrive they must be pairs 1 & 2. If they indicate that the third pair is arriving later and the match starts with those pairs playing pair 1 & 3, if the third pair does not arrive, then the third pair’s results will be expunged.

8. The winners of the match shall be that team which wins a majority of sets. In the event of a tie on sets played, the result shall be called a draw.

9. A spread of 26 points to be awarded for each match played.

If, for example, a team wins 14  to 12 , two points are to be added to the winning team, the score will therefore be 16 to 12.

A 26 – 0 result will be scored as 28 – 0.

For a draw, one extra point shall be awarded to each team, the score being 13 – 13.

1. The winning team should enter the result online within 48 hours of the match being played. If the match is drawn, the home team is responsible for entering the result. Any score not entered online or received by the Results Secretary within one week of the match being played will have the bonus points deducted at the end of the season.

1. Where a club has two or more teams in the same division, the match must be played in its entirety and these matches must be played early in the Season. These teams must not concede.

2. Fixture lists will be drawn up by the Committee and distributed in early February. Thereafter, there will be a window until 31st March 2022, where clubs may rearrange fixtures if certain of the published dates are difficult for them.  All fixture changes mutually agreed during this window should be notified and lodged with David Taylor (SWE Chairman).  For the avoidance of doubt, it will no longer be possible for fixtures secretaries or team captains to amend fixture dates after 31st March because, for example,  their ‘ideal’ team is not available or they are short of players.   In these scenario’s, the options available will be to either turn up with two pairs, or if 4 players are not available, forfeit the match, in which case the points allocation outlined in Rule 16 will apply.   To summarise, after 31st March, the fixture will stand unless made absolutely impossible by inclement weather. In that event the home team must, within seven days, offer three dates to the away team. The away team must accept one of these dates or forfeit the match (subject to their not already having matches on these three dates). The Results Secretary must be advised of the re-arranged date. If a team cannot raise at least two pairs the opposing captain has the option of:

   1. Offering a date for the replay or

   2. Claiming the match

3. Matches must be started within 15 minutes of the agreed starting time,  if only part of the team is available they must be paired up to make a maximum number of pairings. If the missing players are not available within 30 minutes of the starting time, they will forfeit the first set and play only one set of their match. If they are more than 45 minutes late, the first two sets shall be forfeited. Any set conceded shall be scored at 6 – 0. The forfeited set or sets may be reinstated and played at the end of the match, provided both Captains agree. Knock ups should be of no more than 5 minutes duration only.

4.  All matches to be played in compliance with LTA rules and regulations, disputes on line calls to be replayed.

5. Where a match has been started and is abandoned due to inclement weather, the match shall be replayed in its entirety unless, when the match is abandoned, one team has won sufficient sets to ensure winning.

6. If a team concedes the match, the winning team shall be awarded 10 points, the losing team deducted four points.

7. Should any team withdraw from the league after the commencement of their match programme, all their results shall be withdrawn.

8. Any disputes shall be referred to the Committee for final decision.

9. At the completion of all league fixtures, the club at the head of each division shall be presented with the appropriate cup, which shall be held for one year.

10. At the end of 2022 Season it will be two up and two down in all divisions but at the discretion of the Committee and depending on the number of teams in the League.

11. Clubs entering two or more teams in one event shall nominate players for all but their lowest team and these players shall not play in a lower team. Players may make two appearances for a higher team but in excess of this, they will forfeit their lower team status.

12. Nominated players are to play in the majority of matches IE; over half

        All clubs must send in their team nominations before the start of the season                

Failure to do so will incur a 2 point penalty. Nominations to   southwestessextennis@gmail.com

    21A  Players should all be paid up members of the club they are representing

              no Guest Players allowed

 

1. The Committee has the power to overrule Rule 21 on application by a club wishing to re-register a player in a lower division.

2. All rain affected matches to be replayed by 13th August.

3. New Teams entering the League can only play their home matches on week nights (Monday to Friday inclusive).

4. No player is allowed to play in one section of the league for more than one club.

5. All club match secretaries must inform the appropriate clubs of all their team captains with telephone numbers so in the event of any team or weather problems captains can communicate direct.

6. The League believe that social time after matches is an important part of tennis and teas should continue to be provided where possible.  However, whilst mandatory previously,  if a particular team wishes not to provide teas then they should notify opposition teams ahead of any such fixture.   In these circumstances, it will not be necessary for the opposition tram to provide a tea.  Further, Team captains must confer before matches as to what is available and how many will be staying. 

7. Results will be posted on the website and tables updated each week.https://sites.google.com/site/southwestessextennisleague

8. If no representative of a club attends the AGM, that club is to be fined £10 and the proceeds passed onto the NSPCC.

 

Will Match Secretaries please ensure that Captains PRINT all names

on score cards and ensure that nominated members of teams play in a majority of matches.