WMGTA COMPETITION RULES 2024 – 2025
1. GOVERNANCE
The Management Committee of the Association shall have control of all matches. Tennis Australia Rules, Code of Conduct and Dress Regulations, except as altered herein, shall apply to this competition. The Association is affiliated with Tennis SA.
2. REGISTRATION
2.1 Teams will be registered in merit order by Clubs in the Association.
2.2 All players nominated must have registered and activated their own Competitive Player Profile in Match Centre (tennis.com.au) to compete.
2.3 Clubs are responsible for ensuring their players are financial members of their Club. No player is able to play in any finals matches unless a financial member of their Club.
2.4 Any new player who substantially alters the general standard of a team as originally graded may not be accepted by the Permit Committee as an eligible player for that team subsequent to that player’s first day of play.
2.5 A player shall be considered a member of the Club they first play for during each season. No player may play for more than one Club within the Association in a season.
2.6 Reserves: Any new player may initially play as an Unspecified Player and then must register and activate themselves in Match Centre (tennis.com.au). An Unspecified Player who is entered in the scores in Match Centre but not then set up correctly within 7 days will result in sets not counting for premiership points for that team. Please email the recorder with justification of best efforts made if this did not occur. Reserves must pay match fees to the Club and comply with the Club’s financial membership requirements if playing regularly.
3. MATCH CONTROL
3.1 All minor round matches shall be played on the day set down in the program.
3.2 Matches should ideally commence at 9.30am (hit up time from 9.15am). Captains may arrange to commence play before 9.30am on any minor round match day, if both teams agree and are available. Any player not in attendance and ready to commence play at 9.45am shall automatically forfeit a set, if not in attendance by 10.15am, shall forfeit second set, if not in attendance by 10.45am, shall forfeit third set. Captains please communicate, be flexible and take into consideration individual circumstances if play must commence late.
3.3 If the 3rd set has not started by 12.15pm, teams may agree to commence at 3-3.
3.4 Home Team to provide a score sheet for each match. Prior to commencement of match play, each captain shall list up to 6 players (in order of merit) and complete the doubles pairings on the score sheet. Each player can only play once with the same partner (except if there is an injury – see 3.9). The 5th and 6th players must be named on the scoresheet – see 3.9.
3.5 At the end of play, the Home Team shall enter all scores into Match Centre. The Away Team shall then confirm scores in Match Centre. Match Centre: see http://www.matchcentre.tennis.com.au)
3.6 Current Pennant Players may play only in Division 1.
3.7 Players listed in order of merit as fourth or lower ranked players of a team MAY move down ONE division (during the minor rounds only) provided such players play above those players regularly playing in the lower team. Prior permission from the Permit Committee is needed if the player(s) are to move down 2 or more divisions, or need to be re-graded. Players are not permitted to move down a division in the finals.
3.8 TEAMS IN ONE DIVISION: Where a Club has two or more teams in one division, players are interchangeable except that after having played 4 matches for one team , a player shall be considered a member of such team.
Penalty: Forfeiture to opposing team of all sets played by offending player(s).
SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS: (1) The fourth and lower ranked players are interchangeable (2) In a Club’s lowest division players may all interchange subject to prior permission.
3.9 MATCH FORMAT: Players should be ranked in order of merit. UTR may serve as a guideline of order. Order of players can only be moved one position within the team each week. If a team has only 3 players, the players present must play in positions 1, 2 and 3. If only 2 players, positions 1 and 2. Players may only play for one team per week.
1 & 2 v 1 & 2: 3 & 4 v 3 & 4 (1st rotation)
1 & 3 v 1 & 3: 2 & 4 v 2 & 4 (2nd rotation)
1 & 4 v 1 & 4: 2 & 3 v 2 & 3 (3rd rotation)
A match comprises 6 sets (all doubles).
All sets shall be 9 games, with tie-break at 8 games all.
TIE-BREAK: a TIE-BREAK shall be played at 8 games all. The team which wins 7 points shall win the set provided it leads by a margin of two points. Players shall change ends after every 6 points.
3.10 5th, 6th or Reserve Player and Injury Rule: An injured or sick player may be replaced at the end of a set by a 5th or 6th player or reserve player, provided that the 5 or 6 participating players are listed on the score sheet, are present when their match is ready to commence and are playing in the order of merit. The injured or sick player must either forfeit the remainder of the set during which the injury was sustained, or advise the opposing team captain at the end of a completed set. In the event of a player forfeiting due to injury, in the remaining matches a combination of players may play twice together only if all other possible combination avenues have been exhausted while retaining order of merit. Please email the recorder with justification.
4. FORFEITS
4.1 A forfeit will be accepted in any division, however, Clubs may move a player(s) up from the divisions below to fill any vacancy. Forfeits to be strongly discouraged, and if three players are available, then play proceeds (with the position order described in 3.9) and the opposition must be advised.
4.2 A team receiving a forfeit MUST enter the scores into Match Centre and shall be confirmed by the Opposing Team.
5. BALLS
5.1 Tennis Australia approved balls only may be used.
5.2 Home team to supply 2 NEW BALLS per court per match.
6. NET STRAPS Must be used at all times.
7. SCORING
7.1 Matches shall be decided by sets, and where sets are even, by games.
7.2 Two points awarded for win, plus one point for each set won.
7.3 One point each is awarded to each team for a draw plus one point for each set won.
8. WEATHER CONDITIONS
8.1 TEMPERATURE LIMIT:
8.1.1. If the forecasted maximum temperature for the day for Adelaide City at 7.30am, issued by the Bureau of Meteorology www.bom.gov.au is 36 degrees Celsius, all sets shall commence at 3 games all and be played to 9 games, with tie-break at 8 games all. If the forecasted temperature is 37 degrees Celsius or above – all matches are cancelled.
8.1.2 The Permit Committee may at its discretion cancel all matches following a heat wave.
8.2 WET WEATHER:
8.2.1 If Club courts are closed by Greenkeepers on a match day, then points are shared for matches at that venue. Club Representatives are to contact opposing team captains by 8.30am on a match day regarding closure of courts due to rain.
8.2.2. If Club courts remain open for play, ALL players must attend such venues. If no play is possible before 10.30am, the match is to be cancelled. Teams need to enter into Match Centre the results of any sets played or enter zero sets if no play. Points will be allocated for completed sets and shared for incomplete or not-played sets. If it is not raining at a certain venue, teams should continue to play regardless of rain causing cancellation at other venues.
9. DISPUTES
9.1 A Committee of five Executive Committee members will hear disputes which must be sent by email to the Recorder within 7 days of a match in dispute and must be sent by the Club Representative of the Club lodging the complaint.
9.2 A Permit Committee member will stand-aside if the dispute specifically relates to their club to ensure the independence of the committee. The Association President will appoint another Committee member(s) from the Club Representatives for the purpose of resolving that specific matter.
9.3 The decision of the Permit Committee shall be final.
10. BEHAVIOUR OF PLAYERS
10.1 INJURY TIME – 3 MINUTES ONLY (see “accident to player” in Tennis Rule Book).
10.2 DRESS CODE – Correct tennis attire, including suitable tennis shoes for grass courts must be worn at all times. The Committee reserves the right to define its dress code.
11. FINALS
11.1 A player must have played in 5 matches and 12 sets in minor round matches to be eligible for finals. Qualified players may play finals with no restrictions except for the rules outlined herein. This can include matches cancelled due to rain if a player is written on the score sheet and takes the court for a partial set. Matches cancelled prior to play due to adverse weather or a team forfeiting can not be counted towards eligibility. The Club Representative can email an application to Recorder to present to Permit Committee for consideration of special circumstances around eligibility for finals.
11.2 “Order of Merit” as submitted for finals must be adhered to – PENALTY: Forfeiture of finals. Doubles combinations are not required to be submitted.
11.3 BALLS – Two new balls to be supplied by EACH team and a spare pair of balls must be available.
11.4 VENUES FOR FINALS – To be advised by the Executive Committee.
11.5 DRAWN FINALS – In the event of a DRAW in any major round match, two tie- break GAMES shall be played between the original two pairings, as listed on the scoresheet. Tie-break points for each team shall be totalled and the highest points tally is declared the winning team. If a match remains drawn, the result of the tie- break game played by the first double shall be deemed to be the result of the match.
11.6 Players shall toss for the choice of service/receiver/end in accordance with Rule 6 in the Tennis Rule Book.
11.7 HOT OR WET WEATHER – Refer Rule 8.1.1
12. MAJOR ROUND FORMAT
12.1 Semi Finals are played between teams 1 v 4 and 2 v 3 (5 v 6, 7 v 8, 9 v 10 optional) in each Division on the Premiership Table at the completion of the minor round.
12.2 Grand Finals are played between the winners of 1 v 4 and 2 v 3 in the Semi Finals.
12.3 The Premiership is awarded to the winners of the Grand Final in each Division.
12.4 If there is no result from the Semi Finals for any reason, teams finishing 1 and 2 in each Division on the Premiership Table at the completion of the minor round play off in Grand Final.
12.5 If the Grand Final is cancelled for any reason, the Premiership is awarded to the team playing in the Grand Final who finished highest in each Div of the minor round.
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