CAPTAIN'S CORNER

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Tournament Headquarters
Pelham Racquet Club
205 621-3380

Team and individual scores and standings will be posted at Pelham Racquet Club each day.  Results will be entered into TennisLink throughout each day. 

Tournament Site Desks
All captains are asked to turn in their lineups at least 30 minutes prior to the scheduled match time with all team members present and ready to play.  The USTA Point Penalty System will be in effect with lateness penalties imposed.  A fifteen-minute default time will be strictly enforced. 

Court Conduct
All players will abide by the USTA Rules and “The Code.”  The server will call the score after each point, clearly and loudly enough for his/her opponent to hear.  Line calls will be made as accurately as possible, always giving the benefit of any doubt to your opponent.  Remember that if you cannot call your opponent’s shot out, it is presumed good!  Do not ask opinions from spectators.  No coaching of any player will be permitted at any time.  Please follow all rules of considerate behavior.  Return balls from other courts promptly.  Be ready to receive serve promptly.  Always insure that your opponent is ready for your serve. 

Rules

1. PENN will be the official ball.  Play will be on soft courts unless changed by the tournament committee.

2. The round robin format of play will be used.  All matches shall be the best of two sets and the set tiebreak shall be used at 6-all in each set.  In lieu of a third set, a match tie break shall be played.  There will be a two-minute break after each set with no coaching.  The match tiebreak shall be scored as 1 set and 1 game.  (The Referee may authorize alternate scoring in order to complete play on schedule.)  A team is awarded one (1) team point for winning a team match.  The teams with the most team points will win their round robin or if in groups their flight and will proceed to the finals.  The winning team will be invited to participate in the Southern Sectional Championship.  In the event of a tie, after completing play in their round robin, or respective groups, the tie will be broken by the first of the following procedures that does so:

A:         Individual Matches.  Winner of the most individual matches in the entire competition.
B:         Sets.  Loser of the fewest number of sets.
C:         Games.  Loser of the fewest number of games.
            For the purpose of this provision, the following rules shall apply:
1)                  Retirement.  In case of a retirement after a match has started, the non-retiring party shall be credited with such number of additional games as would have been won if the match was completed and the non-retiring party won every subsequent game.
2)                  Forfeits & Defaults.  The non-forfeiting and/or non-defaulting party shall be credited with a 6-0, 6-0 win.
D:         Head-to-head.  Winner of head-to-head match.
E:         Coin toss.
Note:  Should inclement weather or other circumstances prevent the completion of tournament play, and the Tournament Committee has not cancelled the event, these tiebreak procedures will be used to declare a winner in each group or round robin and a champion in each level.
For those levels that have three groups the second place team with the best record as determined from above will be designated the wildcard.  If a draw results in the second place team playing against the first place team from its own flight, the draw shall be altered as follows:  second place team shall exchange places with team from the top line of the other semi-final.

3. A 10-minute warm-up period, including serves, and a 15-minute default period shall be observed throughout the event.

4. At the conclusion of each individual match, the winner(s) must return to the Tournament Desk to return balls, and report scores.  At the conclusion of the team match, both captains must return to the Tournament Desk to sign the scorecard.

5. The Tournament Committee reserves the right to alter the format, the scoring method or terminate the team match when one team has won the majority of the points.  However, without directive from the Tournament Committee, teams are expected to play all matches to completion.

6. In the event of inclement weather, court surfaces may change based on availability.

7. All USTA Official Rules of Play, USTA League Tennis Regulations, the USTA Code of Conduct, and the USTA Point Penalty System will be enforced.  A 10-minute warm-up period, including serves, and a 15-minute default period shall be observed throughout the event.

8. Players are expected to wear tennis attire appropriate for this event. 

2009 Alabama League Championships cancellation policy
Should inclement weather or other circumstances prevent the completion of a State Championship; the Tournament Committee will determine whether the matches played at the point of cancellation will be used to determine round robin group winners and a champion in each level.
If the Tournament Committee determines that there was a lack of “equal opportunity” for all teams in the level due to the schedule of play, the Tournament Committee will place all teams in a drawing to determine the champion in each level.  (For instance, in a five team round robin, one team may be in first place at the time of cancellation with two matches played, while other teams in the round robin have fewer matches played.  This example would not provide “equal opportunity” for all teams in the round robin and would not be used to determine the round robin group winner).
If any team(s) in a round robin flight is mathematically out of contention at the time of championship cancellation it will be excluded from the drawing.