 |
- NewWe have a new member/player that we would like to use in the Westside Tennis League. She does not have a USTA rating that we can find. How can we tell what her rating should be and determine which division and line she should play in?
The USTA publishes a "self rating Guideline" on its website to be used as a tool to rate players who have tennis experience. ntrpguidelines.pdf In general, a former college player, under the age of 30 will likely be considered as a 5.5 player, at minimum. College players from a Divison 1 school may have to be age 41 and haven't been getting the same training before they drop to a 5.0 rating which is the highest USTA rating we currently permit in the Westside Tennis League. The guideline also provides a good description of each level of tennis so that you can begin to assess the playing ability of your teammate. Remember, just because a player does not have a USTA rating on file does not relieve you of the obligation to fairly rate her before you assign her to your team and onto a line position. It is not in the best interest of the league when players or teams are not playing at their appropriate level.
|
- NewWe have seen several teams receive point penalties for violations and grievances. How do we avoid also getting penalized?
Given the competitive nature of this sport and the resulting pressure on teams and players, disagreements can arise. Here are some steps to help deal with issues so they don't become problems.
- Consult the WTL rules regularly, especially regarding player eligibility.
- Follow the USTA/SCTA standards of Conduct.
- If in doubt, contact the WTL Board for guidance.
Remember, it is your game, and you play it. The WTL provides the opportunities. The organization is not anxious to become an enforcer.
|
- The rules regarding participants did not specify any limitation on the number of subs that can be played in a given match.
| There is no limitation on the number of subs that can be used in a season. However, there are some important considerations: Subs must be played in order of strength just like rostered players. The Board will look at past and current stats to assure that subs are being used according to the information we have on them. The League does not consider all subs to be line 2 quality players. Thus, if you use a weak sub on a higher line, you may face penalties. The fundamental rule is that your line 1 team must be stronger than your line 2 team that day.
Another consideration is that the League expects that you have rostered the players who you expect to play majority of this season's matches and thus we do not expect to see only subs making up the play list in matches. Rostered players are considered to be players who are committed to play the matches, while subs are players who may be available to step in only when there is a rostered player who can't play. If you have four doubles team listed on your roster, then it is also expected that you use these players to fill in for the regular players prior to getting subs. If you are using multiple subs to fill in more than one or two of your lines in a given match, this makes it appear as though your team is trying to avoid listing your players in order of strength as the League requires.
|
- What do I have to do to get a spot in the League for my team?
File intent to play for a new team, include a full roster including all of the subs, include the address of your courts, and include a check for the appropriate dues.
|
- In a recent match, the opposition warned my player about foot faulting. Then, on the final point of a tie break game, the opposition called a foot fault on my player and thereby won the set. My players did not know what to do and so they allowed the point to be taken, but their feeling was that this was a tactic used by the opponents to win. I do not know about anyone else, but I never pay attention to foot faulting as if I could accurately call it from the other side of the court anyway.
| Our league uses USTA rules, particularly The code, The Players Guide for Unofficiated Matches #24 discusses foot fault.
Although it may be difficult to see a foot fault, players do see them and The Code specifically says that "only just touching the line is not acceptable". The opponents were correct in first warning the player and then, if foot faults continued, calling a foot fault and being awarded the point. A foot fault is as much a foul as an incorrect line call.
It is unfortunate to end a close match based on a foot fault in the very last point of a tie-breaker. If the foot faulting had continued after the first warning, it would have been better to locate someone to watch the lines after the first warning (as we do with questionable line calls).The player might have been more conscious of her foot or the fault would have been called sooner.
|
- I would like a re-match against today's opponent. There was a big hold up on the main road leading to their club, which we were not made aware of, and one of my teams didn't get to the club until 9:30, and not to the court until 9:45. They said we'd have to default one set. Would you please let me know how the Board are going to deal with this?
| Our rules have very specific default times so that matches won't be delayed, teams won't have to wait indefinately for late players, and captains won't argue over a late start.
Traffic delays are aggrevating but default times would be meaningless if traffic delays altered them. There is always a traffic problem somewhere in LA. and it is impossible to judge whether a player was late because of traffic or leaving her home late. WTL already has a 30 minute start time - 9:00 and 9:30 - to accomodate the uncertainties of traffic.
Your team was not ready to play until 9:45, 45 minutes after the 9:00 start time and just barely in time not to have the entire match defaulted. The opposing captain appropriately applied a one-set default and the match stands.
|
- A short ball came over and I hit it over the net. My opponent stopped playing and said it was a double bounce. I told her that it was NOT a double bounce, and because she disrupted the point, the point should be played over.
|
It is the responsibility of a player to announce if a ball bounced more than once in her own court. The opponent does not make this call and should continue playing if there was no call made. The same rule applies to other things that occur in a players own court: a ball touches a player, she touches the net, she hits the ball before the ball crosses over the net; or she deliberately carries or double hits the ball. (Code #20)
The opponent stopped the play and therefore loses the point. She should have continued playing and disputed whether it occurred after the point is over (deciding who should get the point). Replaying the point is not an option.
|
- How do we deal with problems on the court?
|
Try to resolve the issue on the court by discussing it calmly.
If that fails, ask the captain of the team to get involved.
If that fails, try to finish the match and send in your score along with an email to the AGC chair indicating it was a disputed match and explaining your dispute and all of the relevant facts.
if all else fails, send a detailed email to the AGC chair after the match, and explain the problem and how you tried to handle it.
The practice of good sportsmanship will also prevent problems.
The League exists so that you can meet and play with women from other clubs. Use these games as a way to get to know other players. When in doubt, look up the league rules and apply them. It is not bad sportmanship to enforce the League rules...such as the rules on cell phones, bathroom breaks, and starting times.
|
- We have a player who agreed to sub for B2, B1 and possibly A2. She is probably a B1 player. Can she sub for all three divisions (A2, B1, and B2)?
|
The use of subs has occasionally led to practices that are against our rules. Two WTL rules are involved. Read our current rules on oue website.
Rule II.F.b. "Substitutes must be divided by division and listed in the division most appropriate to their level of play. Substitutes must only play in their division or higher".
A sub is assigned at a particular level based on an honest assessment of her playing ability, not where she "agreed to sub" or where you need her. If unsure, ask your club's pro or compare her to line players.
A sub is similar to a line 2 player-she can play up or down one line in her division, but she cannot play in a lower division.
Rule 2.D. "It is a fundamental principle of the WTL that each club's three doubles teams compete in order of ability".
A sub affects the strength of a doubles team and this has to be considered so your three teams still compete in order of ability. She can't be placed in on any line without making adjustments so that the three teams compete in order of strength.
Higher division players are stronger than lower division subs (if this is not true, then the sub is listed in the wrong level). This means that the lower level sub would virtually always play on the line 3 team of the higher division.
It is very suspicious and may result in a team point penalty if a sub plays:
above line 3 in a higher division;
on two or three lines in a division and two or three lines in another division;
in three different divisions (A2,B1 and B2); or
subs two division higher (ie. From B2 to A2).
With our new online rosters and reporting, the Board and the AGC will be carefully monitoring that subs and doubles teams play in order of ability.
Stacking and having a weaker team on a higher line so a stronger team can be on a lower line in the hopes of winning the lower line, is a violation of our rule.
To specifically answer your question, it appears that your player should be listed as a B1 sub in the B1 roster. She can play any line in the B1 division, but not in the B2. She may also be listed in the A2 roster as a B1 sub and sub for the A2. In any given situation, your three teams should be lined up in order of strength.
|
- I'm my team's Co-captain but I never got any of the Board's correspondence. I'm also unable to login into our website using my username and password as directed. How am I expected to get information when I don't get correspondence from the league or have access to our website? My team should not be penalized for late changes to our roster if we can't get the correct information in a timely manner.
| The league information has always been sent to only one person per team, that being the Captain listed on the Intent to Play form. It is the Captain's responsibility to forward the information to their Co-captain and players. If you didn't receive the information you needed, you should discuss this with your captain.
The new website is now available 24/7 for everyone to access information.
However, only Captains and Co-captains can login and occasionally input data. Access depends on the data your captain initially generated for you. It sounds like there is a discrepancy in the data your Captain has put in for you and the data you currently have. Therefore, you are unable to access the site. Again, speak to your Captain, it is not a problem with the site. As for not being able to get info in a timely manner, the period for submitting rosters and getting information was sufficiently long for almost all Captains to find the answers to their questions and get it done within the time allotted.
|
|
 |
|
