Senior Interclub Tennis (the “League”)
GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS
G1. Fees: There will be no entry fee for the League. Host team to supply 3 cans of new balls. Any food or drinks, on or off-site, will be on a pay-as-you-go basis.
G2. Player Agreement: All players, as a condition of their participation, agree to abide and be bound by these rules, the “Rules of the Court” (https://www.tenniscanada.com/tournaments/officiating/rules-of-the-court/) from Tennis Canada, which includes “The Code” for Un-officiated Matches, and adhere to the standards of good conduct, fair play and sportsmanship.
G3. Waiver of Claims: Players participating in the League acknowledge the risks associated with playing competitive tennis, accept those risks voluntarily, and in consideration of their acceptance in the League, assume all risks for bodily injury, waive all claims for injury and property damage and release and hold harmless the League Commissioner, President, Vice-President & Treasurer and Club Captains, and the host facility, their officials, employees and agents with respect to any injury or loss caused by negligence or otherwise to the fullest extent of the law.
G4. League Governing Body: The governing body of the league will consist of the 3 individuals respectively designated as League Commissioner, President and Vice-President and Treasurer as well as one captain or co-Captain from each participating team. Each of such positions shall entitle the holder of that position to one vote on any issues needing to be addressed, with majority vote rule and the Chairperson to cast a second vote if tied. The League Commissioner will chair all meetings and if not present, or at the direction of the League Commissioner, the President shall act as chairperson. If one individual holds more than one position on the governing body, that individual will be entitled in the first instance to one vote for each position held.
G5. The League Commissioner, subject to review with at least two independent governing body members, may enact penalties against the clubs, Captains, and individuals arising out of their behavior and noncompliance with the rules both on and off the court. These penalties may include, but are not limited to, suspension of playing privileges, disqualification of teams, and alternative placement in standings.
G6: Ongoing League Costs and Donations: Setup costs and ongoing maintenance fees are expected to be modest, at around $300 per annum as everyone involved with creating and maintaining this league is doing so on an entirely voluntary basis. It is hoped that such costs will be met through voluntary non-tax deductible donations from a few generous participants. Donations in the $20-$50 range are encouraged and anyone interested in making a donation should so advise one of the League representatives or team captains. The League will maintain a detailed accounting of donations, expenses and current bank balance to be made available to team captains, who may disseminate the information to their team members.
TEAM ORGANIZATION RULES AND REGULATIONS
T1. Players: Players must be 60 years of age or older, within the calendar year, and full members of the club they are representing. Seniors may play 3.0/4.0 Calgary Interclub as well as 60+ for the same or another club.
T2: Roster: Only players on their team’s Roster may play. A Roster may have an unlimited number of players, but it closes for each team on their first match of the season. The finalized Roster must include player contact information and be submitted to the League Commissioner who will make copies available to each team captain. Additions to the final Roster may only be made with prior consent of the League Commissioner.
T3: Roving Spares: Team Captains shall make every reasonable effort to field a team for each league match from its existing roster of players. If unable to do so for any given match up to two “roving spares” may play to augment the team for such match. Roving spares shall be sourced from among league players who are not otherwise committed that day, starting firstly with any team on its bye week, secondly from another team other than the opposition and finally from the opposing team in the subject match. Team Captains availing themselves of this rule should strive to add additional players to its roster to minimize future recurrences.
T4: Limited Age Exemption: Team captains shall make reasonable efforts to develop an adequate roster to participate fully in the league without any default consisting entirely of players meeting the minimum age requirements of T1 above. Team captains may apply to the League to include on their roster any individuals who are 55 years of age or older within the calendar year and are full members of the club they are representing. Any such application shall state the reasons therefore and the level of the player should not exceed that of the average player on the team. Approval is entirely at the discretion of the League commissioner, president and vice-president. The League may at any time elect to revoke any prior approval given after reviewing with the relevant team captain.
MATCH RULES AND REGULATIONS
M1. Sets: Matches consist of 8 individual sets to six games. Deuces are played out with the next point winning at the 3rd deuce. At a game score of 5-5, play will continue with a regular 7-point tie-breaker (winning by 2), to determine which team wins the set.
M2. Teams: Teams play 4 sets of mixed doubles, 2 sets of ladies’ doubles and 2 sets of men’s doubles. The line-up needs 4 men and 4 women. Each player must play 2 sets, one of which must be mixed doubles.
M3. Start time: Match start time is between 9.00 a.m. and Noon as determined by the host team prior to the start of the season. Play will generally be on Wednesdays and the schedule will be provided to the team captains for distribution to all players on their roster at the beginning of the season. Host team to provide 3 courts for a minimum of 2 hours.
M4. Warm up: First 4 sets played have a 5-minute warm-up. Teams may warm up earlier if there are courts available. There is no “first-in” for those serving. There is no warmup for the last 4 sets.
M5. Hosting: a) Because visiting teams are guests of the home club, home club rules apply, and all players must conform to these rules. The home club will retain the right to refuse playing privileges to those players not abiding by their rules. These rules may include court demeanour as well as dress codes (Note: All courts require non-marking shoes). Indoor clubs request that visitors provide photo ID at check-in.
b) Coaching while a set is played is not allowed. Teammates, spectators or coaches may not volunteer advice on line-calls, scoring or on the conduct of the match. It is the home team’s responsibility to control the spectators’ conduct during match play.
c) If, for any unforeseen circumstance, the home team is unable to provide courts for a scheduled match, the visiting team has the first option of providing its courts. If the visiting team does not elect to provide its home courts, the responsibility reverts to the home team which must provide courts elsewhere.
M6. Line-up: Each team will have a Captain or acting Captain to oversee the line-up and to ensure there is a full team ready to play. Each player can play 2 sets maximum per match and if there are not enough players, sets are to be defaulted (to be determined by offending Captain). Opposing Captains are to exchange line-ups prior to the start of play. Changes are not to be made after the line-ups have been exchanged unless by mutual consent of Captains.
M7. Ranks: Team Captains are to abide by the principle that the best players play against the best players to ensure more competitive, more enjoyable and fairer competition. Team captains shall for each match designate each participant as 1, 2, 3 and 4 of their gender with the strongest players as 1 and the weakest as 4. Mixed doubles will each be with the same number of the other gender. LD1 and MD1 will be players 1 and 2 of their gender; LD2 and MD2 will be players 3 and 4 of their gender. Order of play absent extenuating circumstance shall be Mixed1, Mixed2, Mixed3, Mixed4, Ladies1, Mens1, Ladies2, Mixed2.
The League Commissioner will have the authority to determine if players have been deliberately played in a lower position than they would normally play, and if deemed appropriate, to forfeit that set.
M8. Recording scores: Scores and match duration of each match must be recorded on provided scoresheets and both Captains must sign the sheet. Scores to be reported to the League Commissioner by the winning Captain in two days’ time, and hard copies to be kept for future reference.
M9: Inclement Weather, Court Unavailability: a) If teams have assembled to play and the match is delayed or interrupted by rain or wet courts, the length of time teams wait for dry courts will depend on a consensus of both team Captains. In the event of a disagreement, the home Captain’s decision will prevail.
b) In the event of rain or if the courts otherwise become unavailable for any reason, once the line-up is exchanged, any sets finished will stand as played and provided at least 5 sets have been finished the match will be considered complete for scoring purposes. Incomplete or fully rained out matches will not otherwise be re-scheduled or re-played and will be counted as a tie for scoring purposes.
M10: Unresolved Disputes: If there are situations that cannot be resolved by the team Captains amicably, the League Commissioner should be contacted for resolution.
SCORING
S1. Scoring: a) There are eight points per match, and the team with the most sets won wins the match and earns two points for the win.
b) If there is a tie at 4 sets all, the teams are tied and each team earns 1 point irrespective of games won.
c) Overall league standings will be kept as a matter of record but there will be no award or other formal recognition of the winning team, and no playoffs will be held.
(Last updated: 2023-10-15)
Calgary Senior Tennis Doubles Interclub 