EASTERN SUBURBS TENNIS ASSOCIATION INC.
COMPETITION RULES
1.9.2015
INDEX
SECTION 1 – RULES OF PLAY
1.1 Rules of Play
SECTION 2 – COMPETITIONS
2.1 Arranging Competitions
2.2 Teams in Competition
2.3 Rounds of Competition
2.4 Matches and Sets – Rounds Only
2.5 Number of Teams in Grades
2.6 Courts
2.7 Team Entry Form and Fee
2.8 Numbering Teams
2.9 Regrading
2.10 Refusal of Entries
2.11 Registration of Players
2.12 Grade Registered In
2.13 Additional Registrations
2.14 Players’ Responsibilities
2.15 Code of Conduct
2.16 Dress Regulations
2.17 Club Fees
SECTION 3 – MATCHES
3.1 Commencement and Completion Times
3.2 Supply of Balls
3.3 Arrangement of Sets
3.4 Toss for Service
3.5 Continuity of Play
3.6 Heat Rule
3.7 Unfinished Matches
3.8 Postponements
3.9 Scoring
3.10 Allocation of Competition Points
3.11 Match Results
3.12 False Results
3.13 Forfeits
3.14 Grade Placings
SECTION 4 – SEMI-FINALS AND FINALS
4.1 Conditions of Play
4.2 Sets
4.3 Venue
4.4 Commencement and Completion Times
4.5 Supply of Balls
4.6 Toss
4.7 Continuity of Play
4.8 Interrupted Semi-Finals and Finals
4.9 Qualifications
SECTION 5 – REPRESENTATION
5.1 Representing the Association
SECTION 6 – GENERAL
6.1 Reports of Misconduct
6.2 Protests and Disputes
6.3 Appeals
SECTION 7 – ADDENDUM
7.1 Terminology
7.2 Addendum
SPECTATOR CODE OF CONDUCT
The Eastern Suburbs Tennis Association has a Player Code of Conduct which can be seen on the Association’s X-Point website. Spectators can assist players by teaching that an honest effort is as important as victory.
In addition, spectators are asked to abide by the Spectator Code of Conduct below.
Spectators will positively support the players, other spectators and officials.
When attending a match, we ask that spectators
• remember that players play for their own enjoyment, not for spectators’ enjoyment;
• encourage players to abide by the rules;
• respect the officials’ decisions and encourage players to do the same;
• not become involved in any match. Coaching or line-calling during matches is strictly prohibited. At no time should spectators go on to the court.
If a spectator does not adhere to the above code of conduct, he / she may be asked to leave the tennis centre. A repeated offence could result in a particular player’s entry for a competition or tournament not being accepted by officials.
SECTION 1 – RULES OF PLAY
1.1 RULES OF PLAY
Competitions and tournaments conducted by this Association shall be governed by the Rules of Play recognised by Tennis New South Wales, except as provided for by any of the following rules or by direction of the Management Committee and such rules shall be strictly enforced during the competitions and tournaments. For the purpose of these rules a competition is a contest in which teams compete.
SECTION 2 – COMPETITIONS
2-01 ARRANGING COMPETITIONS
Two or more competitions shall be offered during the year and shall consist of the following types:
MIXED (Saturday afternoon)
SUNDAY MORNING (Sunday morning)
TUESDAY WOMEN’S (Tuesday) and
JUNIOR (Saturday afternoon)
or on any other day decided by the Management Committee.
Each respective type will be played in grades, according to the relative strength and number of teams entered. Any promotion or relegation of teams after the completion of a competition will be at the discretion of the Grading Committee.
The Management Committee shall forward to Club Secretaries full particulars regarding fees, type of balls to be used, date of closing of entries, commencing date of competition and any other relevant particulars.
2-02 TEAMS IN COMPETITION
A MIXED team shall consist of two male and two female players.
A SUNDAY MORNING team shall consist of two players.
A TUESDAY WOMEN’S team shall consist of four players.
A JUNIOR team shall consist of two players.
2-03 ROUNDS OF COMPETITION
With the exception of the Junior competition, all competitions shall consist of each team scheduled to play matches against every other team at least once. Deferred matches shall not be played.
2-04 MATCHES AND SETS – ROUNDS ONLY
MIXED matches shall consist of six twelve-point tie-breaker sets with the tie-breaker to be played at six games all. A match shall consist of one men’s doubles, one women’s doubles and four mixed doubles.
SUNDAY MORNING matches shall consist of four twelve-point tie-breaker sets with the tie-breaker to be played at five games all. A match shall consist of two doubles and two singles. The first and last sets must be doubles, with the second and third sets being singles. Each player shall play two doubles and one singles.
In the Sunday Morning doubles sets only, if the score in a game reaches “Deuce”, a deciding point shall be played to determine the winner of the game, using the ‘No-Ad’ scoring method. The receivers shall choose whether to receive the service from the right half or the left half of the court. The players of the receiving team cannot change positions to receive this deciding point.
[Last 2 paragraphs approved by Management Committee on 17.4.2023 and subsequent emails; XPoint updated on 18.5.2023 with final wording]
TUESDAY WOMEN’S matches shall consist of eight twelve-point tie-breaker sets with the tie-breaker to be played at five games all. Each pair shall meet each opposing pair twice.
JUNIOR matches shall be played as determined by the Management Committee
With the exception of a Ladies Midweek Division, all matches shall be played on one court only. Players in other competitions may use two courts only on agreement of the players involved.
The match result shall be determined only on sets played in accordance with these rules.
2-05 NUMBER OF TEAMS IN GRADES
Each grade shall consist of four or more teams, with the four leading teams playing off. These play-offs are to be known as semi-finals and finals.
2-06 COURTS
Each club entering a competition must provide one court for every two teams entered in each type of competition. Division 1 of Tuesday Women’s competition will provide two courts for every team.
All courts entered for the Mixed / Junior competition must have adequate lighting to permit continuation of play after sunset.
All courts must be approved by the Management Committee which may, without giving any reason, withhold or withdraw approval.
Each affiliated club entering a team in the competition shall be obliged, if required, to make its court(s) available to the Association for the purpose of conducting semi-finals or finals.
If, for any reason, a club cannot provide its court(s) for semi-finals or finals, it must nominate an alternative venue.
If the club cannot do so, the Management Committee will nominate an appropriate venue.
The costs for the use of the alternative venue will be borne by the club concerned.
The Venues for semi-finals and finals will be at the discretion of the Competition Recorder.
2-07 TEAM ENTRY FORM AND FEE
Teams must be submitted to the Honorary Secretary on the Association’s printed form by the closing date of entries, showing particulars of each player’s full name, residential address including postcode, email, telephone number and details of previous grading and performance. Incomplete forms will be returned to Club Secretaries and will only be accepted when all particulars are provided.
A team entry fee must be paid by each club, such fee to be determined by the Management Committee. This fee must accompany the team entry form.
2-08 NUMBERING TEAMS
A club entering more than one team in a type of competition must number same: one, two, three, etc. If omitted, the Management Committee will do so – and a team shall not play in a grade different from that in which it is drawn as shown in the Competition Draw Sheet.
Penalty: forfeiture of all matches played in the wrong grade.
2-09 REGRADING
The Management Committee shall have the right to place a team of players in any grade other than that to which entry is sought.
2-10 REFUSAL OF ENTRIES
The Management Committee shall have the right to refuse the entry of any team or player without assigning a reason.
2-11 REGISTRATION OF PLAYERS
All players who take part in competitions shall be registered with the Association.
2-12 GRADE REGISTERED IN
Grading will be determined by the grade played by the player in the type of competition in which the player participates. Acting as a reserve in a higher grade for two matches will not affect a player’s grading.
The Committee has the power to deem any player ineligible for any specific grade.
2-13 ADDITIONAL REGISTRATIONS
Additional registrations will be permitted up to and including the last match of the rounds of any competition.
Injury Replacements are permitted at any time during the competition, provided that the qualifying rules for semi-finals and finals are satisfied.
(a) ADDITIONAL PLAYERS
An additional player having played three matches with one team in a higher grade shall remain a member of that team for the duration of the competition.
(b) TRANSFERS
A team may call upon one player from another team in the same or lower division to play two matches. No player shall play more than two matches with any one team other than the team they were registered with originally.
(c) INJURY REPLACEMENTS
Should a player on the court become genuinely incapacitated through injury, an injury replacement player may be allowed to continue the match provided that:
(i) The remaining games in the set during which the injury occurred are forfeited by the team whose player has sustained the injury.
(ii) The injury replacement must not have taken part in that type of competition on that day, with the exception of the Junior competition.
(iii) The injury replacement is a registered member of the team, with the exception of the Junior competition.
(iv) The injury replacement does not delay the continuity of the match.
(v) The injured player and the replacement must be noted.
2-14 PLAYERS’ RESPONSIBILITIES
Players may play in more than one competition match of a particular type on any day provided the sets are played in the proper order and the match must start on time.
Players entering into a competition shall take all responsibility for ascertaining, prior to such entry, that they are eligible in accordance with these rules for the event of the type or grade of competition in which they enter. The acceptance of such entry by the Management Committee shall not be taken in any way as an admission of the eligibility of the players, and the Committee may at any time after becoming aware of such non-eligibility take such steps in connection with such entry and entrants as it may think fit.
Ignorance of these rules shall not be any excuse for such wrongful entry, and the offending players or Club shall, inter alia, pay or forfeit the fee chargeable for such entry irrespective of what other action may be taken by the Management Committee in respect of such entry.
2-15 CODE OF CONDUCT
This Association recognises the rules of play of Tennis New South Wales. Consideration should be shown to all players.
(a) PREJUDICIAL CONDUCT
No player shall, during any match and at all times whilst within the precincts of the site of a match, engage in conduct to the prejudice of the integrity of the game of tennis.
(b) PHYSICAL ABUSE
Players shall not at any time physically abuse any official, opponent, spectator or other person within the precincts of the venue of a match.
(c) AUDIBLE OR VISIBLE OBSCENITY
Players shall not make an audible obscenity or make obscene gestures.
(d) ABUSE OF BALLS, RACQUETS OR EQUIPMENT
Players shall not violently, or with anger, hit, kick or throw a tennis ball, racquet or other equipment, official opponent, spectator or other person, or in any way interfere with any court equipment.
(e) VERBAL ABUSE
Players shall not, at any time, verbally abuse any official, opponent, spectator or other person.
(f) COURT ETIQUETTE
(i) Players must wait until a point is over before walking behind a court where a match is in progress.
(ii) If it is necessary to retrieve a ball from another court, players should wait until those players have completed a point.
(iii) Players should not stall, sulk, complain nor practise gamesmanship.
(iv) Players should not consistently return services, called as “faults”, in an attempt to unsettle the serving player.
The following points should also be followed when an Umpire in not officiating:
(v) It is the responsibility of the players to call all balls on their side of the court, to help their opponent make calls when their opponent requests it, and to call against themselves (with the exception of a first service) any ball that is clearly seen to be out on their opponent’s side of the net.
(vi) Players are responsible for all decisions involving balls in their half of the court. Players should be completely honest on all calls, but if in doubt, they should give the opponent the benefit of the doubt and play the ball as good. Players should not play a “let”.
(vii) In doubles, when returning service, the partner of the receiver should call the service line, with the receiver calling the centre and side service lines.
(viii) Any “out”, “let” or “fault” call must be made instantaneously (i.e. made before either an opponent has hit the return or the return has gone out of play); otherwise the ball continues in play.
(ix) If players call a ball “out” and then realise it was good, they should correct their call.
(x) Players must not enlist the aid of spectators in making line calls.
(xi) If players cannot agree on the score, they must go back to the last score on which there was agreement and resume play from that point.
2-16 DRESS REGULATIONS
The correct tennis attire for both sexes should conform to the following:
Clothing: Coordinated colours are permissible for basic clothing designed, described and designated specifically as tennis attire including cardigans, pullovers, jumpers, caps, hats and eyeshades.
Footwear: These articles must be designed for use on tennis courts and be free of heels, bars, treads and colours which are normally considered injurious to tennis court surfaces. Socks or sockettes must be worn.
NOT PERMITTED:
1. Clothing bearing lettering, writing or other illustration obviously designed as advertisements, provided that piping, small manufactures’ motifs and monograms are permissible
2. Sleeveless singlets for men unless designated tennis attire.
3. Swimwear, jumpsuits or any kind of similarly designed clothing.
Players not correctly attired in accordance with this Rule may not be permitted to play in any competition match.
The Management Committee or a member of the Committee or a Court Supervisor shall be the Arbiter of the Tennis Attire rule.
2-17 CLUB FEES
Any players entering into a competition are responsible to their club for the required fees.
The Association reserves the right to apply to Tennis New South Wales for a state-wide suspension should a matter of financial defaults not be resolved.
SECTION 3 – MATCHES
3-01 COMMENCEMENT AND COMPLETION TIMES
(a) Mixed Competition – 1.00pm to 4.30pm, Saturday afternoon
Sunday Morning Competitions
Division 1 – 8.00am to 10.00am
Division 2 – 10.00am to 12.00pm
Tuesday Women’s Competition – 9.30am - 12.30pm; and
– 9.30am - 2.30pm
Junior Competition – Saturday afternoon; hours as necessary
(b) The Court Supervisor has the responsibility of declaring the fitness of the court for play. If there is not a Court Supervisor, there must be mutual agreement by the players present for the match to continue.
(c) If, due to inclement weather at the stipulated commencement time, the courts are considered to be unplayable by the Court Supervisor and play does not commence within one hour (or within 30 minutes for matches of two hours duration), either captain shall have the right to abandon the match.
(d) If one team is not ready to play at the time set down for the commencement of the match, they shall forfeit the first set upon demand. Further sets will be forfeited in order of play (in accordance with rule 3-03) for each additional 15 minutes until 45 minutes have elapsed (or 30 minutes for matches of two hours duration), when the match will be forfeited.
(e) A match will not be accepted as a forfeit if the court is deemed unplayable in accordance with Rule 3-01(c). This rule includes advance notice of forfeits.
(f) All matches must be terminated by the specified time, except that any game unfinished at that time may be completed. If the match is incomplete after that game and the players agree and a court is available, then the match may be finished.
3-02 SUPPLY OF BALLS
The home team shall supply at least two new balls for each match.
Only those makes of balls approved by the Management Committee shall be used in the competitions promoted by this Association.
The list of approved balls can be found here:
https://www.tennis.com.au/learn/courts-and-surfaces/resources/approved-balls
3-03 ARRANGEMENT OF SETS
(a) The order of sets in the MIXED competition shall be:
1. Men’s Doubles
2. Women’s Doubles
3. Mixed Doubles
4. Mixed Doubles
5. Mixed Doubles
6. Mixed Doubles
Mixed sets are to be played with the same partner with each pair playing each opposing pair once.
The Home team must be the first to nominate its pair for the first MIXED set (set #3). This nomination shall take place immediately prior to the set being played.
(b) In the SUNDAY MORNING competitions, the first and last sets must be Doubles. The visiting captain shall nominate the player for the first singles set (set #2).
Any player who has been selected to play that day in the Association’s Interdistrict Team, shall have the right to play their sets as early as possible, irrespective of the call, so as to enable them to reach the court on which the Interdistrict match is to be played by the time of commencement. If any such player does not notify their own and opposing captains before they have played any of their sets that they intend to claim this privilege, they must abide by the usual call.
(c) In the TUESDAY WOMEN’S competition, the visiting captain shall nominate her players for the first and alternate sets before the commencement of the set.
Sets are played with the same partner, with each pair playing each opposing pair twice.
All players must have played a set before the commencement of the third set.
In the two-court, Division 1 format, the visiting captain shall nominate her pairings for each court for the first two sets and again for the fifth and sixth sets.
3-04 TOSS FOR SERVICE
In the TUESDAY WOMEN’S competition, the captains shall toss for service choice on the first occasion when doubles pairs meet. When these pairs play the duplicate set, the service choice shall alternate.
In all other competitions, the captains shall toss for the right to serve in the first set and in all matches the serve shall alternate by sets throughout the match.
3-05 CONTINUITY OF PLAY
Play must be continuous and the interval between sets must be kept to a minimum. “Hit-ups” shall be a maximum of three minutes duration and will not be permitted once each player has played a set.
Captains are responsible for the continuity of play in a match. Any appeal for the stoppage of play due to inclement weather must be made by the players of the current set to their respective captains.
3-06 HEAT RULE
Match play will be suspended when requested by either team when the air temperature at the venue is 36 degrees Centigrade or above. If play is suspended due to the application of the Heat Rule, captains may agree to abandon the match if the extreme heat conditions continue for more than 30 minutes from the time of the suspension. Readings must be made from a wet bulb thermometer at the top centre of the net or from a device used to obtain the local suburb’s temperature
3-07 UNFINISHED MATCHES
If a match has to be stopped due to inclement weather and at the point of stoppage a team has sufficient lead not to lose the match if completed, that team will be declared the winner.
3-08 POSTPONEMENTS
Application for postponement of any matches during the rounds will not be considered.
Application for postponement of any semi-finals or finals will only be considered by the Committee if Association representation is involved.
3-09 SCORING
In all competitions, completed matches shall be decided on the total sets won. In the event of the sets being equal, the games shall determine the winner but if both sets and games are equal, the match shall be declared a tie.
3-10 ALLOCATION OF COMPETITION POINTS
(a) Each team in a match shall receive one point for each set won and half a point for each incomplete or unplayed set.
(b) In addition to the above, the winning team shall receive the following points:
(i) for an 8 set match – 5 points
(ii) for a 6 set match – 4 points
(iii) for a 4 set match – 2 points
In the event of a tie, the above points shall be equally divided between the teams.
(c) A team receiving a forfeit shall be awarded the following points:
MIXED competition – 8 points
SUNDAY MORNING competitions – 6 points
TUESDAY WOMEN’S competition – 9 points
3-11 MATCH RESULTS
(a) In all competitions, the captain of the home team shall be responsible for submitting the result by 6:00pm of the day following the match.
(b) Any team receiving a bye is permitted to submit a result for the purpose of qualifying a player originally listed on the original entry for that team or who has subsequently been registered as an additional registration.
A player’s name may be submitted once per competition on a bye.
(c) Any team whose match has been washed out is permitted to submit a result for the purpose of qualifying players. Additional registrations may be permitted.
3-12 FALSE RESULTS
Where it has been established to the satisfaction of the Recording Officer that a result recorded is not a true record of the players who played in the match, or of the score of the match, all the players adjudged by the Recording Officer directly or indirectly responsible for the false information may be disqualified.
3-13 FORFEITS
Should a team forfeit two consecutive matches without reasonable excuse, the team may be withdrawn from the competition and all matches set down for that team throughout the competition shall be considered as byes.
A forfeiting team shall, if such match was set down for their home court, make available that court for the opposing team.
The captain of a team receiving a forfeit must record a result showing the players in the team who would have played in the match and thereupon such players shall be deemed to have played.
Points for a forfeit shall be allocated as defined in Rule 3-09(c).
3-14 GRADE PLACINGS
When two or more teams are level on points after all matches have been played, then the position of such teams shall be determined by:
(i) Match Percentages; and if still equal then
(ii) Set Percentages; and if still equal then
(iii) Games Percentages; and if still equal then
(iv) Head to Head results between the tied teams; and if still equal then
(v) A decision of the Committee.
SECTION 4 – SEMI-FINALS AND FINALS
4-01 CONDITIONS OF PLAY
(a) Mixed and Sunday Morning competitions
The teams placed first to fourth, on points, as at the end of the competition rounds will proceed to the semi-finals.
The team placed first, on points, will play the team placed fourth on points.
The team placed second, on points, will play the team placed third on points.
Semi-finals and finals shall be played over three or four weeks, subject to competition scheduling. This will be notified at the commencement of the competition. The following conditions will apply for each case:
(i) Where three weeks have been allocated for semi-finals and finals:
The semi-finals will be set down for the first weekend following the completion of the competition rounds. If a semi-final cannot be completed on this weekend, then
For the MIXED competition:
(i) If three or more sets have been completed, the match must be completed on the following weekend.
(ii) If less than three sets have been completed, the team placed higher on points at the end of the competition rounds shall automatically proceed to the final.
For the SUNDAY MORNING competitions:
(a) If two or more sets have been completed, the match must be completed on the following weekend.
(b) If less than two sets have been completed, the team placed higher on points at the end of the competition rounds shall automatically proceed to the final.
The final will commence immediately after the completion of the semi-finals at the direction of the Management Committee.
If the final is not completed by the third weekend following the competition rounds, the team in the final placed higher on points at the end of the competition rounds shall be declared the winner.
(ii) Where four weeks have been allocated for semi-finals and finals:
The semi-finals will be set down for the first weekend following the completion of the competition rounds.
If a semi-final cannot be completed by the end of the second weekend allocated for semi-finals and finals, then:
For the MIXED competition:
(i) If three or more sets have been completed, the match must be completed on the following weekend.
(ii) If less than three sets have been completed, the team placed higher on points at the end of the competition rounds shall automatically proceed to the final.
For the SUNDAY MORNING competitions:
(a) If two or more sets have been completed, the match must be completed on the following weekend.
(b) If less than two sets have been completed, the team placed higher on points at the end of the competition rounds shall automatically proceed to the final.
The final will commence immediately after the completion of the semi-finals at the direction of the Management Committee.
If the final is not completed by the fourth weekend following the competition rounds, the team in the final placed higher on points at the end of the competition rounds shall be declared the winner.
(b) Tuesday Women’s competition
The teams placed first to fourth, on points, as at the end of the competition rounds will proceed to the semi-finals.
The team placed first, on points, will play the team placed fourth on points.
The team placed second, on points, will play the team placed third on points.
The semi-finals will be set down for the first Tuesday following the completion of the competition rounds.
If a semi-final cannot be completed on this Tuesday, and four or more sets have been completed, the match must be completed on the following Tuesday.
If less than four sets have been completed, the surviving team placed higher on points at the end of the competition rounds shall automatically proceed to the final.
The final will commence immediately after the completion of the semi-finals at the direction of the Management Committee.
If the final is not completed by the third Tuesday following the competition rounds, the team placed higher on points at the end of the competition rounds shall be declared the winner.
(c) In all competitions, if a semi-final or final results in a tie, the winner of the match shall be determined by the playing of one doubles tie-break game by the players on the court for the last set.
The captains shall toss for the right to serve first in the tie-break game.
4-02 SETS
Semi-finals and finals shall be played on a court allocated by the Management Committee.
The order, type and number of sets to be played in semi-finals and finals shall be the same as for the competition rounds.
Junior semi-finals and finals shall be played as determined by the Management Committee.
4-03 VENUE
Club Secretaries shall be responsible for ascertaining from the Recording Officers, the venue of the semi-finals and finals for teams in their respective clubs.
4-04 COMMENCEMENT AND COMPLETION TIMES
Commencement and completion times for semi-final and final matches will be the same as for normal competition rounds except when advised to the contrary by the Management Committee.
If, due to inclement weather, the semi-final or final match cannot commence at the appointed time, the Court Supervisor shall have the responsibility of declaring the time at which the court will be fit for the commencement of the match. If there is no Court Supervisor, refer to Rules 3-01(b), 3-01(c) and 3-01(d).
4-05 SUPPLY OF BALLS
In Mixed and Tuesday Women’s competitions, each team shall supply at least two new balls for semi-final and final matches.
In Sunday Morning competitions, the team placed higher on points as at the completion of the competition rounds shall supply at least two new balls for semi-final and final matches.
4-06 TOSS
In two-person a side competitions, the team finishing the higher at the end of the competition rounds shall be the home team. The players shall toss for the right of service which shall follow the same format as for the competition rounds (see Rule 3-04).
In four-person a side competitions, the players shall toss for the choice of being the home or away team. There will be a second toss for the choice of serve.
4-07 CONTINUITY OF PLAY
Captains are responsible for the continuity of play in a match. Any appeal for the stoppage of play due to inclement weather must be made by the players of the current set to their respective captains.
If the captains cannot agree, the matter must be referred to the Court Supervisor for adjudication. If there is no Court Supervisor, or both captains are not present, there must be mutual agreement by the players for the match to continue.
The interval between sets must be kept to a minimum. Hit-ups will not be permitted once each player has played a set.
4-08 INTERRUPTED SEMI-FINALS AND FINALS
In the event of play being interrupted or stopped for the day before completion of the semi-final or final, play shall be resumed by the same players and from the exact position in which the match stood when the interruption happened.
New balls may be used when the semi-final or final is resumed, cost of same to be borne by both teams.
When a team has a lead in sets sufficient to ensure them being the winner, such semi-final or final is to be considered completed.
When a semi-final or final cannot be commenced or, having commenced, cannot be completed, the captain of the home team (as determined by Rule 4-06) shall notify the circumstances to the Recording Officer by 6.00pm of the day following the match. A result must not be submitted until the match is completed.
Captains of home teams in semi-finals and finals will be held responsible for the forwarding of results to the Recording Officer in accordance with Rule 3-11.
4-09 QUALIFICATIONS
With the exception of the Junior competition, a player is not eligible to compete in a semi-final or final unless they have been recorded in three matches in the preceding rounds with the same team.
A bye or wet match or forfeit received can only be counted as one match; that is, a player must have actually taken part in a minimum of two matches. A forfeit given cannot be counted as one match.
A player cannot qualify for two different teams in the semi-finals and finals, by being recorded in three matches for two different teams during the competition rounds.
SECTION 5 – REPRESENTATION
5-01 REPRESENTING THE ASSOCIATION
To be eligible for Interdistrict competition, a player must have been a registered player within the Association.
Selectors shall select, from a qualified field, teams to represent the Association.
Players wishing to represent the Association in Interdistrict competition shall complete an Interdistrict Form by the advised date. Players qualifying for representation after this date shall nominate immediately upon qualification.
SECTION 6 – GENERAL
6-01 REPORTS OF MISCONDUCT
(a) Any player guilty of misconduct during the progress of a match shall be liable to disqualification, suspension, or such other penalty as the Management Committee may deem fit.
(b) All reports of misconduct arising out of any event under the control of the Association shall be placed, in the first instance, before the Honorary Secretary.
Reports of misconduct must be lodged in writing, with the Honorary Secretary, within four days of the event taking place.
A definite charge, in writing, must be made.
The Honorary Secretary must incorporate this charge in the written notification sent to the individual against whom the charge has been laid.
Such club or individual shall be given seven days notice (except in exceptional circumstances) of the investigation of the complaint.
(c) The Honorary Secretary must, upon receipt of the complaint of misconduct, notify the Disputes/Disciplinary Committee.
(d) No member of this Committee affiliated with the club, or clubs, involved in the report of misconduct, shall be qualified to sit on the Disputes/Disciplinary Committee called to investigate the reported dispute or incident, unless at the discretion of the Executive.
(e) All decisions made by this Committee shall be implemented immediately and referred to the following Management Committee meeting.
(f) Any player who fails to appear before the Disputes/Disciplinary Committee, when instructed to do so and without sufficient reason, will be immediately suspended from all competition play until such time as they appear before the Disputes/Disciplinary Committee.
6-02 PROTESTS AND DISPUTES
(a) All protests and disputes arising out of any event under the control of the Association shall be placed, in the first instance, before the Honorary Secretary.
Protests and disputes must be lodged in writing, with the Honorary Secretary, within four days of the event taking place.
A definite charge, in writing, must be made.
The Honorary Secretary must incorporate this charge in the written notification sent to the Secretary of the club, or the individual, against which the charge has been laid.
Such club or individual shall be given seven days notice (except in exceptional circumstances) of the investigation of the complaint.
(b) In the event of sets being played under protest during a competition match, semi-final or final, the protesting captain must register the protest in a report to the Honorary Secretary as follows:
(i) The sets being played under protest must be clearly reported to the Honorary Secretary.
(ii) The protesting captain must also comply fully with section (a) of this rule.
(c) The Honorary Secretary must, upon receipt of the protest or notice of dispute, notify the Disputes/Disciplinary Committee.
(d) No member of this Committee affiliated with the club, or clubs, involved in the dispute or protest, shall be qualified to sit on the Disputes/Disciplinary Committee called to investigate the reported dispute or incident, unless at the discretion of the Executive.
(e) All decisions made by this Committee shall be implemented immediately and referred to the following Management Committee meeting.
(f) Any player who fails to appear before the Disputes/Disciplinary Committee when instructed to do so and without sufficient reason, will be immediately suspended from all competition play until such time as they appear before the Disputes/Disciplinary Committee.
6-03 APPEALS
(a) All appeals against decisions of the Disputes/Disciplinary Committee must be lodged with the Honorary Secretary, in writing, within seven working days of the date of the notification to the player and club of the result of the Disputes/Disciplinary meeting.
(b) No member of this Committee affiliated with the club, or clubs, involved in the original dispute, protest or report of misconduct, shall be qualified to sit on the Appeals Committee called to investigate the appeal against the original decision made by the Disputes/Disciplinary Committee, unless at the discretion of the Executive. The Appeals Committee will comprise different Management Committee members to those who arbitrated at the original hearing.
(c) An appeal cannot be heard unless new relevant evidence is produced. The relevancy of the new evidence will be determined by the Disputes/Disciplinary Committee that heard the original matter.
(d) An appeal against the severity of a decision can only be heard on the basis that the original charge has been accepted as proven by the individual or club originally charged.
(e) All decisions made by this Committee shall be implemented immediately and referred to the following Management Committee meeting.
SECTION 7 –ADDENDUM
7-01 TERMINOLOGY
A player is deemed to have played in a match when a result in which their name has been recorded has been accepted by the appropriate Recording Officer.
7-02 ADDENDUM
The Management Committee shall have power to deal with all matters not mentioned in the foregoing rules.
SPECTATOR CODE OF CONDUCT
The Eastern Suburbs Tennis Association has a Player Code of Conduct which can be seen on the Association’s X-Point website. Spectators can assist players by teaching that an honest effort is as important as victory.
In addition, spectators are asked to abide by the Spectator Code of Conduct below.
Spectators will positively support the players, other spectators and officials.
When attending a match, we ask that spectators
• remember that players play for their own enjoyment, not for spectators’ enjoyment;
• encourage players to abide by the rules;
• respect the officials’ decisions and encourage players to do the same;
• not become involved in any match. Coaching or line-calling during matches is strictly prohibited. At no time should spectators go on to the court.
If a spectator does not adhere to the above code of conduct, he / she may be asked to leave the tennis centre. A repeated offence could result in a particular player’s entry for a competition or tournament not being accepted by officials.
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