2013 USTA League Season (Championship Year)
Player Responsibilities
It is the responsibility of each player and captain to understand the current year USTA League Regulations.
In addition to the Southwest Section (SWS) USTA League Regulations, the SWS shall adopt policies and procedures contained in the following:
- USTA National 2013 League Regulations, Click HERE
- USTA League Interpretations - Questions and Answers, Click HERE
- Southwest Section 2013 USTA League Regulations, Click HERE
- Southwest Section USTA Tri-Level League Regulations, Click HERE.
Please read the regulations for the current year thoroughly. If you have questions, please contact your Local League Coordinator for clarification.
For a Local League Coordinator in your area, click here
Section Championships
Format
Up to seven USTA Southwest districts may send qualified teams in each division to the Section Championships. The Section Championship match format will adapt as necessary. The SWS will announce the match format approximately 30 days before the Section Championship start date. By that time it will be known how many of the seven USTA Southwest districts have qualified to advance. The format may be a round robin or consist of flights with winners advancing to a semi-final playoff. This format is similar to the National Championship format.
Tiebreak
A 3rd set match tie break shall be used for Sectional Championships
The Coman tiebreak shall be used for all set and match tie breaks
Self-Rating Guidelines
Players without a computer rating are required to declare a self-rating on TennisLink when entering the USTA League program regardless of the NTRP level they enter. The system will assign a rating for the player. The player may accept this rating and continue the process for registering for a team or may appeal this rating and wait for the Adult/Senior Competitive Coordinator to either accept or deny the appeal.
If the rating was appealed, the Adult/Senior Competitive Coordinator will inform the player in writing which level the player is approved to play. Once the player is notified he/she may continue registration online and register for his/her team.
If a player self-rates and registers for a team without following the above process, the SWS will suspend play for that player until the necessary documentation is submitted and a decision is rendered.
For a general description of each NTRP level, click here.
Early Start Leagues and Ratings
The purpose for early start ratings is to provide the player and league the most current rating based on match results for beginning a new league. An Early Start League is defined as a league that starts in the Fall of one year but counts for the following League Championship Season.
Area/Districts with Early Start Leagues will generate early start NTRP ratings. The early start ratings will be generated upon completion of the Adult Sectional Championships. These early start ratings are good only until the year-end ratings are generated and are superseded by year-end ratings.
If a player played on an Early Start League team that advances to Sectionals and receives a higher NTRP at year-end, that player will be allowed to complete the year at the lower rating on the Early Start League team only. However, all players are still subject to Dynamic NTRP disqualification if they reach the threshold level three times (the level that creates a strike) within the league year. Players must use their new year-end NTRP ratings for all leagues that begin January 1, 2006 or later.
Dynamic Disqualification
There are times when player's competitive levels actually go above the threshold that is characteristic for their NTRP skill level. The ratings categories are generalizations about skill levels and may be adjusted as a player's skills change or as their match play demonstrates the need for reclassification. Ultimately, a player's ratings is based upon match results.
To learn a bit more about Dynamic Disqualification, see this FAQ.
Computer Ratings
NTRP computer ratings are valid for two (2) years for individuals 60 years of age or older prior to our during the championship year and for three (3) years for all others, or until another computer rating is generated. 2008 National League Regulations 3.05A(1) and 3.05A(2)
A special thank you to USTA Southwest League Sponsor, All About Tennis, Arizona's largest tennis retail shop, located in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Please support them as they have been a consistent supporter of USTA League Tennis and other programs in the USTA Southwest.