Aylesbury & District Tennis League : official website of Aylesbury tennis club - clubeo

Rules & Constitution

A&DTL Rules & Regulations - February 2024

 1) All Tennis Clubs that play and have entered the Aylesbury and District Tennis League (A&DTL) should be LTA venue registered. All players must be LTA British Tennis Membership (BTM) registered and have linked their account to the venue. BTM player registration is required to enter team and player results on the LTA tournament software application which is used by the A&DTL to provide match fixtures and record results.;

2) Teams are to consist of 4 players playing doubles, with each pair playing 2 sets against each of the opposing pairs i.e. 8 sets in total. Teams can play with One Pair but must advise the opposition before the match is played and add a comment in the notes to the result. The ‘One Pair’ team will be subject to Rule 28.

3) Sets are a tiebreak set with a 7-point tiebreak (2 points clear) played at 6 games all. In every game, ‘no ad’ scoring shall be used. Sets only count towards the match result. If a match finishes at 4 sets all, the match is drawn.

“NO-AD” Scoring
A “No-Ad” game is scored as follows with the server’s score being called first:

If each player/team has won three points, the score is “Deuce” and a deciding point shall be played. The receiver(s) shall choose which service box to receive the serve. The player/team who wins the deciding point wins the “Game”.
In mixed doubles, the player with the same gender as the server receives the deciding point. The players of the receiving team cannot change sides to receive the serve on the deciding game point.

4.) Two points are awarded for a win, one point each for a draw.

5). Relegation and promotion shall be two teams promoted (except Division 1) and two teams relegated, unless otherwise decided by the Management Committee. The Committee may take any walkovers/one pair matches into consideration when deciding final promotion/relegation places.

6). If teams are equal on points, the higher league position will be determined by the higher set percentage won over the course of the season and if still equal, then the higher game percentage won will be taken. Should teams be still equal, then the result(s) of the matches between the relevant teams will determine the higher position in the league and if still equal, a deciding play-off will be arranged.

7). Completed results must be submitted on-line at (https://competitions.lta.org.uk/user/login ) by the winning team within 72 hours of each match. If the match is drawn the result must be submitted by the home team.  Do not confirm the result at this stage. If a match is conceded or claimed for any reason, a note detailing the reason for this must still be submitted in the Match Notes; otherwise, no points can be allocated to either team. The losing/away team should check and confirm the result. 

8). Any results not entered on-line within a week of the end of the competition will be considered null and void, with neither team being awarded any points for that fixture.

9). All trophies shall be returned to the Management Committee when requested.

10). Any queries relating to these Rules, or issues that arise should be put in writing to the Divisional Secretary. The Management Committee's decision on such matters shall be final.

Rules for Arranging and Rearranging Fixtures

11). Matches should be arranged at the Fixtures Meeting or by email prior to the commencement date of each season and entered onto the online system. In the event of a dispute regarding a match date, the date on the website shall be final.

12). After the Fixtures Meetings 14 days will be allowed for matches to be rearranged if problems arise.

13). Summer matches (Men’s, Women’s and Mixed) should be played mid-week from the end of April until the third Sunday of September. Matches should commence at a time specified by the home team, not before 6:30 p.m., unless mutually agreed otherwise. In the summer season each team plays one match against each of the other teams in their division, either home or away as determined by the Divisional Secretary. Veteran’s matches may be played at anytime convenient to both teams.

14). Winter matches should be played at weekends (except Mixed Floodlit matches) from the end of September to the third Sunday of April. In the winter season each team plays two matches against each of the other teams in their division, one at home and one away. In the event of a postponement for any reason, the home team is to put a note on the website with the reason.

15). Once arranged and entered online, no fixture shall be rearranged unless the weather or the state of the courts prevents the match from being played. The final decision on whether the courts are playable rests with the home team. 24 hours before the match, if the temperature is forecast by the BBC weather app to reach 32 degrees Centigrade or over, either team may request that the match be postponed.

16). If a match must be rearranged three new dates must be offered by the home team. Such rearrangements must be made within 21 days of the original match date. It shall be the responsibility of the home club to enter the rearranged date on-line within 48 hours of the agreement.

17). A club with more than one team in the same Division must play the match fixtures between their own teams before all other fixtures. In the Winter season, one match should be played at the very start of the season, and the return match must be the first match played in the new calendar year.

Player Eligibility Rules

18). Players may represent more than one Club in a season, but only one Club per competition. For example, a player could play Mixed for one Club and Woman's for another Club but cannot play Mixed matches for two different Clubs.

19). A player may not play in both a Veterans match and a division 1 match (Woman's, Men’s or Mixed) in the same season.

20). Women playing in the Veterans Competition (Summer leagues only) must be aged 50 or over at some point during the calendar year in which the competition takes place. Men playing in the Veterans Competition must be aged 50 or over at some point during the calendar year in which the competition takes place. (e.g., a Woman whose 50th birthday is between January 1st and December 31st of the year of competition is eligible to play Woman’s matches in the Veterans competition.)

21). Any ‘junior’ younger than 18 years old must have a person or team player responsible for their safety and the club Safeguarding & Welfare Officer must be notified and all club Safeguarding & Welfare regulations, as specified by the LTA venue registration must be complied with.

22). A Club player may not play for a lower team if they have played two matches for a higher team, or teams, in the same Competition that season (i.e. Men’s, Women’s or Mixed teams). For example, if a Club enters two teams in the same Competition, then a player who has played twice for the first team may no longer play for the second team. If a Club enters three teams in the same Competition, then a player who has played once for the first team and once for the second team may no longer play for the third team. Rubbers played by ineligible players shall be awarded to the opposition.

23). The team a player represents in their first match of any season must be their “usual team” and the one they stay in for the remainder of that season. However, in the event of a player being asked to play for a team that is in a higher division than their usual team for their first match, they may revert to their usual Team for the remainder of their matches. A player cannot play in a lower team from their usual team for any reason once they have played two for their usual team. Rubbers played by ineligible players shall be awarded to the opposition. 

Example - Rebecca’s ‘usual’ team is Mixed 2 who play in division 2.

The new rule 23 states that she cannot play for the Mixed 3 team in division 4 in her first match for the club unless she was going to remain in that team for the season. She could however play for the Mixed 1 team in division 1 for her first match if they were in need and then revert to Mixed 2 after that.

After her first match the existing rule 22 kicks in. Rebecca could only play for the Mixed 3 team before playing her second match for the Mixed 2 (or Mixed 1). Once she has played twice for a higher team, she cannot ‘play down’.

24). If a Club has more than one team in the same Division, then a player can only play matches for one of those teams throughout the entire season.

 Match Rules 

25). The home team should provide a minimum of four new approved tennis balls per court.

26). Late Arrival. Provided that a team believes it has two pairs of players for a match, i.e. one or more opposition players are delayed for unforeseen circumstances, the match may begin. If after 20 minutes of the agreed start time one of the teams is still incomplete, the opponents of that team shall be entitled to one set (6-0 in games) for every set missed as a result, in the absence of agreement to the contrary between the playing captains. Any decision to claim sets must be made clear at the start of the match. Sets cannot be claimed retrospectively once the match is complete, or if the match cannot be completed. If players are still absent at the start of the second rubber Rule 28 below applies. (i.e. the match is a walkover) and play may be stopped in the other rubber as all scores become null and void.

27). If a match cannot be completed due to the state of the court, weather or failing light, then a new date should be arranged and a match replayed in its entirety, unless, either side has won a minimum of four and a half sets, in which case that team will be deemed the winner, and any un-played sets will be declared void. Exceptions to this can be:

  1. a) If a match is stopped at 3-3 or 2-2 and both captains agree to a draw.
  2. b) If play is stopped in the final set and the score is 4-3 or 3-4 and both captains agree to enter the score as it stands, or both captains could alternatively agree to a draw.

 If a Summer match is rearranged because it cannot be completed, the visiting team shall have the choice of venue for the new fixture date. The rearranged date must be entered on-line (as Rule 16)

28) In the Summer Season a team may concede one walkover and play one one-pair match, or two one-pair matches. In the Winter Season a team may concede two walkovers and play one one-pair match or concede one walkover and play two one-pair matches or play 3 one pair matches. If they concede more than this they will be disqualified and all their matches will become null and void. At the end of the season, they will be relegated.

Rules for the A&DTL Knock Out Cup

  1. Each team shall consist of two mixed pairs. The same people do not need to play in all of the matches.
  2. Clubs may enter teams into each of the Gold cup, Silver cup and a Bronze cup. A club may enter more than one team into a cup. Both teams must meet the entry criteria in terms of League position and the squads between the two teams cannot be interchanged.
  3. The Gold Cup consists of teams from Division 1 and 2. The Silver Cup is for clubs with teams in Division 3 and 4 and the Bronze cup is for divisions 5 and below. A player can only play in the cup which corresponds to the division of their “designated team” in the mixed division of the Summer League: they can “play up” in a higher cup. Foe example if a player’s “designated team” is in division 3, they cannot play in the Bronze cup but they could play in the Gold cup. If they do not have a designated mixed division team, the women’s/men’s division that they play in will apply.
  4. A player can play once in the league for a team that is in a higher division than their designated team without it affecting their eligibility for the knockout cup.
  5. Matches may be played at any time convenient to the two teams. Finals will be scheduled for mid-September. To be eligible for the final, a player must have represented their club at least twice in the A&D League during the summer season prior to the final.
  6. Teams are to consist of 4 players playing doubles, with each pair playing 2 sets against each of the opposing pairs ie 8 sets in total. In the event of sets being equal at the end of the match, then the final result should be determined on the number of games won. If sets and games are equal, the nominated first pair of each team will determine the result of the match by playing a 10-point Match Tie Break against one another.
  7. Matches not completed by the date specified on the knockout draw sheet will be declared void and both teams will be eliminated from the competition.
  8. When the draw is published, the team at the top of the chart will be the home team. The home team in any match is obliged to offer the away team three dates on which the match can take place.

A&DTL CONSTITUTION

  1. The League shall be called the Aylesbury and District Tennis League and membership shall be confined to Tennis Clubs within a reasonable travelling distance of Aylesbury.
  2. The object of the League shall be to organise annual competitions between players from member clubs.
  3. New applications for membership must be made to the Divisional Secretary of the League. ( adtldivisionalsec@gmail.com ). The acceptance or rejection of such applications shall rest entirely with the Management Committee.
  4. The Annual General Meeting of the League shall be held not later than the end of November. Each member Club shall be entitled to send any number of representatives but only one of whom shall have the power to vote.  Six voting members shall form a quorum.  In the event of voting being equally divided, the Chairman shall have a casting vote.
  5. A Management Committee shall be elected at the Annual Meeting to consist of a Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer, and at least three other members. Three to form a quorum. All members retire at the Annual General Meeting.  Nominations for election shall be in the hands of the Secretary not less than seven days before the Annual General Meeting.  If more than one nomination is received for any one post, then election shall be decided by a ballot among all voting members.
  6. A notice for the Annual General Meeting shall be posted on the web site at least 28 days prior to the meeting. The secretary will send notice of the meeting to the Fixture secretaries from each club at least 28 days prior to the meeting. A notice of the agenda together with a statement of account shall be sent to the fixture Secretaries of all member clubs at least 14 days prior to the date of the meeting.
  7. An extra-ordinary General Meeting shall be called on the receipt of a written request from 6 Clubs. A notice convening the meeting must be sent to all Clubs giving 14 days' notice.
  8. The entrance fee per team shall be determined by the Management Committee.
  9. The number of divisions and leagues shall be decided by the Management Committee. New teams being entered shall be placed in the appropriate division by the Management Committee. The Management Committee shall have the power to make or amend the rules of play for all competitions.
  10. The safe custody of trophies shall be the responsibility of the winning club. Clubs shall be liable for any loss or damage to League Trophies.
  11. The Constitution can be amended only at the Annual General Meeting by two-thirds majority of those present and eligible to vote. All proposed amendments to the Constitution shall be submitted to the Secretary a minimum of a calendar month before the AGM and all such proposed amendments shall be circulated to Member Clubs with the Annual General Meeting convening notice.