The SARC Tennis Committee came into existence in response to a need determined by the SARC community to have, among other things, guidance and communication in relation to the formation of the expansion of tennis teams.

This document is intended to provide information and guidance in the process of tennis team formation. It is up to the members of the tennis community to bring a positive and accepting attitude to the process and to create an accepting and encouraging environment for all.

In our area, there are two main organizations that support the local tennis competitive community, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) and the World TeamTennis (WTT). There are some competitive tennis opportunities outside of these, but these are the main two. Distinctions are noted below:

The Southern Tennis Association (STA) and the North Carolina Tennis Association (NCTA) are the governing bodies of the USTA play in North Carolina. This league utilizes the rules and regulations of the USTA. Membership in USTA is required for team play.

Tennis seasons are Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter.

The USTA Southern program has three divisions – Adult, Mixed Doubles and Combo Doubles.

The Adult Division is broken down into:
• 18 & Over
• 40 & Over
• 55 & Over
• 65 & Over

The Mixed Doubles will be:
• 18 & Over
• 40 & Over

Combo Doubles will be:
• 18 & Over
• 40 & Over
• 55 & Over

Spring Season

• Usually at level (2.5-5.0), same sex teams where both doubles and singles play makes up a match. At the 2.5 level there are two courts of doubles and one court of singles play to make up the match. For levels above 2.5, there are three doubles courts and two singles courts played to make up the match.
• 2.5, 4.5 and 5.0 levels will each need four players “at level” to form a team and 3.0, 3.5 and 4.0 levels will each need six players “at level” to form a team.  For example, a 3.0 Ladies Team would have eight ladies, three doubles teams and two singles players competing in each match. At least six of the team players have to be ranked 3.0., the rest of the team can be ranked 3.0 or lower.

Summer Season

• Usually mixed levels (5.0-10.0), mixed sex teams where doubles play makes up the match of three courts. For example, a 6.0 Mixed Team, each doubles team is made up of one man and one woman whose combined tennis rank equals a maximum 6.0. This could be a 3.0 man and a 3.0 woman (or the opposite) or could be any lesser combo, like 2.5 man + 3.0 woman. The combined players may not be more than one point apart. For example, a 4.0 man cannot play with a 2.0 woman. Three doubles teams play in each match.
• There is no “Four players ranked at the same level per team” rule for mixed or singles play at this time.
• Singles Teams (2.5-5.5), three courts of play, is also an option.
• Tri-Level – Utilizes the rules and regulations of the USTA. Membership in USTA is required for team play. Consists of three NTRP levels of doubles matches. Example, one 2.5 doubles court, one 3.0 doubles court and one 3.5 doubles court = one Tri-Level Team. This area of play specifies that a person can only play .5 level above their ranking. For example, a 2.5 player can play on the 2.5 court or the 3.0 court but not the 3.5 court.

Fall Season (commonly referred to as “Combo”)

• Usually at level (5.0, 5.5-10.5), same sex teams where three doubles teams make up the match consisting of three courts. For example, 5.0 Ladies Team (two, 2.5 ranked ladies make up a doubles team that equals 5.0. 2.5 + 2.5 = 5.0) would have six ladies play per match, three doubles teams competing in each match.
• For another example, a 6.5 Ladies Team (one 3.5 ranked player and one 3.0 ranked player make up a doubles team that equals 6.5. 3.5 + 3.0 = 6.5. This could also be two 3.0 ladies playing together. As longas the combined ranking does not exceed 6.5.) would have six ladies play per match, three doubles teams competing in each match.
• Singles Teams (2.5-5.5), three courts of play, is also an option.

Utilizes the rules and regulations of WTT (some slight differences from USTA). No USTA membership requirements to play. Year-round play is available – visit the website for more specific information at www.wtt.com.

• Usually at level (2.5-4.5), each team is made up of men and women. Two courts of doubles are played(one court of women and one court of men), followed by two courts of singles (one court of women and one court of men), which is then followed by two courts of mixed doubles. Substitutes can be made at any time. No-ad scoring is used and a let serve is to be played.

RTT

A local option for 2.5 & 3.0 ladies includes the Raleigh Team Tennis league (RTT) which follows the same rules as WTT.

Local Groups, Ladders and Tournaments 

Advertised and supported by individuals. Information is shared within the SARC Tennis email community but these guidelines and team formation suggestions do not encompass this area at this time.

USTA

Communications are sent prior to team registration and dates vary and are determined by the area league coordinator, but this information is as accurate as possible. Team Captains are given a registration number for USTA teams when they register the team in TennisLink. This registration number is sent to the team players by the Captain to allow for registration online. Current USTA membership is required to sign up for a team. If a current membership expires during a tennis team season, renewing a USTA membership is required to continue play.

Spring Season

• • Team registration can start as of January 1
  • Doubles teams are required to have a minimum of 6 players and a maximum of 14 players
  • Singles teams are required to have a minimum of 4 players and a maximum of 9 players.
  • Each team is required to have a captain who registers the team via the USTA/Tennislink website.
  • Each team is required to have the minimum number of players registered via the USTA/Tennislink website, usually by the stated date of January 15.

Summer Season

• • Team registration can start as of April 12 for singles and May 1 for doubles.
  • Doubles teams are required to have a minimum of 6 players and a maximum of 14 players
  • Singles teams are required to have a minimum of 4 players and a maximum of 9 players
  • Each team is required to have a captain who registers the team via the USTA/Tennislink website.
  • Each team is required to have the minimum number of players registered via the USTA/Tennislink
  • website by May 14 for doubles and May 24 for singles.

Fall Season

• • League coordinator is to be informed about how many teams are going to be formed by July 1.
  • Team registration can start as of July 12 for singles and July 16 for doubles.
  • Doubles teams are required to have a minimum of 6 players and a maximum of 14 players
  • Singles teams are required to have a minimum of 4 players and a maximum of 9 players
  • Each team is required to have a captain who registers the team via the USTA/Tennislink website.
  • Each team is required to have the minimum number of players registered via the USTA/Tennislink website by August 1 for doubles and August 9 for singles.

Winter Season

• • RTA offers a winter season for adult ladies.  The cost is $13 per player, with 6 min and 16 playe

WTT

Summer Season (for other season information, check their website www.wtt.com.

• Team registration can start as of May 1.
• A team must have a minimum of four players, two men and two women. It is recommended that a team have at least six players on the roster. The national limit on the number of players per team is ten, but for the Raleigh local league teams may have up to fourteen players. If a team advances to regional play they may only take ten players.
• Each team is required a captain who registers the team via the World Team Tennis website.
• Each team is required to have the minimum number of players registered via the World Team Tennis website by May 7 .

Tri-Level

Summer Season

• Team registration can start as of April 12.
• Teams are required to have a minimum of 6 players and a maximum of14 players
• Each team is required a captain who registers the team via the USTA/Tennislink website.
• Each team is required to have the minimum number of players registered via the USTA/Tennislink website by May 24.

Within four weeks prior to USTA/RTT team registration opening date, the Tennis Chair will send an email communication to the SARC members via e-mail to include information about the opportunities of the coming tennis season. The email will contain the contact information for the Tennis Committee member for each gender/level. SARC members should email their level representative to let them know which league they are interested in playing, including the age group(s). Some SARC Tennis Committee members may use other means to track interest, but the communication should start with an email from each member until instructed otherwise.

Players interested in captaining a team should make their level representative aware. If the captain has a desired roster, that information should be shared as well.

Once the deadline for responses has passed, the SARC Tennis Committee representative will assist the captains with team formation. Results of the tennis teams will be communicated back to the involved members and instructions to the captains will be sent within plenty of time for team sign-up.

The Tennis Committee representative will try to help all members join their desired at level teams. That is not always possible depending on the number of players that are interested. Members wanting to “play up” at a higher level will be at the sole discretion of the team captain. The Tennis Committee will use the following guidelines to assist with team formation:

Spring, Winter and Singles

Each member should have indicated which age group(s) they are interested in playing. The representative will work with the captains to ensure each member has one at level team before allowing another member to be on two or more at level teams for different age groups. The representative may require captains to add additional players up to the following maximums:

Fall Combo

Each member should have indicated which age group(s) they are interested in playing. The representative will work with the captains to ensure each member has one at level team before allowing another member to be on two or more at level teams for different age groups.

For combo, at level is the level where that player is the highest level allowed on the court.

Mixed Doubles

The tennis committee will attempt to work with captains to ensure each member has at least one team to play on. Due to the large number of level combinations and the desire of spouses to play together, there is no way to ensure each member will be on a team even when other members have multiple teams. Committee representatives will encourage captains to be inclusive.

Tri-level

Due to the limited number of playing spots at each level, team formation will be at the captains’ discretion.

For all seasons, committee members will notify members without a team in a timely manner such that those members can attempt to form additional teams.

• Before the start of each season, attend the team captain meeting, which is organized by the league coordinator.
• Register the team on Tennislink or WTT prior to the respective deadlines.
• If the team is not at its maximum capacity, work with the tennis committee representative to assure that everyone has a team to play on.
• Send a team roster to the tennis committee representative for your level at the close of the registration process.
• Working with the Tennis Committee, ensure all players on the team have satisfied the SARC Tennis Team registration requirement prior to playing in any match.
• Once the team schedule comes out, immediately report it to tennis chair for calendar upload; continue communication with tennis chair about cancelled matches, make?up matches etc.
• Following completed matches, communicate with tennis chair scores for weekly update report.
• Communicate with the tennis chair to reserve a team practice time? classes, clinics, matches will take precedence over practice times.
• Create the team line-up for each match. This should be done in a fair and equitable manner, keeping in the spirit of the mission of the tennis program.
• Insure that every team member gets equitable playing time, unless a player has a lot of schedule conflicts or injuries.
• For home matches, communicate with the captain of the opposing team to let them know what facilities are available at our courts, ie. Bathrooms, no water provided on the courts, hard courts, etc.
• Communicate with the captain of the opposing team to schedule make-ups, as needed.
• If the winning team, record the scores in TennisLink or the appropriate score reporting utility within 48 hours of the completion of the match.