Rules

CLAY MATES RULES AND REGULATIONS

The Goal:

• To provide a competitive clay court only doubles league for ladies in South Palm Beach.

Seasons:

• The ladies league has 4 separate seasons- fall, winter, spring and summer.
• Each season lasts 8 – 10 weeks.

Levels and Days of Play:

• Queen Divisions – plays on Fridays
• Princess Divisions – plays on Wednesdays.
• Palm Tennis reserves the right to move teams into competitive Divisions based on past performance

Queen I *4.0/ over Fridays

Queen II *3.5-4.0 Fridays

Princess I *3.5 Wednesdays

Princess II *3.0 Wednesdays

Princess III *2.5-3.0 Wednesdays

Princess IV *2.5/ under Wednesdays

​Teams that have won the Division 2 consecutive times will be required to move up a level. The exception will be, if your club already has a team at that level (and is therefore able to move stronger players up to it), and obviously teams in Queen I.

Match Start Time:

• Matches will be played in the mornings. Clay Mates offers flexible start times of 9:30, 10:00,10:30 or 11:00 a.m. depending on the club requirements. The start times will be noted on the schedule. The latest start time a club may have is 11 a.m. A club that requires an 11am start time is welcome to join the league but will be required to play at their opponents’ club, if the opponents can provide courts at an earlier start time. Teams may agree to play at the facility that can provide an earlier start time. The safety provided by an earlier start time is the most important factor. Matches may be played at a later start time if both Captains agree.

Summer start time:

• Matches will start at 9:30am or 10am. If both teams are in agreement, a match may start at 9.00am.

The Format:

• Matches should start promptly. If a player is more than 15 minutes late, the team must forfeit that position.
• If there is a need to default a line, any line can be defaulted.
• Each team will field 3 partnerships on match day.
• All lineups must be prepared for exchange prior to the start of a match. Once exchanged, a lineup may not be altered.
• Home team will provide 3 cans of balls and 3 courts.
• Water and ice must be provided. Teams are required to provide bottled water for all opposing players.  A water/ice dispenser with cups to carry onto court is acceptable. It is not sufficient to have a fountain from which to drink.
• All matches will be 2 out of 3 sets with a 7 point tiebreaker (first to 7 points by 2) in any set at 6–6. If the sets are split, a match tiebreaker (first to 10 points by 2) will be played. In both tiebreakers, the player who is next to serve, serves one point to the deuce court. After the first point, the serve changes to the opponents who serve two points, first to the ad court and then to the deuce. This rotation continues until a team reaches (7 by 2) or (10 by 2). After 6 points, players switch sides.
• The scoring is regulation with the ads played out.
• Warm-up is limited to 10 minutes, including practice serves. A 10-minute break (which includes coaching time) may be taken after the second set. Otherwise, play must be continuous throughout the match as specified in USTA Rules.

Teams:

• Team rosters should have a minimum of 6 players. Rosters are unlimited.
• Final determination of level placement will be made by the League Directors and in consultation with the Tennis Professional and Captain.
• Team movement from one division to another will be based on the most recent team history as well as on the addition of new players and the loss of other players. The goal is to match teams with comparable abilities within the same divisions.
• Players that are on the roster of a team that drops out of the league after the schedule has been published will not be permitted to play on any other team for the remainder of the season.
• Extenuating circumstances will be considered.

• Participation in any Palm Tennis activities is governed by our Liability Waiver

Substitutes:

• A player may sub up to a higher division but not down. A player subbing down will not be awarded any points for games/ matches won.
• All players and substitutes must be added to the roster prior to participating in a match. When an ineligible player is found to have participated in a match, the offending team will be penalized by forfeiting that line.

Scoring:

The K-SWISS Scoring System will be used.

• The winner of each court receives 14 points for a 2-set win and 12 points for a 3-set win. The loser receives a point for each game won in their two highest scoring sets up to a maximum of 8 points for each match played. Example #1 - match score 6-4, 6-2, winner = 14 pts. & loser = 6 pts. Example #2 - match score 6-2, 4-6, 7-5, winner = 12 pts. & loser = 8 pts.
• In the event of a default, teams will receive 14 points for each line forfeited to them.
• Home Captains are required to enter the scores online at www.palmtennis.com no later than 24 hours after the day of the scheduled match. Results and standings are published at www.palmtennis.com.

Defaults:.

• If a team has excessive defaults, the team may be suspended for the next season. Excessive defaults are when a team defaults all positions for a given match or averaging more than one default per match. Teams defaulting an entire match may be removed from the schedule (updated June 13th 2024).

Final Match:

• A player who is added to the roster for the final match must have the league director’s approval.

Coaching/Spectators:

• Coaching is only permitted during the breaks between sets. Coaching time is limited to two minutes between the first and second set and is built into the ten minute break between the second set and third set super tie breaker.

 

• Spectators are welcome and may sit and view matches in the wells between the courts. All spectators must be seated. Seats must be provided for all players. Players may ask for a spectator/s to be removed if they are interfering with match play. No clapping or cheering please.

Rescheduling Matches and Inclement Weather:

• In the event of rain, the captains and players should make arrangements to complete the match within two weeks. If the match has not begun, the lineups and/or players may be changed. Once play has begun, then all four players on a court must continue THAT match in THAT position.
• If it starts to rain after rosters are exchanged and during warmup BUT before the actual match starts, and it becomes necessary to reschedule, the Captains may alter the lineup for the purpose of rescheduling.

 

• Rained out matches will be continued at the point of interruption by the same four players. All players should keep a complete record of the score, server, sequence of serve, side, etc. at the time of interruption. Each foursome will choose a day convenient to all four as long as it is within two weeks. In the event that a foursome has given the other team at least 2 days to choose from in the specified time frame and the date still cannot be decided, both teams will be defaulted.

 

• If the temperature is above 95 degrees or below 45 degrees at the court at match time and both Captains agree, the match may be played. Once a match has begun it must be completed except in the event of rain. If the match is not played due to the temperature, the captains and players should make arrangements to complete the match.

 

• A match can only be rescheduled if it rains or there are extreme weather conditions(heat/ cold/ potential hurricane).

 

• Rescheduled matches are to be made up within two weeks. Once a day for rescheduling has been set, it cannot be changed (unless it rains). The party that is unable to play on that day will retire that line.

 

• If the Final match is rained out, it must be completed within one week.

Inclement Summer Weather:

• For the Summer season, a match will be removed only if every single team was rained out. It is recommended that teams wait for an hour to see if the match can be played.
• If the temperature is above 95 degrees at the court at match time and both Captains agree, the match may be played.  Once a match has begun it must be completed except in the event of rain. If the match is not played due to the temperature, the captains and players should make arrangements to complete the match within two weeks.

Additional Information:

• Any player from an adjacent court whose ball rolls onto another court may call a let.

 

• Continuous play is a must. Water may be consumed quickly between points but sitting down to rest at unscheduled times is not allowed. A player requiring rests between points and non-changeover games must retire the match.

 

• Medical time-outs are restricted to one time out per issue and can last no more than 15 minutes

 

• Foot faults are not seen as offering any significant advantage. If they are obviously flagrant and repetitive, call a line judge.

 

• Palm Tennis rules govern play. In cases not specifically covered by these rules, USTA Rules govern play. Friend At Court and The Code can be found on-line at http://www.usta.com/About- USTA/Officials/ Information/20698_2008_Friend_At_Court/.

 

• Palm Tennis reserves the right to ban any player, coach, spectator, or participant from further participation for an indefinite time period due to any misconduct and/or unsportsmanlike conduct.

 

• Palm Tennis reserves the right to make any rule modifications and/or other changes during the course of the league whenever it deems such action necessary and proper.
• Pros/Captains are responsible for assuring that players are placed on teams appropriate for their level.

 

• Players must be at least 18 years of age. Current tennis teaching professionals and ranked players may not participate unless approved by the League Directors.

 

• All grievances and protests are to be submitted in writing via email within 2 days of the contested match to:orly@palmtennis.com.

Awards:
 

• Awards will be given to the teams in each division with the most points at the end of the season.

Palm Tennis Management Group LLC reserves the right to exclude any player from participating in any associated team or league.