Rules
Palm Open 45+ Rules
The Goal: To provide a competitive doubles day league for men 45 year and older in Northern Palm Beach, FL. Region: Wellington to Jupiter.
Seasons: The Palm Tennis Night League is offered twice a year. Fall – late September to early February and Winter/ Spring – Mid February to late April.
- Each season is 10- 12 weeks in length.
Levels and Days of Play:
- Royal = 3.5. This division will play on Tuesdays between 9am-1pm. 3 doubles positions.
- King = 4.0. This division will play on Tuesdays between 9am-1pm. 3 doubles positions.
- Players must be 45 years or older.
- Clay court facilities only.
- Home teams will provide balls for the matches. Drinks are the responsibility of individual players.
- All matches will be 2 of 3 sets with a 7 point tiebreaker (first to 7 points by 2) in any set at 6–6. A third set WILL NOT be played, if any of the four players wish to play a match tiebreaker (first to 10 by 2) - in lieu of a full third set.
- There may be playoffs at the end of the season.
The Format:
- Matches will be played on Tuesdays between 9am and 1pm. (Please see schedules for any changes).
- Matches should start promptly. If a player is more than 15 minutes late, the team must forfeit that position. When teams are lacking players and must default positions, they must begin by defaulting the lowest positions and moving remaining players up.
- Home team will provide courts and balls.
- All matches will be 2 of 3 sets with a 7 point tiebreaker (first to 7 points by 2) in any set at 6–6. A third set WILL NOT be played, if any of the four players wish to play a match tiebreaker (first to 10 by 2) - in lieu of a full third set.
- All lineups must be prepared in writing for exchange prior to the start of a match. Once exchanged a lineup may not be altered.
Teams:
- Team rosters should have a minimum of 8 players. Rosters are unlimited.
- Players must be 45 years of age.
- Final determination of level placement will be made by the League Director 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.
- A division consists of a minimum of four teams.
- 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 for that line.
Scoring:
Weighted scoring will be used.
Court 1 = 4 points
Court 2 = 3 points
Court 3 = 2 points
Home Captains are required to enter the scores online at www.palmtennis.com within 72 hours. All rainouts must be reported to: orly@palmtennis.com. Unrecorded matches will be double defaulted if we are not advised of their status. 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.
Final Match and Play-offs
- New players participating in a final match must have the approval of the league directors.
- Play-offs may be held at the end of the season depending on the number of teams participating and the length of the season. Players must have played in two matches during the season to be eligible for playoffs. Exceptions must have the approval of the league directors.
Coaching:
- Coaching is only permitted during the breaks between sets.
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. 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 a partnership 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 within two weeks.
- 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.
Additional Information:
- Palm Tennis rules govern play. In cases not specifically covered by these rules, USTA Rules govern play.
- 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.
- 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.
- Pros/Captains are responsible for assuring that players are placed on teams appropriate for their level.
- Current tennis teaching professionals and ranked players may not participate unless approved by the League Directors.
- Refunds are not offered once the schedules have been published.
- 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 two teams in each division with the greatest point total 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.
MEN 70+
The Goal:
• To provide a competitive doubles league for men whose age is 70 years or older and
are located in Palm Beach County.
Seasons:
• A season lasts 9 – 12 weeks.
Levels and Day of Play:
• Matches will be played on Mondays at 11am, or earlier if the Captains are in agreement.
• Level offered: 3.0-4.0. 3 lines. Captain will play the strongest in line 1
The Format:
• Matches will be played at 11am or earlier.
• Matches should start promptly. If a player is more than 15 minutes late, the team must
forfeit that position. When teams are lacking players and must default positions, they
must begin by defaulting the lowest positions and moving remaining players up.
• Each team will field 3 partnerships on match day. The strongest partnership must play in line #1 etc.
• 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 courts and 3 cans of balls.
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.
• Regulation scoring. Ad will be played.
• 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. A match tie-breaker (first to 10 points by 2) will be played in lieu of a third set.
• 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.
• All players must be age 70 or turning 70 within the year.
.
• 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:
• 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.
• A player who is added to the roster for the final match must have the league director’s
approval.
• Play-offs may be held at the end of the season depending on the number of teams
participating and the length of the season. No new players may be added to a roster
during the play-off period.
• In the event that the score of games is tied during a playoff match, the team with the
most court wins will be the team that advances or wins.
Coaching/Specators:
• Coaching is permitted if sets are split. A ten minute break may be taken 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
Rescheduled 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. 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.
Additional Information:
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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Pros/Captains are responsible for assuring that players are placed on teams appropriate
for their level.
•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 two 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.
Orly Mayron
League Coordinator
E-mail: orly@palmtennis.com