AATA - Rules

2024 USTA AATA Local League Rules and Regulations

CREATE A USTA TEAM VIA AATA:
1. General and local league registration information is forwarded via email to captains as well as posted on the Amarillo Area Tennis Association’s (AATA) website.
2. To request a USTA Team Number for a local league, email the Local League Coordinator at Jennifer@amarilloareatennis.org with (1) League Name, (2) Level of play and (3) Captain’s Name. Team numbers will be emailed to the requesting captain by the local league coordinator. Once a captain receives a team number, you may use the USTA TennisLink registration system to add players.
3. Captains are required to obtain a new team number at the start of every local league season.
PLAYER REQUIREMENTS:
1. All players must be current USTA members throughout the league season in order to be eligible to play any USTA match. It is each player’s responsibility to join or renew his/her membership.
2. For league play, player must be 18 years of age for Adult 18 & Over, 40 years of age for Adult 40 & Over, 55 years of age for Adult 55 & Over, 65 years of age for Adult 65 & Over.
3. Computer rated players must play two (2) matches during the local league season in all leagues other than Mixed 55 & Over, Combo Doubles and Tri Level, which require only one (1) match to be eligible to participate in championship competition (Local League Championship, Sectionals, etc.). Self Rated/Appeal rated players must play three (3) matches during the season in all leagues other than Mixed 55 & Over, Combo Doubles and Tru Level which require one (1).
ROSTER:
1. Team registration will be online using team number provided to captain by local league coordinator.
2. The minimum number of players must be registered by the registration deadline. Additional players are permitted to register after the deadline but a team must have the minimum number of players registered to be included in the schedule.
3. AATA does not offer refunds unless the level entered does not make.
NTRP:
1. A USTA rating is required for league play in all levels. An unrated player is required to Self-Rate before team registration. Go to the About NTRP Rating link for more information. The local league has no control/influence over a player’s NTRP rating.
2. For straight NTRP level leagues (such as 4.0), players cannot have a rating higher than the NTRP level in which the player is competing. A player may only play one (1) NTRP level (.5) above the player’s current NTRP level in the 18 & over AGE GROUP and 40 & over AGE GROUP Divisions.
3. For MIXED, 55 & over AGE GROUP and 65 & over AGE GROUP (using combined NTRP levels, such as 7.0, 8.0, etc.), the combined NTRP level of the doubles team cannot exceed the combined NTRP ratings level entered. The NTRP difference between members of an individual doubles team may not exceed 1.0.
4. Computer Rated Players & Self-Rating Returning USTA League tennis players begin with their most current NTRP computer rating. If more than three years (two years for players 65 and over) have elapsed since their last computer rating or a player has never had a computer rating, that individual may self-rate to enter the program. The NTRP characteristics have not changed. A player without a current computer generated rating will self-rate at the same time that he/she registers for a team on TennisLink. Players begin to generate a dynamic NTRP rating after their first match with a NTRP computer rated player.
5. Dynamic NTRP Ratings:
  All match results and the use of national benchmark NTRP ratings will be used to produce year-end NTRP ratings published each December.
6. NTRP Disqualification Procedures:
  Dynamic ratings will be calculated for all players during local league competition, and at every level of championship competition below National Championships, to determine if any players have reached the NTRP disqualification criteria stated in the USTA NTRP Computer Rating System Procedures. Year-end computer (C) and benchmark (B) players are not subject to dynamic NTRP disqualification. All other players (S, A, M, T, D) will be NTRP disqualified if they reach the disqualification level three (3) times based on all matches reported in the National database for USTA League Tennis Adult and Senior divisions.
SCHEDULE:
1. The league schedule will be posted on Tennislink as well as the AATA Website at least 7 days prior to the first scheduled match.
2. Once the registration deadline has passed, all teams with the minimum number of players are committed to play in local league play. All teams without the minimum number of players registered will be deleted from Tennislink and not included in the schedule.
MATCH FORMAT:
1. All local league will be played using the best of two sets criteria, conventional scoring, with a Coman set tiebreak (the first to 7 by 2) at 6 games all and a Coman match tiebreak (the first to 10 by 2) in the event of split sets.
2. The Home team will be responsible for cans of new USTA approved yellow tennis balls.
3. Rosters must be exchanged at the designated match time and all players should be on their assigned court ready to play. It is the responsibility of the captain to verify players at the time the lineup is exchanged.
4. Captains should use scorecards on TennisLink. Click on “Enter Scores”. Enter your match number. Scroll to the bottom and click on “Print Blank Scorecard”.
5. Points played in good faith stand. If a disagreement arises on court it should be resolved before play resumes. Detailed information may be found in Friend at Court “The Code" available on the USTA website. Match results will stand as played, NO EXCEPTIONS.
6. Match play must begin no later than 15 minutes after the designated start time according to the 15 minute default rule. No line shall begin play before the 15 minute default time has passed unless all players from the higher singles/doubles positions are present. Defaults must be from the bottom up. (ie: Line 2 singles or Line 3 doubles if players are not available at the start of the match.) Teams are to be moved up as a whole. No player may be replaced or switched except under the following conditions: 1. If an injury occurs during warmup or a player fails to show up and an eligible replacement can be made within the default time and 2. In the event that players from different lines are unavailable for play, the available player from the lower line may take the place of the unavailable player from the higher line to form a new team at the higher position.
7. Cell Phones and Other Electronic Devices are to be turned off during play.
8. Coaching is NOT allowed during USTA play.
9. Play should be continuous. Between points, a maximum of 20 seconds is allowed. When players change ends at the end of a game, a maximum 90 seconds is allowed. At set break, 120 seconds (2 minutes) is allowed.
MAKE UP MATCHES: (Due to Rain or Severe Weather)
1. The local league coordinator will contact all captains 1 hour before the scheduled match time if matches are going to be cancelled due to rain or severe weather. We make all efforts to play as scheduled but take into consideration rain, high wind, storm warnings/watches and other severe weather. No tennis match is more important than player safety.
2. If a match is cancelled or halted due to severe weather, the captains should make every attempt to makeup or complete the match within 14 days. After agreeing on a day and time, the captain of the home team should contact the league coordinator to assure court availability. ALL matches need to be completed before the last scheduled match unless other arrangements have been made with the league coordinator.
SCORING:
1. Within 24 hours of a completed match BOTH CAPTAINS are responsible for entering or confirming scores using TENNIS LINK. The first captain (or designated team member) to log on will enter the scores and the second captain (or designated team member) to log on will confirm or dispute the already reported results. In the event of a disputed score, Contact the League Coordinator with the details.
FORFEITS/TEAM DEFAULTS:
1. Forfeits start from the lowest singles or doubles lines. A team must play the majority of lines each team match or that match shall be considered a “team default”. If a “team default” occurs for any reason, the defaulting team is ineligible for post season play and the team default shall not be included in the final standings of the league. All matches of that team played, or to be played, shall be null and void when determining final standings. If there are several round robins, this guideline concerns the round robin in question only. If all teams in contention for the championship have already played the defaulting team in good faith, those matched stand as played.
COMPLAINT AND GRIEVANCE:
1. Complaints and Grievances must be presented in writing to the AATA/Grievance Committee within five (5) days of the occurrence by (a) the team captain or acting captain that was present at the match, (b) a league coordinator or (c) a member of the league committee.
2. The player and his/her captain will receive a copy of a properly filed complaint, which will be held on file in the AATA office for a period of one year.
3. The Local Grievance Committee will officiate any grievance against an individual or team. The parties involved will be given the opportunity to present their side of the event for which the grievance was filed. ALL GRIEVANCES REQUIRE A $50.00 FEE TO FILE, WHICH WILL BE RETURNED IF THE GRIEVANCE IS UPHELD
4. If the matter is an NTRP protest, a written protest must be submitted by a team captain directly to Todd Reed, Ratings Coordinator USTA TEXAS.