WACTA 2008 CapStar Summer Ladder Tournament Rules

The 2008 CapStar Summer Ladder Event is here! Many thanks go to Mr. John Lin, president of CapStar Commercial Realty, for his sponsorship of this great event. The 2008 CapStar Summer Ladder will run from May 10th through August 9th. The Ladder will take a maximum of 40 registered teams. They will be assigned initial ranking and will be divided into 5 divisions. There will be four indoor tournaments held at the Four Seasons Tennis Club on the following dates: May 10th, June 14th, July 19th, and August 9th. In between the indoor tournaments, every team is encouraged to challenge other teams and accept as many challenges from other teams as possible. Please read the following carefully regarding Ladder rules.

Initial Rankings

The 40 teams will be given an initial ranking once registration is completed. The initial ranking will be based on the combination of skill-level of both players for each team except for tie situation. If there is a tie in skill-level between 2 teams, the tie breaker is as follows: 1) the team that participated in last year's Ladder is favored over the new team, 2) if both teams participated in last year’s Ladder, the higher ranked team at the end of last year’s Ladder is favored, 3) if neither team participated in last year’s Ladder, then the Tournament Director is authorized to randomly rank the two teams. The skill-level rating for any mixed team is increased by 0.7 and the skill-level rating for a men’s team is increased by 1.4, as compared to the skill-level rating for a women’s team (e.g., a men’s doubles team with both members rated at 4.5 has a combined rating of 10.4, [4.5 + 4.5 + 1.4] whereas a mixed doubles team with both members rated at 4.5 has a combined rating of only 9.7 [4.5 + 4.5 + 0.7]).

Note : The rating is based on the current WACTA rating in WACTA records on the web site.

The 40 teams are further divided into five divisions (A, B, C, D, E), each Division includes 8 teams: Division A: (ranking 1-8), Division B: (ranking 9-16), Division C: (ranking 17-24), Division D: (ranking 25-32), and Division E (ranking 33-40).

Awards

At the end of the last indoor tournament, the top 4 teams of Division will receive awards. WACTA will recognize and give additional awards to the team that accepted the most challenges, the team that played the most challenge matches, and the team that improved their ranking the most.

Indoor Tournaments

There will be four indoor tournaments held at the Four Seasons Tennis Club on the following dates: May 10th, June 14th, July 19th, and August 9th. The format of all indoor matches is stated in Appendix A.

During the first three indoor tournaments, each division of eight teams will be split into two sub-groups (a, b) of four teams, for example, sub-group a: (ranking 1, 4, 5, 8) and sub-group b: (ranking 2, 3, 6, 7). Round robin will be played within each sub-group

After completion of the round robin, the tournament will move into the playoffs. The playoff is mostly conducted in an inter-division competition style. The general rule for inter-division competition is that the last 4 teams of a division will play against the first 4 teams of the next division. For example, the last four teams from A Division will play against the top 4 teams of B Division; the last 4 teams of B Division will play against top 4 teams of C Division, and so on. The only 4 teams who will not play in an inter-division competition style during the playoff are the top 4 teams of A Division and last 4 teams of E Division.

During the last indoor tournament, the format remains the same as the first three indoor tournaments, except that the inter-division competition will not be played. In other words, teams in each division will play one another in sub-groups, then the top two teams in each sub-group will play for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th places of the division, while the other four teams will play for the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th place of the division.

Outdoor Challenge Matches

This event’s primary focus is on challenge matches, even though there will be four indoor tournaments during the Ladder season. In between the indoor tournaments, every team is strongly encouraged tochallenge other teams and also is expected to accept as many challenges as possible. The format of each outdoor challenge match is best 2 out of 3 sets, as regular USTA rules dictate. A 12-point tiebreaker will be observed for each set with a 6-6 score. If a team fails to play in at least one challenge match (either up or down) during the time from the day after the last indoor tournament to the Thursday before the next indoor tournament, its ranking will be moved down 8 places in the following indoor tournament, except in final indoor tournament, the team will be placed at the bottom of its Division. A team may challenge any other teams, which are willing to accept the challenge. Note that the challenger should provide a new can of balls for the match. For reporting, please see section listed near the end of this document. Should any questions or concerns occur, the Tournament Director needs to be contacted ASAP. If the challengers win, they will overtake the ranking.

Temporary Substitution

Temporary substitutions are only allowed for the first three indoor tournaments, as long as the replacement player is 1) a current WACTA member, and 2) has same or lower rating than the player he/she substitutes. Note that a male player’s rating is increased by 0.7 when compare to a female player’s rating, for example, a female player rating 4.0 can substitute for a male player rating 3.5 (3.5+0.7=4.2), so as a male player rating 3.5 (3.5+0.7=4.2) for a female player rating 4.5. Teams with temporary substitutes must inform the Tournament Director, via email only, for information about the substituted player by C.O.B. (close-of-business) Thursday prior to each indoor tournament. Teams with the “un-qualified” temporary substitute, and teams fail to inform the Tournament Director regarding substitutes information timely will be receiving 0 (zero) scores for all matches played at the indoor tournament held on that Saturday.

Special rules for the last indoor tournament: a team with the “un-qualified” temporary substitute will be placed at the bottom of its Division for the purpose of sub-grouping. The rationale is to avoid either one of the two sub-groups in same division contains unfair number of trophy contending teams. For instance, if team A4 and team A5 must use substitute player in the last indoor tournament, according to the traditional sub-grouping of 1,4,5,8 and 2,3,6,7, the 1st sub-group will contain both A4 and A5 that are already out of trophy competition, while the 2nd sub-group contains 4 trophy contending teams, thus results to an unfair situation for the 2nd sub-group. By this rule, A4 and A5 will be moved into A7, A8, and original A6, A7, and A8 will all be moved two ranks higher, then both sub-groups will have 3 trophy contending teams.

For teams who need a substitute player and cannot find one, please inform Tournament Director via email or phone as soon as possible, Ladder will try our best to accommodate the situation. No-show is the worst thing that can happen to the tournament and to your Ladder friends.

Permanent Substitution

Permanent substitution is allowed in case of an emergency during the course of the Ladder (see note below). In addition to the rules described above for temporary substitution, the following rules also must be followed: (1) the substituted player must play for the remaining of the Ladder Season, (2) the team needs “permanent” substitute must inform the Tournament Director by C.O.B., Tuesday, July 22th. Any permanent substitution requests received on and after July 18th will be receiving 0 (zero) scores for the remainder of the season.

Note: Permanent substitute may be needed if, for example, injury occurs to any player in the team and long term care is expected, family emergency, frequent unexpected business travels or other cases which will be explained to the Tournament Director.

Score Reporting

Winning team of each challenge match must report the scores no later than the C.O.B. of the following Thursday. The report shall be sent, via E-Mail only, to the Ladder Tournament Director at capstarladder@wacta.org, with a copy to the challenge match opponents. Each report must specify 1) both teams by providing each team’s ranking and the names of the players, 2) the score, and 3) the date and time of the match. Untimely reports will nullify the challenge matches.

The weekly ranking report will be delivered via E-Mail to you no later than midnight on each Thursday.

E-Mail Address

At least one member of each team must have an E-Mail address for communication purposes and for receiving weekly ranking reports and Ladder Newsletters.

Authority

Tournament Director has absolute authority to make final decision for any disputes that may occur during the entire season.

Appendix A: WACTA 2008 Ladders Indoor Tournament Rules

1. Unless otherwise specified, all USTA rules will govern all play.

2. Each match consists of 8 games. No AD scoring will be used during the tournament. The team that wins 4 points first in a game is the winner of that game. When the game score reaches 40 ALL, if at all possible, the extra point should be played in a way that the receiving player and the serving player are of the same gender; otherwise the receiving team can choose (DEUCE court or AD court) to receive the last serve. ALL 8 GAMES MUST BE PLAYED IN THE ROUND ROBIN. DO NOT PLAY FURTHER SHOULD THE GAME SCORE REACH 4 - 4. Point system will ONLY be used in the Round Robin for team advancement. See rule 4 below.

3. To ensure the completion of the entire tournament is on time and all the matches are on schedule, players for whom their match is scheduled next should be ready on the designated court as soon as it becomes available. NO SCHEDULE CHANGE AT ANY TIME. THE PRE-MATCH WARM-UP SHOULD BE NO MORE THAN FIVE MINUTES. NO PRE-MATCH WARM-UP IS ALLOWED AFTER YOU’RE THE FIRST ROUND ROBIN MATCH. The team, which is late for a match, will be penalized. The team, which is late for 5 minutes, will forfeit a game. Being 10 minutes late will result in the loss of 2 games. Being 15 minutes or more will forfeit the match. The final scores of the forfeited match will be recorded as 8 - 0. In order to save time, teams switch sides only at the end of 4th game in the match. Before the match starts toss to decide which team to serve first, and the other team decide which side of court to play.

4. In the Round Robin matches the winning team of each match will receive two points; the losing team will receive no points. If two teams are tied at 4-4, each team will receive one point. The following tie-breakers will be applied should a tie occur:

(4.1) Two-way tie:
(4.1.1.) The winning team of the match between these two teams will advance. If two teams are tied at 4 - 4, then
(4.1.2.) Total net games won (i.e., games won minus games lost) in the Round Robin. If two teams are still tied, then
(4.1.3.) A random draw will be conducted to break the tie.

(4.2) Three-way tie:
(4.2.1.) Any team who beat the other 2 teams advances. Any team who lost to the other 2 teams is eliminated.
(4.2.2.) Total net games won among the three teams will be determined the ranking. (4.2.3.) Total net games won in all the matches in the round robin will determine the ranking.
(4.2.4.) A random draw will be conducted if the tie cannot be broken.
(4.2.5.) Apply two-way tie rules above (tie 4.1) if the tie is simplified to involving only two teams.

5. Single elimination format will be used in the playoffs. The team who wins 5 out of 8 games wins the match. DO NOT PLAY THE REMAINING GAME(S) IF ONE TEAM WON 5 GAMES AND THE TOTAL GAMES PLAYED HAVE NOT REACHED 8 GAMES. If two teams are tie at 4 - 4, a 7-point tie-breaker will be played to break the tie. The team wins 4 points first will be the winner of the match.

6. Please follow the USTA rule 8, DO NOT FOOT FAULT. The receiver, or his partner, may appeal to server for foot faults. The receiver, or his partner, may request the official to call foot faults after such effort has failed and the foot-faulting is so flagrant as to be clearly perceptible from the Receiver's side. Four Court Coordinators will be assigned as tournament officials to record match score, explain rules, and resolve all match related issues.

7. Please do not take the tennis balls away from the court after your match is finished.

The Following are excerpts of USTA rules apply in any match conducted without officials:

1. Once you have entered a tournament, honor your commitment to play.

2. Play must be continuous. Attempts to stall or extend rest periods for a purpose to recovering from a loss of physical condition (such as cramps or exhaustion) are illegal.

3. Intentional distractions that interfere with your opponent's effort to play the ball are against the rule.

4. Spectators, including family members, friends and coaches are welcome to watch but should have no involvement of any kind during the match.

5. Players are expected to put forth a full and honest effort regardless of the score or expected outcome.

6. If you have any doubt as to whether a ball is out or good, you must give your opponent the benefit of the doubt and play the ball as good. You should not play a let.

7. It is your obligation to call balls on your side, to help your opponent make calls when the opponent requests it, and to call against yourself (with the exception of a 1st serve) any ball you clearly see out on your opponent's side of net.

8. Any Out or LET call must be made instantaneously, otherwise, the ball continuous in play.

9. Do NOT enlist the aid of spectator in making line calls.

10. If you call a ball out and then realize it was good during serving a ball, you should correct your call and replay the point.

11. To avoid controversy over the score, the SERVER should announce the SET score (e.g. 4-2) before starting a game and the game score (e.g. 40-15) prior to serving each point.

1. Foot faults are not allowed. During the semifinal and final matches, there might be an umpire at each court who will make calls when a foot-fault or an ambiguous call occurs.

1. GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP SHALL BE OBSERVED AT ALL TIME.