Liberty Conference Tennis Coaches Handbook

 

2014

Liberty Conference Teams:

Hayfield, Langley, Madison, McLean, Fairfax, South Lakes, Washington-Lee and Yorktown.

 

First Practice Date: February 24

This date is determined by the Virginia High School League and is established in each year’s Virginia High School League (VHSL) Handbook at www.vhsl.org/athletics.

 

Practices:

After the first legal practice day, practices may be held as often and for as long as desired with the exception that no practices are permitted on Sundays.  No practices may be held after the conclusion of your final match of the season.

 

Meetings:

Each coach or a designated representative is required to attend the post-season conference’s seeding meeting (TBD May 3, 2013 at McLean HS in room R194/196 at 7:30).   

 

Match Regulations:

Scoring:

1.                  A match consists of 6 singles and 3 double matches.  The team winning at

at least 5 of the matches will be declared the winner.  All matches must be played unless mutually agreed by participating coaches, at the start of the team match.

2.                  Each regular season match is a 10 game pro-set with standard scoring.  A twelve (12) point USTA tie-breaker will be used at 10-10.

3.                  Match results must be recorded on the standard conference score sheet which will be distributed at the pre-season meeting.

4.                  All match results must be faxed (703 714-5859) or e-mailed to Fernando. Belli@fcps.edu to the conference tournament director the day after a match is complete so that he/she can determine standings.  Home coaches are responsible for getting regular season match results to the local newspapers.

 

Rules:

The rules of tennis set forth in the current rule book of the USTA (Friend at Court) shall govern all League tennis matches and tournaments, except in those instances where the rules conflict with the special rules set forth by the VHSL Handbook, in which case these special rules shall take precedence.

 

Home Team:

1.      Home coaches should have their team ready to play when the visiting team

arrives.

2.      Home coaches will have 9 cans of new, pressurized, tennis balls available for

Match (3 new balls per match).

3.      If a school has fewer than 6 courts, it is suggested that the home team coach

secure nearby public courts to comply with the 6-court minimum.

 

Visiting Team:

            Players who need to use restrooms, secure ice and/or water have up to 10 minutes

            to do so after arriving at the home site.  The home coach will have managers of

            players available to direct the visiting team’s players to the restrooms and water.

 

Both Teams:

  1. Matches are scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m.  or as soon thereafter the visiting team arrives.  In the early spring, it is important to start the match as soon as possible because of limited daylight.
  2. Players must wear school issued shirts/shorts, dresses/skirts/blouses throughout the match. Uniforms using school colors or white are recommended. .
  3. Skirts and shorts must be school colors and may not have boxer shorts extending below the shorts.  White or matching color spandex may be worn at the coach’s discretion, but is not recommended (Theses are items from 20 years ago and no longer applicable….recommend removing).
  4. In cold or inclement weather, appropriate sweat clothes and/or warm-up suits may be worn.
  5. Coaches must exchange full lineups before the match and results of any challenge matches played since the last team match. (VHSL 82-4-8): Substitution for doubles play may be made until the first doubles match begins. All substitutions must comply with the substitution rules prescribed in this section. Note: Coaches should be prepared to show proof of any challenge matches.
  6. As soon as the visiting team arrives or completes restroom use, the coaches will read the conference’s opening statement and introduce the players who will immediately commence their warm-up period.
  7. The warm-up period will be limited to 10 minutes including serves.  The home coach is responsible to start the warm-up, give a 5-minute warning, end the warm-up period and start the match.
  8. USTA Friend at Court: The time that shall elapse from the moment the ball goes out of play until the ball is struck shall not exceed 20 seconds. Coaches will remind players to strive to stay within the time limits. (Note: USTA reduced the time limit from 25 seconds, but in unofficiated matches, it is difficult to enforce.)
  9. At the conclusion of each individual match the player(s) must report results to their respective coach and the host player is to collect the three game balls from the court and return them to their coach.
  10. Doubles matches must commence no more than 15 minutes after the conclusion of the final singles match involving one of the doubles players. (NOTE: USTA Friend at Court states 30 minutes required rest period between pro-set matches).
  11. There will be a maximum of 10 minutes warm-up for each doubles match.  Due to the on-going match the home coach needs only to monitor the doubles warm-up.

A.    Only contracted coaches can coach during the 90-second changeover time.  Exceeding 90 seconds interferes with the natural flow of the game. There will be no coaching on the first changeover (after the first game of the match).

  1. For doubles play, substitutes may replace designated players, if the match

has been decided after singles.  Doubles matches may be shortened by mutual consent of both coaches to a standard six or eight game set.

  1. During the early spring, if matches begin after 4:00 p.m. coaches may agree to

shorten the sets of to 8 game pro-sets, in order to complete the match before

darkness.

  1. Each coach is responsible for enforcing the VHSL and Liberty Conference        

      sportsmanship code for all players.  Prudence and reflection upon the pre-season

language and equipment discussion is strongly recommended.

  1. Either coach can give any spectator, who violates the sportsmanship rules, a

warning.  If a warning is issued, the opposing coach must be notified.  If a second

offense occurs, the spectator will be required to leave the match.

  1. Players may leave the court only to go to the restroom or for emergency 

 equipment problems.  Players will be given a maximum of 10 minutes.

  1. Injury time out will not exceed 15 minutes (CHANGED) 10 minutes.  After 10 minutes, play must continue or the match will be forfeited. USTA Friend at Court: Medical timeout. A medical timeout consists of evaluation time as determined by the Referee plus a maximum of three minutes treatment time for a treatable medical condition. The maximum time allowed for evaluation and treatment is 15 minutes.
  2. In the event a match has begun and inclement weather intervenes, the home site

coach is responsible for determining the playability of the courts.  The safety of

the players will be of paramount importance in making the decision.  Both

coaches are responsible to agree upon and write down the match score, game

score, who has service, doubles placement, and on which side of the court players

are, if the match is stopped.  This is to be done before the visiting team leaves. 

  1. Matches postponed by inclement weather, or suspended by darkness, must be

reschedule for the first compatible open date.

 

Substitution Rule:

Any player listed on the entry form, as an alternate may be a substitute.  Any of the school’s top six singles players who is not in the school’s top three doubles team line-up is considered an alternate for doubles competition.  Any member of a school’s top six singles line-up is considered an alternate for the singles tournament competition.

            Substitutions shall be made by the following provisions or the match at the vacated division shall be forfeited:

1.      Substitute alternate in the vacated position/or

2.      In singles, substitute alternate in the 6th singles division and move all other players up on division until all divisions are filled; or

3.      In doubles, substitute alternate in the 3rd division and move all other players up on division until all divisions are filled.

 

Substitutions may be made after one team wins five matches if the procedure in the above mention is followed.

 

Ladder Rules:

            Each coach must have a clearly established set of criteria to govern ladder play and communicate it to your players. Challenge matches for singles and doubles will continue until the end of the last regular season conference match begins. The singles and doubles ladders will determine the starting line-ups.  Each coach will explain at the pre-season coaches meeting their challenge criteria.  (Possible early season criteria could include but are not be limited to such schemes methods as pyramid, round robin groupings, even-odd challenge days, arrow lists, etc.)  After the first conference match, all line-ups cannot be changed, except by the results of challenge matches.  Challenge matches must be a minimum of a 6 game set.  All players must should strive to play a minimum of 1 challenge every other week.  This applies to both singles and doubles, unless weather and/or schedule prohibit the challenge.

            The team ladder used for Regional tournament play must be the ladder used during the last regular-season conference match, barring injury.

 

Stacking: 

1. Coaches are obligated to arrange their lineup according to current ability as determined by challenge matches. Blatant misrepresentation should be brought to the attention of the opposing coach.

2. All coaches should have available a record of challenge matches to prove the accuracy of their lineups.

3. Accusations of stacking should be brought to the attention of the DSAs.

a. NOTE: A district official or coach should be appointed to collect all lineups and match results so that there is a definite record in case of appeals.

 

Courts:

            It is suggested for the fall season, that if a school has fewer than 6 courts, that the school should have as many of its home matches during the first half of the season as possible.  No longer applicable.

 

Sportsmanship Rules:

            The Liberty Conference tennis teams will adhere to the following rules during the regular season.  The rules will be enforced from the beginning of the warm-up for singles to the conclusion of the final doubles match.

            A player shall not display unsportsmanship conduct such as but not limited to, throwing/abusing equipment; hit a ball in the direction of an opponent, official, or spectator, using profane or obscene language in any way that may be heard by other persons, using obscene gestures; or threatening bodily injury.  (See USTA Code Violations)

            Penalty:

1.      First offense:  Loss of point

2.      Second offense:  Forfeit game in progress or one game from total

Accumulated by the offender.

3.      Third offense-Disqualification from the match and disqualified from doubles play if the offense occurs during singles.

4.      USTA Friend at Court:  Flagrant violations. While the imposition of penalties normally follows the progression of penalties from point to game to default found in Table 14, any flagrantly unsportsmanlike act may result in immediate default.

5.      In the Liberty Conference regular season matches, either teams’ coaches may apply the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.  In the Conference tournaments, coaches and or the tournament director may apply penalties.

 

Coaches are reminded that any player or coach ejected from a match is ineligible to participate in the school’s next tennis match.  A player or coach ejected from the second contest during the season is ineligible to participate in the next two tennis matches.  Ejections must be reported by the principals to the VHSL office within 48 hours of occurrence.  Be sure to report any ejections to your principal immediately following the contest.  Review player/coach ejections in VHSL Handbook sections 27-13-7(page 48) and 30-5-1(page 73) sections 27-11-4, 27-11-6, 27-11-7, and 30-5-1 (NEW NUMBERS).  In addition, review and enforce the VHSL tennis playing etiquette rules.

 

(The below was copied from Concorde’s Handbook- We recommend adding it to ours.)

 

 

Sportsmanship/Etiquette:

A.    All coaches have responsibilities to ensure proper sportsmanship and may assess penalties as described above.  In case of discrepancies between coaches, the home coach is the final arbiter during team matches.  The tournament director is the final arbiter during tournaments.  Appeals should be brought to the attention of the DSAs.

 

B.     Scoring discrepancy

1.      If there a discrepancy between opponents, they should go to the net and discuss it.  If they cannot agree, they should go back to the point where both agree the score was correct.

2.      Coaches may assist in negotiating this discussion, but should not determine the score for them.

 

    

C. Stalling

1. Stalling shall be considered:

a.       Playing at an unreasonable pace.

b.      Taking longer than 90 seconds on changeovers or more than 120 seconds on the set changeover.

c.       Clearing balls that don’t need to be cleared.

d.      Diverting attention to recover conditioning.

2.      Play shall be at the server’s discretion within the 25 20 seconds allotted between points.

3.      A player who encounters stalling issues should notify the coach.

 

D. Footfaults

1.                        If a player sees that foot faulting by his/her opponent is chronic, he/she should notify his/her coach.  Coaches should then advise their player.  

2.                        A neutral person can be appointed to monitor footfaults with a mutual agreement by both coaches.

3.                        While it is impractical to always call footfaults during team matches, foot faults will be enforced during district conference tournaments.

 

E. Line calls

1.                        Each player/doubles team is responsible for calls on his/her side.  If in doubt, the shot is good and the point goes to the opponent.

2.                        An opponent has the right to question the call in a reasonable manner.  However, the call remains the player’s.

3.                        If calls seem chronically or flagrantly bad, the player should contact his/her coach as soon as possible.

4.                        A neutral linesperson can be appointed with a mutual agreement by both coaches.  

5.                        Calls cannot be made by players on the sidelines or by spectators.

 

F. Interference by non-participants, including teammates

1.                        Coaches have the responsibility to control their own team and spectators.

2.                        Spectators should stand away from the fence.

3.                        The home coach can have a player or spectator removed from the area if the interference continues after a warning.

 

Postponement of a Match:

 A. Weather and/or darkness

1.                        A match should be held up or cancelled when there is a chance of injury to the players or conditions warrant it.

2.                        There should be an agreement between the coaches, but in the absence of such an agreement, the home coach shall make the decision.

3.                        In the case of impending darkness, coaches should consult with each other.  There should be a 10-minute warning given to players that play will stop in 10 minutes (or the agreed upon time).  The home coach shall make the decision if there is the absence of agreement.

4.                        The possible outcome of the match should have no bearing on this decision.  The only criteria shall be the safety and quality of playing conditions for the players.

 

B. Resuming an incomplete match

1.                        If a match is resumed with only a short break in play, play continues from the point that the match was halted.  Either coach can request a five (5) minute warm-up.

2.                        If a match is halted the following information should be reported to allow proper resumption:

a.                        Game and set score.

b.                        Who is leading.

c.                        Who is serving.

d.                       Who is on what side.

e.                        Both coaches should indicate their agreement by signing the score sheet of the tennis meet.

      3. If a match is resumed on another day:

a.                        All players should get a 10-minute warm-up with all lineups remaining the same.

b.                        In the event that original players are not available when matches resume: (1) If a player is missing due to a school sponsored activity or approved holiday, he/she may be substituted for from a player below him/her on the team’s ladder and not in the starting lineup (i.e.—if the #2 player is not available, the #7 or lower player could sub for him.  However, if the #1 player was out of the lineup on the original date, he/she cannot sub in for the #2 player).

(2) The substitute player must take on the score compiled by the original player in the lineup at the time of cessation of play.

 

 

 

 

Regular Season:

            The regular season matches consist of double round robin play between the Liberty Conference teams.  Team matches consist of nine matches – six singles and three doubles.  One team point shall be scored for each singles or doubles match won.

 

Conference Championship:

            The Liberty Conference Champion will be the team that finishes first in the regular season.  The top three teams will advance to the Northern Region Tournament.  In the case of a tie, the tie-breaking procedures in the Liberty Conference Handbook will be followed.

 

II.                TENNIS TEAM TIE BREAKING PROCEDURES

 

In the event that a tie exists for determining the #1, #2 and #3 tennis teams from the Liberty Conference for the Northern Regional tournament, (in the absence of a team tournament) the following steps should be used to break the tie:

 

            1.   Head-to-head competition in the ONE REGULAR SEASON conference match.

            2.   Head-to-head competition in the PRE-REGULAR CONFERENCE match of a conference opponent. (i.e. PRIOR TO APRIL 4, 2014)

            2.   Standings against other seeds; highest to lowest. (Not sure what this means)

3.      Records against common non-Conference opponents (regular season only)

4.      Records against common non-Conference opponents (including tournaments)

5.      A play-off match between two tied teams will be held.

6.      Both teams will be considered Conference Champions.

 

In case of a three way tie, the above criteria (#1-5), will be used to determine seeding for the Regional Tournament.  The play-off among the three tied teams will be done as follows:

 

1.      A series of coin tosses will determine a bye for one team, the other two teams will play a match, and the winning team will advance to play the team with the bye.(NOTE: Instead of a coin toss, use Concorde’s guidance of: The greater margin of victory in individual matches between the two contenders. I interpret that to mean (a) number of matches won/lost or matches percentage, and if still tied, followed by (b) individual games won/lost for a games percentage)

2.      The winner of the next round will be the #1 seed for the Regional Tournament, and the second place team will be the # 2 seed and 3rd place team the 3 seed.

3.      All three teams will be considered Conference Champions and advance to regionals.

 

 

Individual (Singles/Doubles) Tournament:

 

            A conference tournament for singles and doubles will be played at the conclusion of the regular season to determine individual singles and doubles representatives to the Northern Regional Tournament.  The Conference Tournament director will schedule a seeding meeting for the following purposes:

 

1.                  Distribution of the rules, sites, and times for the tournament.

2.                  Each coach declaring the 2 singles players and 2 doubles teams to participate in the tournament.

3.                  In order to participate in the Conference Singles/Doubles Tournament, individual players must have played in at least 50% of the regular season matches, or have been injured and unable to participate certifiable by the player’s Director of Student Activities.  In addition, the athlete must have clearance by the school’s athletic trainer to resume play.

4.                  To break a tie for Conference Tournament Seeding in singles and doubles, the procedure will be

                                                              i.      First:                head to head competition at that position

Second:           record against conference opponents at that position

Third               the greater margin of game victories at that position

                        head to head

Fourth:                        flip a coin

 

 

5.                  The top 8 singles and doubles seeding will be based on consensus of the coaches.  The remaining singles and doubles players will be placed in the draw randomly. The only stipulation is that no two players from the same school will play one another in the first round.

6.                  The first two rounds of the singles/doubles tournaments will be 10 game pro-sets.  The semi-finals and finals will be 2 of  3 sets.

7.                  All conference tournament matches are to be scheduled so students miss a minimum of class time.

8.                  At the conference tournament, the tournament director and coaches will give penalties to any player who violates Liberty Conference VHSL equipment and language abuse rules.

 

Selection of the All Conference Team:

 

            At the annual seeding meeting for the Liberty Conference Tournament, the conference coaches will select the All Conference Team.  The All Conference Team will be announced by the tournament director just prior to the beginning of the first round of the tournament doubles matches.  Local media will be informed of the selections.  The team will be composed of 12-15 players based on the following guidelines:

 

1.      Six players will be chosen for the 6 singles positions and 6 players will be chosen for the 3 doubles teams based upon the records compiled during the regular season play.  These players will be the ones who compiled the best records at those positions.  In order to be eligible for consideration in this category, a player must have participated in at least one half of the regular season conference matches at that position.  The player with the best winning percentage subject to the match participation restriction will be named as the All Conference player.

2.       After number one has been completed, coaches may nominate additional players to the second team and honorable mention based upon their personal performance.  A vote by the coaches will be taken after all nominations have been submitted with the players receiving the most votes being selected to the All Conference Team

3.       A Conference Coach of the Year will be selected by secret ballots of the coaches.

 

 

Liberty Conference Pre-Match Welcome:

 

The following should be read, by the home coach, for each Liberty conference tennis match:

 

A.                Welcome to ________________________ High School.

B.                 We will be playing a ten game pro-set with standard scoring.  A seven of twelve point tie-breaker will decide the match if the score reaches ten to ten in games.

C.                 The server is to call out the score before each point and at the start of each game the server is to call out the match score.

D.                Players are to use hand signals with every “in” or “out” call

E.                 Any disagreements between players shall be resolved at the net.

F.                  A player may only leave the court for an emergency restroom break or for a change in tennis equipment.

G.                At the changeover, players are allowed 90 seconds before the next service, to change sides, drink fluids, and talk with a contracted coach.

H.                Players are requested to call a “let” as soon as a stray ball comes onto either side of the court.  This is a courtesy and safety call for all players.

I.                   The warm-up period lasts for ten minutes with as 5-minute warning.  The match begins immediately after the 10-minute warm-up.

J.                   Sportsmanship:

A player shall not display unsportsmanlike conduct such as but not limited to, throwing/abusing equipment; hitting a ball in the direction of an opponent, official, or spectator; using profane or obscene language in any way that may be heard by other persons, using obscene gestures; or threatening bodily injury. (see USTA Code Violations)

Penalty:

a.                   First offense:  Loss of point

b.                  Second offense:  Forfeit game in progress or one game from total accumulated by the offender

c.                   Third offense-Disqualification from the match and disqualified from doubles play if the offense occurs during singles(this applies to the team tournament as well as the singles/doubles tournament).

K.                Each player is required to report the final score to her/his coach.  The host

team player is responsible for clearing the courts of the three balls and return    the balls to the coach.

 

 

 

 

 

Good Luck to both teams…….and now for the line-ups: (Read both the singles and doubles line-ups)