For the previous few Wednesdays, we have been reviewing the USTA guidelines and rules for tennis gamers who compete in multiple native league. To this point, now we have tracked down from Nationwide to Division stage. This submit begins at USTA League Guidelines that apply regionally to gamers competing on a number of groups inside the identical division below a single venue supplier. Since I’m very acquainted with the rule books the place I stay, we’ll proceed to look at some examples from the Dallas Tennis Affiliation (DTA) and the Better Fort Price Tennis Coalition (GFWTC). You do not have to dig too far into the respective rule books of the 2 USTA Leagues to search out that each venues are nice with gamers competing in multiple league. In any case, that doubles their enrollment, making more cash.
A participant might play for multiple membership inside a division* on the identical NTRP stage so long as they’re in numerous native leagues.
DTA League Regulation 4C.
Gamers can play for a number of groups on the identical stage so long as they’re on completely different days.
GFWTC League Regulation 5A.
Final week’s submit, “What’s a Native League?” look at the which means of that phrase on the nationwide stage. Sadly, neither the DTA nor the GFWTC rule books clearly outline what they imply after they use the time period “native league.” Moreover, my cautious studying of these rule books offers me the impression that the authors had been working with barely completely different definitions (albeit unpublished) from these within the USTA Nationwide League Rules. Nonetheless, I’ve seen the wording of the GFWTC on this part, which fully avoids this time period and easily states that gamers can play in a number of groups on the identical stage so long as it’s on completely different days.
I attempted to nail down the DTA-specific definition of “native league” final weekend. Within the course of, the DTA league coordinator was very sort in answering my questions looking for clarification on what the phrase clearly means inside the affiliation’s guidelines. The end result of that dialogue is greatest summed up as “advanced.” Nonetheless, there was one helpful consequence of that dialogue, as I obtained a revelation as to why TennisLink’s know-how implementation has created a de facto operational definition. I shall be choosing up that sequence within the coming weeks.
A “double dipping” participant might advance to the event playoffs on multiple group. In reality, that occurs very often. Not surprisingly, the native main league organizations have guidelines to assist resolve that. For instance, the DTA guidelines comprise an umbrella assertion that may be interpreted to use to event playoffs at each the native and Sectional ranges.
It’s the captain’s job to know if they’ve gamers who’re eligible to play within the championship for multiple group in the identical division**. A participant who shall be attending Sectionals with a group from one other native league isn’t eligible to take part within the USTA Dallas playoffs in the identical division.
DTA League Regulation 4D.
One very fascinating factor concerning the DTA rule 4D is that it places the onus on the captain to know the standing of all their gamers for the playoffs. Nonetheless, as I defined earlier in “USTA Wild West Regional Affiliation Guidelines and Rules,” the penalties related to the violation are positioned on the participant somewhat than the captain.
Whereas checking the corresponding regulation inside the GFWTC rulebook for this submit, I discovered that it accommodates that error.
If gamers are taking part in in a two-team league, they need to select which group is the primary group and play in that group’s playoffs. Gamers are accountable to the group/captain to tell the captain if they’re taking part in in multiple group and which group is taken into account major.
GFWTC League Regulation 5D
I am 100% positive that the sentence ought to begin with “If a participant performs for 2 groups in the identical division, he ought to select which group is the primary group. A participant can not compete for 2 groups competing in one other two-team league. One other absurd method the wording may be interpreted is that if a double dipper performs for 2 groups in the identical division, they are going to ONLY be accountable for declaring their major group if a kind of leagues has two groups. Clearly that isn’t the intention.
One other fascinating factor concerning the Fort Price rule, as soon as the wording is fastened, is that it may fairly apply to gamers competing in one other native league. Due to this fact, if a participant competes within the Fort Price native leagues and every other native league, he could also be required to make a house group declaration between the 2 leagues, even when the opposite doesn’t require it. Courtesy would appear to compel gamers to tell their captain of your availability or absence throughout play, even with out this particular rule on the books. The truth that such a regulation exists is a tragic commentary on the state of habits in native teams.
Simply because the definitions and interpretations of the time period “native unit” are broadly ambiguous inside these explicit legal guidelines, analyzing the mechanics and particulars of the primary occasion’s declaration reveals comparable points. Subsequent Wednesday, I’ll go deeper into what these organizations have on the document relating to major group bulletins. That shall be adopted by a submit concerning the technical underpinnings of the de facto definition of “native league.” Lastly, I will get to the promised submit about “planes.” It is a good time to remind everybody that “overthinking” is the hallmark of this website.
If anybody has different fascinating examples of native legal guidelines relating to “double dipping” and main occasion declarations on the native stage, I might be very inquisitive about tips to these sources. It happens to me that this can be the case of two massive cities with completely different areas. In different phrases, all of this can be completely different in my space.
- 2025 GFWTC League Rules: Captain’s and Gamers’ Handbook, seen December 10, 2024.
- USTA Dallas Native League Guidelines & Rules, USTA Championship 12 months 2025, seen November 16, 2024.
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