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Rules and Regulations

Important or useful to know
This information is applicable to all the leagues (use the links on the right to jump back to your league)

Matches are self-umpired and should be conducted in the spirit of fair play. Disputes will be settled by an impartial third party - but we hope there won't be any.

Important: No one at this site or connected with the League can take responsibility for the safety or security of players whether playing on the courts or in the facilities associated with the leagues, or elsewhere. Players compete at their own risk and are solely responsible for court hire, tennis ball provision etc.

Balls and courts

Courts: Please share the cost of the courts, and allow for two hours of play. We expect most matches to be played on your league's home courts, but if both players agree matches can be played at any appropriate venue and on any surface.

Balls: Balls must be of a good quality if not new and both parties should provide a set. Either party has the right to object to poor balls (prior to the match). If the balls are objected to, and no alternatives can be found, the match must be re-scheduled. In this case the challenged player pays for courts and balls and takes responsibility for making the booking.

Look out for tennis ball offers on this site!

What if?

If it rains before the match starts, the whole match must be re-scheduled

If it rains during the match... either player may decide to call a halt to the match, but the match must still be completed. Matches should be re-started with whatever the score was when play stopped. Players must share any additional court fee. If re-scheduling becomes impossible, the score can be reported as final if both parties agree

If before the match one player feels the court condition too slippery, or otherwise unsafe, they have the absolute right to ask for a postponement

If a player retires injured, unwell or for any other reason, he or she loses the match - it cannot be re-played. The player who could have continued (the winner) will receive two points. If the injured player has won a set he or she receives 1 point

If a player does not turn up at the agreed time, or is more than half an hour late, he or she forfeits the match. His or her opponent receives 2 points. The cost of the court should be shared in the normal way.

If a player wants to reschedule a match he or she must give his or her opponent a minimum of 24 hours notice. If a court cost is incurred the player who postponed the match is solely responsible for the cost of the unused court (subsequent court costs are split in the normal way). If less than 24 hours notice is given, the match may be recorded as a walkover in favour of the opponent and points awarded, although it is still preferable to play the match if possible.

If one or other player simply decides they don't want to play a match they can not offer a walkover to the other. That is, for points to be awarded a match has to be scheduled and played. 

Players may not agree to play their match after the round has ended. Though it seems harsh, to be fair to all players, the cut off point for play (and for the result to count) has to be observed

If a player wins a match through a walkover they receive two points for a win, but walkovers do not count to bonus points. For bonus points to be awarded, matches must be played and completed.

Scoring rules

  • Matches will be the best of three tie-break sets (except at Golden Lane and Regents Park in London - see sites)
  • The winner of each set wins 1 point
  • An additional two points will be awarded to players who have completed three of their matches by the half way point. This is to encourage everyone to get on with it!
  • Players who have paid their subscription fee will also get a FREE set of balls for completing three matches by the mid way point.
  • The player with the most number of points at the end wins their group.
  • In cases of two or more players with the same number of points, the player who beat the other during that round wins. (If the two players did not meet in the round, a winner will be decided according to the following method: first, after the deduction of points for walkover wins; second [if still a tie] by the deduction of bonus points; third [if still a tie] by the player who conceded the fewest sets; finally [if still a tie] by the player who conceded the fewest games. If still no winner can be found, the round is tied.)
  • Where possible, the top one (or two) players in each league will be promoted to the league above (if there is one). Similarly, the bottom one (or two) players will be relegated.
     

The more proactive you are, the more likely you are to get your matches in! Email your opponents straight away, reply to their emails (even if it is to say you can't play) and don't be afraid to phone.

Click here for some more guidance on how to set up matches 

Court etiquette
Follow a few simple tips and matches become less stressful and more fun:
  • You call the balls on your side of the court 
  • If you are uncertain, your opponent gets the benefit of the doubt and the ball is in
  • Don't replay a point unless play has been interrupted by a third party
  • The server keeps score
  • Don't invade neighbouring courts 
  • Don't lose your cool
  • Don't be frightening

There's more on this topic here

Reporting matches
Winners report matches. Please email Sally at the email address given on the inividual league pages. 

The correct format in which to report matches is:
Roger Federer bt Novak Djokovic (August 23) 6-1, 7-5

If it's a tie break,you write it like this:
7-6 (9-7) with the score in the tie break in brackets

Tiebreaks
Need to know how to play a tiebreak? Click here.