TENNIS GUIDE 2024
Dates
Individual Singles and Doubles (Fri-Sun)
May 30-June 1
Scoring
The tennis guidelines are for tennis team regular season, team championships, and the Individual singles and doubles championships. Vermont schools are to use the 5-2 format for all divisions. Game scoring will use No-Ad, (at 40-40 deuce, one point will be played to decide the game). The receiving player will have the choice of court in which to receive. Set scores will be 2 out of 3. For the third set, a match breaker (tiebreaker to 10), will be used in determining the winner. All scoring is team scoring.
Note – All schools must submit their match line-up cards for every match to Tim Albertson, timothy.albertson@lamoillesouth.org
The VPA point index system will be used for determining state championship tournament draw seeding.
Facilities
Regular Season/Tournament- If a coach deems a playing surface to be unsafe at the time of the match, the court will not be used.
Schools must have a minimum of 3 courts in order to host a match.
If during the regular season a school has questions/concerns about the playing surface of a court(s), this should be referred to the Tennis Committee immediately.
Sportsmanship
There will be no tolerance for negative statements or actions between opposing players or spectators and players, especially trash talking, taunting, or baiting of opponents. If such comments are heard, a point penalty will be assessed immediately. In addition, unreasonable delays between points (25 seconds), game changeovers (60 seconds), or disruptive behavior will also result in a point penalty.
Player, ball, racquet, or language abuse will not be tolerated. All line calls and scoring will be made by players themselves without interjection by coaches, other players, or spectators. First offense is a point, the second offense is a match penalty. It is the responsibility of either coach to immediately assess penalties.
Any match disqualification will result in a two game suspension for the player. This penalty would result in the team line up being filled from the bottom up during the suspension. This would follow the VPA’s guidelines for disqualifications. Adopted 2023
Unsportsmanlike conduct may result in disqualification with a team point awarded to the opponent.
The home team coach or designated site supervisor is responsible for event crowd control.
Proper tennis/team attire is required.
All cell phones on court are required to be turned off. Failure to do so will result in a point penalty.
Spectator Behavior: Spectators shall not be viewing the match from the fenceline or encroaching on the fence. Fans shall not cheer or make noises during the point and may cheer after a point has finished, doing so with the understanding that other matches are in play in the near vicinity.
Coaching
Each team must be accompanied during the regular season by the team coach. During tournament season it is recommended that a school administrator or designee also be present. Coaching may occur inside the fence area, without disrupting play to nearby adjacent courts. Only one coach may be inside the fence area.
Coaching will be allowed during a match at the change of ends for only 60 seconds by a coach. Coaching is allowed on the first game in set changeover.
There is an optional two minute break at the completion of a set and coaching is allowed.
Only ONE coach may coach during a changeover (a tiebreaker is not a changeover).
An administrative/logistical correction during a match is not coaching (this does not include call corrections)
.
There will be no tolerance for unauthorized coaching (parents, players, teammates, or spectators) and will follow the same penalty structure (1st offense being a point penalty, 2nd offense being a match penalty), this will result in a removal from the event for the person in violation. VPA guidelines will be followed.
Host School will determine a respectful perimeter around the fence to discourage fans from standing directly next to the fence.
On Court Rules
General Team warm up times should be concluded to allow individual match participants to have full 10 minute warm-up.
It is expected that first matches will start at the scheduled time.
In the case of an injury or sickness occurring during the warm-up of a match and the player cannot continue: a player must be substituted in order of ability of the remaining players yet to start their matches (ie if 1,2,3 singles and 1,2 doubles has taken the court for their warm ups the substitute must come from the 4th singles player and the rest of the lineup will be bumped up). The match in question may also be considered a walkover (forfeited).
It is the coaches’ responsibility to keep matches moving along in an expedient manner.
Any “out or let” call must be made instantaneously (i.e. before either an opponent has the return or return has gone out of play). No call keeps the ball considered in play.
The server should announce the set score prior to each service game. The individual game score should be announced prior to each serve.
If players cannot agree on a score, they must go back to the last score agreed upon and resume play from that point.
Wait until players on another court have completed a point before retrieving or returning a ball, or leaving the court area.
VPA High School Athletics are an education based system, therefore should a coach need to assist with students-athletes with scoring or serving sides to ensure a fair match, it is permissible.
All other regular USTA rules apply USTA Guide
Line Up Rules
Format of Play is: 5 singles and 2 doubles. Each player may only play once during a match.
The order of the Line Up must reflect strength in level and ability of play in your singles players, and doubles teams.
The Home Team calls the order of individual match play for the Team contest. At least one doubles match must go on in the first round.
Player Substitution: In the event of a missing player, all singles players must move up to maintain the integrity of the Line Up.
Example:
If you are missing a player in the number 1 to 5 singles, you must move up the ladder in order. For Example: if your #2 singles is sick, then your #3 moves to 2, #4 moves to 3, and #5 moves to 4.
What you can do in the #5 singles open spot:
Incomplete Line Up for Season:
Protocol for Match in Progress Postponement:
Tournament Guidelines
Vermont Principals’ Association
Boys and Girls Interscholastic Singles/Doubles State Tennis Championships
Purpose: This event is for Vermont’s top high school players, giving them an opportunity to compete individually for the 2024 singles and doubles state title. There will be no New England Championships this year.
Dates:
Singles and Doubles: Entries must follow the same team roster as presented to the VPA office. Each team throughout Vermont may enter their top 2 singles players and additional players if the draw permits in the singles tournament. Each team throughout Vermont may enter one doubles and additional teams if entry in the draw permits. Team may consist of any players other than the #1 and #2 singles.
Scoring: Same as regular season
Awards: The top four singles players (losing semi-finalists playoff for spots 3 and 4) and top two doubles teams. In addition, awards will be given to the school of the singles state champion and the doubles state champion for placement in the schools trophy case.
Entry Deadline: Friday, May 19, 2023 by 11:00 pm. $20 late fee for entries accepted after the 11:00 pm deadline. Draws available by noon, May 24, 2023.
Cost of the Tournament is $30 single and $40 team. Note: Contingency plan for indoor court time. A one time payment of $10 per person/day fee if inclement weather forces the match indoors.
Sites/Director: Boys: Jerry Knickerbocker/Dave Sharkey (Leddy Park)
Girls: Errol Nattrass (Burlington Tennis Club)
Please Submit Payment directly to Meet Directors. Checks should be made out to: Jerry Knickerbocker (boys) and Burlington Tennis Club (girls)
Note:Payment is required BEFORE first match!
Contact Information:
Girls Tennis Scores
Boys Tennis Scores