MONTGOMERYSHIRE TENNIS LEAGUE RULES

Amendments and new rules are in bold.

1.          Montgomeryshire Tennis League will be divided into Men’s, Ladies’ and Mixed

Doubles’  leagues with the number of divisions within each to be at the discretion of

the committee.

1.1           Fixtures within each Division shall be fixed at the discretion of the committee.

1.2           The number of teams to be promoted and relegated in any season will be at the

discretion of the committee but generally (and dependent upon the number of teams

entered the following season) a single team will be promoted or relegated if there are

six teams or fewer in a particular Division and two teams should be promoted or

relegated if there are seven teams or more in a Division.

2              Teams to consist of 4 players – male in men’s divisions and female in ladies’         

             divisions.  Players in MTL must be paid-up members of their own clubs for the current

             season.

2.1           Match to consist of 4 doubles events.

2.2           Each event to be 2 sets.   Tie-breaker introduced at 6-6 in all sets if required.

2.3           A team shall be awarded one point for each set won during a match.  In the

event that a set cannot be completed or played due to poor light or adverse

weather conditions then the points for that set shall be divided equally between

the two teams provided that 4 sets or more have already been completed.  If

fewer that 4 sets have been completed in a match due to poor light or adverse weather conditions then the match shall be replayed in accordance with 6.1

below.  The decision as to what amounts to poor light or adverse weather conditions shall be at the discretion of the team captains.

2.4           If a match remains unplayed at the end of the season points must not be

allocated equally between the teams but must be allocated in accordance with the rules herein.

3.          Any event that cannot be completed or played due to injury or late arrival (over 15

      minutes late) then the pair responsible will concede the full point to the opponents

      unless otherwise agreed.

4.          In the event of any player arriving more than 45 minutes late for any fixture then

       the team for whom the player appears shall forfeit all 8 points.

4.1        In the event of any player arriving between 20 minutes and 45 minutes late then

             the pair for whom the player appears shall forfeit a point and the number of      

             sets played by that pair shall be reduced to 3.

5.          Home team to confirm match and starting time, and to forward scorecard to the

       Results Secretary within three days of match.  (Please confirm at least 48 hours prior

       to date in the fixture book.)

6.          Postponement of the match is allowed only if the match cannot be played because of

       adverse weather conditions or if both captains agree.

6.1        To re-arrange a match the Home team captain must offer a choice of two dates

             excluding the dates of previously arranged matches in the Montgomeryshire Tennis

             League.  The opposition must accept one of these dates.

7.         Teams can bring forward a match if both captains so wish.   Venues may be reversed.

8.          A player may play for one club only in a season in a league.  Transfers to be allowed

      at the discretion of the committee.

8.1        A player may step up only to play a maximum of three matches.  ‘Stepping up’ will

             be determined in accordance with the final placings from the previous season --

             promoted teams to take precedence over relegated teams.

8.2        If a team plays an ineligible player in a match then that team will concede all 8 points.

9.          League to commence in April and end by the 30^th September.

10.        League winners will be the team with the greater number of points.  If equal on points

       then the greater number of wins.  If equal on wins, the most drawn matches.  If still

             equal then teams must play off to decide winner.

11.        The committee may expel or suspend for such period as they deem necessary from

             Montgomeryshire Tennis League any player whose conduct is, in its opinion, injurious

             To the character or the interests of the League.

11.1        Before a player is expelled the player’s conduct must be inquired into by the    

Committee and the player must be given full opportunity to defend themselves

             and to justify or explain their conduct.

11.2      If the majority of the committee present when the matter is inquired into are of the

             opinion that the player has been guilty of such conduct and has failed to justify or

             explain it satisfactorily, the committee must call on the player to resign and if the

             player does not resign they must expel him or her.

12.        In the event that a team fails to complete at least half of its matches (other

             than where matches have been postponed for reasons of adverse weather

             or with the agreement of the other team) than that team may immediately

             be expelled from their division and that team’s results shall be excluded

             when calculating League tables.  The Committee reserve the discretion to

             relegate that team to the bottom division of the League for the forthcoming

             season.  In addition, persistent breaches of this rule may result in the

             Committee refusing to accept a team’s entry to the League in subsequent

             seasons.

                                                                                    Revised 25^th November 2009