2014 USTA Tennessee Jr. Team Tennis Championships Championship Manual & Event Fact Sheet July 25th-27th, 2014 Chattanooga, TN Mission Statement The USTA Jr. Team Tennis program emphasizes fun, fitness, and friends. The focus in this program is enjoying the exhilaration of exercise and refining the skills that make tennis fun for players of all ages and levels of competition. All participants play on a team, practice with friends, and play matches together. The 10 & U, 12 & U, 14 & U and 18 & U teams at both Intermediate and Advanced have the opportunity to advance to Section competition. Winners in the 14 & U and 18 & U Intermediate and Advanced divisions at Sectionals may qualify for the National Championships. There is an 8 & U division. Teams must qualify locally to advance to the Tennessee Championship. Currently, there is no Sectional or National Championships for this level. **NEW** This year we have added a 12 & U Beginner Green Dot division to our state championships. Teams must qualify locally to advance to the Tennessee Championship. Currently, there is no Sectional or National Championships for this level. Tournament Format The format may change after the registration deadline depending on the total number of teams in each given division. Final confirmation of the tournament format will be provided for each division after the registration deadline. The anticipated format will be one complete round robin rotation within a flight. The flight winners will play for the Championship. If multiple flights are not needed, then one complete round robin rotation will determine the champion based on cumulative games won unless alternative scoring/criteria are needed due to circumstances outside the tournament committee’s control. Disputes concerning a match or player involved in a match must be made by the Coach no later than 30 minutes after the completed match scores are given to the tournament desk. After this 30-minute period, all results are final. Questions concerning rules and regulations should be addressed to the Tournament Director. If an immediate ruling is not possible, the Tournament Committee will render a decision.  The 2014 USTA Tennessee Jr. Team Tennis Championships consists of qualifying teams from the local leagues throughout the State. The tournament offers the following divisions: o Intermediate and advanced levels in:  8 & Under  10 & Under  12 & Under  14 & Under  18 & Under o Beginner levels in:  12 & Under  The tournament date is July 25-27th, 2014 and will be played in Chattanooga, TN  Sites used for tournament play are o Championships Club: 1096 Lupton Drive, Chattanooga, TN 37415  Tournament Stringer will be based out of this site  Tournament Trainer:  Garrett McLaughlin: Licensed Athletic Trainer  Cell Phone: 734-604-4197  Email: [email protected] o Rivermont: 3400 Lupton Drive, Chattanooga, TN 37415 o UTC- University of Tennessee at Chattanooga: 615 McCallie Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37403 o GPS- Girls Preparatory School: 205 Island Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37405 o The McCallie School: 500 Dodds Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37404  Warm-up courts available on a first come first serve basis to Jr. Team Tennis teams o Warner Park: 1100 McCallie Avenue, Chattanooga, TN 37404 (9 courts) o Brainerd Park: 1010 North Moore Rd., Chattanooga, TN 37411 (11 courts)  Player Fun o Player’s Party: Chattanooga Lookouts Baseball Game  Date: Friday, July 25th 2014  Time: Gates open at 6:30pm  First pitch is at 7:15pm  TEAM RSVP: http://form.jotform.us/form/41464551624150 o Team Pic General Guidelines o All players MUST be able to serve overhead or underhand, taking the ball in the air prior to it bouncing, to begin a point. Dropping serving WILL NOT be allowed. o All players MUST be able to keep score and call lines for themselves.  o o o o o There WILL NOT be court monitors for every court in the 8U and none for all other divisions. Certified officials will be roving and available for assistance with issues of rules. The player should go to their captain first and issues try be resolved by captains before asking for an official. ALL players in the 12s, 14s, and 18s should be able to keep score of a 7 pt. and 10 pt tiebreaker. Players in the 10s need to be able to keep score in a 7 pt tie break. Officials will assist, but will NOT be available for every court. Parents are NOT to go on the court. Parents are not to assist in the calling of score or lines. If they do, the team may be subject to penalties.  8 & Under-Intermediate Divisions o Minimum number of players: 3 players (non-gender specific) o Match Format: 3 singles matches o Scoring: 2 out of 3, 7-point tiebreak games, win by 1 o Balls  8 & Under: Red low compression o Each Player has to have a three match history documented in Tennis Link o No further advancement opportunities  10,12,14 and 18 & Under- Intermediate and Advanced Divisions and 12 & Under Beginner division o Minimum number of players: 3 boys and 3 girls o The scoring format may change at the tournament director’s discretion due to inclement weather. o Match Format: 1 Boys Singles, 1 Girls Singles, 1 Boys doubles, 1 Girls Doubles and 1 Mixed Doubles o Scoring:  10 & Under: Best 2 out of 3 short sets to 4 games. An additional service game will be played at 3 games all; 7 point tie break is played for the 3rd set (win by 1)  12, 14, 18 & Under: Best 2 out of 3 short sets to 4 games. A 7 point tie break will be played at 3 games all (win by 1); 10 point tie break played for the 3rd set (win by 1) o All players must be registered in the Tennis Link system and show a 3 team match history (one can be a default) o The substitution rule allows teams to add one boy and/or one girl to their team roster in order to meet the minimum requirement of 3 boys and 3 girls to be eligible to advance to Championship events. Any substitutions must be submitted to and approved prior to the championship o Each team must have a minimum of three (3) boys and three (3) girls to participate in each and every individual team match. A maximum number of one (1) boy and one (1) girl may play two (2) individual matches within a team match. In addition, players may o o o not play a second match within a team match until all members of the same gender have also played two matches within a team match. Players must remain age eligible through August 31st of the Championships year to be eligible for advancement opportunities to State, Southern, and National Championships. Players with a sectional (12-18’s standings 1-300 and 10 standings 1-100) standing in any age group as of July 31, 2012 must enter at the advanced level (NTRP 3.5 & above). Balls  10 & Under: Orange Ball  12U Beginner: Green Dot Ball  12, 14 & 18 & Under: Regular tennis ball  Competition o Teams will participate in a non-elimination round-robin format with playoff crossovers if applicable. Teams will be separated into flights/divisions depending on the size of the championship event. The winner of each flight/division will be determined by total games won. If there is an uneven # of flights in the non-elimination round robin, then the team in 2nd place with the highest wins/losses will advance to the championship play-off. The tournament committee reserves the right to change the play-off draw should two teams from the same round robin flight be set to play one another. o The winner of each pool will be determined by total number of games won. o In case of a tie between two or more teams at the conclusion of the round-robin, the tiebreak criteria will be the following:  If two teams are tied, head-to-head results  If three or more teams are tied: the least number of sets lost, then the least number of games lost, then finally, a spin of the racquet o Championship/Playoff Match Tiebreak:  In the event that team scores are ties at the completion of a championship or playoff match, the teams will play a mixed doubles, 10 point match tiebreak to determine the winner of the overall match. Players for the mixed doubles may be selected when the tie occurs. The tournament committee reserves the right to switch teams in the play-off brackets, so that teams that competed in the initial pool of play are not playing again in the first play-off match.  8 & Under: In the event that team scores are tied at the completion of a championship or playoff match, the teams will play a 10-point match tiebreak to determine the winner of the overall match.  Order of Play o The order of play shall be Boys’ and Girls’ Singles, Boys’ and Girls’ Doubles, and then Mixed Doubles. o Line-ups for each team match are due at the tournament desk 30 minutes prior to scheduled match times. o o A pink slip must accompany your roster and must be signed prior to every match by the site personnel.  Only one girl and/or only one boy may participate in up to two individual matches per team match.  Captains must submit a Playing Twice Form (Pink Slip) to the tournament desk to record players who are doubling-up in a team match.  In no event may one player play in three individual matches. Coaching (only permitted from Coaches with the tournament credential) is allowed from outside the fence on changeovers only. Coaching is not allowed at any other time. Interference from other parties, including parents, is not permitted.  Player Verification o Players will be subjected to the Tennislink exception report to verify they have the required local league 3- team match history, meet age requirements, and team composition. All participants must be age eligible for their division of play through August 31, 2014.  Coach/Captain o The designated coach/captain may report infractions to the Official, who shall then take appropriate action. o Coaching is only permitted by the designated team coach from outside the fence and only on changeovers and set breaks.  Captain conference calls: o There will be two mandatory conference calls (Captain must attend 1 out of the 2) prior to the state championships:  Tuesday, July 22nd @ 7:00pm Eastern rd  Wednesday, July 23 @ 7:00pm Eastern  US Toll Number: (712) 432-1212  Meeting ID: 152-097-358  At the scheduled date and time of the meeting, dial into the conference line. When prompted, enter the meeting ID, followed by the pound key.  Registration: o All teams must register on Tennis Link with the registration number given by their Local League Coordinator or State Coordinator. o All teams must meet the eligibility requirements. o Deadline: July 15th, 2014 11:59pm Eastern o Coaches are required to turn in ALL required forms by July 15th deadline via mail, fax, email or jot form.  Forms required by July 15th  Player Roster  Coaches Waiver    Player’s combined consent form Coaches Concussion policy form and Player/Parent Concussion policy form Player’s Party RSVP  Forms are accepted by mail, email or fax: o 1029 17th Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37212 o [email protected] o 615-953-1698, Attn: Tara Williams  Fees o o $40 per player + $3.50 TennisLink processing fee $150 Team Deposit: Team deposit will not be processed unless in the event the team does not show up to the tournament after registering and/or withdraws from the tournament prior to completion of play.  Website: Tennessee Jr. Team Tennis Championships Website  All players attending the 2014 USTA Tennessee Jr. Team tennis Championships will receive: o Tournament T-Shirt o Goody Bag o Local area coupons o Team members on the champion and finalist teams from each division will receive individual gifts. o Team Captains from each team may vote to help determine the recipients of the Sportsmanship awards (boy and girl). o Awards ceremony will immediately follow final round matches. Advancement to Sectional Championships:  Winners of the Intermediate and Advanced Divisions of State Championships 10U, 12U, 14U, and 18U will advance to the USTA Southern Section JTT Championship August 15-17 in Cayce, SC.  State League Coordinator must receive a confirmation accepting or declining the invitation no later than Monday, August 4th.  In the event that the first place team declines the trip, the runner up will be extended the invitation.  Any wildcards to the Sectional JTT Championships will be offered to the next highest finishing teams. USTA Tennessee State Championships are held for the following divisions: 8 & Under Intermediate, 8 & Under Advanced 10 & Under Intermediate, 10 & Under Advanced 12 & Under Beginner, 12 & Under Intermediate, 12 & Under Advanced 14 & Under Intermediate, 14 & Under Advanced 18 & Under Intermediate, 18 & Under Advanced Sectional Championships are held for the following divisions: 10 & Under Intermediate, 10 & Under Advanced 12 & Under Intermediate, 12 & Under Advanced 14 & Under Intermediate, 14 & Under Advanced 18 & Under Intermediate, 18 & Under Advanced National Championships are held for the following divisions: 14 & Under Intermediate, 14 & Under Advanced 18 & Under Intermediate, 18 & Under Advance