North Somerset Tennis League Rules

1. The league shall be known as North Somerset Tennis League.

2. The management of the League shall be vested in the Management Committee consisting of the Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and three elected members.

3. The Management Committee shall be convened by the secretary and will meet whenever necessary to ensure the smooth running of the League.

4. Subscriptions shall be £5 per team in both Winter and Summer Leagues, payable in full at the A.G.M. of the League. Subscriptions not paid by 1^st January may be trebled at the discretion of the Management Committee.

5. Each team shall consist of two pairs. Matches in the Summer League to consist of four rubbers, each pair to play both pairs of the opposing team. Winter League matches to comprise a Ladies Doubles, Mens Doubles and two Mixed Doubles.

6. Rubbers shall be the best of three sets. Standard L.T.A tie-break in operation in all three sets at 6 all.

7. Scoring – 1 point per set – 2 points per match. If a match is level on rubbers, the winner to be the team with most sets. If level on sets, the team with most games. If still level, the match points to be split one to each team.

8. Where teams are level on points, final league positions including promotion and relegation to be decided by the number of matches won. If matches are level, then by rubbers, then sets, and if necessary by games differential. Teams to play off only if level in all aspects.

9. Summer League matches shall start at 6.30 p.m. prompt. Winter League start time by arrangement. If a pair is not ready 30 minutes after a scheduled start, they shall lose the first rubber, the score being 6-0, 6-0. if a team can only provide one pair (or three players in the Winter League), then they play and concede the first two rubbers 6-0, 6-0, this preferably with prior notification to the other club, and only on a maximum of two occasions. If the second pair has not arrived and are ready to play by 8.00 p.m. (Summer) or 90 minutes after the scheduled start time (Winter), the second rubber will be conceded.

10. Men’s matches shall be played on Mondays; Ladies matches shall be played on Tuesdays. Winter League matches by prior arrangement between clubs.

11. Matches to be postponed only because of bad weather conditions or because the courts are unfit to play. Postponed matches must be played within 14 days of the original fixture at the convenience of the home club. This applies to all subsequent postponements. A new date for a postponed Winter League match should be fixed, although not necessarily played, within 14 days of the original fixture and the League Secretary notified. If a club cannot field a side on an agreed date, the match shall be forfeited 10-0. The home club should send in a Result Card in the normal way, recording that the match was conceded or a walkover. All Winter League matches to be completed by 31^st March. Clubs should aim to play five matches by 31^st December.

12. In the event of abandoning a match, the match shall continue at the point of abandonment. The same pairs need not be used. No player may take part in more than two rubbers in any one match or play against the same opponent in more than one rubber. The abandoned match must be rearranged and played within 14 days, the home side to offer two dates. This applies to all subsequent postponements.

13. The Home Captain shall be the sole judge of the fitness of the courts. In the event of an appeal against bad weather or light when a match is in progress, the Home Captain is the sole judge.

14. The home team will stage the match and will provide eight new balls of the current year’s manufacture.

15. Summer and Winter League results to be sent by home clubs within 24 hours by First Class Mail.

16. Players who have represented their clubs three times in a higher team may not subsequently play in a lower team that season. Any rubber involved with an ineligible player shall be forfeited 6-0,6-0 and the match points adjusted accordingly. If the rubber is lost the club shall be deducted two points.

17. Clubs should ensure that higher prefix teams take priority over lower ones. If a club concedes, or fields an incomplete team, without just cause, when lower prefix teams play, the team conceding will be withdrawn from the league and all its results to that date will be deleted. However, any team that concedes a match during the season, without just cause, will be removed from the League.

18. A player may only represent one club in a season and must be a fully paid up member. Where a club has more than one team each team shall be given a suffix. The higher team shall be given the higher suffix.

19. At the end of each season the bottom two teams in each division shall be relegated and the top two teams promoted.

20. The Annual General Meeting shall be held in September and 21 clear days notice shall be given by the Secretary. At the meeting one member of each club in the league shall be allowed one vote.

1. The drawing up of the fixture list will be the responsibility of the League Secretary. Winter League fixtures to be fixed by the clubs on mutually agreed dates. The League Secretary must be notified of all Winter League fixtures by 31^st October.

2. All teams must confirm membership in writing 7 days prior to the A.G.M. and new teams wishing to apply for membership must also apply in writing 7 days prior to the A.G.M. at which meeting a vote will be taken. Winter League contacts must be submitted to the Secretary in writing 7 days prior to the A.G.M. together with confirmation of the number of teams entering.

3. The League Secretary’s duties to be on a rota basis. A club failing to comply will be expelled from the league and the next named club will undertake the duties. Any club so expelled may re-apply for membership but must fill the position of Secretary in their first year of re-election.

Wrington 2007/8, Priory 2008/9, Congresbury 2009/10, Winscombe 2010/11, Clevedon 2011/12, Wedmore 2012/13, Weston 2013/14.