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About the RIIL > Rules and Regulations > Article 27 Tennis

ARTICLE 27

TENNIS

BOYS AND GIRLS


 

Section 1. Rules

A.    1.    All matches will be played according to the USTA (Friend at Court) Rules, except for any RIIL Special Rules listed below.

        2.    All individuals and team match play will be the best of three (3) sets, boys play traditional scoring with a 12 point Common Tie Breaker, and girls play no ad scoring with a 12 point Common Tie Breaker. 

               Common Tie Breaker Procedure:  This requires the tiebreaker to be played with the players changing ends after the 1st point and thereafter every 4 points.

                a.    Cracks in Courts:  Any ball that hits a crack in the playing surface must be played, there are no Lets.

        3.    An athlete may participate on only one (1) tennis team during a school year.

       4.    Protests/complaints must be reported to the Director of Tennis immediately

 

B        
        1.    The RIIL, Director of Tennis, and the Tennis Sport Committee shall have the authority to establish as many divisions as necessary and shall establish the format for the State Championship Playoffs subject to approval of the Committee.

        2.    The sites for all tournaments will be decided by the Director of Tennis. All sites may be subject to change due to availability and weather conditions.

        3.    Match Rules

                     a. Team uniforms must be worn for all matches and tournaments.  Players will not be allowed to play if this is not followed.

               b.  All teams must have scoring devices, center straps and a minimum of four (4) courts.

               c.  In League matches, each team must supply at least two brand-new tennis balls per match.  Each singles player or  doubles team must bring a new can of balls to the qualifier and main draw, winner of match gets new can, lower gets used one.  In team tourneys, each team must bring seven (7) new cans of balls.

               d.  A Home Team representative must read the NFHS/RIIL Rule Card (White Card) before the start of the team match.

 

C.    LATENESS IN REGULAR MATCHES, INDIVIDUAL TOURNAMENTS AND PLAYOFFS

        1.    League Matches

               Per RIIL Rules and Regulations, all RIIL League scheduled matches are to be played – no forfeits are allowed (see Article 6, Section 10).

 

        2.    Individual Tourney

               The coach and player(s) are responsible for knowing the site and times of tournament matches.

The Coach and player(s) must be present 15 minutes prior to the posted start time as stated on the Interscholastic League website.  If the player is running late, the coach must call the Director/Designee as well as to the Coach/Athletic Director of the school to be played.

 

        Lateness for match penalties (page 3, FAC)

 5:00 minutes or less:             Loss of Toss, plus one game

5:01-10:00 minutes:               Loss of Toss, 2 games

10:00-15:00 minutes:             Loss of Toss, 3 games

More than 15 minutes:          Default

 

This rule will be enforced by the Tournament Director and/or Director of Tennis.  All communications will be to the Director of Tennis via the coaches.

 

3.    Team Tournaments

        A coach is responsible for knowing the site and times of all-tournament team matches.

        Coach and players should be present fifteen (15) minutes prior to the posted start time as stated on the RI Interscholastic League website.

        If a team is running late, the coach must call the Director/Designee as well as the coach and/or athletic director of the school to be played.

        All team tournament team matches are to be played.

 

  1. EACH SCHOOL MUST SUBMIT A RANKING OF ITS SINGLES PLAYERS AND DOUBLES TEAMS IN ORDER OF ABILITY PRIOR TO THE FIRST RIIL MATCH.  Failure to do so will result in a forfeit.  Re-ranking of players will be permitted during the season under these conditions:
  1. Pre-season rankings – To arrive at this Ladder, all returning Players are already ranked based upon where they were at the end of last year on the singles ladder.  New players can challenge at the placement the coach deems appropriate, based on their ability.
  2. Coaches are required to keep a log of ladder matches to verify any ranking changes.  The log is to be dated and signed by the players involved and the new ladder emailed to the Director of Tennis.
  3. A Single Player or Doubles Team can only move up or down one position on the ladder between League matches said change being based on a challenge match.
  4. No change of ranking is allowed when back-to-back matches take place.
  5. Each school must submit a ranking list before the start of the playoffs.  No change in this line-up will be allowed after the start of the playoffs.  RANKINGS WILL BE LOCKED.  THERE WILL BE NO MORE CHALLENGES.

 

  1. League Matches will consist of four (4) singles and three (3) double matches.  No Singles player may enter Doubles.
  1. Before play starts coaches will exchange a copy of the present team ladder with players arranged according to their known ability in Singles and Doubles.
  2. A coach MUST play the best 4 singles players and the best 3 doubles teams according to their ranked ability.  Any combination of players may be used in Doubles, provided that #1 has proven that it beats #2 and #2 beats #3 and #3 beats #4.
  3. In case of illness, injury or absence from a match, the coach must move their players up one rank i.e., two to one, three to two, four to three, five to four.  Doubles must be played in the same manner; again the best must play #1.
  4. If a team cannot provide sufficient players for a match, it will forfeit the third doubles match.

 

  1. Regular Season Matches
  1. Team scoring – The team winning four (4) of seven (7) matches will be the winner.   EXCEPTION:

If a team cannot supply a 3rd doubles team in regular season or playoffs, they will forfeit that match.  If both teams do not have a 3rd doubles team, there is a chance that the match could end in a tie.  If this should happen then the team that wins the most games will be declared the winner of the match.

  1. All matches must be completed.  By mutual agreement, coaches may waive this right. 

Exception:   If a Regular Season Match has been decided (a team has won 4 points) and it starts raining or darkness occurs, the match is over.  If the Regular Season Match has not been decided (a team has not won 4 points) and rain or darkness occur, the match must be completed at a later date.

  1. Super tie-breaker:  If the team match has been decided and remaining matches on court have split sets, a super tie-breaker should be played instead of the 3rd set.  If the score in the 3rd set is 1-1, 2-2, etc., the above should be played.  The winner of a super tie-breakers is the player who wins ten points and leads a by a margin of two points.  If the match is decided and the players are in the 1st set an 8 game pro-set should be played (tie breaker at 8 all).              

 

  1. Coaching:  When coaches may talk to players:
        1. Guidelines from USTA Rules - (coaching is considered to be communication, advice or instruction of any kind, audible or visible to a player.)  
      2. A coach may coach a player at any time during the match so long as they do not interfere with play, and also after the third game and any subsequent change over (rest period) they may coach for 1 minute.  At the end of each set they may coach for 1 minute and thirty seconds. 

Coaches allowed on Court – All Divisions

        Where coaches may coach:  A coach must site (or stand if the facilities dictate) near the net post.  A coach may change courts when his movements will not interrupt play.  Coaching is permitted outside the fence perimeter.  On an empty adjacent court, the coach may stand at the doubles sideline on the same side as his own player.   On the opponent’s side, he must remain at mid-court.  Coaches may coach within the lines of the Court only during a changeover or set break.

      This is to clarity the above Rule:  Use Common Sense.  Coaches must not change courts between 1st and 2nd serve, or between points and should do so only at the end of the game or a change-over, so as not to interrupt play.  In addition to the below mentioned places, coaches may stand in the space between courts inside the fence perimeter.

      1. If a coach cannot be at a match, an assistant coach, athletic director or principal are the only authorized personnel allowed to coach.  Spectator parents and players not on the court for their match – may not coach at any time.
      2. If a coach and assistant coach are present, they both may coach players, but not the same player at the same time.
      3. Head coaches should introduce their assistant at matches to avoid any problems that may occur with other coaches during the match.
      4. Guidelines for Spectators:  It is the coaches’ responsibility to remind spectators of the guidelines.

 

  1. Individual Tourney

 

  1. The Individual Tournament will be conducted under the direction of the Director of Tennis.
  2. The coach or a representative of the team MUST be present at the seeding meeting in order for their players to be placed in the draw.  If extenuating circumstances prevent the coach from being present at the meeting, they must contact the Director of Tennis ahead of time and provide a list of players they wish to be entered into the draw.  If the above is not followed, their player(s) will not be placed in the draw.
  3. In order to qualify for the individual tennis tournament, each student must participate in a minimum of three (3) League Matches prior to the individual tournament seeding meeting.

Note:  If an extenuating circumstance exists, the school Principal may request a waiver of the three (3) League match requirement through the RIIL office.

  1. Coaches who want to have a singles player or doubles team seeded MUST submit their names at the seeding meeting.  The names of all seeded players will be listed on draw sheets.  Seeded players must play or they will be defaulted.  Seeded players may not substitute for other seeded players or unseeded players.  Unseeded players may not substitute for seeded players, but may substitute for other unseeded players provided they are of lower ability.
  2. There will be a Division 1, 2 and 3.   Each Qualifying Tournament will be completed to the last round that is required. 
  3. No coaching in the Division 1 Singles and Doubles Qualifying Tourney.  No coaching until the round of 16 in the Division 2 and 3 singles.  In regard to Doubles, no coaching until the Quarterfinals of Division 2 and 3.
  4. A coach or a bona fide representative must be present at the Qualifier/and Main Draw for the players from their school to compete.
  5. The “round of 32” winners in Division 1, “round of 16” winners in Division 2 and 3, singles will compete in the State Singles Tournament to be held on Friday, Saturday and Sunday in May.  In doubles, Division “round of 16” winners and “round “of 8 winners will compete in the Doubles Tournament.

Lucky Loser – If a player or team is unable to go to the main draw, the player or team they beat will take their place. 

Reseeding – Players who upset seeds will be reseeded according to where the coaches originally placed them prior to the main draw.  In singles Division 1 will have 16 slots; Division 2 – 8 slots; Division 3 and 4 – 8 slots.  In Doubles:  Division 1 (8) – Division 2 (4) – and Division 3 (4).

  1. Time between matches should be up to 30 minutes after a 2-set victory and up to 60 minutes for a 3-set victory.  This should be at the discretion of the Director ONLY.
  2. All Divisions may use an 8 game pro-set leading up to the Qualifying Round.  In the qualifying round, the format will be 2 of 3 sets.  In Division I, the qualifying round will consist of 32 singles players and 16 doubles teams.  In Division II and Division III, the qualifying round will consist of 16 singles players and 8 doubles teams.
  3. Individuals in the absence of a team are not allowed to participate in the individual tournament.
  1. Team Tourney

There shall be a Champion in each Division.  Co-Championship award will be given in case of ties.

    1. State Team Championship will be conducted under the direction of the Director of Tennis. 
    2. Playoffs – All divisions will use a tie-breaking system for seeding.     The tie-breaking system  will be determined as follows:
  2. Head-to-Head competition
  3. Team match scores between the teams that are tied
  4. Total sets lost between the teams that are tied
  5. Total games won between the teams that are tied
  6. Total match points won listed in standings as Points For (PF).

 

    1. Playoffs – The championship playoffs will be conducted under the direction of the Director of Tennis.

Playoffs -  All Playoff Matches should be played only until a Decision (Winner) then matches in progress are abandoned. 

 

Officials – RIIL assigned officials shall have supervision of the playing court from the start of the match, unless otherwise designated until it is finished.  In the absence of the Director of Tennis or an RIIL appointed supervisor, the coaches of the respective teams shall act as the officials of the RIIL tennis match and shall supervise said matches in accordance with these rules.  A coach must observe all their matches and should not wander from the immediate court area.         

  1. Game Score Reports: In accordance with Article 6, Section 14, all contest scores are to be reported on-line on the RIIL Website. Coaches obtain access to the system through their Athletic Director.
  2. Sportsmanship/Point Penalty System 
      1. Point penalties will be imposed against a player for unsportsmanlike conduct during a RIIL match and/or tournament such as:
        1. Unreasonable delays after the warm-up period between points and when changing ends and otherwise unreasonably delaying a match
        2. Audible obscenity
        3. Visible obscenity
        4. Violently or with anger hitting (i.e., hitting the racket against any type of surface), kicking or throwing a tennis ball, racket or other equipment
        5. Verbal or physical abuse of any official, opponent, spectator or other person
        6. Disruptive behavior

 

      1. Following are the penalties for the above violations:
  2. First offense – point
  3. Second offense – game
  4. Third offense – default
      1. The imposition of penalties during a League match is primarily a function of the coaches, although the Director of Tennis or his/her delegate may impose penalties on the basis of his/her observations.  A penalty to be imposed by a coach against an opposing player should be preceded by a courtside conference of the coach involved.  If no mutual agreement can be reached, a report must be made to the Director of Tennis or his/her delegate.  If the Director of Tennis or his/her delegate deems it necessary, a penalty may be imposed on a future match.

 

  1. While normally the imposition of penalties will be in accordance with the basic table, a flagrantly unsportsmanlike act may result in the imposition of an immediate penalty, even a default for a first offense.

 

5/6/24