Tournament Rules

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		* All players will be invited to play in both tournaments each year. There is a Division 1 tournament and a Division 2 tournament for each division. The Division you compete in depends on which Division you are in on the BMTA Challenge Ladder at the time the draw is made. It is not compulsory to play in any tournament but all members are required to play at least once every two months (this can be a ladder match or a tournament match). * Players may continue to play their ladder matches whilst any of the tournaments are in progress. * Tournament matches affect the ladder points & positions in the same way that ladder matches do. * All competitors must play each of their tournament matches within the time limit given by email (usually about four weeks). * Both players are encouraged to make the effort to contact their opponent. * If a player is ill before a match and gives notice to the other player, it may be rescheduled to a later day within the four week period. If, however, a player becomes ill or injured during a match, the injured player must either play on or concede. * If a match does not take place within the time period given (even if due to injury), the BMTA committee will reluctantly toss a coin to decide which player goes through to the next round. The score will be 6-0 to the winner but no ladder points will be gained for either player in such a match. However, if a player has tried hard to arrange the match and their opponent has not been co-operative in agreeing a time and place, the player will go through to the next round (at the discretion of the BMTA committee) - this will only happen if the player that tried to arrange the match appeals in time. * Any player that fails to play two of their tournament matches will be out of that tournament immediately unless they successfully appealed to show they made good effort to arrange their match. * The time and place of the final of any tournament must be given to me as soon as it is decided (& as soon as it is cancelled/rescheduled if that happens) so that it can be announced on this website for people to come and watch if they wish. * The winner of any Division 1 BMTA tournament will receive a trophy (which they can keep for 1 year) and will automatically be moved to the top of the Challenge Ladder by 10 clear points - unless, of course, they are already there. The winner's name will also be added to the Roll of Honour page as a BMTA Champion. * The winner of any Division 2 BMTA tournament will not receive a trophy but will have their name added to the Roll of Honour page as a BMTA Division 2 Champion. The winner will also be moved into Division 1 (if they have not already done so naturally with points acquired). Match Rules * Before a match begins, players should toss a coin (or spin a racket) to determine who serves first and on what side. The winner of the toss will have the choice of either serving first or deciding the side of the court to start on. (eg, If the winner of the toss chooses to serve, the other player chooses the side he or she wants to start on). * Scoring should be conventional: the first to win 2 out of 3 sets. Where a set reaches 6 games all, a 12 point tie break should be played (first to 7 points by a two point margin). * If the above scoring method is not possible (eg, running out of time), one set may be played instead. Similarly, a tie break could be played instead of a third set (however, this tie break score needs to be converted into a typical set score, agreeable to both players for the tennis ladder software to accept it). * However, in the final of any tournament, the best of three sets must be played and the third set cannot be decided by a tie break. The third set must be won by two clear games (eg, 8-6). * All practice serves must be taken during warm-up. * All matches must end in a win (rather than a draw). * If you have any doubts as to whether a ball is out or good, you must give your opponent the benefit of the doubt and play the ball as good. You should not play a let. * If you call a ball out and then realise it was good, you should correct your call. * The server should say the score after every point. * Players should change sides after every odd game. * To avoid controversy over the score, the server should announce the set score (eg, 5-4) before starting a game - and the game score (eg, thirty-forty) prior to serving each point. * If players cannot agree on the score, they may go back to the last score on which there was agreement and resume play from that point - or they may spin a racket. * All matches should comply with the ITF Rules Of Tennis * When a match is won as a result of one player conceding, the score shall be reported as it stands at the time of retirement. However, sufficient games should be added to the set score of the winner to complete the match. * The tournament winner can keep the trophy/award for one year starting from the opening date of the tournament in question (eg, Aus Open - Jan 5th). Resolving Disputes Players are urged to amicably settle disputes between themselves. In the unlikely event that this proves impossible, the dispute will be settled at the sole discretion of the ladder co-ordinator and failing that, at the sole discretion of the BMTA committee (minus any committee members that are involved in the dispute).







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