USTA Maryland – Junior Team Tennis Rules and Regulations – Competition year 2010
1. Championship year – Sept. 1,2009 – August 31, 2010. This gives all seasons (4)
including fall, the chance to advance to Championships if the player remains age
eligible through Aug. 31,2010 (Championship year).
2. Tennis Link is the official system for registering teams and players. If local
format is different than what is required for advancement (Ex. Same gender
teams), a local area championships will be conducted to advance teams. The local
championship must be held over 2 days and each player must have 3 matches
posted on Tennis Link to advance to the State Championships from that local
championship.
3. Maryland hosts 5 age divisions at the State Championships: 8U; 10U; 12U; 14U;
18U with two levels in each age division (Intermediate & Advanced). Players
having 300 ranking points or more must play in the Advanced division. These
points count through all age divisions. Example: If a player has 300 points in 12U
tournament tennis he/she must play advanced in not only 12’s but also 14’s &
18’s.
a. Local coordinators need to verify rankings of all players
registering for a team to ensure accurate JNTRP placement.
b. Local coordinators will be held responsible for placement of
kids at competition levels. If a player is a legitimate 3.5,
he/she must play Advanced even if the ranking points are less
than 300.
4. The Maryland state tournament will be completed at least three weeks before the
Sectional tournament.
5. When registering players on Tennis Link coaches and coordinators must allow for
the cost of the JTT – t-shirt which is $11.50; USTA Junior membership which is
$18 and the Tennis Link administrative fee (minimum of $3) if program fee is $34
or less. 7.5%+.50 per registration if program fee is $35 or more. These charges
are not set in stone and could change.
6. Each winning team and finalist team in each age division and skill level
(Intermediate & Advanced) from the State (District) tournament is eligible to
advance to Section Championships.
7. Scoring system and tournament format for the Maryland State (District)
tournament will be determined by the Tournament Director.
8. Teams advancing to the Maryland State (District) tournament as well as to
Sectionals and Nationals can only substitute when the team size falls below 6 (3
boys and 3 girls). The sub player must be from the same local league and have
played on the local team in at least (3) matches that are posted on Tennis Link
from that league. No more than 2 substitutes can be added to a roster.
9. Minimum number of players on any one team is 6; 3 boys and 3 girls. It takes a
minimum of 2 teams to make a local league.
10. Maryland State (District) shall appoint its own grievance committee for Junior
Team Tennis. All grievance committees shall consist of no less than three
persons, including the chair. All complaints alleging a violation of the USTA
Constitution and By-Laws; the USTA Regulations, the Rules of Tennis or other
USTA regulations or standards of good conduct, fair play and good sportsmanship
shall be filed in writing by a team coach, manager or team coordinator. Parents
and players are not allowed to file grievances. Local leagues handle their own
grievances and set up their own rules of competition once approved by the state
(district) administrator. Grievance procedures are outlined in the national
handbook 3.00-3.04.
11. At the Maryland State Championships any disqualified player’s results will be
posted as a win for that player’s opponent (Ex. If playing best of 3 – 4 game sets,
the winning score would be posted as a 4-0, 4-0 win). If disqualification can be
proven a grievance does not need to be filed.
Types of disqualification include but are not limited to:
 age misrepresentation
*JNTRP mis-ratings
 USTA member status
*Ranking points too high
12. Good sportsmanship will be required at the State (District) tournament from
players, coaches and respective fans and families. No interference will be
allowed from family members during, before or after match play. Coaches will
only coach on changeovers and will not be allowed on the court unless there is a
special set of circumstances. Coaches may never coach during tie-breakers. If
the tournament director deems inappropriate behavior from a player, coach or
respective fans and families those persons will be removed from the competition
site.
13. It is a Maryland State tournament rule that on teams of 6 players, 2 players play
twice. On teams of 7 players, 1 player plays twice. On teams of 8 players, 8
players play once. On teams of 9 players, 8 players play once in the first match
and the ninth player plays first in the second match. On teams of 10 players, 8
players play once in the first match and the 9th and 10th players play first in the
second match. This allows all kids that travel to the state tournament a fair share
of tournament play.
14. The 3 matches that need to be played at the local level to advance to the State
Championship must be played on separate days. If 2 matches are played on one
day the matches must be at separate times (Ex. One in the afternoon and one in
the evening). The 3rd match must be on a different day. If a player plays twice in
one match, it still counts as one match.
15. No team can advance to the State (District) Championship from a NonChampionship eligible season or a locally branded program.
16. The top 2 teams listed in Stats and Standings on Tennis Link will advance to the
Sectional tournament in each age division and skill level (Intermediate &
Advanced).
17. At the State (District) Tournament, The State (District) Coordinator will input
scores in Tennis Link or appoint someone to do so. All scores must be entered
into Tennis Link by the last date of the State Championship. The date listed as
the last date of the State Championship will be the final date of competition. No
matches played after that date will be entered.
18. All local program coordinators must certify teams to the State (District)
Coordinator 2 weeks before the start of the State Tournament. Program
coordinators must provide ranking points for all players to determine if those
players are within the section benchmark (300 points or more must play
advanced). Players with a 3.5 NTRP rating but not 300 ranking points must play
advanced.