Clarifications on Team Lineup Regulations and Individual Default
Regulation
When it is known a default will occur prior to exchanging lineups, follow the
table in National Regulation 2.03K and inform the other captain as early as
possible which position is being defaulted (either #2 singles or #3 doubles).
Section Regulation 2.01C(5) Team Lineups: After lineups have been
presented, team captains are allowed to make changes and substitutions in
individual matches for the following reasons only: injury to, illness of,
disqualification or no-show of a player prior to the start of such match. Unless
mutually agreed, players listed on the original lineup may not substitute into a
different position, and area/local rules and regulations on lateness penalties and
warm-up times will apply.
Once lineups have been exchanged, captains can make changes and
substitutions only if there is an injury, illness, disqualification or no-show of a
player. A substitution could occur if there was an extra player available who was
not in the original lineup. This person could then fill in for the player that is sick,
injured, disqualified or did not show up. For example, one captain I know does
not put herself in the line-up so she is available to play if there is an issue. If she
is watching a match and one of her players does not show up, she can take the
no-show player's position in the lineup.
If there is a no-show player and no substitute player is available, and the noshow player was scheduled to play #1 singles, #1 doubles or #2 doubles, you
would have to shift your player(s) up a position. This shift occurs provided play
has not yet started. The team with their full lineup present does not shift.
There is a provision in the Section Team Lineup regulation that with the
captains’ mutual consent, after one of the listed events occurs, players may
change positions in the lineup.
For example, I captained a team last summer and was in the line-up to play #2
singles. One of our #1 doubles players did not show up. I checked with the
other captain to see if she would agree to me changing positions and defaulting
#2 singles rather than #3 doubles and she agreed. If she did not agree, I would
have had to default the #3 doubles position by moving my #2 doubles players to
#1 and my #3 players to #2. My player scheduled to play #1 doubles would not
play nor would the #3 doubles players on the opposing team.
In summary, no one likes it when a no show happens. Always have your players
arrive at least 15 minutes early and do not exchange your lineup until all players
have arrived. Have your cell phone ready to try to contact anyone who is not
there. Do not start actual play until all players have arrived unless it is your #2
singles player or #3 doubles players who have not yet arrived.
Twin Cities Area Regulation 2.01C(6)a Defaults (6 Strike/Split Up): Any
Adult team that defaults a total of six (6) individual matches throughout a league
season will be required to split up the team the following season with no more
than three (3) players remaining together on a team. Any Adult team in the 2.5
or 5.0 divisions that defaults a total of four (4) individual matches throughout a
league season will be required to spit up the team the following season with no
more than three (3) players remaining together on a team.
Any Senior, Mixed Doubles or Super Senior team that defaults a total of four (4)
individual matches throughout a league season will be required to split up the
team the following season with o more than three (3) players remaining together
on a team.